Quiet Friday, but severe storms could return this weekend in Kansas City
After fast-moving storms sent tornado sirens wailing across the Kansas City area late Thursday, residents will get a calmer stretch before a potentially more dangerous round of severe weather threatens the region this weekend, especially Sunday into Monday.
“Conditions (Friday) will be much quieter than yesterday, with highs in the 70s and clear skies,” the National Weather Service said.
In the metro, temperatures are expected to top out at around 73 degrees, a handful of degrees above the metro’s average of 68 for late April.
Saturday will be a degree or two warmer under increasingly cloudy skies. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are possible during the evening, the weather service said.
A few strong to severe storms will be possible south and southwest of Kansas City. Weaker storms are more likely across the rest of the area, the weather service said.
But the bigger concern arrives Sunday. Forecasters say warm, humid air will set the stage for stronger storms, and the weather service expects Sunday into Monday to bring the best chance for strong to severe weather.
There remains some uncertainty about how the storms will play out, but the strongest activity is expected by the evening and overnight Sunday.
The most likely threat is damaging straight-line winds from a line of storms, but if storms can remain more isolated, hail and tornadoes could also happen, the weather service said.
Storms are expected to grow into a line of thunderstorms late Sunday evening, with damaging winds the main threat, the weather service said.
The Storm Prediction Center, part of the National Weather Service, has placed parts of the Kansas City area, as well as a large part of Kansas, under an enhanced risk, Level 3 of 5, of severe weather.
Another round of strong to severe storms is possible by Monday afternoon and evening.
There is also concern that heavy rainfall may lead to flooding issues. Repeated heavy downpours could cause street flooding and make rivers rise, especially in places where the ground is already saturated. Rainfall totals could reach between 1.5 and 3 inches in spots.
After the main storm system passes, rain chances don’t go away, but they look hit-or-miss. The weather service said low-end chances for showers and a few thunderstorms could linger at times from Tuesday into late next week.
