Weather

Major upgrade for local radar

A radar upgrade next year will allow meteorologists to better track severe weather — and Wichita's will be the first National Weather Service office to receive it.

First snow on the way?

Wichita could see its first snow of winter this weekend — even if it's only a few flakes. But anything that sticks around past Monday morning won't last long, forecasters say, as another warming trend is expected next week.

Ida to hit shore early today on Gulf Coast

GULF SHORES, Ala. —Squalls ahead of a rare late-season tropical storm blew in heavy rain late Monday to parts of the Gulf Coast where residents hunkered down at home and in shelters anticipating high winds and flooding.

Gulf Coast has eye on hurricane

NEW ORLEANS — Hurricane Ida, the first Atlantic hurricane to target the United States this year, is heading toward the Gulf Coast with 105 mph winds, bringing the threat of flooding and storm surges.

Pratt snowfall sets state's 24-hour record

PRATT — A blizzard that dropped 30 inches of snow on Pratt County in March will set a record for the most snow in a 24-hour period in the state's history, state climatologist Mary Knapp said.

Indian summer in Wichita

Indian summer is in full flower around the Wichita area — and forecasts suggest it plans to stick around a while. While there is no formal definition of what qualifies as an Indian summer, it's generally considered to be any period of temperatures in the 70s — or at least well above average — after the first freeze of autumn.

Lobbies urge farmers to oppose climate bill

WASHINGTON — Farm state senators and others soon will get a taste of what their colleagues from Missouri already have piled high on their desks: thousands of letters from farmers urging them to vote against the climate and energy bill.

Snow blows across Rockies for 3rd day

DENVER — An early blast of winter that blanketed some western states with heavy snow slowly worked its way out of Colorado and pushed into Nebraska on Thursday, bringing blizzard conditions to the eastern Colorado plains, causing treacherous roads, closing schools and canceling hundreds of flights.

Storm dumps snow in Rockies, Plains

DENVER — A storm bringing the first heavy snows of autumn to a large swath of the Rockies and western Plains crippled parts of Colorado and Wyoming on Wednesday, forcing road closures and sending students home early as the region battled up to 2 feet of snow but braced for twice that.

Winter will be typical, say forecasts

The coldest October in Wichita history and a robust storm that brought snow and near-blizzard conditions to northwest Kansas last week likely has local folks shuddering about the upcoming winter.

Today, colors will fall

The curtain may fall today on the opening act of a particularly vibrant autumn foliage season in the Wichita area, brought down by the same storm system that dumped several inches of snow in parts of northwest Kansas.

El Nino to be major player this winter

WASHINGTON — The Midwest and northern United States are likely to get a warmer winter, while the Southeast can expect just the opposite: cooler and wetter conditions.

First freeze might come early: tonight

Put a pot of chili on the stove and bring in any plants you want to save from frost.

Valley Center pair is part of Discovery's 'Storm Chasers' team

Opportunity can knock at the most unexpected times. Just ask Valley Center friends Brandon Ivey and Matt Hughes. The Discovery Channel program "Storm Chasers" needed someone who could forecast weather and help position other chasers during violent weather outbreaks for the new season of the cable show. "It was like a dream come true," Ivey said.

Wind forecast

Frost/freeze

Satellite height

Chilly weather in Wichita

Summer 2009