Alert archive / Kansas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 255, NWS Dodge City, KS
NWS Dodge City, KS issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 15, 2026, 5:54 PM CDT for Morton County, Stevens County, Kansas. It was in force for 51 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
- Aug 15, 2026, 5:54 PM CDT (22:54 UTC)
- Expired
- Aug 15, 2026, 6:45 PM CDT
- In force
- 51 min
- Issued by
- NWS Dodge City, KS
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Hail
- 1.25 in
- Wind
- 60.0 mph
Counties Morton County, KS, Stevens County, KS
The radar
The Dodge City radar (KDDC), 165 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:57 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
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 15, 6:28 PM CDT | HAIL 1 | 3 Nnw Wilburton, KS |
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 34 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 nearest sounding before it
Norman, OK (KOUN), launched 12:00Z, 10.9 hours before the alert went out and 433 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
- 620 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -235 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1343 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 10 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- -21 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 76 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.4
The text
As transmitted.
565
WUUS53 KDDC 152254
SVRDDC
KSC129-189-152345-
/O.NEW.KDDC.SV.W.0255.260815T2254Z-260815T2345Z/
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
554 PM CDT Sat Aug 15 2026
The National Weather Service in Dodge City has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
Southeastern Morton County in southwestern Kansas...
Southwestern Stevens County in southwestern Kansas...
* Until 645 PM CDT.
* At 554 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Wilburton,
moving northeast at 30 mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and half dollar size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage
to roofs, siding, and trees.
* This severe thunderstorm will be near...
Rolla around 605 PM CDT.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
&&
LAT...LON 3699 10184 3724 10176 3724 10154 3706 10135
3699 10147
TIME...MOT...LOC 2254Z 211DEG 27KT 3700 10170
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.25 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
FINCH3 follow-up statements
737
WWUS53 KDDC 152311
SVSDDC
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
611 PM CDT Sat Aug 15 2026
KSC129-189-152345-
/O.CON.KDDC.SV.W.0255.000000T0000Z-260815T2345Z/
Morton KS-Stevens KS-
611 PM CDT Sat Aug 15 2026
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 645 PM CDT
FOR SOUTHEASTERN MORTON AND SOUTHWESTERN STEVENS COUNTIES...
At 610 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located very near Wilburton,
moving north at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Ping pong ball size hail and 60 mph wind gusts.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail
damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Expect wind
damage to roofs, siding, and trees.
Locations impacted include...
Wilburton.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
&&
LAT...LON 3699 10184 3724 10176 3724 10154 3709 10147
3699 10147
TIME...MOT...LOC 2310Z 181DEG 22KT 3706 10176
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.50 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
FINCH660
WWUS53 KDDC 152314
SVSDDC
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
614 PM CDT Sat Aug 15 2026
KSC129-189-152345-
/O.CON.KDDC.SV.W.0255.000000T0000Z-260815T2345Z/
Morton KS-Stevens KS-
614 PM CDT Sat Aug 15 2026
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 645 PM CDT
FOR SOUTHEASTERN MORTON AND SOUTHWESTERN STEVENS COUNTIES...
At 614 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located very near Wilburton,
moving north at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Ping pong ball size hail and 60 mph wind gusts.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail
damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Expect wind
damage to roofs, siding, and trees.
This severe thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
southeastern Morton and southwestern Stevens Counties.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
&&
LAT...LON 3699 10184 3724 10176 3724 10154 3709 10152
3699 10151
TIME...MOT...LOC 2314Z 181DEG 19KT 3707 10176
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.50 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
FINCH815
WWUS53 KDDC 152341
SVSDDC
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
641 PM CDT Sat Aug 15 2026
KSC129-189-152351-
/O.EXP.KDDC.SV.W.0255.000000T0000Z-260815T2345Z/
Morton KS-Stevens KS-
641 PM CDT Sat Aug 15 2026
...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN MORTON AND
SOUTHWESTERN STEVENS COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 645 PM CDT...
The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire. However, gusty
winds are still possible with this thunderstorm.
