Weather News

Strong to severe storms could produce hail, damaging winds, maybe a tornado in KC region

Storm clouds surround the Kansas City skyline on Saturday, July 10, 2021.
Storm clouds surround the Kansas City skyline on Saturday, July 10, 2021. tljungblad@kcstar.com

Severe weather will be possible in the Kansas City region Friday afternoon and evening as powerful thunderstorms push their way through the area, according to the National Weather Service.

The possible severe weather will follow what will be an unseasonably hot and humid day in Kansas City. Temperatures are expected to climb to near 90 degrees. Typically this time of year, temps are in the mid-70s in the metro.

Storms are expected to develop over southeast Nebraska and northeast Kansas in the afternoon and gradually spread eastward into northern and western Missouri, the weather service said. There also could be some southward development of the storms.

The main threat from the strongest storms will be large hail and damaging winds. There’s also the chance of an isolated tornado. The highest likelihood of the strong to severe storms will be north of the Kansas City metro in far northeast Kansas and far northwest Missouri, according to the weather service.

However, some strong to severe storms could also develop in the Kansas City metro area. The Storm Prediction Center has placed Kansas City under a slight risk of severe weather, which means scattered severe storms are possible.

Local Radar Image

The unseasonably hot conditions will continue into the weekend, with temps reaching the upper 80s Saturday and the lower 80s on Sunday, according to the weather service. There’s a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms Saturday night. There’s also a chance for storms on Sunday, primarily after 1 p.m.

Weather watches and warnings

A live data feed from the National Weather Service containing official weather warnings, watches, and advisory statements. Tap warning areas for more details. Sources: NOAA, National Weather Service, NOAA GeoPlatform and Esri.


This story was originally published May 12, 2023 at 7:44 AM.

Robert A. Cronkleton
The Kansas City Star
Robert A. Cronkleton is a breaking news reporter for The Kansas City Star, covering crime, courts, transportation, weather and climate. He’s been at The Star for 36 years. His skills include multimedia and data reporting and video and audio editing. Support my work with a digital subscription
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