The storm system forecasters thought would bring Wichita its first snow of the season has shifted to the north, meaning the metropolitan area will see flurries but no meaningful snowfall accumulation.
“We may get a mixture out there….a little light rain and snow mixture,” said Rob Cox, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Wichita.
In fact, flurries were reported at dawn and should persist throughout the day. But it’s too warm for the snow to stick around. Temperatures should hold steady in the mid-30s today, Cox said, with north winds blowing steadily in the upper teens and gusting to nearly 30 miles an hour.
Light snow is expected tonight, but little to no accumulation is expected. Temperatures should hover in the mid-30s, and warm into the low 40s on Tuesday. Chances of light rain and snow will continue well into the day Tuesday.
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See some flurry activity; a little light rain and snow mixture;
The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook that caught my eye today:
“Rain could mix with or change over to snow across central and portions of south central Kansas for Sunday night and Monday. The system responsible for this wintry precipitation is showing signs of slowing down which may prolong the wintry mix through Monday night.
“It is also starting to look more favorable for some significant snow accumulation during this timeframe, mainly over central and portions of southcentral Kansas.”
Considerable uncertainty remains, however, about the track and speed of the storm system, so stay tuned.
Plenty of clouds and plenty of wind are in the forecast for Wichita today.
Highs should reach the mid- to upper 60s, forecasters say, but it is the wind that will likely get noticed the most in the metropolitan area. South winds in the teens will intensify to the 20s and gust above 30 miles an hour today.
The winds should stay robust overnight and persist on Friday, though gusts may peak in the mid-20s. Highs should again be in the mid- to upper 60s, forecasters say, and there should be more breaks in the clouds.
……from NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center: As I reported earlier, 2009 offered the second-coldest October in the 115 years that such records have been kept.
But there’s more – the three-month period of August through October was the coolest on record for Kansas….and only a dozen Octobers in the last 115 years have been wetter than 2009 in Kansas.
Patchy fog can be expected in the Wichita metropolitan area this morning. While the fog should lift by late morning, the clouds should linger all day.
Highs will top out in the upper 50s or low 60s, with light winds out of the east. Clouds should begin to move out overnight, forecasters say, and Thursday should be windy and warmer.
Temperatures are expected to climb into the mid-60s again Thursday and Friday before the weekend brings another chance of showers – along with highs in the 50s.
Patchy fog and intermittent drizzle can be expected in the Wichita area this morning, forecasters say.
The fog and precipitation should go away by this afternoon – but the clouds won’t. Highs are projected to reach the low 60s, with light northeast winds.
Clouds will linger overnight and into Wednesday, but temperatures will continue to be above normal. Highs should reach the 60s through the end of the week, forecasters say.
Showers and thunderstorms are likely in southern and central Kansas today – including the Wichita metropolitan area, forecasters say.
Brief periods of heavy rain are possible with the strongest thunderstorms, but severe weather is not anticipated. Rain is most likely along and west of I-135 in the morning, and east of the Flint Hills this afternoon and evening.
Highs should reach the low 60s, with light winds out of the south in single digits. The winds will shift around to the north as the day progresses.
Chances for rain persist through the evening, but skies should be partly cloudy on Tuesday with a high in the low 60s.
The first Friday of November is going to offer a rather convincing display of spring-like weather, with gusty southerly winds and temperatures soaring into the upper 70s.
Those winds out of the south-southwest will be blowing steadily in the upper teens to low 20s, and gusting beyond 30 miles an hour.
The forecast high isn’t close to the record high for November 6 – which is 83, set back in 1891 – but it’s still a good 15 degrees above normal.
Dry weather, sunny skies and highs in the 70s are expected through the weekend.
Sunny skies and highs near 70 are forecast for the Wichita metropolitan area today. South winds in the teens, with gusts near 25 miles an hour, are also expected.
Friday should see more of the same, forecasters say, with highs in the mid-70s and gusty south winds.
The tranquil weather pattern is expected to last through the weekend, before chances of showers appear early next week.
More sunny skies and temperatures in the 60s are in store for Wichita today, forecasters say.
North winds ranging from single digits to gusts above 20 miles an hour will give the conditions some sting.
Patchy frost is expected overnight, when lows are forecast to hit the upper 30s. The National Weather Service in Wichita has issued a frost advisory for 21 counties in southern and central Kansas, including the Wichita metropolitan area.
Highs on Thursday will approach 70 under sunny skies.