Severe storms bring hail, wind and tornado risk. Will Kansas City get hit?
A cold front could spark dangerous storms Thursday afternoon into early evening in the Kansas City area, according to the National Weather Service, bringing hail, damaging winds and a tornado or two. Some locations, however, may miss out.
Strong to severe thunderstorms that developed in southern and eastern Nebraska pushed into central and southern Iowa and clipped parts of far northern Missouri early Thursday. Those storms were expected to move out later in the morning, with the Kansas City metro staying south of the main line.
Skies will become mostly sunny in the metro, allowing temperatures to climb to near 88 degrees, a few degrees above the normal of 83 degrees for this time of year. The humidity, however, will send heat index values to near 95 degrees.
A second round of dangerous storms is expected to redevelop along a cold front stretching from central to northeast Missouri. The weather service said the second round may skip northwestern Missouri and northeast Kansas.
The storms are expected to fire between 2 and 4 p.m. across north-central Missouri, extending southwest to just east of the Kansas City metro and through the Butler area. All severe hazards are possible, including heavy downpours that could cause flash flooding, large hail, damaging winds and tornadoes.
Storms to develop similar to Wednesday’s storms
Storms will be similar to Wednesday’s storms, starting more isolated, then organizing into a larger complex as they move across the state. Northeast Missouri has a better chance of tornadoes, the weather service said.
The Storm Prediction Center has placed Kansas City and areas to the south and east, including Lee’s Summit, Warrensburg, Sedalia, and Clinton, under a slight risk (Level 2 of 5) of severe weather. Meanwhile, areas north of Kansas City and parts of northeast Kansas and northwest Missouri are under a marginal risk (Level 1 of 5).
Areas north and east of the metro, especially across northeast Missouri, are under an enhanced risk (Level 3 of 5).
The front is expected to clear to the southeast along with the thunderstorm risk by early evening. Storms should be fairly fast-moving and could exit the area between 7 and 9 p.m.
Cooler, drier weather will be short-lived
Much cooler and drier air will filter in after the front passes, allowing overnight temperatures to drop into the 50s.
Clear skies and pleasant weather are expected Friday, with temperatures in the low 80s.
But the break may be short-lived. More severe weather is possible on Saturday. Supercells, which are rotating thunderstorms, could form first, then merge into larger clusters or storm complexes, the National Weather Service said.
All severe hazards are possible, including flash floods.
Cooler, drier air then moves in Sunday through midweek. A few weak storm systems could bring spotty showers and thunderstorms, but “nothing looks too significant at this time,” the weather service said.
