Alert archive / Kansas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 201, NWS Dodge City, KS

July 2, 2026Finney County, Gray County, Kansas

NWS Dodge City, KS issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 2, 2026, 7:19 PM CDT for Finney County, Gray County, Kansas. It was in force for 41 min. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Jul 2, 2026, 7:19 PM CDT (00:19 UTC)
Expired
Jul 2, 2026, 8:00 PM CDT
In force
41 min
Issued by
NWS Dodge City, KS
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
0.75 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Finney County, KS, Gray County, KS

The radar

The Dodge City radar (KDDC), 79 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:23 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.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Jul 2, 7:22 PM CDTTSTM WND GST 641 Ssw Garden City, KSGarden City Co-Op station measured.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

Did it verify

Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched one storm report to this severe thunderstorm warning; the first came 3 minutes after it went out.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The watch it was issued in

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

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Jul 2, 5:23 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Dodge City, (KDDC), launched 00:00Z, 0.3 hours before the alert went out and 84 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.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Dodge City, at 00:00Z on 2026-07-03Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1692 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Dodge City, at 00:00Z on 2026-07-03The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 38 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
1692 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-29 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1966 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
31 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
38 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
219 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
6.9

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

484 
WUUS53 KDDC 030019
SVRDDC
KSC055-069-030100-
/O.NEW.KDDC.SV.W.0201.260703T0019Z-260703T0100Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
719 PM CDT Thu Jul 2 2026

The National Weather Service in Dodge City has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  Western Finney County in southwestern Kansas...
  Northwestern Gray County in southwestern Kansas...

* Until 800 PM CDT.

* At 719 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Garden City,
  moving east at 30 mph.

  HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and penny size hail.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

* This severe thunderstorm will be near...
  Garden City around 725 PM CDT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

&&

LAT...LON 3786 10106 3812 10103 3819 10047 3782 10050
TIME...MOT...LOC 0019Z 261DEG 26KT 3800 10090 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

SPRINGER
1 follow-up statement
192 
WWUS53 KDDC 030047
SVSDDC

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
747 PM CDT Thu Jul 2 2026

KSC055-069-030100-
/O.CON.KDDC.SV.W.0201.000000T0000Z-260703T0100Z/
Finney KS-Gray KS-
747 PM CDT Thu Jul 2 2026

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CDT
FOR CENTRAL FINNEY AND NORTHWESTERN GRAY COUNTIES...

At 747 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 10 miles north of
Pierceville, moving east at 30 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

This severe thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
central Finney and northwestern Gray Counties.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

&&

LAT...LON 3784 10083 3807 10081 3811 10048 3782 10050
TIME...MOT...LOC 0047Z 261DEG 26KT 3803 10064 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

SPRINGER

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 Jul 2, 5:09 PM CDT, 2 hours 10 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Scattered thunderstorms favoring western zones, west of US Highway 283, Thursday evening. Strong to severe outflow winds are again the primary threat.
  • Friday and Independence Day will feature hot afternoons, with high temperatures in the upper 90s to near 100 degrees.
  • Scattered thunderstorms are expected Saturday evening and Saturday night, some of which may impact Fourth of July fireworks displays. Marginally severe wind and hail are possible.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 2, 5:09 PM CDT, 2 hours 10 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
509 PM CDT Thu Jul 2 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Scattered thunderstorms favoring western zones, west of US
  Highway 283, Thursday evening. Strong to severe outflow winds
  are again the primary threat.

- Friday and Independence Day will feature hot afternoons, with
  high temperatures in the upper 90s to near 100 degrees.

- Scattered thunderstorms are expected Saturday evening and
  Saturday night, some of which may impact Fourth of July
  fireworks displays. Marginally severe wind and hail are
  possible.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 1200 PM CDT Thu Jul 2 2026

Midday infrared satellite imagery depicted the persistent
moisture plume across central Kansas, with midlevel clouds
persisting over the eastern zones. Mesoanalysis showed
instability quickly growing across western zones, already near
3000 J/kg, where strong insolation was working on a moist
boundary layer. As lee cyclogenesis strengthens to near 998 mb
near Denver this afternoon, south to southeast winds will
increase this afternoon/evening, gusting as high as 40 mph.

