Alert archive / Kansas / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 20, NWS Wichita, KS

June 10, 2026Rice County, Kansas

NWS Wichita, KS issued this tornado warning at Jun 10, 2026, 9:02 PM CDT for Rice County, Kansas. It was in force for 43 min. 3 reports 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
Jun 10, 2026, 9:02 PM CDT (02:02 UTC)
Expired
Jun 10, 2026, 9:45 PM CDT
In force
43 min
Issued by
NWS Wichita, KS
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
1.75 in

County Rice County, KS

The radar

The Wichita radar (KICT), 86 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 02:02 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
Jun 10, 9:21 PM CDTTORNADO2 N Nickerson, KSVideo of a brief tornado touchdown.
Jun 10, 9:30 PM CDTHAIL 1.758 Se Lyons, KS
Jun 10, 9:50 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG5 N Nickerson, KSDamage to farm outbuilding.

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 tornado warning; the first came 19 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 watch it was issued in

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

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Jun 10, 2:12 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Dodge City, (KDDC), launched 00:00Z, 2.0 hours before the alert went out and 170 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 2026-06-11Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 756 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 2026-06-11The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 17 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
756 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-94 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
3090 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
32 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
17 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
129 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

294 
WFUS53 KICT 110202
TORICT
KSC159-110245-
/O.NEW.KICT.TO.W.0020.260611T0202Z-260611T0245Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Wichita KS
902 PM CDT Wed Jun 10 2026

The National Weather Service in Wichita has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Southeastern Rice County in central Kansas...

* Until 945 PM CDT.

* At 902 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located 6 miles northeast of Sterling, moving southeast at 10
  mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado and golf ball size hail.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

  IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
           shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. 
           Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree 
           damage is likely.

* This tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
  southeastern Rice County.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 3832 9813 3832 9793 3827 9793 3817 9803
      3817 9809 3824 9820
TIME...MOT...LOC 0202Z 301DEG 9KT 3827 9811 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.75 IN

$$

BAERG
4 follow-up statements
172 
WWUS53 KICT 110208
SVSICT

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wichita KS
908 PM CDT Wed Jun 10 2026

KSC159-110245-
/O.CON.KICT.TO.W.0020.000000T0000Z-260611T0245Z/
Rice KS-
908 PM CDT Wed Jun 10 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 945 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN RICE COUNTY...

At 908 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 6 miles southeast of Lyons, moving southeast at 5 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and golf ball size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely.

This tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
southeastern Rice County.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 3832 9813 3832 9793 3827 9793 3817 9803
      3817 9809 3824 9820
TIME...MOT...LOC 0208Z 311DEG 5KT 3828 9812 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.75 IN

$$

BAERG
168 
WWUS53 KICT 110220
SVSICT

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wichita KS
920 PM CDT Wed Jun 10 2026

KSC159-110245-
/O.CON.KICT.TO.W.0020.000000T0000Z-260611T0245Z/
Rice KS-
920 PM CDT Wed Jun 10 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 945 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN RICE COUNTY...

* At 920 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a 
  tornado was located over Sterling, moving southeast at 15 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado and hail up to golf ball size.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely.

This tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
southeastern Rice County.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 3817 9803 3817 9809 3824 9820 3828 9815
      3827 9793
TIME...MOT...LOC 0220Z 320DEG 19KT 3820 9814 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.75 IN

$$

BAERG
900 
WWUS53 KICT 110224
SVSICT

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wichita KS
924 PM CDT Wed Jun 10 2026

KSC159-110245-
/O.CON.KICT.TO.W.0020.000000T0000Z-260611T0245Z/
Rice KS-
924 PM CDT Wed Jun 10 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 945 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN RICE COUNTY...

At 924 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado 
was located 3 miles northwest of Nickerson, moving southeast at 25 
mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and two inch hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely.

This tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
southeastern Rice County.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 3817 9803 3817 9809 3822 9817 3826 9813
      3825 9795
TIME...MOT...LOC 0224Z 310DEG 21KT 3819 9811 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...2.00 IN

$$

BAERG
158 
WWUS53 KICT 110232
SVSICT

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wichita KS
932 PM CDT Wed Jun 10 2026

KSC159-110245-
/O.CON.KICT.TO.W.0020.000000T0000Z-260611T0245Z/
Rice KS-
932 PM CDT Wed Jun 10 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 945 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN RICE COUNTY...

