Alert archive / Kansas / Tornado Warnings in 2026
Tornado Warning 8, NWS Wichita, KS
NWS Wichita, KS issued this tornado warning at Apr 26, 2026, 5:23 PM CDT for Elk County, Kansas. It was in force for 52 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
- Apr 26, 2026, 5:23 PM CDT (22:23 UTC)
- Expired
- Apr 26, 2026, 6:15 PM CDT
- In force
- 52 min
- Issued by
- NWS Wichita, KS
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Radar indicated
- Hail
- 1.25 in
County Elk County, KS
The radar
The Wichita radar (KICT), 105 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:22 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 tornado 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 26, 12:07 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 9 hr |
| Apr 26, 3:22 PM CDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 8 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Topeka, KS (KTOP), launched 12:00Z, 10.4 hours before the alert went out and 192 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
- 54 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -242 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 980 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 37 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 54 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 6 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
900
WFUS53 KICT 262223
TORICT
KSC049-262315-
/O.NEW.KICT.TO.W.0008.260426T2223Z-260426T2315Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Wichita KS
523 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026
The National Weather Service in Wichita has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Southern Elk County in southeastern Kansas...
* Until 615 PM CDT.
* At 522 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Grenola, or 11 miles southwest of Howard, moving
northeast at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado and half dollar 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 dangerous storm will be near...
Moline around 530 PM CDT.
Elk Falls around 540 PM CDT.
Longton around 555 PM CDT.
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 3730 9643 3736 9649 3753 9622 3730 9599
TIME...MOT...LOC 2222Z 246DEG 20KT 3733 9638
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.25 IN
$$
MCGUIRE5 follow-up statements
019
WWUS53 KICT 262234
SVSICT
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wichita KS
534 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026
KSC049-262315-
/O.CON.KICT.TO.W.0008.000000T0000Z-260426T2315Z/
Elk KS-
534 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM CDT FOR SOUTHERN
ELK COUNTY...
At 533 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Moline, or 8 miles south of Howard, moving northeast
at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado and half dollar size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage
to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is
likely.
Locations impacted include...
Elk Falls and Moline.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.
&&
LAT...LON 3730 9643 3736 9649 3753 9622 3730 9599
TIME...MOT...LOC 2233Z 246DEG 20KT 3736 9630
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.25 IN
$$
MCGUIRE636
WWUS53 KICT 262240
SVSICT
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wichita KS
540 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026
KSC049-262315-
/O.CON.KICT.TO.W.0008.000000T0000Z-260426T2315Z/
Elk KS-
540 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN ELK COUNTY...
At 540 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Moline, or 10 miles south of Howard, moving east at
20 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado and half dollar 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.
Locations impacted include...
Howard, Moline, Longton, and Elk Falls.
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 3730 9637 3742 9635 3753 9622 3730 9599
TIME...MOT...LOC 2240Z 259DEG 17KT 3732 9627
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.25 IN
$$
MCGUIRE901
WWUS53 KICT 262251
SVSICT
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wichita KS
551 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026
KSC049-262315-
/O.CON.KICT.TO.W.0008.000000T0000Z-260426T2315Z/
Elk KS-
551 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN ELK COUNTY...
At 550 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Elk Falls, or 9 miles south of Howard, moving
northeast at 25 mph. Storm chasers are reporting a rotating wall
cloud south of Elk Falls.
HAZARD...Tornado and half dollar size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage
to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is
likely.
Locations impacted include...
Howard, Moline, Longton, and Elk Falls.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.
&&
LAT...LON 3730 9632 3745 9632 3753 9622 3730 9599
TIME...MOT...LOC 2250Z 246DEG 20KT 3734 9621
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.25 IN
$$
MCGUIRE871
WWUS53 KICT 262300
SVSICT
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wichita KS
600 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026
KSC049-262315-
/O.CON.KICT.TO.W.0008.000000T0000Z-260426T2315Z/
Elk KS-
600 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN ELK COUNTY...
At 600 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Elk Falls, or 8 miles southeast of Howard, moving
northeast at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado and half dollar 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.
Locations impacted include...
Longton and Elk Falls.
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 3730 9625 3737 9627 3747 9616 3730 9599
TIME...MOT...LOC 2300Z 242DEG 18KT 3737 9618
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.25 IN
$$
MCGUIRE469 WWUS53 KICT 262314 SVSICT Severe Weather Statement National Weather Service Wichita KS 614 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026 KSC049-262324- /O.EXP.KICT.TO.W.0008.000000T0000Z-260426T2315Z/ Elk KS- 614 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026 ...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN ELK COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT 615 PM CDT... The storm which prompted the warning has exited the warned area. Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire. A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for southeastern Kansas. && LAT...LON 3730 9625 3737 9627 3747 9616 3730 9599 TIME...MOT...LOC 2314Z 246DEG 20KT 3740 9609 $$ MCGUIRE
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 Apr 26, 3:29 PM CDT, 1 hour 54 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Severe storms likely late this afternoon through tonight with potentially significant severe hazards.
