Severe storms possible Wednesday. Bigger threat could loom Friday in Kansas City
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Two rounds of potentially severe thunderstorms may hit Kansas City Wednesday and Friday.
- SPC placed the region at Level 2 (slight) Wednesday and Level 3 (enhanced) Friday.
- Friday poses the largest threat with hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes possible.
Two more rounds of potentially severe thunderstorms could hit Kansas City this week, with the first possible Wednesday and a bigger threat shaping up Friday, according to the National Weather Service.
Warm, humid air will help fuel the storms, which could produce large hail and damaging winds, and an isolated tornado or two can’t be ruled out, forecasters said.
Morning storms and cloud cover, however, could play a key role in whether severe weather develops later in the day.
“A lack of morning storms and cloud cover could allow afternoon storms to begin earlier and/or be stronger in magnitude,” the National Weather Service in Kansas City/Pleasant Hill said.
Confidence in storms across the area is higher than it was on previous days. The weather service said it’s less a question of whether storms will develop and more a question of where they fire up first — and how intense they become.
The best window for strong to severe storms in the metro is from early afternoon into the evening commute, and possibly between 9 and 10 p.m. for areas east of Kansas City, the weather service said.
The Storm Prediction Center, part of the National Weather Service, has placed most of the region under a slight risk of severe thunderstorms, Level 2 of 5.
Temperatures will be quite warm, around 81 degrees, which is above the 65 degrees that is normal for this time of year.
There will be a brief break in the stormy weather on Thursday as a drier air mass moves in. Temperatures are expected to climb to around 82 degrees under mostly sunny skies.
“This helps set the table too for Friday, which will be yet another chance, quite possibly our best during this stretch, for severe thunderstorm activity,” the weather service said.
Enhanced risk of severe weather
The forecast indicates the environment will be “very supportive” of strong to severe storms across the area. The current timing points towards mid-afternoon into the evening and early portions of the overnight.
The Storm Prediction Center has placed most of the Kansas City region under an enhanced risk of severe weather, Level 3 of 5.
Friday will be the biggest day to watch for possible severe weather, with all hazards possible — large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes.
“Suffice it to say, while you cannot necessarily hang your hat on the details just yet, Friday is a day to pay attention to,” the weather service said.
Temperatures will be in the low to mid-80s on Friday.
In the wake of Friday’s severe storm threat, quieter and cooler weather will settle in for the weekend. Temperatures are expected to return closer to seasonal averages, climbing to only 56 degrees on Saturday and 65 degrees on Sunday. Temperatures are expected to be in the low to mid-70s to start next week.
It is expected to be dry through the weekend, and at least into early next week, before any notable rain chances attempt to return, the weather service said.
