Severe storms expected tonight, unsettled this week

The Storm Prediction Center has issued a TORNADO WATCH through 3 AM TUESDAY. Please make sure you have multiple ways of receiving weather warnings while sleeping overnight, including the FREE KSN Storm Track weather app.

A rather potent storm system is taking over the Plains through tonight. Moisture has locked in significantly ahead of a dryline in western Kansas and a warm front positioned to the north.

Right now, there is a lot of warmth aloft which will suppress thunderstorm development until closer to sundown.

After 7 PM our window opens with isolated thunderstorms trying to form in western Kansas.

All forms of severe weather are possible, including a few tornadoes.

This activity will work together and form a squall line, tracking to the northeast, with an increasing damaging wind threat. Additional thunderstorms will develop as the main piece of energy arrives overnight. Storms may not impact the Wichita area until after midnight or even later.

Any storms will quickly race out of our viewing area by dawn Tuesday, producing more widespread severe weather East of us.

Winds will continue to be a problem. A Wind Advisory is in effect where gusts to 45 MPH are possible through this evening.

We also have High Wind Alerts through Tuesday to the west where gusts may exceed 60 MPH!

Any leftover rain showers around the backside of this system favor spots near the Kansas/Nebraska states line into Tuesday.

We then have another system to contend with Wednesday night into Thursday. This will drop our temperatures the rest of the week.

Depending on timing Thursday, some storms may be severe across eastern and especially southeastern Kansas.

Another system aligns for late Friday into Saturday. This looks even chillier for us with temperatures well below the norm. Some snow may also mix in farther northwest into Saturday morning.

From there, we get quiet until the middle of next week. It will not be until next Tuesday before temps return to a more seasonable stance.

We will need to watch for any stronger storms the middle of next week as the moisture content of the atmosphere returns to the region with elevated instability.

KSN Storm Track 3 Forecast from Chief Meteorologist Lisa Teachman:
Wichita:
Tonight: Mostly cloudy, windy. 80% chance of showers and storms. Lo: 61 Wind: SE/SW 15-30
Tomorrow: Mostly to partly cloudy, windy. 20% chance of showers. Hi: 79 Wind: SW 15-30
Tomorrow Night: Partly cloudy to mostly clear, windy. Lo: 52 Wind: SW/NW 10-25

Wichita Weekly
Wed: Hi: 77 Lo: 53 Mostly sunny to partly cloudy, breezy.
Thu: Hi: 72 Lo: 43 Mostly to partly cloudy, windy. 20% chance of showers and storms.
Fri: Hi: 62 Lo: 41 Partly cloudy, breezy.
Sat: Hi: 58 Lo: 39 Mostly cloudy, breezy. 20% chance of rain.
Sun: Hi: 63 Lo: 42 Partly cloudy.
Mon: Hi: 65 Lo: 49 Partly cloudy, windy.