Alert archive / Kansas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 264, NWS Dodge City, KS
NWS Dodge City, KS issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 18, 2026, 7:27 PM CDT for Pawnee County, Stafford County, Kansas. It was in force for 18 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, 7:27 PM CDT (00:27 UTC)
- Expired
- Aug 18, 2026, 7:45 PM CDT
- In force
- 18 min
- Issued by
- NWS Dodge City, KS
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Hail
- 1.0 in
- Wind
- 60.0 mph
Counties Pawnee County, KS, Stafford County, KS
The radar
The Dodge City radar (KDDC), 115 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:27 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, 0.5 hours before the alert went out and 109 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
- 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
The text
As transmitted.
831
WUUS53 KDDC 190027
SVRDDC
KSC145-185-190115-
/O.NEW.KDDC.SV.W.0264.260819T0027Z-260819T0115Z/
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
727 PM CDT Tue Aug 18 2026
The National Weather Service in Dodge City has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
East central Pawnee County in south central Kansas...
Northwestern Stafford County in south central Kansas...
* Until 815 PM CDT.
* At 727 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Radium,
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
east central Pawnee and northwestern Stafford Counties.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
&&
LAT...LON 3809 9863 3817 9897 3826 9897 3826 9861
TIME...MOT...LOC 0027Z 272DEG 18KT 3825 9888
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
TATRO2 follow-up statements
707 WWUS53 KDDC 190038 SVSDDC Severe Weather Statement National Weather Service Dodge City KS 738 PM CDT Tue Aug 18 2026 KSC145-190048- /O.CAN.KDDC.SV.W.0264.000000T0000Z-260819T0115Z/ Pawnee KS- 738 PM CDT Tue Aug 18 2026 ...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL PAWNEE COUNTY IS CANCELLED... The severe thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled. && LAT...LON 3809 9863 3816 9891 3826 9891 3826 9861 TIME...MOT...LOC 0038Z 283DEG 19KT 3822 9881 $$ KSC185-190115- /O.CON.KDDC.SV.W.0264.000000T0000Z-260819T0115Z/ Stafford KS- 738 PM CDT Tue Aug 18 2026 ...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 815 PM CDT FOR NORTHWESTERN STAFFORD COUNTY... At 738 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Seward, moving east at 20 mph. HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and nickel size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees. Locations impacted include... Hudson, Seward, and Radium. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. && LAT...LON 3809 9863 3816 9891 3826 9891 3826 9861 TIME...MOT...LOC 0038Z 283DEG 19KT 3822 9881 HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH $$ TATRO
286 WWUS53 KDDC 190045 SVSDDC Severe Weather Statement National Weather Service Dodge City KS 745 PM CDT Tue Aug 18 2026 KSC185-190055- /O.CAN.KDDC.SV.W.0264.000000T0000Z-260819T0115Z/ Stafford KS- 745 PM CDT Tue Aug 18 2026 ...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN STAFFORD COUNTY IS CANCELLED... The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe limits, and no longer poses an immediate threat to life or property. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled. && LAT...LON 3809 9863 3816 9891 3826 9891 3826 9861 TIME...MOT...LOC 0042Z 272DEG 18KT 3822 9877 $$ 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 19 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 19 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, 1 hour 12 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
TATROLocal storm report, Aug 18, 6:46 PM CDT, 41 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, 24 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
TATROSpecial weather statement, Aug 18, 7:08 PM CDT, 19 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
TATROLocal storm report, Aug 18, 7:27 PM CDT, 0 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
727 PM CDT Tue Aug 18 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0722 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 6 ENE Larned 38.23N 99.00W
08/18/2026 M60 MPH Pawnee KS Public
Personal weather station.
&&
RMBThe office that day
Everything else NWS Dodge City, KS issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 18, 7:03 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | DDC | Hodgeman | 27 min |
| Aug 18, 7:08 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | DDC | Pawnee | 37 min |
| Aug 18, 7:10 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DDC | Edwards, Hodgeman, Pawnee | 34 min |
| Aug 18, 7:44 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | DDC | Edwards | 31 min |
| Aug 18, 7:45 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | DDC | Stafford | 30 min |
| Aug 19, 6:34 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | DDC | Lane | 41 min |
| Aug 19, 6:47 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | DDC | Scott | 43 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.