Severe storms could hit Kansas City in two waves. Here’s the timeline and threats
Two rounds of severe storms could sweep across Kansas City, starting Thursday evening, with damaging winds the top threat, the National Weather Service said.
Wednesday should stay calm but cloudy. Highs will reach about 76 degrees—a bit cooler than earlier this week, but still above normal and about 10 degrees warmer than the average high of 67.
It will be breezy, with south to southwesterly winds around 15 mph and gusts up to 25 mph.
Attention then turns to Thursday, when a cold front tied to a strengthening low-pressure system to the north approaches from the west. Ahead of it, warm, humid air will surge in, pushing dew points into the low to mid-60s across the Kansas City metro, along with southerly gusts up to 30 to 35 mph.
A “cap” in the atmosphere may hold storms back for much of Thursday, with thunderstorms most likely first firing along the cold front by mid-afternoon from northwestern Iowa into southeast Nebraska and east-central Kansas, the weather service said.
Storms may start isolated, but could quickly grow into one or more lines as they push toward Kansas City. The line could reach northwest Missouri after 7 p.m. and move through the metro between about 9 p.m. and midnight.
Damaging winds are the main threat. Large hail and a brief tornado can’t be ruled out, mainly in eastern Kansas into far northwest Missouri, the weather service said. Rainfall could be moderate, with some spots topping 1 inch and isolated higher totals possible.
The Storm Prediction Center, a part of the National Weather Service, has placed the Kansas City area in a slight risk, Level 2 of 5, for severe thunderstorms.
Temperatures on Thursday will be in the upper 70s.
Looking ahead, the active pattern continues into the weekend, with another chance for strong to severe storms Sunday afternoon into Sunday night. Temperatures are expected to be in the low to mid-70s Friday through Sunday.
