Wichita, KS – Kansas may see a wetter and potentially wintry stretch during the Thanksgiving travel window, as new federal long-range outlooks show above-normal precipitation statewide from November 23 through November 29.
According to the Climate Prediction Center’s 8–14 Day Outlook issued Saturday, Kansas is fully included in a 40–50% probability zone favoring wetter-than-normal conditions. The state sits along the southern edge of a growing early-season cold pool in the northern Plains, a setup that often leads to late-November rain, snow, or mixed precipitation when storm systems pass through the central U.S.
In eastern Kansas—including Kansas City KS, Overland Park, and Lawrence—temperatures may hover near the rain–snow line during the period. This means upcoming systems could shift between cold rain and wet snow depending on their timing and track.
Central regions, including Topeka, Salina, and Hutchinson, also fit into the elevated precipitation zone. Historically, this part of the state sees some of its earliest seasonal snow events when moisture aligns with marginal temperatures.
Western Kansas—from Dodge City to Garden City and Goodland—sits closest to the colder air mass. This region may have a higher likelihood of wet snow or mixed precipitation, especially if storms track across Colorado and into the High Plains.
Thanksgiving week typically brings heavy traffic along I-70 and I-135, and even brief periods of snow or slushy conditions can slow travel. Air travel delays are also possible if precipitation arrives near peak departure days, particularly at Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport and Kansas City International Airport (just across the border).
Forecasters note that snowfall specifics and system timing will become clearer early next week as short-range models begin capturing individual storms.
Travelers across Kansas should monitor updates as the Thanksgiving period approaches.
