Wichita, Kan. – Summerlike warmth will dominate south-central Kansas into the weekend before a shift to storm chances early next week. Afternoon highs near 90 degrees Friday and Saturday will feel more like July than October, raising concerns for outdoor events and late harvest operations.
According to the National Weather Service office in Wichita, Friday and Saturday will stay sunny with south winds gusting to 25 to 30 mph at times, which may hamper travel for high-profile vehicles along I-35 and I-135. Saturday night stays mild, with lows only in the mid-60s, keeping energy demand elevated for cooling.
Sunday will start warm with highs in the mid-80s, but moisture will increase late. The weather service notes a slight chance of thunderstorms developing after dark, mainly west of the Flint Hills. By Monday, a 30 percent chance of showers is expected across Sedgwick, Harvey, and Butler counties, potentially slowing the morning commute. Storms may linger into Tuesday, with highs falling back into the 70s, marking a noticeable cool down.
Residents planning outdoor activities should prepare for windy afternoons through Saturday and keep storm safety plans in place for early next week. Officials recommend avoiding outdoor burning due to gusty south winds, securing lightweight items, and staying weather-aware for possible lightning delays at school sports and community events.
Five-Day Forecast for Wichita, KS:
Fri: 88/66 – Sunny, breezy south winds gusting to 22 mph.
Sat: 84/65 – Mostly sunny, gusts near 29 mph; warm evening.
Sun: 85/65 – Mostly sunny; storms possible late west of I-35.
Mon: 83/61 – Showers, slight storm risk; 30% chance, cooler evening.
Tue: 74/58 – Mostly cloudy; scattered showers and storms early.