- Mostly dry conditions and mild temperatures are expected for Monday through Wednesday with possible rain chances returning late Wednesday night into Thursday.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 26, 3:29 PM CDT, 1 hour 54 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Wichita KS 329 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Severe storms likely late this afternoon through tonight with potentially significant severe hazards. - Mostly dry conditions and mild temperatures are expected for Monday through Wednesday with possible rain chances returning late Wednesday night into Thursday. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 324 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026 Currently there is an upper shortwave moving into the Central Rockies. This shortwave will continue to move east and likely eject into KS late tonight to early hours of Monday morning. At the surface, a warm front is over eastern KS and extends down into western OK with an additional warm front stretched across southern Oklahoma. Severe storms are actively pushing through eastern KS. Portions of central and south-central KS continue to see low clouds and patchy fog. As we move into later this afternoon and evening, clouds will start to clear in northern OK and into southern KS as the warm front across southern OK continues to push north. Instability will increase to values between 2500-3000+ J/kg as moisture advection persists. This instability combined with around 50 kts of effective shear and mid-level lapse rates around 7.5 C/km are sufficient for additional severe storm development with potential to be surface based. Large to very large hail will be possible along with damaging winds and a potential tornado given the increasing low-level SRH with this threat mainly across southern and southeast KS. Then as the upper wave approaches later tonight, additional elevated convection will be possible. Destabilization is expected to continue combined with increased 0-6km bulk wind shear over 50kts, and very steep mid-level lapse rates. This activity would mainly be a hail threat across northern KS into central KS and is anticipated to continue to move into northeast KS during the overnight to early morning hours of Monday. Showers and storms could linger into Monday morning in northern KS and northeast KS with drier air moving in behind a cold front late Monday afternoon. Rich moisture looks to stay well south of our area through Wednesday, resulting in a break of active weather to start the week. Flow aloft will shift to more zonal by Monday night and likely continue through much of the work week. Rain chances may return to the forecast late Wednesday night into Thursday as model soundings hint at elevated showers. Strong to severe thunderstorms are not anticipated given the limited instability. Mild temperatures are progged through most of the week with high temperatures closer to normal with much of the area seeing highs in the upper 60s and 70s. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z MONDAY/... Issued at 1223 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026 MVFR to IFR conditions expected through much of the forecast period due to low cigs and reduced vis. Scattered thunderstorms will develop and impact much of the forecast area starting after 02Z and lasting through 08-10Z. Ceilings may lift some during thunderstorm activity, but IFR/LIFR ceilings will continue into Monday morning. Ceilings will begin to lift and clear after 12Z. && .ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && DISCUSSION...GC AVIATION...AMD
Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 26, 3:39 PM CDT, 1 hour 44 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Wichita KS 339 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026 KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-272045- 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- 339 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of Central Kansas, South Central Kansas and Southeast Kansas. .DAY ONE...Tonight Scattered thunderstorms will be possible this afternoon into this evening across parts of southeast Kansas. Severe storms are possible with up to tennis ball size hail, damaging winds up to 70 mph and potentially a tornado. Meanwhile another round of thunderstorms is expected to develop over western Kansas this evening. This activity will then move east/northeast and looks to affect mainly central and south central Kansas after 8 PM or 9 PM. There is some potential for significant severe weather; very large hail around 2 inches in diameter, damaging winds up to 70 mph, and a few tornadoes. A strong tornado is possible across mainly south central and southern Kansas. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday More thunderstorm chances are in the forecast from late Wednesday night through Friday. Severe weather chances remain low for this period. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed late this afternoon into 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, Apr 26, 3:48 PM CDT, 1 hour 35 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wichita KS
348 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0345 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 9 N Yates Center 38.00N 95.75W
04/26/2026 E60 MPH Woodson KS Trained Spotter
&&
WILocal storm report, Apr 26, 3:51 PM CDT, 1 hour 32 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wichita KS
351 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0349 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 9 N Yates Center 38.00N 95.75W
04/26/2026 E65 MPH Woodson KS Trained Spotter
Estimated 65 mph with pea sized hail.
&&
MWMLocal storm report, Apr 26, 3:54 PM CDT, 1 hour 29 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wichita KS
354 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0352 PM Hail 9 N Yates Center 38.00N 95.75W
04/26/2026 M1.00 Inch Woodson KS Trained Spotter
&&
MWMLocal storm report, Apr 26, 4:05 PM CDT, 1 hour 18 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wichita KS
405 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0403 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 5 W Neosho Falls 38.01N 95.64W
04/26/2026 E80 MPH Woodson KS Trained Spotter
80+ mph winds estimated with quarter sized
hail reported 9 NE of Yates Center.
&&
MWMLocal storm report, Apr 26, 4:18 PM CDT, 1 hour 5 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wichita KS
418 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0418 PM Hail 5 NW Iola 37.99N 95.45W
04/26/2026 E1.00 Inch Allen KS Trained Spotter
Quarter hail broke one glass window.
&&
MWMLocal storm report, Apr 26, 4:21 PM CDT, 1 hour 2 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wichita KS
421 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0413 PM Hail 4 NW Iola 37.97N 95.46W
04/26/2026 M1.00 Inch Allen KS Trained Spotter
&&
WIThe office that day
Everything else NWS Wichita, KS issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 25, 7:18 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ICT | Chautauqua, Montgomery | 57 min |
| Apr 25, 7:20 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ICT | Butler | 55 min |
| Apr 25, 7:37 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ICT | Harper, Kingman | 38 min |
| Apr 25, 7:59 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ICT | Sedgwick | 47 min |
| Apr 26, 10:44 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ICT | Ellsworth, Rice | 61 min |
| Apr 26, 11:24 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ICT | McPherson, Saline | 66 min |
| Apr 26, 11:59 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ICT | McPherson | 31 min |
| Apr 26, 12:21 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ICT | McPherson, Marion | 69 min |
| Apr 26, 1:27 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ICT | Chase, Marion | 63 min |
| Apr 26, 2:22 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ICT | Butler, Chase, Greenwood | 68 min |
| Apr 26, 3:15 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ICT | Allen, Neosho | 24 min |
| Apr 26, 3:17 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ICT | Greenwood, Woodson | 58 min |
| Apr 26, 4:02 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ICT | Allen, Woodson | 58 min |
| Apr 26, 6:13 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ICT | Elk, Montgomery, Wilson | 62 min |
| Apr 26, 6:47 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | ICT | Montgomery, Wilson | 43 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.