Alert archive / Kansas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 17, NWS Dodge City, KS
NWS Dodge City, KS issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Apr 26, 2026, 8:59 AM CDT for Ellis County, Rush County, Kansas. It was in force for 46 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 26, 2026, 8:59 AM CDT (13:59 UTC)
- Expired
- Apr 26, 2026, 9:45 AM CDT
- In force
- 46 min
- Issued by
- NWS Dodge City, KS
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Hail
- 1.0 in
- Wind
- 60.0 mph
Counties Ellis County, KS, Rush County, KS
The radar
The Dodge City radar (KDDC), 121 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 13:59 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 nearest sounding before it
Topeka, KS (KTOP), launched 12:00Z, 2.0 hours before the alert went out and 320 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 54 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -242 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 980 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 37 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 54 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 6 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
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 26, 5:49 AM CDT, 3 hours 10 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Still a severe weather risk today, but colder air and prolonged cloud cover could hinder the highest potential
- Critical Fire Weather conditions in our far southwest counties
- Disturbance Wednesday night into Thursday brings the next chance at precipitation
Area forecast discussion, Apr 26, 5:49 AM CDT, 3 hours 10 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Dodge City KS 549 AM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Still a severe weather risk today, but colder air and prolonged cloud cover could hinder the highest potential - Critical Fire Weather conditions in our far southwest counties - Disturbance Wednesday night into Thursday brings the next chance at precipitation && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 124 AM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026 06z mesoanalysis depicts the expected Southwest U.S. trough pulling into southern California, with the flow extending through Arizona and New Mexico. This feature will continue to move eastward throughout the day and strengthen as it emerges into the central Plains. Closer to the surface is where conditions are throwing a wrench into the overall severe weather setup for this afternoon and evening. Surface observations in Nebraska and northwestern Kansas are already crashing into the 30s, and is expected to continue to sag southward a bit more throughout the night. Even if temperatures stay a bit warmer, extensive cloud cover is growing increasingly more likely throughout tonight, and persisting throughout a good portion of the day. This would put a damper on overall severe weather potential, eating away into higher instability. However, storm potential will still be possible out ahead of the dryline, but with the better moisture now expected to be more displaced east of the area, think higher-end severe potential is decreasing. There still exist a primary risk for large hail and damaging winds with any elevated convection than can develop initially. The overall tornado risk is very conditional, contingent upon better moisture getting into the forecast area. The best chance of this will be in southern and far eastern area into the later evening hours, but again, there will be a lot to overcome to realize a tornado risk. Any storms will move out of the area late in the evening and early overnight hours. The latest SPC outlook maintains mostly a Slight Risk for the area, but an Enhanced Risk still straddles the far eastern forecast area. Still a day to monitor closely, but low-level conditions would need to improve to realize a higher-end risk. Today also will feature a critical fire weather risk across the far southwest counties in the forecast area. Please see the fire weather discussion for more information on that risk. Another disturbance is being modeled by globals and their respective ensemble members for mid-week next week. POPs will increase beginning Wednesday evening and into Thursday. The overall setup does not look favorable for severe weather, so chances for that are very low at this time. && .AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z MONDAY/... Issued at 545 AM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026 Low clouds with fog will dominate much of the TAF time period for all the terminals with IFR to LIFR conditions through 18Z. By 19Z drier air should start to lift the ceilings at LBL to VFR and at GCK and DDC by 22Z. HYS will have a higher probability of staying in IFR to MVFR flight category through 12Z Monday. Scattered rain showers and thunderstorms will also be around the terminals this morning and again this evening. As a result PROB30 and TEMPOs are in the TAFs to reflect the thunderstorm potential. The stronger storm system this evening could lead to severe thunderstorms around GCK, DDC, and possibly HYS between 22-05Z. Thunderstorms could contain gusty winds over 50 kts and large hail. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 124 AM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026 Critical fire weather conditions are expected today across far southwest portions of Kansas, notably Grant, Morton, Stanton, and Stevens Counties. Expect the potential for rapid fire weather spread due to southerly and southwesterly winds 20-30 mph over-top minimum relative humidity levels dropping as low as 13%. Burning is discouraged as any fires that potentially break out can spread quickly. && .DDC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Red Flag Warning from noon today to 9 PM CDT this evening for KSZ074-075-084-085. && DISCUSSION...Bennett AVIATION...Tatro FIRE WEATHER...Bennett
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Apr 26, 6:30 AM CDT, 2 hours 29 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
630 AM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026
KSZ044-261200-
Lane KS-
630 AM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT CENTRAL LANE COUNTY THROUGH 700
AM CDT...
