Storms linger in Kansas City; Friday could bring tornado, hail risks
Kansas City isn’t done with the rain yet, with flooding possible in already-soaked spots. Forecasters say Friday afternoon and evening is shaping up as the main window for severe weather.
The ongoing showers and thunderstorms are expected to move out by mid-morning Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.
The weather service has issued flood warnings for parts of central and west-central Missouri, including Bates, Carroll, Cass, Cooper, Henry, Johnson, Pettis and Saline counties.
Some southern and southeastern parts of the Kansas City forecast area have picked up 4 to 6 inches of rain from near Rich Hill toward Chilhowee by early Thursday.
“Turn around, don’t drown when encountering flooded roads,” the weather service said. “Most flood deaths occur in vehicles.”
Winds are expected to ramp up late morning through the afternoon, blowing from the southwest 20 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph. A few isolated storms could redevelop in the afternoon along a passing cold front, with a low-end and conditional risk for a strong storm or two, mainly across northeast Missouri, the weather service said.
But the bigger concern arrives Friday, when the atmosphere resets for another round of thunderstorms, some of which could turn severe.
Severe storms are possible Friday afternoon into Friday evening, including a conditional risk for a few rotating storms, called supercells, ahead of a cold front.
All severe hazards are possible, including damaging winds, large hail and tornadoes.
Storms are more likely to form along the cold front late in the afternoon and evolve into a line in the evening, with damaging winds the main threat. Large hail and a few tornadoes could still occur, especially within embedded rotating storms.
Another round of rain could bring localized heavy totals (around 1 to 2 inches), and flash flooding could occur if heavier downpours track over the same areas hit earlier in the week.
Cooler temperatures are expected over the weekend, with temperatures around the mid-50s on Saturday and around 60 degrees on Sunday.
