By Meteorologist Mark Larson KWCH 12 Eyewitness News

12:39 p.m. CDT, March 22, 2013
This afternoon will be dry with some peeks of sunshine developing. Highs could reach the lower-50s over the southwest with mid and upper-40s expected elsewhere. Our winds will shift to the east and should be a bit lighter than they were Thursday.

Friday night a powerful winter storm will move closer to Kansas. Look for rain to develop Friday night then change to snow over northwest Kansas by early Saturday morning. The winter storm will move through our area Saturday and early Sunday bringing most of Kansas rain early Saturday morning, changing to all snow by afternoon. Blowing snow and accumulations of 6-8 inches look likely for central and northern Kansas, with some spots in northwest Kansas expected to receive 8-10 inches or more. Amounts will be a bit lower over the southern third of our state with Wichita picking up 3-6 inches by daybreak Sunday.

The moderate to heavy snow and blowing snow will make driving difficult Saturday evening through early Sunday morning. Stay tuned for updates as the storm approaches.

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Wichita Area Forecast:

This afternoon:  Becoming partly cloudy and cool.  Wind: N/NE 5-15.  High: 50.

Tonight:  Increasing clouds; showers/light rain late. Wind: NE/E 5-15.  Low: 34.

Tomorrow:  Breezy; colder. Rain changing to snow.  Wind: E/NE 15-25; gusty.  High: 39.

Tomorrow night:  Periods of moderate to heavy snow and blowing snow.  Wind: NE 15-25; gusty.  Low: 28.

Sun:  High:  36   a.m. snow; (4 to 6" possible); then mostly cloudy, windy, cold.
Mon:  High:  41  Low: 23   Partly cloudy and chilly.
Tue:  High:  46  Low: 21   Partly cloudy to mostly sunny.
Wed:  High:  51  Low: 26   Mostly sunny to partly cloudy; breezy.
Thu:  High:  56  Low: 33   Partly cloudy, breezy and warmer.
Fri:  High:  55  Low: 34   Mostly sunny.


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