Big chill arriving soon - rain chance returning soon

We've made it to Thursday and the weather is about to get colder across the area. It's really hard to believe that last week at this time we were headed for 80s and 90s. We've had 21 days with above normal temperatures in October. We will see what the final number comes out to be, but there is still a chance for this month to rank in the top 10 warmest Octobers on record.

A cold front has moved across Kansas this morning, and summer weather is gone. It's time to start thinking about disconnecting the garden hose from the house and getting ready for our first night with sub-freezing temperatures. A hard freeze is likely for much of the area Saturday morning. There is a big chunk of colder, Canadian air that will continue it's southward push into Halloween. You can see on the regional map that Kansas is caught between warmer air west over the Rockies and the big cold plunge just east of us. Trick-or-treating temperatures will be in the 40s with decreasing winds around the area. 

Get ready for a windy weekend around the state, but it should be dry. The forecast models have been hinting at a sprinkle Saturday afternoon for some of south central and eastern Kansas, but it definitely won't be anything more than that.

Rain setup for next week

Our next best chance for moisture comes in early next week. A stalled front Monday afternoon will help develop some rain (and a few thunderstorms) from southwest into central and southern Kansas. I know that not everyone needs moisture, but there are several areas over southern Kansas that need the rain. Forecast models show over an inch of rain from Coldwater to Hutchinson to Emporia. So let's watch this closely over the next few days and see if anything changes. It would be great to have a nice, soaking rainfall before winter gets here.