Weather Channel

Showers and thunderstorms will continue to move eastward across the state tonight as an upper level storm system moves through.  Clearing will work into the west behind the system and lows will fall into the upper 30s to lower 40s.  Mostly cloudy skies will prevail in the east after Midnight with lows in the middle to upper 40s. Saturday looks absolutely gorgeous with returning sunshine and highs mostly in the 70s.  The warmest temperatures will...

Areas of rain, and a few embedded thunderstorms, will move across Kansas from west to east throughout the day but severe weather is not expected.  Rainfall amounts will likely be less than half-an-inch.  The clouds and rain will hold temperatures down a bit as afternoon highs only climb into the upper-50s and lower-60s. Dry, warmer weather is expected for our weekend with highs in the mid to upper-70s Saturday and even some lower-80s for western Kansas Sunday. Next week will start off breezy, warm and dry Monday followed by another cold front and more rain/storm chances late Tuesday followed by much cooler temps Wednesday.

As the skies clear overnight, the temperatures will drop to record levels around the state. Freeze warnings are in effect for much of the state with overnight temperatures dropping into the teens and 20s. The wind will diminish through the night as temperatures drop. The record low for Wichita is 31, Salina 28, Russell 29, Dodge City 26, and Goodland 21. Sunshine will be back for Wednesday with temperatures back in the mid and upper 50s by the end of the afternoon. The Kansas wind should be less than 20 mph from the west or southwest.

After seeing temperatures return to springlike numbers, another change is on the way to our area for the start of next week. Clouds will be around Kansas tonight, but other than a sprinkle, dry conditions should be expected. The wind will remain from the south and lows will fall back into the 40s overnight, except in the northwest where some upper 30s should be expected. Sunday could see a few sprinkles in the morning, but during the afternoon, the clouds will thin out, allowing for a little more sun and temperatures will reach the mid and upper 60s. South winds could be a little gusty in the afternoon.

Rains and thunderstorms raced out of eastern Kansas early Thursday morning while bands of snow lingered for a time over the west. Snow totals ranged from 2-4 inches around northwest Kansas where gusty north winds and blowing snow closed I-70 west of Goodland for a time early this morning. Afternoon highs will only climb into the 30s and low 40s and with wicked northerly winds, gusting over 40 mph at times, wind chills will be in the 10s and 20s most of the day. The strong storm system should pull away from the Plains Friday and into the weekend allowing afternoon highs to climb back into the 50s and 60s. _________________ Wichita Area Forecast:   ** Wind Advisory until 8 p.m. - Freeze Warning 10 p.m. - 9 a.m. Friday ** This afternoon:   Mostly cloudy, very windy.

Scattered storms are expected southeast of the Kansas Turnpike through the evening, but only a few of them will have a chance of becoming severe. Most of the rain will exit Kansas early Monday morning as a front stalls over Oklahoma and Missouri. Temperatures Monday morning will start out in the 30s for central and western Kansas, with low to mid 40s in south central Kansas. The wind is expected to be light. A mix of sun and clouds should be expected Monday afternoon.

The warming trend will continue into the weekend with afternoon highs inching closer to normal for mid April. Overnight, clouds will thin out, so mostly clear conditions should be expected. A hard freeze is expected for the state with lows in the upper 20s to near 30. The winds will back off from the northwest. Friday looks a little warmer statewide. Highs will reach the mid and upper 50s, except in the southwest where low 60s will return for the afternoon. The wind will be from the north, but wind speeds will be less than 20 mph. There will be a chance for rain showers late Friday night or Saturday morning, especially over southern Kansas.

Althought some patchy freezing drizzle is still possible this evening over central and eastern Kansas, conditions will be improving as the latest storm system lifts to the northeast of Kansas. Overnight temperatures will fall well below freezing, so some elevated surfaces may still be slick. The precipitation will be over with and lows will drop into the teens northwest, with low to mid 20s elsewhere. Clouds will break for some sunshine Thursday afternoon. The wind will stay out of the northwest, but will not be as strong as the last few days.