Kansas City metro placed under tornado watch: What to expect and how to prepare
As thunderstorms continue to roll across the Kansas City metro, the National Weather Service has placed several areas in both Kansas and Missouri under a tornado watch.
The NWS issued the tornado watch at 8:15 p.m. Friday for areas in eastern Kansas, northern and central Missouri and southeastern Iowa. In Missouri, affected counties include Adair, Carroll, Clay, Dekalb, Jackson, Macon, Putnam, Schuyler, Buchanan, Chariton, Clinton, Grundy, Linn, Mercer, Randolph, Scotland, Caldwell, Clark, Daviess, Howard, Livingston, Platte, Ray and Sullivan.
In Kansas, counties affected are Johnson, Wyandotte, Leavenworth and Miami, according to the NWS.
The watch will remain in effect until 4 a.m. Saturday, the NWS said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. According to the NWS, “a few” tornadoes may be likely during the watch. Scattered hail up to 2 inches and wind gusts up to 70 mph may occur.
Earlier today, forecasters said they were still expecting severe storms to roll through the area after a cold front moved into the area after 7 p.m.
A forecast from the NWS said rain and thunderstorms are most likely to occur before 1 a.m. Temperatures are expected to drop to around 40 degrees.
On Saturday, forecasters expect clouds to linger throughout midmorning before gradually clearing, the forecast said. Temperatures are expected to peak around 52 degrees and wind gusts may reach highs of 22 mph.
What is a tornado watch?
According to the NWS, a tornado watch means tornadoes could occur in a specific area. Comparatively, a tornado warning indicates a tornado has been spotted.
During a tornado watch, individuals should take note of emergency plans and supplies and ensure they have a safe location to potentially shelter in place, if necessary, according to the NWS.
In the event of a tornado, individuals should seek shelter in a basement or interior room, away from windows, the NWS said. If outside, seek shelter in low-lying areas like ditches or ravines. In cars, individuals should get as low as they can to the floor and cover their heads.
The Star’s Robert A. Cronkleton contributed reporting.
This story was originally published March 6, 2026 at 9:27 PM.
