Wind Advisory 7, NWS Wichita, KS

451 
WWUS73 KICT 280526
NPWICT

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Wichita KS
1226 AM CDT Sat Mar 28 2026

KSZ032-033-047>051-290000-
/O.EXT.KICT.WI.Y.0007.260328T1600Z-260329T0000Z/
Russell-Lincoln-Barton-Ellsworth-Saline-Rice-McPherson-
Including the cities of Sterling, McPherson, Wilson, Great Bend,
Ellsworth, Lincoln, Lyons, Salina, Sylvan Grove, and Russell
1226 AM CDT Sat Mar 28 2026

...WIND ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM CDT 
THIS EVENING...

* WHAT...South winds 25 to 30 mph with gusts up to around 40 mph 
  expected.

* WHERE...Barton, Ellsworth, Lincoln, McPherson, Rice, Russell, and 
  Saline Counties.

* WHEN...From 11 AM this morning to 7 PM CDT this evening.

* IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Small 
  tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high 
profile vehicles. Use extra caution.

&&

$$

Kleinsasser

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Wichita KS
628 AM CDT Fri Mar 27 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Showers/storms ending early this morning

- Stout/gusty north winds this morning, gradually weakening
  after midday.

- Cooler today and Saturday.

- Well above average temperatures once again Sunday through
  Tuesday, with record highs possible.

- Very high to extreme grassfire danger Saturday through
  Tuesday.

- Periodic chances for showers/thunderstorms late Tuesday, and
  again Wednesday night through Friday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 329 AM CDT Fri Mar 27 2026

PRECIPITATION:

EARLY THIS MORNING...A strong area of 800-600mb frontogenesis amidst
marginal elevated instability is supporting an area of showers and
thunderstorms over southern Kansas. A low-end combination of
effective shear and buoyancy will preclude severe weather, although
small hail and pockets of heavy rainfall are possible. The brunt of
this activity should exit to the south and east by 7 AM.

TUESDAY AFTERNOON--EVENING...A strong cold front slated to slam
south into the region may support another round of showers and
thunderstorms late Tuesday, especially from roughly the KS Turnpike
on southeast as advertised by the GFS and ECMWF consensus. The
overall severe threat looks marginal given a lower-end combination
of shear/buoyancy. Stay tuned as we refine forecast details in the
coming days.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT--FRIDAY...Model solutions diverge significantly
during this period, as a deep western CONUS trough begins to deepen
and eventually approach Mid-America. Differences on trough timing
and amplitude make it difficult to pinpoint precipitation chances,
timing, and areas impacted. Held onto modest precipitation chances
through this period given the overall synoptic pattern of an
approaching upper trough from the west amidst the potential for
increasing moisture/instability from the south. Increasing deep
layer shear may also support an increasing severe weather threat
sometime Thursday--Saturday. Stay tuned as we refine forecast
details in the coming days.

TEMPERATURES/WIND:

TODAY--SATURDAY...Temperatures will get back closer to seasonal
averages in wake of the strong cold front. Will continue the wind
advisory areawide through mid-late morning today, with a gradual
slackening of winds expected from about midday through early this
evening. Temperatures tonight will cool off into the low-mid 30s
amidst clear skies and lighter winds, with patchy frost possible.
Stout/gusty south winds are expected Saturday, which may push
advisory levels over central Kansas for a time Saturday afternoon.

SUNDAY--TUESDAY...A return to well above average temperatures for
March standards looks to make a resurgence, with thickness values
supporting high temperatures well into the 80s and possibly even
lower 90s, warmest Monday. Consequently, record high temperatures
are once again possible, especially Monday. Additionally, persistent
lee troughing will support continued stout/gusty south-southwest
winds each day.

LATE TUESDAY--WEDNESDAY...A strong cold front is slated to arrive by
late Tuesday, supporting another sharp cool down along with gusty
north-northeast winds.

&&

.AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z SATURDAY/...
Issued at 626 AM CDT Fri Mar 27 2026

Other than a few hours of MVFR ceilings at CNU early this
morning, VFR conditions will prevail the next 24 hours across
the region. Showers will exit far southeast Kansas early this
morning. Stout/gusty north-northeast winds will gradually begin
to subside this afternoon.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 329 AM CDT Fri Mar 27 2026

Every day through Tuesday looks to have VERY HIGH to EXTREME
grassland fire danger due to stout/gusty winds.

The days that have the greatest potential to have
extreme/critical/red flag fire danger are Saturday, Monday, and
Tuesday, due to stout/gusty south winds and well above average
temperatures. Went ahead and hoisted a fire weather watch for
Saturday. Stay tuned as we continue to refine forecast details
in the coming days.

&&

.ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Wind Advisory until 10 AM CDT this morning for KSZ032-033-
047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100.
Fire Weather Watch from Saturday morning through Saturday
evening for KSZ032-033-047>053-067-068-082.

&&

DISCUSSION...ADK
AVIATION...ADK
FIRE WEATHER...ADK

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Wichita KS
713 AM CDT Fri Mar 27 2026

KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-281215-
Russell-Lincoln-Barton-Ellsworth-Saline-Rice-McPherson-Marion-Chase-
Reno-Harvey-Butler-Greenwood-Woodson-Allen-Kingman-Sedgwick-Harper-
Sumner-Cowley-Elk-Wilson-Neosho-Chautauqua-Montgomery-Labette-
713 AM CDT Fri Mar 27 2026

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of Central Kansas,
South Central Kansas and Southeast Kansas.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Gusty north winds up to 40 mph will continue areawide through this
morning, gradually weakening after midday. These stout north winds
will support very high grassland fire danger areawide through early
to mid-evening.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday

Stout and gusty south winds along with warmer temperatures will
support very high to extreme grassland fire danger each day from
Saturday through Tuesday, with very high fire danger possibly
extending into Wednesday.

Periodic thunderstorm chances arrive Monday evening or late Tuesday
and persist through late next week. Stay tuned as we refine
forecast details in the coming days.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not anticipated today or tonight.

&&

For a graphical version of this information, see our webpage at:
https://www.weather.gov/erh/ghwo?wfo=ict