Alert archive / Kansas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 105, NWS Wichita, KS

April 25, 2026Butler County, Kansas

NWS Wichita, KS issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Apr 25, 2026, 7:20 PM CDT for Butler County, Kansas. It was in force for 55 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Apr 25, 2026, 7:20 PM CDT (00:20 UTC)
Expired
Apr 25, 2026, 8:15 PM CDT
In force
55 min
Issued by
NWS Wichita, KS
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.0 in
Wind
60.0 mph

County Butler County, KS

The radar

The Wichita radar (KICT), 55 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:24 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.

The watch it was issued in

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

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Apr 25, 5:26 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Topeka, KS (KTOP), launched 00:00Z, 0.3 hours before the alert went out and 171 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, Topeka, KS at 00:00Z on 2026-04-26Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 827 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, Topeka, KS at 00:00Z on 2026-04-26The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 68 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
827 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-71 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1421 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
40 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
68 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
186 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.2
Supercell composite
2.6

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

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 Wichita, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Apr 25, 6:47 PM CDT, 33 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Strong to severe storms are possible this afternoon through tonight with large hail as the primary hazard.
  • Severe storms possible again on Sunday with potentially all hazards possible, though uncertainty continues to be high.
  • Mostly dry conditions and mild temperatures are expected for Monday through Wednesday with possible rain chances returning late in the work week.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 25, 6:47 PM CDT, 33 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Wichita KS
647 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Strong to severe storms are possible this afternoon through
  tonight with large hail as the primary hazard.

- Severe storms possible again on Sunday with potentially all
  hazards possible, though uncertainty continues to be high.

- Mostly dry conditions and mild temperatures are expected for Monday
  through Wednesday with possible rain chances returning late
  in the work week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 342 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

Currently, an upper low continues to spin over Saskatchewan
with additional broad troughing extending into the Northern
Plains. An upper shortwave is over western Kansas and will
continue to shift east this afternoon and into tonight. At the
surface, a low is over western KS with a frontal boundary
extending from north central KS into eastern NE and then into
the Upper Mississippi Valley. An additional low is over parts of
western Oklahoma into Texas with a warm front over the OK/TX
border. In our area, cloud cover continues with a few showers
and storms ongoing in central/north-central KS due to 700mb WAA.
As we continue into later this afternoon and tonight, some
elevated storms are anticipated to develop across central and
south-central KS. Model guidance continues to suggest modest
instability with 30-40 kts of effective shear and steep mid-
level lapse rates. This would support large hail as the primary
threat with potentially severe wind gusts. Given this risk, a
Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for portions of
central and south- central KS. The LLJ is anticipated to stay
farther south in central Oklahoma which would reduce chances for
severe winds as we move into this evening. Activity is expected
to move east/southeast late this evening with storms likely
exiting our area a little after midnight.

Model guidance continues to hint at a deeper shortwave moving into
the area with the 500 mb jet nosing into central KS by Sunday
afternoon. Low-level moisture will increase on Sunday morning and
continue into the afternoon which may result in drizzle and low-
level clouds especially in southern KS. The warm front is progged to
set up in Oklahoma with 850-700 mb WAA ahead and along the front. If
low clouds and drizzle continue into the afternoon, this could
increase CIN and limit some storm chances. Additionally, recent
model guidance suggests the next upper shortwave will move into
western KS around 06z. However, a surface low looks to develop in
western KS along with a triple point which could serve as a focus
for storm initiation. Storms would then move east/northeast
likely into central/north-central KS. Better instability looks
possible for Sunday with up to 2500 J/kg across our area. This
combined with 50 kts of effective shear and steep mid-level
lapse rates would be efficient for severe storms. Large hail and
damaging winds would be the primary threats but a few tornadoes
cannot be ruled out though better chances would likely be
closer to the triple point. Guidance suggests that storms could
grow upscale into a cluster of storms moving through northern KS
which would transition more to a wind threat late Sunday night.
Uncertainty continues to remain high as severe storms and
coverage is highly conditional. Stay tuned for additional
forecast updates.

