Severe thunderstorms, heavy rains forecast for Kansas City into Easter weekend
Warmer weather is expected in Kansas City on Wednesday as the area braces for multiple waves of rain, which might sometimes be heavy, according to the National Weather Service.
Temperatures are expected to rise to around 75 degrees in the metro, about 10 degrees warmer than the normal 66 degrees for this time of year.
There is a slight chance of rain, mainly south of Interstate 70 and sliding eastward throughout the day, the weather service said in its forecast discussion. In the metro area, the chance of precipitation is 20%.
These initial showers are merely a tease of more significant weather activity expected, including the potential for stronger storms and heavier rainfall.
Rain moves into Kansas City area overnight
The weather service said the first chance for strong to severe thunderstorms will be late Wednesday into early Thursday over eastern Kansas through central Missouri.
The National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center has placed the western part of the Kansas City forecast area under a marginal risk of severe weather. The main risk will be large hail, up to the size of quarters or 1 inch in diameter.
Skies will clear mid-morning, becoming mostly sunny on Thursday. This will allow temperatures to climb into the lower 80s.
The second chance for strong to severe storms will arrive Thursday evening over northern Missouri. These storms, however, will be conditional on a layer of warm air, known as a cap, that can prevent storms from developing.
If storms develop, the environment could support severe weather, with eastern Nebraska and Iowa at the greatest risk of seeing the strong storms. If storms enter northern Missouri, the main risk will be large hail, larger than quarters or 1 inch in diameter, and damaging winds.
The Storm Prediction Center has placed northern Missouri, eastern Nebraska and Iowa at a slight risk of severe weather. The Kansas City metro and surrounding area are at a marginal risk.
‘Juicy’ and ripe for storms
The third opportunity for storms will be Friday, as a cold front sags across the area.
“Areas ahead (of the front) will remain ‘juicy’ and ripe for storms,” the weather service said. “This opportunity will see the most widespread storms for the area.”
The weather service said that the initial storms will present the greatest risk of severe weather in the afternoon and evening. Large hail and strong winds will be the main threats.
The Storm Prediction Center has placed Kansas City at a marginal risk of severe weather. Areas southeast of the metro, into southern and eastern Missouri, are at a higher risk.
As the severe weather threat wanes, concerns turn to flooding if the cold front stalls, the weather service said.
There is an indication that if the cold front sets up over the area on Friday and lingers into Saturday, multiple storms could develop and track over the same location. This would yield heavy rainfall that could result in flooding and river flooding.
Areas at the greatest risk of flooding are generally south and southeast of the Kansas City forecast area and into the Ozarks.
The risk area, however, can shift depending on the location of the cold front.
The National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center places Kansas City at a marginal risk of excessive rainfall on Saturday and Sunday.
Showers and thunderstorms are expected to continue throughout the Easter weekend. With temperatures on the cooler side, strong to severe weather is not likely.
After temperatures peak in the 80s on Thursday, they fall back to the 70s on Friday and the upper 50s for the rest of the weekend.
This story was originally published April 16, 2025 at 8:09 AM.