&&
LAT...LON 3699 10184 3724 10176 3724 10154 3709 10152
3699 10151
TIME...MOT...LOC 2341Z 211DEG 27KT 3723 10164
$$
FINCHWhat 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 Aug 15, 5:26 PM CDT, 28 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Numerous heavy-rain producing thunderstorms likely tonight with an axis of 1 to 2" (locally more) of rain across portions of southwest and west central Kansas.
- Flood Watch has been issued (for flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall) for counties mainly west of a Cimarron to Ness City to La Crosse line for tonight.
- Not as hot Sunday and Monday, but a return to heat likely Tuesday, for most likely only one day, as another front pushes south across Kansas mid-week.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 15, 5:26 PM CDT, 28 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Dodge City KS 526 PM CDT Sat Aug 15 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Numerous heavy-rain producing thunderstorms likely tonight with an axis of 1 to 2" (locally more) of rain across portions of southwest and west central Kansas. - Flood Watch has been issued (for flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall) for counties mainly west of a Cimarron to Ness City to La Crosse line for tonight. - Not as hot Sunday and Monday, but a return to heat likely Tuesday, for most likely only one day, as another front pushes south across Kansas mid-week. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 137 PM CDT Sat Aug 15 2026 A heavy rainfall event is coming into better focus for much of southwest and west central Kansas, as the North American Monsoon circulation remains shunted farther east of its climatological position with the upper level high centered over Arkansas. At the surface, early afternoon observations were showing widespread dewpoints in the mid to upper 60s across all of southwest and west central Kansas. Observations and clear air radar returns show a nebulous mesolow circulation between DDC and GCK. A surface thermal ridge was nosing northeast into the Red Hills region with temperatures approaching 100F at Medicine Lodge on a south to southwest wind. Initial surface-based thunderstorm development is likely in the 21-23Z time frame in vicinity of the mesolow and/or the convergence axis near the hottest surface temperatures nearest the Oklahoma line south of DDC. The initial storms which develop within the hotter air mass south/southeast of DDC will likely be more isolated or widely scattered in nature, but the strongest storms will be capable of severe downburst winds given the hot temperatures. Focus will then turn farther west/southwest as a much more organized cluster of strong to severe storms develop and mature across far southeastern Colorado and adjacent far southwestern Kansas. All reliable short- term, high-resolution CAMs and associated ensemble systems (namely the HREF) show an impressive signal for a healthy mesoscale convective system (MCS) tracking northeast within the lower tropospheric Theta-E ridge. Latest NBM shows precipitable water values of 1.60 to 1.75" across much of west central and southwest Kansas, which is around the 95th percentile for southwest Kansas this time of year. The above-mentioned meteorological setting along with HREF LPMM QPF values showing max potential 2-3" rainfall, HRRR run-to-run consistency of widely scattered 1.5 to 3" rainfall amounts, and NBM 90th percentile QPF in the 2-3" range all support potential for flash flooding with the strongest, slower-moving storms. The best corridor for this activity among all the models is roughly 50 miles either side of a line extending from Johnson to Garden City to Dighton to Ellis. We have decided to issue a Flash Flood Watch for these counties after collaboration with the NWS Pueblo and NWS Goodland offices. Tonight's heavy rainfall event will move on into northern/central Kansas prior to sunrise Sunday. The effective frontal zone will push fairly far to the south thanks to all the outflow from the MCS with a light northeasterly wind prevailing across southwest Kansas. This should knock afternoon temperatures down 7 to 10 degrees over much of our southwest Kansas region with this "cooler", more moist air mass hanging around through Monday. After Monday, the temperature forecast becomes a little more challenging as a hot, downslope southwest wind air mass redevelops thanks to a new surface low forming over Nebraska. However, the magnitude of continued evapotranspiration from all the recent rainfall may limit surface heating potential -- otherwise, we would likely widespread highs around 105 degrees again on Tuesday. Tuesday would most likely be the best chance for widespread 100s, as another polar front moves south into Kansas thanks to a fairly decent west-northwest flow shortwave trough moving across Nebraska into Iowa. This polar front will offer another increased chance for organized thunderstorm activity Wednesday evening/night. && .AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z MONDAY/... Issued at 525 PM CDT Sat Aug 15 2026 A chance of thunderstorms may bring periods of MVFR to IFR conditions to the TAF sites this evening into the early overnight period. Otherwise expect increased coverage of mid to high level cloudiness. Winds will be light and generally from a northerly direction through tomorrow. && .DDC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Flood Watch through Sunday morning for KSZ030-031-043>045- 061>063-074>076. && DISCUSSION...Umscheid AVIATION...Hovorka_42
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Aug 15, 3:50 PM CDT, 2 hours 4 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
350 PM CDT Sat Aug 15 2026
KSZ087>089-152130-
Meade KS-Clark KS-Comanche KS-
350 PM CDT Sat Aug 15 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT EASTERN MEADE...SOUTHWESTERN
COMANCHE AND CLARK COUNTIES THROUGH 430 PM CDT...
