The National Weather Service has issued a couple of tornado warnings for segments of central Kansas.
The warnings cover portions of Kiowa, Edwards and Reno counties for thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes. Meteorologist Leon Wasinger said landspouts, or “gustnadoes,” are the most likely threat from the storms.
Landspouts are typically weak and short-lived, but residents should nonetheless seek shelter as a precaution.
The storms are moving slowly, at 10 to 15 miles an hour.
WICHITA – The metropolitan area can expect heavy rain tonight, forecasters say – so much so that a flood watch has been issued for portions of central and southern Kansas through Wednesday morning.
Wichita and much of southern Kansas can expect anywhere from 1 to 3 inches of rain tonight, said Chris Jakub, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Wichita.
“We need the rain,” Jakub said.
Wichita has had less than .15 of an inch since mid-May. The rainfall should reach the metro area by 6 p.m., Jakub said.
A tornado has been reported on the ground about 7 miles southwest of Dodge City.
Normally, that would be cause for grave concern in Dodge, since tornadoes typically move northeast. But this tornado is moving south…and very slowly at that.
That track is taking it through rural areas of Ford County, where rural homesteads will be at risk.
WICHITA – Summer thunderstorms are likely in portions of Kansas today and tonight, forecasters warn.
Heavy rain is possible with the storms, prompting the National Weather Service in Wichita to issue a flood watch for 20 Kansas counties from 1 p.m. today until Wednesday morning. The watch includes the Wichita metropolitan area.
While small hail and winds of up to 60 miles an hour are possible with the strongest storms later today, forecasters say, the most serious threat appears to be locally heavy rains.
Highs today in the Wichita area will be in the low 80s under mostly cloudy skies. Wednesday will be cloudy and much cooler, forecasters say, with highs in the low 70s in Wichita.