Arkansas City, Kansas 7 Day Weather Forecast

Wx Forecast - Wx Discussion - Wx Aviation

565
FXUS63 KICT 191803
AFDICT

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Wichita KS
103 PM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Unseasonably hot air will overspread the area through Saturday with
  some new records likely. A cold front will arrive on Sunday
  ushering in more seasonable air.

- Warmer air will quickly return after a brief cooldown with above
  normal values returning for much of the upcoming week.

- Dry weather is expected to persist over the upcoming week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 100 PM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026

An anomalous mid/upper ridge over the Southwest will remain in place
through Saturday. The Central Plains will be influenced by this
ridge with dry and mild conditions anticipated through Saturday
night with highs in the 80s/90s (some record highs possible).

A shortwave trough racing eastward along the Canadian border will
help to break down the mid/upper ridge over the Northern Plains
while driving a cold front south across the Central Plains. This
front is progged to arrive on Sunday, shifting winds to the
northwest and ushering in more seasonable air. With the front
and gusty winds, we will see an increasing fire danger threat as
well, see the fire weather section below for more details.

The cooldown will be short-lived as rising heights/increasing
thickness will bring above average temperatures back to the area Tue-
Wed. Another cold front is progged to arrive late in the Week ushering
in more seasonable air on Thursday. Dry weather is expected to prevail
through the period.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 1211 PM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026

VFR conditions are expected through this TAF period. Light
northwesterly winds under 10 kts will continue through 00z. Then
light winds will shift to southerly tonight and continue
shifting to westerly by 12z. At 15z, winds will shift to
northwesterly and increase to around 10 kts at RSL, GBD, and
SLN.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 100 PM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026

Very high to extreme fire danger is expected on Saturday and Sunday
for much of the area and a Fire Weather Watch has been posted. Hot
and very dry air will combine with 15 to 25 mph winds on Saturday
afternoon. A cold front will arrive on Sunday shifting winds to the
northwest while above average temperatures and dry weather persist.

A very high fire danger may return for parts of the area as we move
into next week with very dry conditions and breezy winds during
the afternoon hours.

&&

.CLIMATE...
Issued at 103 PM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026

Record highs are likely on Friday, and maybe Saturday.

Friday (3/20):
Wichita: Forecast - 88, Record - 89 (2017)
Salina: Forecast -  87, Record - 86 (1934)
Chanute: Forecast - 87, Record - 87 (2017)
Russell: Forecast - 87, Record - 85 (1953)

Saturday (3/21):
Wichita: Forecast - 90, Record - 92 (1916)
Salina:  Forecast - 91, Record - 96 (1907)
Chanute: Forecast - 88, Record - 95 (1916)
Russell: Forecast - 92, Record - 85 (1997)

&&

.ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Fire Weather Watch from Saturday afternoon through Sunday
evening for KSZ032-033-047>053-067>070-082-083-091>094-098.

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...MWM
AVIATION...GC
FIRE WEATHER...MWM
CLIMATE...MWM