Hazardous snow conditions combined with the extreme wind chills expected will combine to create a life-threatening situation, especially to anyone who may get stranded because of the snow. 

The greatest concern is wind chill values. Air temperatures overnight will range from -10 to -20 degrees, and with winds blowing 10-20MPH, wind chill values of -25 to -35 will be relatively common across most of KAKEland. These types of values can contribute to frostbite within minutes on exposed skin. Wind chill values will be at their lowest Monday morning and again on Tuesday morning.

 

Monday morning low temperatures in Kansas included:

-26° Colby

-23°  Goodland

-10°  Hutchinson and Salina

-8°    Wichita

Record lows were set Monday in Garden City (-20), Dodge City (-14) and Medicine Lodge (-9).

At best Monday afternoon, temperatures will be in the single digits. Wind chill values are expected to range from -5° to -15° for Western Kansas with wind chills closer to -15° for North and South Central Kansas, including the City of Wichita.

 

 

Tuesday will be bitterly cold with morning lows once again way below zero for all of KAKEland and wind chills near -25° to -30°.

Most of KAKEland will be snow free Tuesday and Wednesday but South Central and Southeast Kansas will once again see the return of light snow that could snarl traffic. The chances for light snow in South Central Kansas should start picking up after the lunch hour on Tuesday with the majority falling late Tuesday into Wednesday morning. This system will barely clip KAKEland with most of the snow falling south and east of the Kansas Turnpike where 2" to 4" of accumulation will be possible. Along and generally east of the Turnpike, including Wichita, will see less than 2" with many spots just seeing a minor dusting. The snow should come to an end early on Wednesday.

 While the totals will likely be on the slim side, the impact could still be quite high, especially for drivers. Even minor amounts of snow can make roads very slick when temperatures are this cold across KAKEland. Drivers that venture out should have emergency gear with them, should they end up stranded.

For those of you looking for some good news, the end of this Arctic Invasion is in sight as temperatures will climb into the 30s and 40s by the end of the week for all of KAKEland. Wichita should pass the freezing mark on Friday breaking a run of 13 consecutive days below 32°F! 

 

We’ll keep you up to date with our Interactive Radar and LIVE weather coverage. Get those features and more on the free First Alert Weather App. With the app you can track storms in your area, stream the latest forecast videos and live severe weather coverage, and set customized alerts to keep you and your family informed and safe.


Check Wichita road conditions at WichWay.org and check road conditions across the state at KanDrive.org.

SATURDAY MORNING UPDATE:

Dangerous, life-threatening winter weather expected starting later tonight through Monday morning.
 
Snow chances increase from west to east starting later this evening with widespread, moderate-to-heavy snow continuing through the day on Sunday. A fluffy, powdery snow will easily be blown around by the winds expected to be in the 10-25MPH range. Accumulations will vary, with the heaviest amounts likely across southwest Kansas and 3-6" possible in and around Wichita. This type of snow will be difficult to measure as it will be blow and drift around, but is expected to contribute to hazardous driving conditions, including the potential for very limited to no visibility and slick spots, especially where some of that snow may get packed down on the roads. Snow will end from west to east through the day on Sunday, but off-and-on snow may linger across south-central into southeast Kansas into early Monday morning before the system fully gets on out of here.
 
 
Of greater concern is the forecasted wind chill values. With the winds blowing 10-25MPH, wind chill values of -20 to -30 will be relatively common across most of KAKEland. These types of values can contribute to frostbite within minutes on exposed skin. Wind chill values will be at their lowest Monday morning and again on Tuesday morning. During the snowfall, wind chill values of -15 to -25 will be likely.
 
 
 
 
 
Hazardous snow conditions combined with the extreme wind chills expected will combine to create a life-threatening situation, especially to anyone who may get stranded because of the snow. It is highly suggested that you DO NOT TRAVEL on Sunday into early Monday morning because if you get stranded or stuck because of the snow, you'll be exposing yourself to the extreme cold.
 
Tuesday will be bitterly cold with dangerous wind chills, but a "warming" trend is expected with most locations in KAKEland making a run toward the freezing mark, perhaps as early as Thursday for western Kansas and Friday for the rest of KAKEland.

 

We’ll keep you up to date with our Interactive Radar and LIVE weather coverage. Get those features and more on the free First Alert Weather App. With the app you can track storms in your area, stream the latest forecast videos and live severe weather coverage, and set customized alerts to keep you and your family informed and safe.

Check Wichita road conditions at WichWay.org and check road conditions across the state at KanDrive.org.

 

FRIDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE:

Heavy snow will begin Saturday evening in western Kansas and spread eastward Saturday night. While the consistency of the snow will be very light and dry. This will make it much easier for blowing snow to develop, limiting visibility and creating drifts. 

 

This initial forecast is likely to change and evolve as new data flow in, so stay tuned for updates and alerts. A Winter Storm Watch goes into effect Saturday Night. As confidence in the forecasts increases this will likely change to a Winter Storm Warning for those seeing the greatest impact. 

Travel is strongly discouraged Sunday into Monday in the snow zone. With temperatures this cold, should you get involved in an accident or slide off the road, hypothermia becomes a very real possibility, especially if your vehicle is unable to run. 

We’ll keep you up to date with our Interactive Radar and LIVE weather coverage. Get those features and more on the free First Alert Weather App. With the app you can track storms in your area, stream the latest forecast videos and live severe weather coverage, and set customized alerts to keep you and your family informed and safe.