With a very strong midlevel anticyclone stationary over the
eastern U.S., the repetitive convective pattern we have seen the
past 2 days, will repeat again this evening. 12z ARW/NAM/RRFS
are in good agreement suggesting thunderstorms developing again
west of US 83 to near the Colorado border 4-7 pm. It is during
this late afternoon period in which temporary supercell
structures may produce hail 1-2 inches in diameter west of
US 83. Bulk shear is not expected to be strong enough to
maintain supercells for long, with upscale growth into another
complex through this evening. Latest iterations of the HRRR show
damaging wind potential into the north central counties after
7 pm. After coordination with SPC, severe wind probability was
increased to 15%/slight risk on the 1630z outlook. Pops were
also increased significantly into the likely category for
western and central zones. Strong instability and a hot deeply
mixed boundary layer will support wind gusts of 60-70 mph from
the strongest linear segments into this evening, with this risk
highest northwest of Dodge City once again.

Stagnant upper air pattern over North America begins changing
Friday, as the upper high over the east weakens, and a new upper
high takes over near New Mexico. Friday will be plenty hot,
easily into the upper 90s, with elevated/strong south winds yet
again. Most of Friday will be dry for most, but GFS and a few
CAMs do suggest thunderstorm initiation focusing on the
northeast/east zones this time. Uncertainty in this summer
pattern forces pops to be rather low.

Independence Day will be hot as a firecracker, with afternoon
temperatures of 95-100 common, as shown by NBM. GFS/MEX appears
1-3 degrees too hot, given moist soils and healthy vegetation
greenup. Most of the holiday will be dry, but there is a
stronger convective signal for Saturday evening, that may impact
fireworks displays. A weak frontal boundary will sag south
across Kansas Saturday, as a shortwave arrives on the northeast
periphery of the new upper high over New Mexico. Current
thinking is this will focus scattered thunderstorms over the
northeast zones, northeast of Dodge City, Saturday evening.
Effective shear and instability will support storm organization,
especially with the composite boundary nearby, per SPC Day 3.

Temperatures should be trimmed several degrees Sunday behind the
weak frontal boundary. A nondescript pattern typical of summer
is expected Monday through Wednesday, with typical afternoon
heat in the 90s. Global models show 500 mb heights not becoming
excessive, near 590 dm, so triple digit heat should be limited,
and heat advisories appear unlikely east. Models do show
southeast winds maintaining moisture through early next week,
keeping at least isolated thunderstorms possible at peak heating
each day.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 507 PM CDT Thu Jul 2 2026

VFR flight category for all terminals during the time period. A
line of storms will move out of southeast Colorado into western
Kansas this evening and could lead to VCTS for GCK airport
between 00-03Z and HYS at 02-04Z. Main threat could be downburst
winds of 50 kts or greater. Storms should end around 04Z. Winds
will stay breezy through the time period with 15-20 kt sustained
and 25 kt gusts.

&&

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

&&

DISCUSSION...Turner
AVIATION...Tatro

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 2, 7:27 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatDDCGrant, Morton, Stanton, Stevens48 min
Jul 2, 7:32 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningDDCGrant, Stanton2 hr
Jul 2, 7:58 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDDCFinney, Gray47 min
Jul 2, 8:14 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDDCGrant, Morton, Stanton, Stevens33 min
Jul 2, 8:46 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDDCGray, Hodgeman44 min
Jul 2, 9:02 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDDCStanton43 min
Jul 2, 9:40 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDDCGray50 min
Jul 2, 9:52 PM CDTAreal Flood WarningDDCGrant, Stanton4 hr
Jul 2, 11:46 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDDCEllis, Rush44 min
Jul 3, 3:03 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDDCStevens42 min
Jul 3, 3:20 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDDCMorton25 min
Jul 3, 3:40 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDDCMorton, Stevens50 min
Jul 3, 3:47 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDDCStevens28 min
Jul 3, 4:16 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDDCStevens44 min
Jul 3, 4:23 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatDDCMorton, Stevens52 min
Jul 3, 5:01 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDDCSeward44 min
Jul 3, 5:02 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDDCStevens43 min
Jul 3, 5:06 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDDCStevens24 min
Jul 3, 5:32 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDDCStevens43 min
Jul 3, 5:46 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDDCSeward44 min
Jul 3, 6:56 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDDCEllis, Trego49 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.