Storms, showers set to soak Kansas City. Is severe weather a threat?
Multiple rounds of thunderstorms, some of which could be strong to severe, are possible for the rest of the week as an active weather pattern sets up over the Kansas City region, according to the National Weather Service.
Rain sprinkles danced in the air during Tuesday morning’s commute. Some in the northern part of the metro were virga, where rain evaporates before hitting the ground.
Meanwhile, rain fell mainly north of U.S. 36 across northern Missouri, hinting at storms to come later in the day.
Skies will prevail throughout the day, with temperatures climbing to around 80 degrees, well above normal. Typically, Kansas City temperatures are 67 degrees this time of year.
Winds to usher in moisture into the Kansas City area
Strong winds will transport moisture into the area Tuesday evening, according to the weather service. A series of weather disturbances will move through the area, resulting in the chance of showers and storms overnight into early Wednesday in eastern Kansas and Western Missouri.
“Storms are expected to develop in central to eastern Kansas and move east into Missouri,” the weather service said. “The potential for a few storms to become strong to marginally severe exists given the environment.”
The weather service said the main hazard is hail up to the size of quarters or isolated 60 mph wind gusts.
The strongest storms will be west and south of the metro area. The National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center has placed parts of Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas under a slight risk of severe weather. That area includes Wichita and Manhattan in Kansas.
Because of an area of warm air, known as a cap, over Missouri, the storms are expected to lose their strength when they reach Kansas City. The Storm Prediction Center has placed Kansas City, eastern Kansas and western Missouri under a marginal risk of severe weather.
“Additional thunderstorms are possible on Wednesday, once again producing the threat for large hail or damaging winds,” the weather service said.
The forecast has some uncertainty as forecast models disagree on the timing. According to the weather service, one model places the brunt of the storms overnight Tuesday into Wednesday, while another model has the storms late Wednesday morning and afternoon.
Temperatures on Wednesday will be in the mid-70s.
Daily rain chances linger through the weekend
Multiple weather disturbances will move through the area during the second half of the week, bringing daily chances of rain through the weekend. The weather service said no severe weather is expected.
The weather service said that a few areas in eastern Kansas and central Missouri have been placed in a slight risk for excessive rainfall on Thursday.
The Kansas City metro could see as much as 2 inches of rain from Tuesday through Friday.
Temperatures are expected to be in the low to mid-70s through Sunday.
The chance for severe weather returns on Monday. The Storm Prediction Center has placed the Kansas City area under a slight risk for severe thunderstorms.
This story was originally published April 22, 2025 at 7:40 AM.