As we move into early next week, showers and storms could continue
into Monday morning in northern Kansas as the upper wave continues
to move east. Drier air is likely to move in on Monday afternoon and
continue into Wednesday, resulting in a break in active weather to
start the week. Mostly zonal flow aloft is progged to move in late
Monday night and continue through much of the work week. Shower and
storm chances may return to the forecast late in the work week as
upper shortwaves move into the region. Mild temperatures are
expected through much of the work week with most of the area
seeing high temperatures close to normal in the upper 60s and
70s.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z MONDAY/...
Issued at 634 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

A line of thunderstorms stretches from near GBD to ICT to CFV
and points southeast. These storms have been capable of
producing hail up to around an inch in diameter, gusty and
erratic winds, as well as frequent lightning. These storms will
continue to slowly move to the east-southeast this evening
eventually diminishing late tonight. A cold front is also
sweeping down through central Kansas at this time which is
switching winds around to the north behind it. There is some
potential for this front to also generate a few additional
thunderstorms this evening although confidence is low in this
scenario. IFR to LIFR ceilings will blossom across central
Kansas and then south central Kansas late tonight into early
tomorrow morning and impact most of our TAF sites. These low
ceilings will be slow to dissipate and hang around most of the
morning and into the early afternoon but should slowly rise back
to IFR to MVFR ceilings in the afternoon. Additional
thunderstorms will be possible tomorrow evening especially for
locations across central Kansas but these should be just after
the end of this TAF period.

&&

.ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.

&&

DISCUSSION...GC
AVIATION...WI
Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 25, 3:50 PM CDT, 3 hours 30 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Wichita KS
350 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-262100-
Russell-Lincoln-Barton-Ellsworth-Saline-Rice-McPherson-Marion-Chase-
Reno-Harvey-Butler-Greenwood-Woodson-Allen-Kingman-Sedgwick-Harper-
Sumner-Cowley-Elk-Wilson-Neosho-Chautauqua-Montgomery-Labette-
350 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of Central Kansas,
South Central Kansas and Southeast Kansas.

.DAY ONE...Tonight

A few strong to severe storms will be possible across the region
for late this afternoon through the late evening hours. The primary
risk from the stronger storms will be quarter to golf ball size
hail. Damaging winds around 60 mph is also possible.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday

Severe storms could impact the area again on Sunday afternoon and
Sunday night with potentially all hazards possible. There is a lot
of uncertainty for this period, therefore continue to check back for
updates as we refine the details for severe weather.

More thunderstorm chances are in the forecast from late Wednesday
night through Friday. Severe weather chances are low for this
period.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not anticipated tonight but reports of severe
weather are always appreciated.

&&

For a graphical version of this information, see our webpage at:
https://www.weather.gov/erh/ghwo?wfo=ict

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 25, 6:26 PM CDT, 54 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wichita KS
626 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

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

0622 PM     Hail             3 WSW Wichita           37.73N 97.38W
04/25/2026  E0.75 Inch       Sedgwick           KS   Public

            Near 25th street north and I-235. Received
            via Facebook.

&&

ADK
Local storm report, Apr 25, 7:00 PM CDT, 20 minutes before
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Local storm report, Apr 25, 7:06 PM CDT, 14 minutes before
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Local storm report, Apr 25, 7:08 PM CDT, 12 minutes before
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Local storm report, Apr 25, 7:17 PM CDT, 3 minutes before
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Local storm report, Apr 25, 7:18 PM CDT, 2 minutes before
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 25, 7:18 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTChautauqua, Montgomery57 min
Apr 25, 7:37 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTHarper, Kingman38 min
Apr 25, 7:59 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTSedgwick47 min
Apr 26, 10:44 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTEllsworth, Rice61 min
Apr 26, 11:24 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTMcPherson, Saline66 min
Apr 26, 11:59 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTMcPherson31 min
Apr 26, 12:21 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatICTMcPherson, Marion69 min
Apr 26, 1:27 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTChase, Marion63 min
Apr 26, 2:22 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTButler, Chase, Greenwood68 min
Apr 26, 3:15 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTAllen, Neosho24 min
Apr 26, 3:17 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatICTGreenwood, Woodson58 min
Apr 26, 4:02 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatICTAllen, Woodson58 min
Apr 26, 5:23 PM CDTTornado WarningICTElk52 min
Apr 26, 6:13 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTElk, Montgomery, Wilson62 min
Apr 26, 6:47 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedICTMontgomery, Wilson43 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.