At 630 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7
miles south of Amy, moving northeast at 45 mph.
HAZARD...Nickel size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible.
This strong thunderstorm will be near...
Dighton around 640 AM CDT.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3850 10024 3847 10025 3830 10067 3832 10069
3837 10069 3867 10034
TIME...MOT...LOC 1130Z 230DEG 39KT 3836 10062
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...<30 MPH
TATROSpecial weather statement, Apr 26, 6:52 AM CDT, 2 hours 7 minutes before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Dodge City KS 652 AM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026 KSZ044-045-261215- Lane KS-Ness KS- 652 AM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT WEST CENTRAL NESS AND SOUTHEASTERN LANE COUNTIES THROUGH 715 AM CDT... At 652 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Alamota, moving northeast at 30 mph. HAZARD...Nickel size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible. This strong thunderstorm will be near... Alamota around 655 AM CDT. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. && LAT...LON 3835 10043 3846 10048 3865 10023 3841 10008 TIME...MOT...LOC 1152Z 239DEG 27KT 3842 10040 MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN MAX WIND GUST...<30 MPH TATRO
Special weather statement, Apr 26, 7:11 AM CDT, 1 hour 48 minutes before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Dodge City KS 711 AM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026 KSZ030-031-044>046-261245- Rush KS-Trego KS-Lane KS-Ellis KS-Ness KS- 711 AM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NESS...SOUTHEASTERN TREGO...EAST CENTRAL LANE...WESTERN RUSH AND SOUTHWESTERN ELLIS COUNTIES THROUGH 745 AM CDT... At 710 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Beeler, moving northeast at 40 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 Ness, southeastern Trego, east central Lane, western Rush and southwestern Ellis Counties. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. && LAT...LON 3833 10016 3860 10030 3894 9960 3840 9935 TIME...MOT...LOC 1210Z 244DEG 35KT 3845 10013 MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN MAX WIND GUST...<30 MPH HOVORKA
Special weather statement, Apr 26, 7:48 AM CDT, 1 hour 11 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
748 AM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026
KSZ030-031-045-046-261315-
Rush KS-Trego KS-Ellis KS-Ness KS-
748 AM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHERN NESS...SOUTHEASTERN
TREGO...NORTHERN RUSH AND WESTERN ELLIS COUNTIES THROUGH 815 AM
CDT...
At 748 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Ransom, moving northeast at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Penny size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible.
This strong thunderstorm will be near...
Brownell around 800 AM CDT.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3906 9946 3859 9903 3854 9903 3838 10009
3866 10018
TIME...MOT...LOC 1248Z 234DEG 26KT 3855 9987
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...<30 MPH
HOVORKASpecial weather statement, Apr 26, 8:11 AM CDT, 48 minutes before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Dodge City KS 811 AM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026 KSZ030-031-045-046-261415- Rush KS-Trego KS-Ellis KS-Ness KS- 811 AM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN NESS...SOUTHEASTERN TREGO...NORTHERN RUSH AND SOUTHERN ELLIS COUNTIES THROUGH 915 AM CDT... At 811 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Brownell, moving northeast at 25 mph. HAZARD...Nickel size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible. This strong thunderstorm will be near... McCracken around 820 AM CDT. Other locations in the path of this storm include Schoenchen and Munjor. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. && LAT...LON 3852 9904 3845 9992 3871 10003 3903 9904 TIME...MOT...LOC 1311Z 243DEG 23KT 3858 9971 MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN MAX WIND GUST...<30 MPH HOVORKA
The office that day
Everything else NWS Dodge City, KS issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 25, 7:02 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DDC | Barber, Pratt | 38 min |
| Apr 26, 12:41 AM CDT | Red Flag Warning | DDC | Grant, Morton, Stanton, Stevens | 20 hr |
| Apr 26, 6:30 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | DDC | Lane | 30 min |
| Apr 26, 6:52 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | DDC | Lane | 23 min |
| Apr 26, 7:11 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | DDC | Ness | 34 min |
| Apr 26, 7:48 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | DDC | Ness, Rush | 27 min |
| Apr 26, 8:11 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | DDC | Ellis, Ness, Rush | 64 min |
| Apr 26, 8:17 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DDC | Ellis, Ness, Rush, Trego | 43 min |
| Apr 26, 9:11 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | DDC | Ellis, Rush | 64 min |
Nearby
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Kansas, 2026Every 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.