At 932 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado 
was located 2 miles north of Nickerson, moving southeast at 15 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and two inch hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely.

This tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
southeastern Rice County.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 3817 9803 3817 9809 3822 9817 3826 9813
      3825 9795
TIME...MOT...LOC 0232Z 290DEG 16KT 3818 9807 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...2.00 IN

$$

BAERG

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado 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 tornado warning went out at Jun 10, 6:32 PM CDT, 2 hours 30 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Conditional severe risk this evening over Central and parts of South Central KS.
  • Numerous storms likely across the Flint Hills and southeast Kansas Thursday afternoon and evening.
  • A brief break is forecast for Friday, but higher storm chances return Saturday.
Area forecast discussion, Jun 10, 6:32 PM CDT, 2 hours 30 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Wichita KS
632 PM CDT Wed Jun 10 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Conditional severe risk this evening over Central and parts of
  South Central KS.

- Numerous storms likely across the Flint Hills and southeast
  Kansas Thursday afternoon and evening.

- A brief break is forecast for Friday, but higher storm chances
  return Saturday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 118 PM CDT Wed Jun 10 2026

A mid/upper trough remains over the Northern Plains today while a
couple of more subtle features evident on Water Vapor imagery
were rotating north and northeast of the area. At the surface,
a frontal boundary was bisecting Central Kansas while low level
flow was veered ahead of the front across the area. We see some
subtle 12-hr height rises over the Central Plains as we move
through the day as we remain on the southern periphery of the
stronger belt of mid-level flow. We are still expecting
isolated thunderstorms to develop along the frontal boundary and
as the LLJ ramps up this evening we could see some storms begin
to fill in along the front from northeast to southwest but a
capping inversion may build into southern Kansas limiting storm
coverage. Steep lapse rates/moderate to extreme buoyancy and
deep layer shear around 30 knots will support some organized
severe storms with large/very large hail, 70+ mph wind gusts,
and maybe a brief tornado or two as the LLJ ramps up in the
early evening hours. We continue to see a very moist column with
PWATs progged to rise to near 2 inches along/ahead of the
frontal zone leading to efficient rain with high rainfall rates
and potential flooding concerns. Once again, storms may struggle
to get organized over south central KS due to capping concerns.
The focus for storms tonight is expected to shift north and
east of the area as the frontal boundary gradually shifts over
the area into southeast KS early on Thu.

The front over southeast KS may become a focus for deep moist
convection across southeast Kansas on Thursday afternoon/early
evening before the focus shifts south and east of the area early in
the evening (or perhaps sooner). The cap may erode by 19/20Z across
the Flint Hills with a similar environment as today setting the
stage for another round of severe storms. The current thinking is
that linear mode will be favored with deep layer shear vectors
running parallel to the boundary and veered low level flow. We
continue to be in a high PWAT airmass with saturated soils in
southeast KS so heavy rain would likely result in a
continuation or additional flooding along the Neosho river.

Fri-Sat...We expect a break in the action on Friday as a stable post-
frontal regime builds over the area with seasonable temperatures
anticipated. This break may be short-lived as low level southerly
flow on the backside of the sfc high will begin to advect low level
moisture northward once again. A robust LLJ is progged to develop
Fri night with decent mid-level waa and we could see some storms
propagating eastward off the high plains or some elevated storms
redeveloping through the night and possibly backbuilding during the
day on Saturday. This could have implications on the potential for
severe weather on Sat with a large amount of uncertainty at this
time. A southward advancing cold front could still become a focus
for severe storms on Saturday PM but there remains some questions on
how Fri night/early Sat impacts this scenario.

Showers and storms may linger across the area on Sunday as we remain
in a mean large-scale trough over the central CONUS but confidence
in the details remains low as the frontal boundary may be forced
further south of the area leading to a stable post-frontal regime
over the Central Plains. Another shortwave wave trough may emerge
from the Rockies early in the week bringing another round of showers
and storms to the area. This will eventually lead to northwest flow
in the Tue-Wed periods as the mid/upper ridge amplifies over the
Rockies leading to mostly dry weather conditions and seasonable
temperatures toward the middle of the week.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 628 PM CDT Wed Jun 10 2026

Main aviation concern will be storms tonight.

Storms have started to develop across parts of central and
northeast Kansas along and southeast of a cold front. Through
03z, KSLN, and to a lesser extent, KGBD will be the sites most
likely affected. Any storm this evening will have the potential
to be severe with large hail and damaging winds possible. Front
will continue moving south and is expected to move through KHUT-
KSLN- KICT in the 15-17z time frame. Behind the front northwest
winds will gust in the 30-25kt range. As the front moves
through KCNU, a few storms will be possible in the 19-23z time
frame.

