Meteorologists caution that the reinforcing blast of Arctic air plunging south into the Great Plains will drop temperatures to levels Wichita hasn’t seen since early 1996.
Highs on Thursday will be in the single digits, with lows dropping to -10 to -15 in parts of central Kansas. Wind chills could reach -30.
Wichita may not reach 5 for a high on Thursday, and the overnight low is currently forecast to be -5.
Snow will serve as an opening act to this latest winter blast. Anywhere from a trace to three inches is forecast in central and southeast Kansas, including the Wichita area.
Strong winds will accompany the powdery snow, significantly reducing visibility at times on Wednesday.
Wind chills will persist at dangerous levels through Friday night, forecasters warn.
Cloudy skies and temperatures topping out in the mid-20s are forecast for Wichita today.
Winds will be calm early in the day, then stir slightly out of the southeast. That will help temperatures climb today, forecasters say.
The overnight low may touch the teens. Wednesday’s high may climb near or top freezing, but then a fresh wave of arctic air arrives and sends temperatures plunging as the winds surge.
There will be a chance for freezing drizzle overnight, with north winds blowing steadily in the teens and gusting to nearly 30 miles an hour.
The wintry precipitation will change to snow late in the day Wednesday and persist into Thursday. Anywhere from a dusting to a couple of inches are projected, depending on who is doing the forecasting.
For more information, go to our weather page.