The Storm Prediction Center has posted a moderate risk of severe weather for much of central Kansas today, and Wichita is included in the slight risk area.
The tornado threat has diminished for most of Kansas from earlier projections, though large hail remains a possibility for those areas where storms develop and move.
The National Weather Service has rated the brief tornado that struck southern Russell south of I-70 Friday night as an EF2, which means it had winds of up to 135 miles an hour. One person was injured by the tornado.
Tornado striking south Russell. Photo by Jill Seguin, courtesy of the National Weather Service
Here’s a map of the tornado’s track. It touched down at about 9:45 a.m. and was only on the ground for about 800 feet, though at one point it was as much as a quarter-mile wide.
Another tornado touched down south of the small town of Gorham, which is about 8 miles west of Russell and just north of I-70. Fortunately, it stayed out in open country.
Serpentine tornado near Gorham on May 25. Photo by Haden Frank, courtesy of the National Weather Service
Several other brief tornadoes were reported in the area, weather officials say.