Severe thunderstorms expected, tornado watches issued outside KC: Live updates
Nearly a week after bouts of severe storms blanketed the Kansas City metro, more could be on the way Thursday as a cold front moves through the region.
Several tornado watches have already been issued in areas just outside the metro until 9 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.
Thunderstorms are expected to hit the region by late afternoon, potentially bringing damaging winds, large hail and tornadoes across northwest Missouri and northeast Kansas, the weather service said.
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.
