Two main forecast issues for the rest of the weekend involve temps: the first, what will temps be like over the remaining snowpack southeast of K-61 highway; and two, the timing of the polar cold front Monday night into Tuesday.
Should continue to see a good deal of melting this afternoon, as temps warm into the lower 40s, about 3-5 degrees cooler toward Wichita. Winds will turn to the south and by late day, we’ll have a fresh breeze going to 25 mph at times. Clear skies and the breeze continue tonight, with a low down to 30 in non-snow-covered areas, 25 or 26 where snow remains.
Much warmer weather is in store for Sunday and the snow should all be gone as temps warm into the 60s. Will need to watch for high fire danger northwest of K-61 highway as winds will gust to 30 mph.
The polar front has slowed down in recent model runs, which means that Monday has the potential to be a few degrees warmer, with highs getting into the mid 60s. Some locations near I-70 and into southwest Kansas could breach 70 degrees.
The front is forecasted to move into the state during the late afternoon hours Monday, reaching the I-70 corridor Monday evening, the K-61 corridor Monday night, and Kansas Turnpike corridor early Tuesday morning, before exiting the state around sunrise Tuesday. Behind that, winds will turn to the north and become windy…with gusts to 35 mph. Temps Monday night will fall into the mid-teens.
Tuesday through Thursday will have highs only in the teens and 20s, with lows in the single digits. There is the potential for some light accumulating snow Wednesday night into Thursday, however, it does not look to be a big deal at this time. We’ll keep a watch on it, however.
A developing ridge of high pressure should support a modest warming trend by next weekend.
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