Hail, record heat & high winds are in the Wichita-area forecast. Here’s when
The Wichita area could see a blend of hail, high gusts, record heat and thunderstorms in the coming days, starting with the potential for severe weather Wednesday night.
There is a slight chance of rain and thunderstorms starting after 7 p.m. Wednesday, with chances increasing around 10 p.m. before waning early Thursday morning. The storm could also bring 50 mph gusts and dime to quarter-sized hail. Wind gusts had already reached 40 by noon.
Wichita falls into a swath of Kansas that is under a one for risk of severe storms. The range goes from zero to five, with five being the highest chance.
As that storm moves on, the Wichita area then could see a record high of 93 degrees on Thursday afternoon. The previous April 17 record for Wichita was 92 degrees in 2006. Records in Wichita go back to the 1880s.
“If Wichita reaches 90 degrees Thursday, it’ll be about 1 to 1.5 months earlier than a typical year,” the National Weather Service in Wichita said. “Also, it would tie for Wichita’s 15th earliest 90-degree day since 1889, and the 4th earliest since 1980.”
The earliest date for a 90-degree weather was March 19, 1907; the latest was July 11, 1908, the NWS said.
Salina and Russell could also set a record for April 17; Chanute will be close as well. Those sites along with Wichita are the four official weather sites in Kansas.
High fire risks in Kansas
Additionally, low humidity and a strong southwest wind will also put a chunk of Kansas, between around Wichita and Chanute and then spanning north and south along the whole state, in a “very high fire danger” on Thursday, the NWS said. The largest concern is from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. when winds will be between 20-30 mph with gusts between 40-45 mph.
“Outdoor burning is highly discouraged and any fire that starts will be difficult to control,” the NWS said.
West of Wichita will be in an extreme fire danger.
Friday, around Wichita, is expected to see a high of around 70 degrees with a 40% chance of thunderstorms in the evening. Saturday has a high of 57 degrees with a chance of rain and thunderstorms. There is a 60% chance of rain in the evening.
Sunday will have a high near 60 degrees and 50% chance of rain before the chances taper off. Rain is also possible Monday night and Tuesday.