Alert archive / Kansas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 14, NWS Dodge City, KS

April 25, 2026Pratt County, Kansas

NWS Dodge City, KS issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Apr 25, 2026, 6:34 PM CDT for Pratt County, Kansas. It was in force for 29 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued: Apr 25, 2026, 6:34 PM CDT (23:34 UTC)
Expired: Apr 25, 2026, 7:03 PM CDT
In force: 29 min
Issued by: NWS Dodge City, KS
Area: Storm-based polygon
Damage threat: Considerable
Hail: 2.0 in
Wind: 70.0 mph

County Pratt County, KS

The radar

The Dodge City radar (KDDC), 109 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:36 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Apr 25, 2:43 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	6 hr

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Dodge City, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Apr 25, 5:34 PM CDT, 1 hour earlier. Its key messages:

A slight chance of severe storms are expected east of Highway 183 this afternoon with the best chance further east late afternoon into this evening. Large hail and damaging winds are the main concern
Severe storms are expected tomorrow afternoon with the best chance across central Kansas. Large hail and damaging winds are expected with a few tornadoes possible
Another disturbance is expected to move through the area Wednesday night through Thursday. As of now these storms are not expected to be severe

Area forecast discussion, Apr 25, 5:34 PM CDT, 1 hour before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
534 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

...Updated Aviation...

.KEY MESSAGES...

- A slight chance of severe storms are expected east of Highway 183
this afternoon with the best chance further east late afternoon into
this evening. Large hail and damaging winds are the main concern

- Severe storms are expected tomorrow afternoon with the best chance
across central Kansas. Large hail and damaging winds are expected
with a few tornadoes possible

- Another disturbance is expected to move through the area
  Wednesday night through Thursday. As of now these storms are
  not expected to be severe

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 1231 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

A subtle shortwave will approach the area this afternoon
interacting with a cold front that is currently bisecting the
forecast area. Surface dew points will be in the 50s across
southwest Kansas, reflecting only modest low-level moisture
advection ahead of the boundary. Deep-layer shear (+30 knots)
will be sufficient to support organized convection along and
ahead of this front where moderate instability will be observed
(+1000 J/kg). Thunderstorm initiation is favored east of Highway
183 with the best chance even further east later this afternoon
before pushing into Wichita's area this evening. The primary
hazards with any developing storms will be large hail and
damaging winds, driven by steep mid-level lapse rates and
sufficient downdraft potential. Tornado risk remains negligible
due to weak low-level shear and low storm-relative helicity.
Coverage is expected to remain isolated to widely scattered.
Winds will generally be from the southeast ahead of the
aforementioned cold front with northerly winds behind this
front. Skies will become mostly clear behind this front with
partly cloud skies ahead of this front. Highs today will range
from the upper 60s north to upper 70s south. Low clouds will
increase in coverage tonight as moisture pools into the area.
There could even be a few pockets of drizzle after midnight.
Skies will be mostly cloudy with lows ranging from the low 40s
across west central Kansas to low 50s across south central
Kansas.

Tomorrow, a more vigorous upper-level shortwave will advance
 across the central Rockies and into the Central Plains,
accompanied by strengthening southwesterly flow aloft. This will
promote deeper moisture return with a warm front moving north
into the area by the afternoon. The resulting environment is
highly conducive to intense convective development, particularly
during the afternoon and evening across central Kansas. Model
guidance indicates favorable parameters for supercell
organization: MLCAPE values potentially exceeding 2000-3000
J/kg, effective bulk shear of 40-50 kt, and storm-relative
helicity supporting rotation. All severe hazards are possible,
including very large hail (2+ inches), damaging straight- line
winds (60+ mph gusts), and a conditional risk for strong
tornadoes if discrete supercells can mature. Convective
evolution remains somewhat uncertain—some guidance depicts long-
track supercells traversing the area, while others suggest more
linear or clustered modes. Regardless, the threat level
represents the highest severe-weather potential of the season
thus far for portions of southwest Kansas. As of now the highest
probability of severe storms will be across central Kansas with
lesser amounts as you head southwest. Skies will be mostly
cloudy in the morning with clearing expected in the afternoon.
Highs look to range from the mid 60s along the I-70 corridor to
low 80s across far southwestern Kansas. Dry conditions are
expected tomorrow night as the activity moves out of the area.
Lows tomorrow night are expected to range from the low 40s
across west central Kansas to low 50s across south central
Kansas.

