Storms sweep Kansas City, bringing high winds and flood risks
Nearly a week after bouts of severe storms blanketed the Kansas City metro, came along Thursday as a cold front moved through the region.
Several tornado watches were issued in and around Kansas City, according to the National Weather Service.
The Star provided updates throughout the night as the storms moved through.
Flood advisory issued in three metro counties
The National Weather Service issued a flood advisory until 2 a.m. in three metro counties.
In Kansas, Johnson and Wyandotte counties are included in the advisory. In Missouri, Jackson County is also under the advisory, according to the National Weather Service.
Rain gauges indicated rainfall totals may contribute to “minor flooding in low-lying and poor drainage areas,” the weather service said.
Cities that may be impacted by the advisory include Kansas City, Overland Park, Olathe, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Shawnee, Lenexa, Leawood, Raytown, Grandview, Prairie Village, Merriam, Mission, Spring Hill, Greenwood, Edwardsville, Fairway, Mission Hills, Sugar Creek and Westwood.
“Turn around, don’t down when encountering flooded roads,” the advisory said. “Most flood deaths occur in vehicles.”
Damage reported in Leavenworth, Clay and Platte counties
Trees and power lines are down in some areas of the Kansas City metro as storms roll through the region.
Emergency management officials in Leavenworth County reported a tree in “blocking both lanes of travel” on an unspecified road just blocks away from Linwood Elementary School, according to a preliminary storm report from the National Weather Service.
A preliminary storm report from law enforcement officials in southeast Kearney said a wall collapsed in an unfinished building during thunderstorms. Officials also reported “large and small” tree limbs down in the area.
In Platte Woods, a preliminary storm report indicated that cable lines and at least one tree were blocking a roadway near North Saint Clair Park.
In Coffey County, Kansas, emergency management officials reported a building “lost its roof” during storms near Burlington, a preliminary storm report said. Tree damage was reported throughout the city.
In Kansas City, Missouri, a Kansas City Star reporter encountered a fallen tree in the roadway near The Paseo and 35th Street after storms rolled through the area.
Strong wind gusts recorded near downtown Kansas City, Kearney
As storms hit the Kansas City metro, preliminary storm reports indicate wind gusts have reached over 60 mph.
At Kansas City Downtown Airport’s Wheeler Field, a wind gust recorded just after 9 p.m. reached 61 mph, according to the storm report.
In central Kearney, a second local storm report indicated gusts reached 67 mph.
Severe thunderstorm warning issued in Ottawa, Baldwin City
The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning until 10 p.m. for several Kansas counties just outside the Kansas City metro.
Counties included in the warning are Franklin, Anderson southeast Douglas and southeast Coffey counties, the weather service said.
Cities that may be impacted by the warning include Ottawa, Baldwin City, Garnett and Wellsville. See the full list of cities included in the warning here.
Tornado warning issued including Independence, Liberty
Several counties in northwest Missouri will remain under a tornado warning until 9:45 p.m. Thursday as storms move through the region.
The National Weather Service’s radar indicated a severe storm “capable of producing a tornado” near Missouri City at 9:12 p.m., according to the warning.
Counties included in the warning are southeast Clay, south Ray, northwest Lafayette and northeast Jackson counties, the weather service said.
Cities impacted may include Independence, Liberty, Richmond, Lexington, Sugar Creek, Buckner and Camden.
See the full list of cities included in the warning here.
Areas of Clay County placed under tornado warning
The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning until 10 p.m. affecting several Missouri counties just outside the Kansas City metro.
Severe storms that have the potential to produce tornadoes were located near Plattsburg around 9:10 p.m. moving northeast at 40 mph, according to the warning.
Counties included in the warning are southeast Clinton, north-central Clay, northwest Ray and west Caldwell counties, the weather service said.
‘Severe squall’ located near Kearney
Forecasters with the National Weather Service located a line of “severe squall” storms near Kearney, according to a severe weather statement.
The squall, which was reported just after the area was placed under a tornado warning, is “capable of producing both tornadoes and extensive straight line wind damage,” the weather service said.
Potential tornado located near Gladstone, tornado warnings issued
The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning affecting several northwest Missouri counties until 9:45 p.m.
Just before 9 p.m., the weather service’s radar located a severe storm “capable of producing both tornadoes and extensive straight line wind damage” over Lake Waukomis, near Gladstone, the warning said.
Clay, west-central Ray and east-central Platte counties are included in the warning, according to the weather service. Cities that may be impacted by the storm include Kansas City, Liberty, Gladstone, Excelsior Springs, Smithville, Kearney, Lawson and Pleasant Valley.
See the full list of cities that may be impacted by the tornado warning here.
Jackson County placed under severe thunderstorm warning
A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued in Kansas City and surrounding areas until 9:30 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.
The warning was issued after forecasters located a severe storm over Merriam around 8:50 p.m., the weather service said.
In Kansas, east-central Wyandotte and east Johnson County are included in the warning. In Missouri, north Cass, Clay, southwest Ray, southeast Platte and Jackson counties are under the warning.
Severe thunderstorm warning issued in northeast Kansas, northwest Missouri
The National Weather Service updated a previous severe thunderstorm warning in northeast Kansas to include several areas in northwest Missouri until 9:15 p.m.
Forecasters with the weather service located a storm near Basehor and Eudora moving northeast at 50 mph just before 8:40 p.m., the warning said.
The storm could produce quarter-size hail and wind gusts up to 60 mph, according to the weather service.
In Kansas, Wyandotte, Leavenworth and north Johnson are included in the warning.
In Missouri, southeast Buchanan, central Clinton, west Clay and Platte counties are included in the warning.
‘Funnel cloud’ reported near Baldwin City
Emergency management officials reported a “funnel cloud” near Baldwin City just after 8:30 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.
