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Wichita's weather is influenced, like
most weather in the Great Plains, by warm air masses, laden with moisture,
moving north from the Gulf of Mexico. These warm air masses meet and interact
with colder air which pushes south from Arctic regions. The point of collision
between the two air masses is determined by where the jet stream, a west to
east flow of air in the upper atmosphere, is located. In many respects, the jet
stream forms a boundary, in some cases a barricade, to either of the two air
masses.
A significant element of weather in Wichita which affects both
temperature extremes is the wind. Even on the hottest days of summer, when
temperatures can rise to over 100 degrees, a prevailing wind from the south
(and relatively low humidities) keep the heat from becoming oppressive. In the
winter, the same wind can bring wind chills to well below zero one day and
almost spring-like weather the next. Still, weather extremes don't usually last
very long, normally only a few days.
Known for the presence of
tornados, Kansas is free of earthquakes, hurricanes, smog and tidal waves.
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