A tornado watch was issued Monday night for areas of Kansas and Missouri just north of Kansas City, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). The watch, which is in effect until midnight, encompasses the northwest corner of Missouri as far south as St. Joseph and the northeast corner of Kansas as far southwest as Topeka and Junction City. Smaller parts of Iowa and Nebraska near the state lines with Missouri and Kansas will also be affected.
Wind speeds in the storm watch area could reach a staggering 75 mph, with apple-sized hail possible in some areas, as per the NWS. Scattered tornadoes are also possible within the coverage area, raising concerns among residents and officials alike.
In addition to the tornado watch, a severe thunderstorm warning was issued on Monday night for areas north of the Kansas City metro. Locations such as Platte City, Leavenworth, and northern regions extending as far as Potter, Nebraska, and Iatan, Missouri, could experience heavy rain, accompanied by winds of up to 60 mph and potential quarter-sized hail.
As the evening progressed, the NWS continued to monitor the situation closely, issuing updates on severe thunderstorm warnings and tornado watches across several counties in northeast Kansas. By 9:40 p.m., the severe thunderstorm warning for Jefferson County had expired, but the warning had been extended until 9:45 p.m. just moments before.
Earlier in the evening, thunderstorm warnings were issued for Jackson and Shawnee Counties until 9:15 p.m. and for Jefferson County until 9:30 p.m. These warnings were part of a broader alert that included severe thunderstorm warnings for Dickinson, Geary, Jackson, Pottawatomie, Shawnee, and Wabaunsee Counties, which were in effect until 9 p.m.
As the storm system moved through, the NWS also confirmed that severe thunderstorm warnings for Jackson, Pottawatomie, and Riley Counties had been cancelled due to improving conditions. However, tornado warnings for Brown, Marshall, and Nemaha Counties were also cancelled, indicating a slight easing of the severe weather threat in those areas.
Despite these cancellations, the NWS maintained warnings for several counties, including Pottawatomie County until 8 p.m. and Geary County until 8:15 p.m. The thunderstorm warning for Jefferson County had expired by this point, but the threat of severe weather remained as storms continued to roll through the region.
At 7:45 p.m., the NWS reported that a severe thunderstorm warning for Dickinson and Jackson Counties was in effect until 7:30 p.m., while warnings for Geary and Jefferson Counties were set to continue until 7:45 p.m. Residents were advised to remain vigilant and prepared for rapidly changing conditions.
Earlier in the day, at 5:40 p.m., the NWS had cancelled the severe thunderstorm warning for Clay County but continued warnings for Marshall, Riley, and Geary Counties until 6:15 p.m. A severe thunderstorm warning had also been issued for Riley County until 6:15 p.m., with the NWS indicating that the storm could produce winds of 60 mph and hail up to 1.75 inches in diameter.
As the storm system continued to develop, the NWS issued additional severe thunderstorm warnings for Clay and Dickinson Counties at 5 p.m. on April 28, which included possible winds of 60 mph and hail measuring up to 1.5 inches.
The tornado watches issued by the NWS covered several counties, including Brown, Dickinson, Geary, Jackson, Jefferson, Marshall, Morris, Nemaha, Pottawatomie, Riley, Shawnee, and Wabaunsee Counties until midnight on April 28. This extensive coverage highlights the widespread nature of the severe weather threat facing the region.
As the night wore on, residents were encouraged to stay tuned for updates from the NWS and local news outlets. The potential for severe weather, including tornadoes and damaging winds, kept many on edge as they braced for what the night might bring.
In the face of such uncertainty, communities across Kansas and Missouri prepared for the worst, ensuring that they had emergency supplies ready and that they were aware of safe places to take shelter should the need arise. The NWS emphasized the importance of staying informed and taking precautions during severe weather events.
This story is still developing, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available. For those in the affected areas, it is crucial to remain alert and prepared as the storm system continues to move through the region.