Storm Team 12: Blizzard for the northwest, rain/storms east

Thursday will be the last warm, relatively quiet weather day for a while here in Kansas ahead of an approaching winter storm set to plow into our area Friday. Look for thicker clouds by afternoon and gusty southerly winds along with highs in the 50s to around 60 degrees for this Ground Hog's Day.

A powerful storm system is set to out of the southwestern U.S. and into Kansas Thursday. The potent system will be a weather player for us through Saturday. Winter storm watches cover most of western and northern Kansas where significant snowfall and wind that will accompany the storm.

Widespread rain and scattered thunderstorms will develop Thursday night. Severe weather is not expected but small hail and heavy downpours will be possible into Friday morning. Snow and blowing snow are on the way to northwestern Kansas Friday with heavy snow expected at times.

Snowfall totals 10-12 inches are possible north of I-70 in northwest corner of our state with amounts dropping off rapidly farther to the southeast. Hutch and Wichita most likely won't get any accumulating snow.

Saturday will be windy and cold but calmer conditions are expected Sunday with some sunshine returning.

You can find updates on the approaching winter storm on Eyewitness News, right here at KWCH.com and your 24-7 source for weather information, Always on Storm Team 12 channel 12.2 and Cox Digital 675.
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Wichita Area Forecast:

Today:  Increasing clouds; still mild.  Wind: SE 10-20; gusty late.  High: 61.

Tonight:  Cloudy; rain/storms developing late. Wind: SE 10-20; gusty.  Low: 47.

Tomorrow:  Breezy, cooler; rain and isolated storms likely.  Wind:  SE/NE 15-25; gusty.  High: 55.

Tomorrow night:  Rain mixing with snow at times; breezy and colder.  Wind: NE/N 10-20; gusty.  Low: 34.

Sat:  High:  41    Cloudy; rain/snow mix early then mostly cloudy, windy, cold.
Sun:  High:  43    Low:  27   Becoming partly cloudy; still breezy.
Mon:  High:  47    Low:  24   Mostly sunny.
Tue:  High:  45    Low:  25   Sunny.
Wed:  High:  48    Low:  26   Partly cloudy, breezy.
Thu:  High:  40  Low: 20  Sunny but cooler.