FXUS63 KICT 201738 AFDICT Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Wichita KS 1238 PM CDT Fri Mar 20 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Well above normal temperatures are expected today and Saturday with record highs possible. - A cold front on Sunday will bring near normal temperatures through Monday with continued dry conditions. - Warmer air will quickly return after a brief cooldown with above normal values through mid-week. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 202 AM CDT Fri Mar 20 2026 Currently, a significant ridge is dominating the weather pattern across the western CONUS with northwesterly flow across the Central Plains aloft. At the surface, a high pressure is centered over the Rockies with a weak low pressure system entering the Great Lakes Region. The unusually strong ridge will continue to influence the weather over the Sunflower State leading to near record highs across the region for today and Saturday. Afternoon highs will top out in the upper 80s and lower 90s under mostly sunny conditions. Then on Sunday, a shortwave trough will dip across the northern tier of the U.S. and will push a cold frontal boundary across the Plains early in the day. This will lead to quite the temperature disparity across the forecast area. Behind the front in Central Kansas, high temperatures will only reach to around 70 degrees. Whereas ahead of the front in Southeastern Kansas, afternoon highs will top out in the middle to upper 80s. Behind the frontal boundary, strong northerly winds are anticipated leading to another day of elevated fire danger. Temperatures on Monday will be near normal with highs in the middle 60s for nearly all locations. As we move into Tuesday through the middle of the week, ridging will build back in over the region leading to another warm-up with temperatures reaching into the 70s and lower 80s. A few lingering clouds are expected on Tuesday as the previous system exits to the east, but by Wednesday and Thursday, mostly clear and dry conditions will prevail. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY/... Issued at 1231 PM CDT Fri Mar 20 2026 VFR conditions are expected through this TAF period. Northerly winds around 10 kts at RSL, GBD, and SLN will continue through this evening with southerly winds at ICT shifting to northerly around 21z. Winds will become light and variable after 00z then shift to southwesterly by 15z. At RSL, GBD, and SLN, southwesterly winds will increase to around 15 kts with gusts up to 25-30kts by early Saturday afternoon. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 202 AM CDT Fri Mar 20 2026 Elevated fire danger is expected for both Saturday and Sunday across much of the area and a Fire Weather Watch remains in effect. Near record warm temperatures combined with very low RH values and breezy southerly winds will cause Very High to Extreme fire danger on Saturday afternoon, especially across Central Kansas. Then, a cold front on Sunday will bring gusty northerly winds up to 35 mph at times. RH values will remain quite low and temperatures will remain at, or just above, normal. These conditions will support widespread Very High to Extreme fire danger areawide on Sunday. As temperatures rebound by mid-week, we could see a resurgence of elevated fire danger during the afternoon hours with breezy winds and continued dry conditions. && .CLIMATE... Issued at 103 PM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026 Record highs are likely on Friday, and possible Saturday. Friday (3/20): Wichita: Forecast - 87, Record - 89 (2017) Salina: Forecast - 88, Record - 86 (1934) Chanute: Forecast - 88, Record - 87 (2017) Russell: Forecast - 87, Record - 85 (1953) Saturday (3/21): Wichita: Forecast - 91, Record - 92 (1916) Salina: Forecast - 94, Record - 96 (1907) Chanute: Forecast - 90, Record - 95 (1916) Russell: Forecast - 94, Record - 85 (1997) && .ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Red Flag Warning from noon to 10 PM CDT Saturday for KSZ032- 033-047>053-067>070-082-083-091>094-098. Fire Weather Watch from Saturday evening through Sunday evening for KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100. && $$ DISCUSSION...AMD AVIATION...GC FIRE WEATHER...AMD CLIMATE...AMD