Baseball-sized hail, tornadoes, heavy rains and high wind gusts are possible across a large swath of Kansas, including Wichita, through the weekend.
The Wichita area is most likely to see severe weather Saturday afternoon and into the night, with some lingering inclement weather possible Sunday.
The Wichita area could see baseball-sized hail, tornadoes, heavy rain and wind gusts as high as 70 mph, according to the National Weather Service in Wichita.
“The magnitude of severe weather remains uncertain for Saturday,” the NWS in Wichita said around 3:30 p.m. Friday. “Heavy rainfall and localized flooding possible generally along/southeast of the KS Turnpike” Saturday evening through the night.
The NWS in Topeka said that area could see winds up to 80 mph along with “violent tornadoes” and “flash flooding.”
The severe weather Friday afternoon and Sunday afternoon is forecast away from Wichita, in eastern Kansas, including Topeka.
Between 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, northeast Kansas could see hail up to two-inches in diameter, “wind gusts to 60 mph and a few tornadoes, possibly strong are the main hazards,” the NWS in Topeka said.
After scattered storms this morning, another round of storms will develop later this afternoon and last into early evening. Hail to around 2 inches, wind gusts to 60 mph and a few tornadoes, possibly strong are the main hazards. #kswx pic.twitter.com/ZtR0Gw0tx0
— NWS Topeka (@NWSTopeka) April 26, 2024
The most severe weather Friday is expected to be mainly east of a line from Emporia to Eureka to Sedan.
That’s similar to the area of Kansas where the highest chance of severe weather is Sunday.
“Hail up to ping pong balls, wind gusts to 60 mph will be the main hazards,” the NWS in Topeka said. “A tornado is possible.”
The severe weather is supposed to move out in the evening.
The last round of the weekend is expected Sunday afternoon into the early evening hours. Hail up to ping pong balls, wind gusts to 60 mph will be the main hazards. A tornado is possible. #kswx pic.twitter.com/KJIxKcGaI5
— NWS Topeka (@NWSTopeka) April 26, 2024