Severe storms lining up for KC: Tornadoes, large hail, damaging winds possible
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- Forecasters warn enhanced severe-risk for KC with tornadoes, hail, damaging winds.
- Storm redevelopment likely 2–6 p.m.; cold-front line poses 6–8 p.m. wind and hail threat.
- Main line may bring 70 mph gusts and quarter-size hail; heavy rain possible.
Waves of showers and thunderstorms are set to rumble across the Kansas City region Friday, and if afternoon storms can get rolling, there’s a threat of large hail, damaging winds and even a few tornadoes, according to the National Weather Service.
Storms that raced through the area early Friday, with frequent lightning and thunder, are expected to linger into the morning before moving out, the weather service said. Those storms have a low risk of severe weather, with lightning the main concern.
Afternoon supercells remain uncertain
It’s uncertain whether storms will be able to redevelop in the afternoon, but if they do, strong, rotating thunderstorms, known as supercells, could bring damaging winds, large hail and a few tornadoes, according to the weather service.
Lingering clouds and the cooler afternoon temperatures they could bring will play a big role in whether stronger storms can develop later in the day, forecasters said. Temperatures are expected to climb to around 70 to 75 degrees.
If storms redevelop, they are most likely to form between about 2 and 6 p.m., according to the weather service.
Because of the possibility of severe weather, the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center has placed parts of eastern Kansas and western Missouri, including the Kansas City area, under an “enhanced” risk, the third level out of five on its severe weather scale.
Line of severe storms expected Friday evening
Even if storms struggle to form, a fast-moving line of thunderstorms is expected to organize along a cold front, with the main line moving into the Kansas City area between 6 and 8 p.m., according to the weather service.
With these storms, winds up to 70 mph and quarter-size hail will be possible, the weather service said. There is a conditional threat of embedded tornadoes along the leading edge of the front.
The storms are expected to move into eastern Missouri between 2 and 3 a.m. Saturday, forecasters said.
Pockets of heavy rain are possible with these storms, but they should move fast enough to avoid major flooding, according to the weather service.
Sunny weekend, more storms next week
Skies are expected to gradually clear, becoming sunny on Saturday, but temperatures will be cooler, around 54 degrees, which is close to the average high of 51 degrees typical for this time of year, according to the weather service forecast.
Temperatures will rebound, climbing to around 67 degrees on Sunday and the mid-70s on Monday. Rain chances return Tuesday afternoon.
This story was originally published March 6, 2026 at 8:13 AM.