At 349 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Acres, moving northeast at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
This strong thunderstorm will be near...
Acres around 355 PM CDT.
Other locations in the path of this storm include Ashland.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3700 10000 3710 10017 3742 9976 3711 9930
3700 9973
TIME...MOT...LOC 2049Z 225DEG 22KT 3709 9995
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH
FINCHSpecial weather statement, Aug 15, 4:40 PM CDT, 1 hour 14 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
440 PM CDT Sat Aug 15 2026
KSZ080-088-089-152230-
Clark KS-Kiowa KS-Comanche KS-
440 PM CDT Sat Aug 15 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHERN KIOWA...WESTERN
COMANCHE AND SOUTHEASTERN CLARK COUNTIES THROUGH 530 PM CDT...
At 440 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Sitka, moving northeast at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
This strong thunderstorm will be near...
Sitka around 445 PM CDT.
Protection around 500 PM CDT.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3708 9994 3743 9944 3718 9912 3700 9958
3700 9979
TIME...MOT...LOC 2140Z 230DEG 20KT 3713 9967
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH
FINCHLocal storm report, Aug 15, 4:50 PM CDT, 1 hour 4 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
450 PM CDT Sat Aug 15 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0440 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 7 ESE Acres 37.07N 99.75W
08/15/2026 E61 MPH Clark KS Mesonet
&&Special weather statement, Aug 15, 5:28 PM CDT, 26 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
528 PM CDT Sat Aug 15 2026
KSZ089-090-152315-
Barber KS-Comanche KS-
528 PM CDT Sat Aug 15 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT WEST CENTRAL BARBER AND CENTRAL
COMANCHE COUNTIES THROUGH 615 PM CDT...
At 527 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm very
near Buttermilk, moving northeast at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of west central Barber
and central Comanche Counties.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3704 9954 3738 9914 3738 9910 3720 9882
3700 9912 3700 9927
TIME...MOT...LOC 2227Z 230DEG 20KT 3713 9934
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH
FINCHThe office that day
Everything else NWS Dodge City, KS issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 14, 7:47 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | DDC | Stanton | 43 min |
| Aug 14, 8:30 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | DDC | Hamilton | 45 min |
| Aug 14, 9:23 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | DDC | Hamilton | 37 min |
| Aug 15, 1:43 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | DDC | Clark | 47 min |
| Aug 15, 2:34 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | DDC | Comanche | 56 min |
| Aug 15, 12:30 PM CDT | Flood Watch | DDC | Ellis, Finney, Grant, Hamilton, Haskell, Kearny and 5 more | 13 hr |
| Aug 15, 3:50 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | DDC | Clark | 40 min |
| Aug 15, 4:40 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | DDC | Comanche | 50 min |
| Aug 15, 5:28 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | DDC | Comanche | 47 min |
| Aug 15, 6:04 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | DDC | Barber | 41 min |
| Aug 15, 6:08 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DDC | Barber, Pratt | 19 min |
| Aug 15, 6:25 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DDC | Morton | 50 min |
| Aug 15, 6:51 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | DDC | Stanton | 39 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.