Category Archives: Thunderstorms

Severe weather threat update

18 May, 20138:15 a.m.

Strong storms with the potential for large hail and tornadoes are possible this weekend around Kansas, forecasters say.

By Stan Finger | Filed under Hail, Thunderstorms, Tornadoes | Comments

Moderate risk of baseball-sized hail and tornadoes in northwest Kansas, southwest Nebraska

17 May, 20131:42 p.m.

The Storm Prediction Center in Norman has upgraded the storm threat in northwest Kansas and southwest Nebraska to moderate for Saturday.

Forecasting models are suggesting conditions in that sector will support the development of tornadoes and large hail – as big as baseballs in some cases.

Among the cities included in the moderate are Hays, Stockton, Colby, Hill City, Atwood and Norton.

Suzanne Fortin, meteorologist in charge of the National Weather Service in Wichita, said she wouldn’t be surprised if the moderate zone for Saturday is eventually increased to include Russell and Rush counties in central Kansas.

By Stan Finger | Filed under Hail, Thunderstorms, Tornadoes | Comments

Severe thunderstorm watch for central Kansas – including Wichita

8 May, 20134:01 p.m.

The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for 28 counties in central Kansas until 11 p.m.

Wichita, Hutchinson, Pratt, Russell, Salina, Wellington, Dodge City, Great Bend and Newton are included in the watch area.

Counties in the watch Barber, Barton, Clark, Comanche, Edwards, Ellis, Ellsworth, Ford, Harper, Harvey, Hodgeman, Kingman, Kiowa, Lincoln, McPherson, Meade, Ness, Pawnee, Pratt, Reno, Rice, Rush, Russell, Saline, Sedgwick, Stafford, Sumner and Trego.

By Stan Finger | Filed under Thunderstorms | Comments

Rainfall totals from Wichita area’s overnight thunderstorms

8 May, 20132:54 p.m.

Raise your hand if you were awakened by the thunderstorms early Wednesday morning in the Wichita metropolitan area. I know I wasn’t alone.

Here’s a map showing rainfall totals as of 7 a.m. It was created by the Wichita branch of the National Weather Service.

Officially, Wichita recorded .58 of an inch from the overnight storm. That brings the precipitation for the year to 10.14 inches. That’s 1.92 inches above normal, according to meteorologist Ken Cook.

With rain possibilities in the forecast for the next several days, Wichita could see that total climb nicely.

But Cook added a note of perspective: last year at this same time, Wichita had recorded 13.38 inches.

“And then the rain shut off,” he said.

That set the stage for the flash drought that ravaged crops and prompted cities to set water use restrictions.

Dating back to 2010, Cook said, Wichita still has a precipitation deficit of more than 20 inches.

By Stan Finger | Filed under Drought, Rain, Thunderstorms | Comments

Severe thunderstorm watch for western Kansas

8 May, 20132:41 p.m.

The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for 20 counties in western Kansas until 10 p.m. Central Daylight Time.

Counties included in the watch are Finney, Gove, Grant, Gray, Greeley, Hamilton, Haskell, Kearny, Lane, Logan, Morton, Scott, Seward, Sheridan, Sherman, Stanton, Stevens, Thomas, Wallace and Wichita.

By Stan Finger | Filed under Thunderstorms | Comments

Today’s severe weather threat in Kansas

8 May, 20138:43 a.m.

The Storm Prediction Center in Norman has issued a slight risk for severe weather in much of central Kansas – including the Wichita area -as well as portions of Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Colorado and Missouri.

The tornado threat is minimal, according to an SPC outlook, but large hail and strong winds are possible.

Residents should monitor forecasts and conditions and be prepared to seek appropriate shelter if and when strong storms threaten. The National Weather Service in Wichita is projecting the storms to reach the Wichita area after 7 p.m.

By Stan Finger | Filed under Hail, Thunderstorms, Wind | Comments

Strong thunderstorms to threaten Wichita early this afternoon

22 April, 201312:19 p.m.

Heavy rain and small hail are possible from storms sliding south into the Wichita metropolitan area early this afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.

By Stan Finger | Filed under Hail, Rain, Thunderstorms | Comments

Strong thunderstorms – some with large hail – possible later today in Wichita area

22 April, 20138:25 a.m.

Scattered thunderstorms are likely this afternoon and evening in the Wichita metropolitan area, forecasters say, with large hail possible in the strongest storms.

The strongest storms are most likely to develop along the Kansas-Oklahoma border, according to the National Weather Service. Hail the size of golf balls and winds of up to 60 miles an hour are possible with these storms.

Monitor weather conditions closely and be prepared to take shelter as needed.

By Stan Finger | Filed under Hail, Thunderstorms | Comments

Severe weather threat shifts north, increasing target zone in Kansas

17 April, 20138:35 a.m.

The warm front is shifting farther north than initially anticipated, prompting the Storm Prediction Center to place more of Kansas under a moderate risk for severe weather today.

“Discrete supercell storms are expected, with a resultant risk of very large hail and a few strong tornadoes,” an SPC statement about the severe weather threat reads.

That means you can expect isolated thunderstorms to pack dangerous potential today.

The moderate zone in Kansas starts just east of Wichita and covers all of southeast Kansas. The southern half of eastern Kansas is included as well.

AccuWeather vice president Mike Smith cautions that some of the tornadoes could form after sunset today, especially in the eastern portions of the threatened area.

Here’s an SPC map depicting the tornado threat. Keep in mind, anything over 5% is pretty substantial. The diagonal lines represent the chances of a tornado happening withing 25 miles of a given point in the highlighted area.

Stay tuned to conditions in your area. Your safety may well depend on it.

By Stan Finger | Filed under Thunderstorms, Tornadoes | Comments

Severe weather threat significant on Wednesday

16 April, 20136:00 a.m.

Folks in the Great Plains – including Kansas – need to be alert on Wednesday, forecasters say.

Severe weather, including tornadoes, is possible. The Storm Prediction Center has already issued a moderate risk for severe weather on Wednesday.

In fact, SPC warning coordination meteorologist Greg Carbin said conditions setting up for Wednesday resemble March 13, 1990.

That’s better known around here as the day of the Hesston tornado.

By Stan Finger | Filed under Thunderstorms, Tornadoes | Comments