Severe weather season begins with chance of damaging winds, hail, maybe a tornado in KC
Severe weather season will get underway this weekend in the Kansas City area as strong thunderstorms could produce damaging winds, hail and maybe even an isolated tornado, according to the National Weather Service in Kansas City.
The weather service is urging people to remain up to date with the latest forecast because of the chance for severe weather to develop Saturday afternoon into the evening.
“There will be the chance for a few strong to severe storms,” the weather service said. “The main threat will be for damaging winds, however hail up to the size of a quarter and an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out.”
Areas with the best chance for severe weather are in northern Missouri and Iowa.
The threat of strong thunderstorms in the metro area is part of two bouts of severe weather that is expected to sweep across the southern and Midwest parts of the United States this weekend.
The second severe weather threat comes Sunday with areas at risk ranging from north-central Texas, across central and eastern Oklahoma, much of Arkansas and southern Missouri, according to forecasters with AccuWeather.
The timing of the severe weather comes as the weather service along with the Missouri State Emergency Agency and the Kansas Division of Emergency Management are getting ready to help people prepare for the upcoming severe weather season.
Kansas and Missouri Severe Weather Preparedness Week kicks off Monday and includes statewide tornado drills that will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday in both Kansas and Missouri.
Throughout the week, the National Weather Service will release information about how to receive severe weather information and how to protect yourself from severe weather threats like tornadoes, lightning, hail, wind and flooding.
In addition to the threat of severe weather, the Kansas City area will be facing a “very high fire danger” Friday and Saturday. Gusty winds, combined with low relative humidity and dry fuels could cause any fire that ignites to spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is strongly discourage on both days.
Meanwhile, parts of Kansas remain under a fire watch. Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly issued a declaration of disaster emergency Thursday due to the potential risk of wildfires.
“Conditions for significant wildfires are at an historic high across Kansas,” said Mark Neely, Fire Management Officer for Kansas Forest Service in a news release. “Any ignition source could cause a wildfire that will grow rapidly and burn aggressively. Help your local firefighters by checking and rechecking previously completed brush piles to make sure they are completely extinguished.”
This story was originally published March 4, 2022 at 9:18 AM.