The cloud was located along U.S. 59, near the county line separating Douglas and Franklin counties, the preliminary report said.
Severe thunderstorm warning issued in Overland Park, Olathe
Johnson and Miami counties were placed under severe thunderstorm warnings until 9:15 p.m. Thursday as storms move east throughout the region.
The National Weather Service placed northwest Miami and southwest Johnson counties under the warning just before 8:30 p.m. after forecasters located a line of severe storms near Eudora, according to the warning.
Cities included in the warning are Overland Park, Olathe, Gardner, Spring Hill, Edgerton and Clare.
Tornado warning issued in Douglas, Franklin counties
The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning until 9 p.m. for counties in northeast Kansas.
Storm spotters located a severe thunderstorm “capable of producing a tornado” moving east at 45 mph near Globe, according to the warning.
North Franklin, south Douglas and northeast Osage counties were all placed under the warning, according to the weather service. Cities in the area include Baldwin City, Wellsville, Overbrook, Centropolis, Pleasant Grove, Vinland and Globe.
Severe thunderstorm warnings issued in Johnson, Wyandotte counties
As storms rolled in to the Kansas City metro, the National Weather Service continued to issue severe thunderstorm warnings in Kansas and Missouri.
Just after 8 p.m., the weather service issued a severe thunderstorm warning until 8:45 p.m. for west Wyandotte, Leavenworth and northwest Johnson counties, according to the warning. Portions of Platte County in Missouri were also included.
The weather service’s radar initially located a severe storm near Lawrence, moving east at 40 mph, according to the warning.
Cities that may be impacted by the alert are Olathe, Shawnee, Lenexa, Leavenworth, Lansing, Bonner Springs, De Soto, Tonganoxie, Basehor, Edwardsville, Weston, Lake Quivira, Kansas City, Linwood and Fort Leavenworth.
See the full list of cities included in the warning here.
Severe thunderstorm warning issued near Lawrence, Topeka
The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning for counties near Lawrence and Topeka until 8 p.m. as storms roll through the area.
Weather radars indicated a severe storm that had the potential to produce 70 mph wind gusts and quarter-size hail, according to the warning.
“Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect considerable tree damage. Wind damage is also likely to mobile homes, roofs and outbuildings,” the warning said.
The warning covers east Shawnee, northwest Douglas, northeast Osage and southeast Jackson counties. This includes the cities of Topeka, Lawrence, Perry, Lecompton and Clinton.
See the full list of cities impacted by the severe thunderstorm warning here.
Tornado warning issued near Topeka
Several Kansas counties just outside the metro were placed under a tornado warning until 7:15 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.
The weather service’s radar indicated a potential tornado moving east at 40 mph near Keene at 6:30 p.m., the warning said. Ping-pong ball-sized hail is also possible.
The warning covers southwest Jefferson, Shawnee, east-central Wabaunsee and west-central Douglas counties. Cities in the area include Topeka, Big Springs, Elmont, Pauline, Dover, Auburn and Silver Lake.
Severe thunderstorm watch issued in northeast Kansas, northwest Missouri
The National Weather Service placed several counties in the Kansas City metro under a severe thunderstorm watch until midnight.
Thursday’s storms are unlikely to spur tornadoes, although one can’t be ruled out, according to the weather service’s Storm Prediction Center. Severe wind up to 70 mph and hail up to 2 inches is likely.
Kansas counties included in the watch are Atchison, Doniphan, Johnson, Leavenworth, Linn, Miami and Wyandotte counties.
Missouri counties included in the watch are Andrew, Bates, Buchanan, Caldwell, Cass, Clay, Daviess, DeKalb, Holt, Jackson, Platte and Ray counties. See the full list of Missouri counties placed under the watch here.
Storms likely to move through KC metro between 8 and 11 p.m.
There is little change to the forecast from this morning, according to the National Weather Service in Kansas City said in an afternoon weather briefing.
Strong to severe thunderstorms are still expected Thursday evening and night, with damaging winds, large hail and a few tornadoes possible initially, primarily across northwest Missouri and northeast Kansas. The storms are likely to merge into a line later in the evening, with damaging winds becoming the primary threat, although brief tornadoes may be possible, the weather service said.
Storms have already formed over eastern Nebraska and as of 3:30 p.m. were developing over north-central and central Kansas. They should enter far northwestern Missouri between 5 and 7 p.m. Storms are likely to move through the Kansas City metro between 8 and 11 p.m., moving eastward through Missouri overnight, the weather service said.
The threat of flash flooding is low.
Tornado watch issued in east-central Kansas
Several counties in east-central Kansas, just outside the Kansas City metro, were placed under a tornado watch until 9 p.m., according to the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center.
The weather service listed high probabilities for severe hail and wind, and moderate chances for tornadoes, with “a couple intense tornadoes possible.”
“All severe hazards are expected, including tornadoes, very large hail and damaging winds,” the weather service said.
Kansas counties near the metro included in the watch include Douglas, Franklin, Jefferson and Shawnee counties.
See the full list of Kansas counties affected by the watch here.
Tornado watch issued in northwest Missouri
Four northwest Missouri counties were placed under a tornado watch until 7 p.m. Thursday, according to an alert from the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center.
The watch predicted moderate chances of severe hail and wind. The storm also had the potential to produce multiple tornadoes.
According to a post from the National Weather Service on X, formerly Twitter, wind gusts were predicted to reach up to 70 mph. Tennis ball-sized hail was possible.
Missouri counties included in the watch included Andrew, Atchison, Holt and Nodaway counties, according to the weather service.
The Star’s Robert A. Cronkleton contributed reporting.
This story was originally published April 23, 2026 at 3:44 PM.
