Strengthening low pressure over northeast Colorado will result in a strong surface pressure gradient over western Kansas today.

This will bring strong, gusty southerly winds to southwest Kansas this afternoon. Look for winds to increase into the 25 to 35 mph range with gusts to 45 mph possible. A dryline will develop over far western Kansas this afternoon and this will act as a focus for possible isolated to widely scattered late afternoon thunderstorms. Any storms that develop could be capable of producing penny to nickel size hail and wind gusts of 45 to 55 mph.

A cold front will push southeast across western Kansas on Saturday. There will be a chance for thunderstorms mainly over central and south central Kansas along the front during the afternoon and evening.

Today: Sunny, with a high near 93. Very windy, with a south wind 17 to 20 mph increasing to between 28 and 31 mph. Winds could gust as high as 41 mph.

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 63. Very windy, with a south wind 27 to 30 mph decreasing to between 18 and 21 mph.

Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 4pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. South wind 11 to 16 mph becoming west northwest.

Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53. North northwest wind between 13 and 15 mph.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 76. North northeast wind between 10 and 13 mph.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 52.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 81.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 58.

Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny and breezy, with a high near 86.