Merry Christmas! After a bitter start, temperatures warmed more than we’ve seen in recent days since our latest Arctic blast began.
Warmer days are ahead, but overnight we have a fast moving disturbance that will have some moisture to work with mostly in the form of freezing rain and light snow.
Accumulations will be light but can still cause travel problems. Winter weather advisories are in effect where the biggest travel impacts are expected until Monday morning.
This system is showing up for points near the Kansas/Nebraska state line early this evening. Temperatures will drop below freezing, however, temperatures above are above that mark. This means that what falls will melt and then refreeze on the surface.
The amounts aren’t that high, just a few hundredths of an inch, but still capable of producing a slight sheen that can cause smooth rides. A little snow will try to form in this wintry mix. This event occurs earlier in the night before it is quickly tracked out of our field of view.
Any overnight travel further north and east should exercise caution and watch the roads closely. This is the preliminary strike from this system.
Temperatures will then drop from central and eastern Kansas throughout Monday, while spots closer to the Kansas/Colorado state line will be largely unaffected and milder.
Winds will pick up for several hours as this front moves through the 30-40 gusty area.
Cold easterly winds Monday night will be below zero. By Tuesday, the pendulum swings warmer and winds pick up. Seeing communities in the west in the 60s will occur and pass through Wednesday. Places like Wichita and other cities across central and eastern Kansas will gradually warm into the 40s to 50s by midweek. Thursday also looks mild by recent standards before our next storm system sets in on Friday. Temperatures will be warm to encourage rain, but points in the northwest could see a mix of snow as colder temperatures arrive.
KSN Storm Track 3 forecast by Chief Meteorologist Lisa Teachman:
Wichita:
Tonight: partly cloudy. 40% chance of a wintry mix. Lo: 25 Wind: S/SW 5-15
Tomorrow: partly cloudy. Salute: 30 Wind: NW 8-18
Tomorrow night: partly cloudy. Lo: 13 Wind: W/JL 5-15
Wichita Weekly
Tuesday: Hi: 43 Lo: 33 Partly cloudy, windy.
Wednesday: Hi: 54 Lo: 42 Partly cloudy, windy.
Thursday: Hi: 56 Lo: 35 Partly cloudy, windy.
Friday: Hi: 52 Lo: 29 Partly to mostly cloudy, windy. 20% chance of rain.
Sat: Hi: 48 Lo: 30 Partly cloudy, windy. 10% chance of rain.
Sun: Hi: 49 Lo: 35 Partly cloudy, windy.
– Chief Meteorologist Lisa Teachman
