The hazardous weather outlook today for south central Kansas calls for the possibility of a few severe storms, mainly along and west of the Kansas Turnpike. Cowley County is under a severe thunderstorm watch.
The National Weather Service expects the most likely time for severe thunderstorms will be this afternoon and tonight but a severe thunderstorm watch was already posted by 9:30 a.m. A second thunderstorm watch was issued at 10 a.m and includes Wichita, Salina and Hutchinson. It runs until 4 p.m.
Baseball-size hail was already being reported in some areas.
The main threats with any storm today will be quarter-size hail and wind gusts of 60 miles an hour, according to NWS. Spotter activation may be needed this afternoon and evening.
This outlook includes Butler, Greenwood, Sedgwick, Harper, Sumner, Cowley, Elk and Chautauqua counties.
The advisory also states there is a chance for thunderstorms across most of the area Thursday and Thursday night with strong storms possible.
Fire danger will be high again on Friday across much of central and south central Kansas.
April, May and June are considered “tornado season” in this part of the Midwest. There were 115 reports of severe weather Tuesday, including baseball size hail which shattered windshields in some areas.
NewsCow readers are advised to stay alert for later weather developments.
