Wichita, part of KS to be in catastrophic fire risk as ‘bomb cyclone’ storm moves across US
Wichita and part of southeast Kansas will be under a catastrophic fire risk — the highest risk possible under the grassland fire danger index — as a unique weather event called a “bomb cyclone” makes its way across the Great Plains.
The three biggest factors are the brown grass, low humidity and expected high winds. Winds are expected to pick up around 10 a.m. Friday and wane around 7 p.m. Sustained winds are expected to be around 30 to 35 mph with gusts approaching 50 to 55 mph.
Vannessa Pearce, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Wichita, said the catastrophic rating typically happens in the area once or twice a year, usually in the spring.
The elevated fire danger will also stretch south into central Texas and into western Missouri.
Eastern Missouri has more moisture in the air and is more likely to see thunderstorms.
The weather system making its way across the country is a “bomb cyclone,” formally known as bombogenesis. This weather phenomenon is a “fast developing storm that occurs when atmospheric pressure drops at least 24 millibars over a 24-hour period,” the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said.
Wichita’s pressure is expected to drop from around 1007 millibar to around 975, Pearce said, adding the Wichita area has seen a bomb cyclone in past years but she didn’t know exactly when.
The storm entered California and the West Coast on Wednesday, bringing heavy rain and mudslides that prompted evacuations in Los Angeles, according to CNN.
The storm will continue to move across the country, hitting eastern states this weekend. Some of the biggest concerns will be heavy rains, but some areas could also see hail and even tornadoes, forecasters say.
Wichita will see a high of around 83 degrees on Friday.
Behind the storm, a cold front will move into the Wichita area, bringing highs in the high 50s and low 60s on Saturday and Sunday before a high of around 78 degrees on Monday. Normal highs for this time of year are in the high 50s to low 60s.
This story was originally published March 12, 2025 at 6:29 PM.