Dry conditions are then expected during the early part of
the week with a cold front moving through the area Monday with
high pressure across the area Tuesday. Ensemble models then
suggest a system to move through the area mid week with
increased precipitation chances Wednesday night through
Thursday. As of now, no severe weather is expected with this
system. Dry conditions then return late week. As for
temperatures, highs will generally be in the 60s north to upper
70s south Monday through Wednesday with 60s on Thursday and
Friday. Lows will generally be in the upper 30s and 40s.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z MONDAY/...
Issued at 534 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

High confidence of flight categories degrading rapidly this
evening, with IFR/LIFR stratus spreading south in the post cold
front environment. Modest reductions in visibility in BR/FG/DZ
are also likely through Sunday morning. Elevated north winds are
expected through 06z Sun, gusting 20-25 kts. Winds will trend
light and variable Sunday morning, and become SEly after
18z Sun. Stratus will be slow to erode Sunday, but VFR is
expected to return to GCK/LBL/DDC by 21z Sun, and ceilings
should improve to MVFR at HYS by 21z Sun. Kept thunderstorm
mention out of all TAFs, with insufficent confidence of
placement through this TAF period.

&&

.DDC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.

&&

DISCUSSION...Hovorka_42
AVIATION...Turner

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 25, 5:11 PM CDT, 1 hour 23 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
511 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0400 PM     Hail             2 WNW La Crosse         38.54N 99.34W
04/25/2026  M1.25 Inch       Rush               KS   Public

&&

Local storm report, Apr 25, 5:17 PM CDT, 1 hour 17 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
517 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0450 PM     Hail             2 WNW La Crosse         38.54N 99.34W
04/25/2026  M1.25 Inch       Rush               KS   Public

            Corrects previous hail report from 2 WNW La
            Crosse.

&&

Local storm report, Apr 25, 5:18 PM CDT, 1 hour 16 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
518 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0510 PM     Hail             1 N Rush Center         38.47N 99.31W
04/25/2026  E1.00 Inch       Rush               KS   Public

&&

Special weather statement, Apr 25, 5:24 PM CDT, 1 hour 10 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
524 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

KSZ046-065-252315-
Rush KS-Pawnee KS-
524 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN PAWNEE AND
SOUTHEASTERN RUSH COUNTIES THROUGH 615 PM CDT...

At 524 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Timken, moving southeast at 15 mph.

HAZARD...Nickel size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible.

This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of northeastern Pawnee
and southeastern Rush Counties.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 900 PM CDT for
south central and central Kansas.

&&

LAT...LON 3823 9907 3840 9932 3847 9922 3845 9903
      3826 9903
TIME...MOT...LOC 2224Z 295DEG 12KT 3842 9921

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...<30 MPH

SUGDEN

Local storm report, Apr 25, 5:28 PM CDT, 1 hour 6 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
528 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0526 PM     Hail             4 NE Zook               38.11N 99.04W
04/25/2026  E1.00 Inch       Pawnee             KS   Public

&&

Local storm report, Apr 25, 5:58 PM CDT, 36 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
558 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0557 PM     Hail             3 S Dillwyn             37.93N 98.87W
04/25/2026  M1.00 Inch       Stafford           KS   Public

&&

The office that day

Everything else NWS Dodge City, KS issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 25, 3:02 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	DDC	Trego	28 min
Apr 25, 3:24 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	DDC	Rush	51 min
Apr 25, 3:38 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DDC	Ness, Rush	49 min
Apr 25, 4:27 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DDC	Rush	48 min
Apr 25, 4:30 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	DDC	Pawnee	45 min
Apr 25, 4:38 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DDC	Pawnee	52 min
Apr 25, 5:05 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DDC	Rush	20 min
Apr 25, 5:22 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DDC	Pawnee, Stafford	32 min
Apr 25, 5:24 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	DDC	Pawnee	51 min
Apr 25, 5:53 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DDC	Stafford	25 min
Apr 25, 6:03 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DDC	Pawnee, Stafford	23 min
Apr 25, 6:17 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	DDC	Pratt, Stafford	27 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Kansas, 2026 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2026

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.