Alert archive / Kansas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 263, NWS Dodge City, KS

August 18, 2026Edwards County, Hodgeman County, Pawnee County, Kansas

NWS Dodge City, KS issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 18, 2026, 7:10 PM CDT for Edwards County, Hodgeman County, Pawnee County, Kansas. It was in force for 34 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 18, 2026, 7:10 PM CDT (00:10 UTC)
Expired
Aug 18, 2026, 7:44 PM CDT
In force
34 min
Issued by
NWS Dodge City, KS
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.0 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Edwards County, KS, Hodgeman County, KS, Pawnee County, KS

The radar

The Dodge City radar (KDDC), 37 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:14 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 nearest sounding before it

Dodge City, (KDDC), launched 00:00Z, 0.2 hours before the alert went out and 32 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 2026-08-19Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 939 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 2026-08-19The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 57 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
939 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-33 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
3354 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
27 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
57 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
114 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
2.6

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

409 
WUUS53 KDDC 190010
SVRDDC
KSC047-083-145-190100-
/O.NEW.KDDC.SV.W.0263.260819T0010Z-260819T0100Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
710 PM CDT Tue Aug 18 2026

The National Weather Service in Dodge City has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  Southeastern Hodgeman County in southwestern Kansas...
  West central Pawnee County in south central Kansas...
  Northwestern Edwards County in south central Kansas...

* Until 800 PM CDT.

* At 710 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Hanston,
  moving east at 20 mph.

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

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage 
           to roofs, siding, and trees.

* This severe thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
  southeastern Hodgeman, west central Pawnee and northwestern Edwards
  Counties.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3791 9979 3814 9980 3815 9953 3791 9951
TIME...MOT...LOC 0010Z 265DEG 16KT 3806 9970 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

TATRO
3 follow-up statements
989 
WWUS53 KDDC 190023
SVSDDC

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
723 PM CDT Tue Aug 18 2026

KSC145-190033-
/O.CAN.KDDC.SV.W.0263.000000T0000Z-260819T0100Z/
Pawnee KS-
723 PM CDT Tue Aug 18 2026

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR WEST CENTRAL PAWNEE COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

The severe thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out of 
the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

&&

LAT...LON 3791 9973 3810 9972 3812 9957 3809 9957
      3809 9953 3791 9951
TIME...MOT...LOC 0023Z 273DEG 17KT 3805 9962 

$$

KSC047-083-190100-
/O.CON.KDDC.SV.W.0263.000000T0000Z-260819T0100Z/
Hodgeman KS-Edwards KS-
723 PM CDT Tue Aug 18 2026

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CDT
FOR SOUTHEASTERN HODGEMAN AND NORTHWESTERN EDWARDS COUNTIES...

At 723 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 7 miles south of
Gray, moving east at 20 mph.

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

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to 
         roofs, siding, and trees.

This severe thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
southeastern Hodgeman and northwestern Edwards Counties.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3791 9973 3810 9972 3812 9957 3809 9957
      3809 9953 3791 9951
TIME...MOT...LOC 0023Z 273DEG 17KT 3805 9962 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

TATRO
366 
WWUS53 KDDC 190039
SVSDDC

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
739 PM CDT Tue Aug 18 2026

KSC083-190049-
/O.CAN.KDDC.SV.W.0263.000000T0000Z-260819T0100Z/
Hodgeman KS-
739 PM CDT Tue Aug 18 2026

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN HODGEMAN COUNTY
IS CANCELLED...

The severe thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out of 
the warned area.  Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

&&

LAT...LON 3791 9957 3806 9957 3807 9954 3807 9953
      3791 9951
TIME...MOT...LOC 0039Z 282DEG 15KT 3802 9954 

$$

KSC047-190100-
/O.CON.KDDC.SV.W.0263.000000T0000Z-260819T0100Z/
Edwards KS-
739 PM CDT Tue Aug 18 2026

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CDT
FOR NORTHWESTERN EDWARDS COUNTY...

At 739 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 8 miles north of
Offerle, moving east at 20 mph.

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

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to 
         roofs, siding, and trees.

This severe thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
northwestern Edwards County.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3791 9957 3806 9957 3807 9954 3807 9953
      3791 9951
TIME...MOT...LOC 0039Z 282DEG 15KT 3802 9954 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

TATRO
462 
WWUS53 KDDC 190044
SVSDDC

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
744 PM CDT Tue Aug 18 2026

KSC047-190054-
/O.CAN.KDDC.SV.W.0263.000000T0000Z-260819T0100Z/
Edwards KS-
744 PM CDT Tue Aug 18 2026

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN EDWARDS COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and no longer poses an immediate threat to life or property.
Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

&&

LAT...LON 3791 9957 3806 9957 3807 9954 3807 9953
      3791 9951
TIME...MOT...LOC 0042Z 265DEG 16KT 3802 9951 

$$

TATRO

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 Aug 18, 5:08 PM CDT, 2 hours 2 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Cold front late this afternoon/evening will likely initiate isolated to widely scattered strong/severe storm generally east of a Hays to Larned line.
  • Larger round of strong to marginally severe storms likely overnight, but track of this activity likely remaining north along and/or north of I-70 corridor.
  • After a relief from the heat Wednesday, a build-up toward another heat wave in store for the weekend into early next week.
  • Record or at least near-record highs well above 100 degrees Sunday and/or Monday of next week.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 18, 5:08 PM CDT, 2 hours 2 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
508 PM CDT Tue Aug 18 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Cold front late this afternoon/evening will likely initiate
  isolated to widely scattered strong/severe storm generally
  east of a Hays to Larned line.

