Alert archive / Kansas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 259, NWS Dodge City, KS
NWS Dodge City, KS issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 15, 2026, 6:26 PM MDT for Hamilton County, Stanton County, Kansas. It was in force for 49 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The outline as issued.
The facts
- Issued
- Aug 15, 2026, 6:26 PM MDT (00:26 UTC)
- Expired
- Aug 15, 2026, 7:15 PM MDT
- In force
- 49 min
- Issued by
- NWS Dodge City, KS
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Hail
- 1.5 in
- Wind
- 60.0 mph
Counties Hamilton County, KS, Stanton County, KS
The radar
The Dodge City radar (KDDC), 174 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:26 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.
Did it verify
Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this severe thunderstorm warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.
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.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 15, 6:09 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 5 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Dodge City, (KDDC), launched 00:00Z, 0.4 hours before the alert went out and 181 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
- 2600 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -42 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1732 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 20 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 68 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 223 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 10.3
The text
As transmitted.
474
WUUS53 KDDC 160026
SVRDDC
KSC075-187-160115-
/O.NEW.KDDC.SV.W.0259.260816T0026Z-260816T0115Z/
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
726 PM CDT Sat Aug 15 2026
The National Weather Service in Dodge City has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
Southwestern Hamilton County in southwestern Kansas...
Northwestern Stanton County in southwestern Kansas...
* Until 815 PM CDT/715 PM MDT/.
* At 726 PM CDT/626 PM MDT/, a severe thunderstorm was located 18
miles northeast of Two Buttes, or 18 miles north of The Saunders
Elevator, moving east 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
southwestern Hamilton and northwestern Stanton Counties.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
&&
LAT...LON 3785 10204 3791 10190 3763 10175 3760 10204
TIME...MOT...LOC 0026Z 262DEG 16KT 3772 10213
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.50 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
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, 4:26 PM MDT, 2 hours 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, 4:26 PM MDT, 2 hours 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, 4:28 PM MDT, 1 hour 58 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
FINCHSpecial weather statement, Aug 15, 5:04 PM MDT, 1 hour 22 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
604 PM CDT Sat Aug 15 2026
KSZ081-090-152345-
Pratt KS-Barber KS-
604 PM CDT Sat Aug 15 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN BARBER AND
SOUTHEASTERN PRATT COUNTIES THROUGH 645 PM CDT...
At 604 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Lake City, moving northeast at 20 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 northeastern Barber
and southeastern Pratt Counties.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3724 9836 3718 9875 3733 9886 3754 9852
3743 9846 3739 9846 3738 9844
TIME...MOT...LOC 2304Z 240DEG 19KT 3732 9873
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH
FINCHLocal storm report, Aug 15, 5:19 PM MDT, 1 hour 7 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
619 PM CDT Sat Aug 15 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0605 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 3 SSE Lake City 37.31N 98.79W
08/15/2026 M58 MPH Barber KS Mesonet
Kansas State Mesonet Lake City.
&&
ASLocal storm report, Aug 15, 5:29 PM MDT, 57 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
629 PM CDT Sat Aug 15 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0628 PM Hail 3 NNW Wilburton 37.11N 101.79W
08/15/2026 M1.00 Inch Morton KS NWS Employee
&&Special weather statement, Aug 15, 5:51 PM MDT, 35 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
651 PM CDT Sat Aug 15 2026
KSZ074-084-160030-
Stanton KS-Morton KS-
651 PM CDT Sat Aug 15 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN MORTON AND
SOUTHEASTERN STANTON COUNTIES THROUGH 730 PM CDT...
At 651 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Richfield, moving north at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and penny size 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 northeastern Morton
and southeastern Stanton Counties.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3723 10162 3731 10187 3755 10193 3756 10156
TIME...MOT...LOC 2351Z 183DEG 29KT 3730 10176
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH
FINCHLocal storm report, Aug 15, 5:56 PM MDT, 30 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
656 PM CDT Sat Aug 15 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0645 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 1 SW Richfield 37.26N 101.79W
08/15/2026 M64 MPH Morton KS Mesonet
Kansas State Mesonet Richfield.
&&
ASThe office that day
Everything else NWS Dodge City, KS issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 15, 6:01 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DDC | Morton, Stanton | 44 min |
| Aug 15, 6:29 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | DDC | Stevens | 46 min |
| Aug 15, 7:02 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DDC | Hamilton, Stanton | 31 min |
| Aug 15, 7:05 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DDC | Grant, Morton, Stanton, Stevens | 30 min |
| Aug 15, 7:08 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | DDC | Grant | 37 min |
| Aug 15, 8:01 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | DDC | Kearny | 44 min |
| Aug 15, 8:36 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | DDC | Finney, Lane, Scott | 39 min |
| Aug 15, 9:10 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | DDC | Lane | 35 min |
| Aug 15, 10:15 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | DDC | Ness, Trego | 45 min |
| Aug 15, 10:57 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | DDC | Ellis, Trego | 48 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.