A line of storms is moving through the Wichita as the evening unfolds, bringing with it heavy rain, intense lightning, strong winds and small hail. Several tornadoes have been reported around the state, including Stafford and Butler counties, though no structural damage has been reported.
Winds of more than 80 miles an hour have been reported in the Lindsborg area. These storms are slow moving and could produce prodigious rainfall amonts as they move through.
Multiple tornadoes have been reported in Butler County south and east of El Dorado tonight.
While no damage reports have come in, the thunderstorms in Butler County have a history of producing tornadoes. One tornado was reported near El Dorado Lake moving northeast. Another tornado has been reported 2 miles west of Rosalia, tracking northeast.
A tornado warning has been issued for western Reno County because of a thunderstorm with radar-indicated rotation.
Radar is indicating rotation in strong thunderstorms in Butler, Marion and Stafford counties, prompting the National Weather Service to issue tornado warnings.
Large hail has been reported in El Dorado. Any tornado is likely to be hidden within heavy rain, officials said.
The tornado warning in Stafford County states that the storm is moving northeast toward St. John and rural areas nearby. Meteorologists are warning that any tornado may well be rain-wrapped and difficult to see.
The Marion County thunderstorm with rotation is near Florence and moving toward Cedar Point. Authorities are urging residents to seek shelter.
…..a tornado touched down about 4 miles west of Maple City at 1:49 a.m. today.
That would have placed it perhaps 10 miles east of Arkansas City. The tornado was reported by a law enforcement officer. It didn’t last long, and no damage has been reported.
More overnight tornadoes are possible tonight, National Weather Service meteorologist Chris Jakub said, though the most likely severe weather threat for the Wichita area will be strong winds, large hail and heavy rain.
The tornado near Maple City was one of 4 reported in Kansas yesterday. Two were reported in Haskell County in far western Kansas, and the other was reported in Comanche County 3 miles north of Wilmore.
Wichita storm chaser Robin Lorenson found herself in Nebraska chasing supercell thunderstorms, and sent me this picturesque photo from that day. It is just one of several images from that day.
The Storm Prediction Center has upgraded most of Kansas – including the Wichita metropolitan area – to a moderate risk for severe weather.
Conditions will create “a risk of a few tornadoes during the early evening,” SPC officials warn. “However, the main threats appear to be very large hail and damaging winds as storms organize and track eastward across much of Kansas.”
A stalled front is expected to trigger strong thunderstorms around Kansas – including the Wichita area – later today, forecasters warn.
Heavy rain, hail as large as golf balls and even a few tornadoes are expected with the storms. Highs should reach the upper 80s under mostly cloudy skies in the Wichita area. Winds are calm this morning, but will gain strength as the unfolds, gusting to above 25 miles an hour from the south and southeast.
More storms are possible again Tuesday, forecasters say, but they could well be east of the Wichita metropolitan area.