- Larger round of strong to marginally severe storms likely
  overnight, but track of this activity likely remaining north
  along and/or north of I-70 corridor.

- After a relief from the heat Wednesday, a build-up toward
  another heat wave in store for the weekend into early next
  week.

- Record or at least near-record highs well above 100 degrees
  Sunday and/or Monday of next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 112 PM CDT Tue Aug 18 2026

Early this afternoon, the downslope thermal ridge was pushing well
into southwest and south central Kansas with multiple automated
stations at or above 97F before 18Z (1 PM CDT). This is on par if
not a degree or two above the hourly NBM temperatures, so we are
well on our way to highs in the 103 to 107F range, east of generally
an Elkhart to Dodge City to Ness City line. Thankfully, relief is on
the way in the form of the next cold front, but it will not be
pushing south until later this evening. An isolated strong/severe
thunderstorm or two still appears likely along the surface frontal
zone with much of the CAMs and 12Z HREF LPMM Composite Reflectivity
field suggesting best zone somewhere southeast of HYS or so. Should
any convective activity form along the front in our eastern CWA, it
will quickly move deeper into central Kansas. The next larger round
of strong to potentially severe storms will take shape later tonight
in the post-frontal upslope regime across northeastern Colorado,
southwestern Nebraska, and adjacent far northwestern Kansas. A
mesoscale convective system (MCS) is likely to evolve out of this
late evening development and track east-southeastward toward and
eventually along the I-70 corridor, lasting much of the overnight
into the early morning hours along the post-frontal
instability/moisture axis where MCS maintenance parameters will be
greatest.  As such, we will keep the 30-40 POPs going up north
overnight with potential for these POPs to be increased as we get
closer to this event as track/maintenance of overnight MCS becomes a
bit more clear.

Following tonight's cold front, Wednesday looks to be refreshingly
"cooler" with highs upper 80s to lower 90s, but as the upper level
ridge axis makes another run at expanding back north, so will the
850mb and surface temperatures. Another heat wave appears to be on
track starting this weekend lasting into early next week with Sunday
and Monday the hottest days in the current forecast. NBM
temperatures continue to tick upward with 75th percentile MaxT on
Sunday in Barber County 110+ -- easily record/near record territory
for much of the region.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 506 PM CDT Tue Aug 18 2026

Flight conditions are forecast to be mostly in VFR contingent on if
HYS sees storms tonight. Currently a frontal boundary has descended
across the area having passed through GCK and HYS by the start of
the TAF period. This will reach DDC in the first couple hours and
LBL a few hours later. This will shift winds out of the
north/northeast at around the same speed (10-15KTs). Storms are
forecast to develop and move north of HYS with ensembles keeping
chances of reaching at HYS around 20-30%. As a result of >50%
chances of thunderstorms north of HYS, a VCTS was included but a
thunderstorm is possible.

&&

.DDC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Heat Advisory until 8 PM CDT this evening for KSZ065-066-
078>081-087>090.

&&

DISCUSSION...Umscheid
AVIATION...KBJ

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 18, 6:15 PM CDT, 55 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
615 PM CDT Tue Aug 18 2026

KSZ046-065-182345-
Rush KS-Pawnee KS-
615 PM CDT Tue Aug 18 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN PAWNEE AND
SOUTHEASTERN RUSH COUNTIES THROUGH 645 PM CDT...

At 615 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Timken, moving northeast at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and nickel 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 strong thunderstorm will be near...
  Timken around 620 PM CDT.
  Shaffer around 625 PM CDT.
  Otis around 635 PM CDT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3836 9903 3828 9918 3841 9933 3866 9903
TIME...MOT...LOC 2315Z 229DEG 25KT 3840 9919

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

TATRO
Local storm report, Aug 18, 6:46 PM CDT, 24 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
646 PM CDT Tue Aug 18 2026

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

0642 PM     Hail             7 ENE Ash Valley        38.35N 99.10W
08/18/2026  E1.00 Inch       Rush               KS   Public

            Report of quarter-size hail.

&&
Special weather statement, Aug 18, 7:03 PM CDT, 7 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
703 PM CDT Tue Aug 18 2026

KSZ064-190030-
Hodgeman KS-
703 PM CDT Tue Aug 18 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN HODGEMAN COUNTY
THROUGH 730 PM CDT...

At 703 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7
miles south of Hanston, moving east at 15 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and nickel 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 southeastern
Hodgeman County.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3792 9983 3811 9980 3813 9957 3791 9957
TIME...MOT...LOC 0003Z 276DEG 12KT 3802 9973

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

TATRO
Special weather statement, Aug 18, 7:08 PM CDT, 2 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
708 PM CDT Tue Aug 18 2026

KSZ065-066-190045-
Stafford KS-Pawnee KS-
708 PM CDT Tue Aug 18 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN PAWNEE AND
NORTHWESTERN STAFFORD COUNTIES THROUGH 745 PM CDT...

At 708 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Pawnee Rock, or near Larned, moving southeast at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and nickel 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 strong thunderstorm will be near...
  Radium around 720 PM CDT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3808 9884 3819 9916 3835 9905 3835 9903
      3826 9903 3826 9874
TIME...MOT...LOC 0008Z 296DEG 17KT 3824 9902

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

TATRO

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 18, 7:03 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDDCHodgeman27 min
Aug 18, 7:08 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDDCPawnee37 min
Aug 18, 7:27 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDDCPawnee, Stafford18 min
Aug 18, 7:44 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDDCEdwards31 min
Aug 18, 7:45 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDDCStafford30 min
Aug 19, 6:34 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDDCLane41 min
Aug 19, 6:47 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDDCScott43 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.