WICHITA, Kan. — After a quiet morning across the area, storm chances are once again back in the forecast for Wichita and much of south-central Kansas as we head into Friday evening. But before the rain arrives, it’s the heat and humidity making headlines.
Temperatures are expected to climb into the mid-90s°F (around 35°C) this afternoon under partly cloudy skies, with the heat index nearing 100°F (38°C). It’s going to feel especially sticky out there, thanks to strong southerly winds helping pull warm, moist air into the region.
But relief is on the way—though it may come with a bang.
An unseasonably strong cold front will begin pushing across central Kansas late this afternoon. Showers and thunderstorms are likely to develop after 4 p.m., eventually tracking southeast into the Wichita metro sometime after 6 p.m. Some of these storms could turn severe, with the main threats being damaging wind gusts and pockets of heavy rainfall. The best chance for stronger storms will be east of the Kansas Turnpike.
Winds will shift behind the front, bringing in cooler and drier air overnight. While a stray shower can’t be ruled out early Saturday, most of the day will be dry and much cooler, with highs only reaching the low to mid-80s°F (28–29°C)—well below average for mid-July. Skies will stay mostly cloudy, and northeast to east winds will keep things feeling noticeably more comfortable.
The cooler trend continues into Sunday, with morning lows dipping into the upper 60s°F (around 20°C) and highs rebounding to the upper 80s°F (31–32°C) under partly cloudy skies.
Looking into next week, temperatures begin to rise again, with highs in the low 90s°F (32–34°C) from Monday through Wednesday. Tuesday could turn breezy, and another cold front is expected to sweep through late Wednesday, bringing another round of storms and cooler air to wrap up the workweek.
It’s a classic Kansas weather rollercoaster—hot, stormy, then suddenly cool—all packed into a few days.
