Severe thunderstorms bring heavy rains, flash flooding tornado warnings to KC
Severe thunderstorms barreled through the Kansas City area early Monday, unleashing frequent lightning and booming thunder, dumping torrential rain and triggering a tornado warning.
Kansas City firefighters are responded to numerous water rescues around the city in areas that typically see high-water areas, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins, a spokesman with the Kansas City Fire Department said.
“To this point, no injuries have been reported,” Hopkins said.
The National Weather Service has issued a flash flooding warning for most of the metro as between 1 and 3 inches of rain have fallen and an additional 1 to 2 inches are possible.
Emergency management officials have reported flash flooding already happening.
“Turn around, don’t drown when encountering flooded roads,” the weather service said. “Most flood deaths occur in vehicles.”
Flood advisory issued for southern parts of Kansas City
A flood advisory has been issued for parts of Cass, Chariton, Cooper, Howard, Jackson, Johnson, Lafayette, Pettis and Saline Counties in Missouri.
The National Weather Service issued the advisory shortly before 7 a.m., saying that minor flooding in low-lying and poor-drainage areas was expected.
Radar indicated that heavy rain was falling from thunderstorms that were racing through the area. Minor flooding was ongoing or expected to begin.
Some areas expected to experience flooding include Sedalia, Warrensburg, Marshall, Knob Noster, Holden, Slater, Sweet Springs, Glasgow, Whiteman Air Force Base, La Monte, Lone Jack, Smithton, Leeton, Green Ridge, Chilhowee, Kingsville, Houstonia, Centerview, and Gilliam.
Flash flood warning issued for much of the KC Metro
The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning for northeastern Johnson County, Wyandotte County, Clay County, Jackson County and Platte County Monday morning.
Flash flooding, caused by heavy rain, was already occurring, and additional rain was expected.
Some cities that is expected to experience flash flooding include Kansas City, Overland Park, Olathe, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Shawnee, Blue Springs, Lenexa, Leavenworth, Leawood, Raytown, Liberty, Gladstone, Prairie Village, Lansing, Excelsior Springs, Merriam, Mission, Smithville and Kearney.
The warning is in effect until 10 a.m.
Flash flood warning issued for Leavenworth County
A flash flood warning remains in effect until 9 a.m. for Leavenworth, according to the National Weather Service.
At 5:51 a.m., emergency management officials reported that flash flooding was occurring in the county. Between 1 and 3 inches of rain had already fallen and up to an additional 2 inches were possible, the weather service said. Flash flooding was already happening.
Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses was possible, as well as in other poor drainage and low-lying areas.
Some locations that will experience flash flooding include Leavenworth, Lansing, Bonner Springs, De Soto, Tonganoxie, Basehor, Kansas City, Linwood, Easton, Reno, Fairmount, Jarbalo, Lowemont and Fort Leavenworth.
Tornado warning for central Cass County expires
A tornado warning issued for central Cass County expired about 6:30 a.m. on Monday.
The National Weather Service issued the warning shortly after 6 a.m. after a severe thunderstorm showed signs of rotation over Lake Annette, or near Peculiar. It was moving east at 40 mph.
Radar indicated that there were signs of rotation in the storm.
Communities that were in the path of the storm included Harrisonville, Peculiar, Garden City, East Lynne, Lake Annette, Strasburg, and Gunn City.
This story was originally published April 27, 2026 at 6:50 AM.