&&

.ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Heat Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening for KSZ067-068-082-
083-091-092.

&&

DISCUSSION...MWM
AVIATION...RBL
Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 10, 5:14 PM CDT, 3 hours 48 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Wichita KS
514 PM CDT Wed Jun 10 2026

KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-112015-
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-
514 PM CDT Wed Jun 10 2026

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of central Kansas,
east central Kansas, south central Kansas and southeast Kansas.

.DAY ONE...Tonight

Heat indices between 100 and 105 are possible early this evening,
mainly across south-central Kansas.

A couple severe storms are possible this evening into tonight across
the Flint Hills and parts of central and perhaps south central
Kansas. The main concerns will be hail up to 2 inches in diameter
and up to 70 mph wind gusts.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday

Periodic thunderstorm chances are possible from Thursday afternoon
through Monday. Strong to severe storms are possible Thursday and
Saturday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not anticipated tonight.

&&

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, Jun 10, 7:47 PM CDT, 1 hour 15 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wichita KS
747 PM CDT Wed Jun 10 2026

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

0718 PM     Hail             3 S Chase               38.32N 98.35W
06/10/2026  M1.75 Inch       Rice               KS   Public

            shared through social media; time estimated
            through radar.

&&
Local storm report, Jun 10, 7:51 PM CDT, 1 hour 11 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wichita KS
751 PM CDT Wed Jun 10 2026

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

0745 PM     Hail             4 S Lyons               38.29N 98.19W
06/10/2026  E1.00 Inch       Rice               KS   Public

            Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).

&&
Local storm report, Jun 10, 8:06 PM CDT, 56 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wichita KS
806 PM CDT Wed Jun 10 2026

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

0803 PM     Hail             5 NNE Nickerson         38.21N 98.04W
06/10/2026  M2.00 Inch       Rice               KS   Trained Spotter

&&
Local storm report, Jun 10, 8:29 PM CDT, 33 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wichita KS
829 PM CDT Wed Jun 10 2026

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

0735 PM     Hail             1 S Lyons               38.33N 98.20W
06/10/2026  E1.75 Inch       Rice               KS   Public

            shared over social media, couple golf ball
            size hail with the rest being quarters; time
            estimated by radar.

&&
Local storm report, Jun 10, 8:40 PM CDT, 22 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wichita KS
840 PM CDT Wed Jun 10 2026

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

0822 PM     Hail             5 S Windom              38.32N 97.91W
06/10/2026  E1.50 Inch       McPherson          KS   Public

            shared over social media; time estimated by
            radar.

&&
Local storm report, Jun 10, 8:48 PM CDT, 14 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wichita KS
848 PM CDT Wed Jun 10 2026

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

0642 PM     Hail             5 WSW Ellinwood         38.33N 98.67W
06/10/2026  M2.00 Inch       Barton             KS   Public

            shared over social media.

&&

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 10, 7:15 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTSaline60 min
Jun 10, 7:32 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatICTMcPherson58 min
Jun 10, 7:45 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTRice30 min
Jun 10, 7:54 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatICTMcPherson, Reno, Rice66 min
Jun 10, 8:17 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatICTRice43 min
Jun 10, 8:29 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTMcPherson18 min
Jun 10, 8:46 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatICTChase, Marion74 min
Jun 10, 9:00 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatICTReno, Rice60 min
Jun 10, 9:02 PM CDTAreal Flood WarningICTMcPherson, Rice9 hr
Jun 10, 9:17 PM CDTTornado WarningICTReno, Rice28 min
Jun 10, 9:37 PM CDTTornado WarningICTMcPherson, Reno, Rice38 min
Jun 10, 9:43 PM CDTRiver Flood WarningICTLabette, Neosho13 hr
Jun 10, 9:56 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatICTChase31 min
Jun 10, 10:15 PM CDTTornado WarningICTMcPherson, Reno, Rice15 min
Jun 10, 10:29 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatICTHarvey, McPherson, Reno61 min
Jun 10, 11:17 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatICTHarvey37 min
Jun 11, 4:28 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTLabette, Montgomery, Neosho, Wilson62 min
Jun 11, 5:19 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTLabette, Montgomery71 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Kansas, 2026Every tornado warning in 2026Tornadoes 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.