| Fire impact predictions only available from March 1, 2025 through May 1, 2025. Forecasts are updated daily at 1:00 p.m. Central Time. | View as: Map | Table |
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| Forecast Discussion | Extended Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday, April 29: Scattered showers and thunderstorms throughout the afternoon and evening will limit smoke production from potential fires. However, an aloft inversion will keep mixing heights low throughout most of the day over eastern Kansas, reducing ventilation and confining smoke from potential fires to the lower levels of the atmosphere. At the surface, high pressure passing to the north will generate northeasterly winds during the afternoon, transporting smoke from potential fires in the west-central Flint Hills into Wichita. By the evening, east-northeasterly winds will carry additional smoke into Wichita from potential fires in the central and east-central Flint Hills.
Wednesday, April 30: Continued showers and thunderstorms will hinder smoke production from potential fires. However, the layer of warm air aloft will persist, producing low mixing heights throughout the afternoon and evening across the Flint Hills. At the surface, southerly to south-southwesterly winds will carry smoke from potential fires in the central and eastern Flint Hills into Topeka during the afternoon and evening. In the far southwestern Flint Hills, southerly to southeasterly winds will transport smoke from potential fires into Wichita. As the inversion strengthens by 9 p.m., smoke from potential fires will become trapped at the surface. |
This forecast is for air quality impacts only.
May 1, 2025: Improving conditions for burning are expected. May 2, 2025: Improving conditions for burning are expected. May 3, 2025: Worsening conditions for burning are expected. May 4, 2025: Worsening conditions for burning are expected. |