Check Wichita road conditions at WichWay.org and check road conditions across the state at KanDrive.org.

 

Friday Morning Update

Dangerous cold air continues to flow into KAKEland and significant snow is looking more likely. 

 

The latest push of cold air will keep high temperatures in the single digits and low teens. Wind chill values will stay below zero for all of KAKEland, all day!

 

Light snow will gradually slide across the state today, starting in Northwest Kansas during the late morning hours. Snow will then spread into North Central and Southwest Kans by early afternoon. While Wichita could see some flurries during the morning and early afternoon, the light snow isn't really expected until late this evening into the overnight. The snowfall will be minor and unmeasurable for most of KAKEland. 1" to maybe 2" will be possible along and north of Interstate 70 with the best chances along the Kansas-Nebraska state line. South of I-70 totals will be dramatically lower with less than 1" of accumulation.

 Round #2 of snow slides into the western portion of the state, late Saturday night. Snow is looking quite likely through out the day Sunday for just about everyone in Kansas. The snow system will exit to the east as we head into Monday. 

As of Friday morning, this storm system is still in the Pacific Ocean but headed our way. Weather models are hinting at some very significant snowfall but uncertainty regarding who sees what is still relatively high.

 The system is still too far out for the GRAF, but the GFS, Euro and NAM all point toward totals exceeding 5" generally across Western Kansas. There is more uncertainty regarding the totals in South Central Kansas, especially with the NAM showing a wide swath of less than 3" extending from South Central Kansas into Northeast Kansas. 

Our initial snowfall forecast leans on the Euro and GFS, with much of Western Kansas seeing 4" to 7", possibly more. Overall the thinking is that much of North and South Central Kansas will be lighter with 2" to 4", this includes the city of Wichita.

The consistency of this snow is expected to be very light and dry. This will make it much easier for blowing snow to develop, limiting visibility and creating drifts.

This initial forecast is likely to change and evolve as new data flow in, so stay tuned for updates and alerts. A Winter Storm Watch goes into effect Saturday Night. As confidence in the forecasts increases this will likely change to a Winter Storm Warning for those seeing the greatest impact. 

 

Travel is strongly discouraged Sunday into Monday in the snow zone. With temperatures this cold, should you get involved in an accident or slide off the road, hypothermia becomes a very real possibility, especially if your vehicle is unable to run. 

We’ll keep you up to date with our Interactive Radar and LIVE weather coverage. Get those features and more on the free First Alert Weather App. With the app you can track storms in your area, stream the latest forecast videos and live severe weather coverage, and set customized alerts to keep you and your family informed and safe.

Check Wichita road conditions at WichWay.org and check road conditions across the state at KanDrive.org.

 

Thursday 7am Update

The Arctic invasion continues across KAKEland and more significant cold air is on the way along with the possibility of significant snowfall. 

 

Before we discuss the potential for snow we must address the bone chilling cold that has invaded the state. The temperatures on Thursday will remain well below freezing for just about everyone. One exception will be extreme Southwest Kansas where highs could reach the low 30s. For the remainder of the state it will be the same song and dance as the past couple of days with highs in the teens and 20s with wind chills generally staying in the single digits. 

While temperatures as of late have been cold by most people's standards, they are about to get much colder thanks to a couple of reinforcing shots of cold air.

If we do not get above freezing in Wichita until Friday, February 19, it will put us at 13 consecutive days below 32 degrees. A 13 day streak will be tied for 10th when it comes to all time below freezing streaks in Wichita. If you are wondering, the longest stretch is 24 days set back in 1895.

 

In addition to the dangerous and possibly record setting cold, snow will be possible, starting on Friday.

Friday's weather maker is a light system that will start dropping snow across Western Kansas Friday morning and it will track east through the day Friday before rolling out on Saturday morning. Weather models are in good agreement in regards to the magnitude and placement of the snowfall.

The majority of the snow and impact will be felt along and north of Interstate 70 where 1" to 3" of accumulation will be possible. This could lead to some slick roads in spots and wind blowing snow could reduce visibility. Lower totals, less than 1" are expected south and that includes the City of Wichita.

 

 

Friday's snow will be the appetizer course ahead of the main system that is expected to roll in late Saturday and may not completely exit the state until late Monday.

This more substantial system will spread snow from west to east through the day Sunday with the majority for Wichita arriving in the afternoon and overnight hours. The storm system will slowly track northeast, out of KAKEland Monday night. While it is too early to responsibly put out a snowfall forecast for this time period, long range weather models crank out some big time snowfall and the most recent runs of the GFS and Euro are fairly consistent. 

Weather models like these help us construct a final forecast and it is not uncommon for long range models to spew out astronomical numbers before reeling them back in as we approach. While it may be a bit too early to issue a forecast, it is not too early to prepare for an incredibly cold weekend and start to next week. This cold, coupled with any snow at all will create a very dangerous situation for anyone venturing outside. If you must travel be prepared with a full tank of gas, along with warm clothes, extra food/water and a phone charger.

Stay tuned for updates to the forecast, particularly the snow component as it is likely to change and evolve. 

We’ll keep you up to date with our Interactive Radar and LIVE weather coverage. Get those features and more on the free First Alert Weather App. With the app you can track storms in your area, stream the latest forecast videos and live severe weather coverage, and set customized alerts to keep you and your family informed and safe.

Check Wichita road conditions at WichWay.org and check road conditions across the state at KanDrive.org.