Tornado warning, severe weather statements as storms sweep through KC metro
As storms swept through the Kansas City metro Friday, several areas were placed under severe weather watches and warnings, including a tornado warning issued mid-afternoon for Atchison and Nodaway counties, which has since expired.
The National Weather Service previously said there was potential for two rounds of severe weather Friday, with a chance of isolated storms in the afternoon and a more widespread line of storms near and after sunset.
Damaging winds will be the primary threat with the line of storms, but large hail and a few tornadoes will also be possible, the weather service said.
The National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center has placed Kansas City, and other parts of the forecast area under a slight risk of severe weather, Level 2 of 5, on Friday. Meanwhile, areas just to the north and east of the metro are at an enhanced risk, Level 3 of 5.
Tornado warning in Atchison, Nodaway counties
Forecasters issued a tornado warning just after 4 p.m. Friday in east central Atchison and northwest Nodaway counties, according to the weather service. The warning expired at 4:15 p.m.
A “severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado” was located near Burlington Junction and Tarkio moving at 25 mph, the warning said. Radars indicated tornado-like rotation and ping-pong ball-sized hail.
Cities affected by the alert included Burlington Junction, Clearmont, Elmo and Quitman.
Tornado watches in northwest Missouri
Several areas in northwest Missouri will remain under tornado watches until 10 p.m. tonight, the weather service said. In the metro, tornado watches are in place in Atchison, Buchanan, Clinton, Holt and Nodaway counties.
See the full list of counties affected by the tornado watch here.
Severe thunderstorm warning issued in Weston, Dearborn
Just before 6:30 p.m., the National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning for several cities in northwestern Platte and Buchanan counties, according to a post on X, formerly Twitter.
During the warning, which was to have remained in effect until 7 p.m., those in the affected area could expect quarter-sized hail and winds up to 60 mph, the post said.
Cities facing severe weather include Weston, Dearborn, Agency and Faucett. A full map of the affected areas can be found here.
Severe thunderstorm watches affect most of metro
Severe thunderstorm watches were issued in several Kansas and Missouri counties at 2:40 p.m. Friday, according to the National Weather Service.
On the Kansas side of the metro, affected areas include Douglas, Johnson, Leavenworth and Wyandotte counties, among others, the weather service said.
Bates, Carroll, Cass, Clay, Jackson, Johnson, Pettis and Platte counties are under severe thunderstorm watches on the Missouri side of the metro, according to the alert. In both states, the watches will expire at 10 p.m.
See the full list of severe thunderstorm watches issued in Kansas and Missouri here.
Robert A. Cronkleton contributed reporting.
This story was originally published April 3, 2026 at 5:29 PM.
