Alert archive / Kansas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 103, NWS Springfield, MO

April 23, 2026Cherokee County, Kansas

NWS Springfield, MO issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Apr 23, 2026, 11:35 PM CDT for Cherokee County, Kansas. It was in force for 40 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 23, 2026, 11:35 PM CDT (04:35 UTC)
Expired
Apr 24, 2026, 12:15 AM CDT
In force
40 min
Issued by
NWS Springfield, MO
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
0.88 in
Wind
60.0 mph

County Cherokee County, KS

The radar

The Tulsa radar (KINX), 128 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 04:34 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 23, 9:51 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Springfield, MO (KSGF), launched 00:00Z, 4.6 hours before the alert went out and 98 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, Springfield, MO at 00:00Z on 2026-04-24Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 383 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, Springfield, MO at 00:00Z on 2026-04-24The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 245 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
383 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-262 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
890 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
38 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
245 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
447 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
1.2

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 Springfield, MO wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Apr 23, 6:45 PM CDT, 4 hours 50 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Showers and thunderstorms will move across the area from the west late this evening into Friday morning. There will be the potential for some strong to severe thunderstorms in addition to localized heavy rainfall. Damaging wind gusts near 60 mph is the main threat.
  • Severe thunderstorm chances will occur across portions of the area each day from Friday through Monday as multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms move across the region. There are still questions on exact timing of each round.
  • Will have to monitor for excessive rainfall later this week into the weekend, especially where heavy rain fell last week northwest of the I-44 corridor.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 23, 6:45 PM CDT, 4 hours 50 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Springfield MO
645 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Showers and thunderstorms will move across the area from the
  west late this evening into Friday morning. There will be the
  potential for some strong to severe thunderstorms in addition
  to localized heavy rainfall. Damaging wind gusts near 60 mph
  is the main threat.

- Severe thunderstorm chances will occur across portions of the
  area each day from Friday through Monday as multiple rounds
  of showers and thunderstorms move across the region. There are
  still questions on exact timing of each round.

- Will have to monitor for excessive rainfall later this week
  into the weekend, especially where heavy rain fell last week
  northwest of the I-44 corridor.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY/...
Issued at 245 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

An upper level trough is currently moving east into the Plains
this afternoon. A dry line is located from eastern Nebraska to
the southwest into central Oklahoma. Storms are developing
along the front across eastern Nebraska into northern Kansas.
Storms will continue to develop along the dry line to the south
this afternoon into this evening. The best axis of instability
is located along and just east of the dry line. As the upper
level trough moves the storms will develop into a line and will
move to the east into the western portions of the area late this
evening, after 9pm then will move east across the rest of the
area into the overnight hours. MLCAPE values of 1000 to 1500
J/kg will develop ahead of the storms as the trough moves east
late this evening into Friday morning. Deep layer shear will
also increase and lead to the potential for severe storms with
the line across the entire area. Damaging winds of 60 to 70mph
will be the main risk, with an isolated large hail risk,
especially along and west of I-49. Low level shear will support
a low brief tornado potential with any surges in the line to the
east, west of Highway 65. Low level shear will weaken to the
east. As the storms move to the southeast tonight, the main
risk will be scattered damaging winds across the rest of the
area into Friday morning. Showers and some rumbles of thunder
will likely linger behind the line of storms for a few hours and
could all push south of the area by the mid morning hours
Friday.

A surface front will stall near the I-44 corridor on Friday and
instability will increase during the heating of the day. Lift
will not be overly strong across the area on Friday with the
better storm potential south of the area, but some isolated
storms will be possible along and south of I-44 Friday afternoon
into the early evening hours. A few storms may be strong to
severe with hail up to the size of quarters but most of the
activity will likely be sub severe Friday afternoon and evening.
This activity will dissipated by the mid evening hours Friday.

&&

.LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/...
Issued at 245 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

Much of the day Saturday should be dry across the area as the
Friday system moves off to the east and upper level ridging
builds over the region. Another upper level trough will move
east into the Plains by Saturday night. Instability will
increase and the cap is expected to weaken across Kansas and
Oklahoma Satruday evening. This activity could then develop into
a line of storms will push east across the area late Saturday
night into Sunday morning. There will be the potential for
severe storms with this activity with damaging winds the main
risk.

Storms may be ongoing across the area Sunday morning but should
move off to the east by the afternoon hours Sunday. Instability
will increase across the area on Sunday afternoon east of
Highway 65. The better lift will be east of the area on Sunday
but some scattered storms will be possible Sunday afternoon and
evening. If storms are able to develop Sunday afternoon/evening
there would be the potential for some large hail up to the size
of golf balls with a few of these storms. As peak heating ends,
these storms will weaken Sunday evening.

Further to the west another upper level trough will push into
the Plains with a dry line setting up across Kansas and
Oklahoma. Storms will likely develop along the dry line on
Sunday evening. The upper trough will remain to the west
Sunday therefore, the dry line will not move much to the east
Sunday evening. So, it is possible the storms remain west of
the area in the better instability. If the dry line and
instability axis can move to the east enough, there would be
the potential for these storms to move into the area Sunday
evening at least in the west. There are questions on just how
far east the storms can make on Sunday. If these storms can make
it into the area, large hail, damaging winds, and few tornadoes
will all be possible, but it is possible this activity remains
west of the area.

The upper level trough will move northeast across the area on
Monday. Surface low pressure will develop ahead of the trough
and move northeast into northern Missouri and Iowa. As the
surface low moves northeast a cold front will move east across
the area. The 12Z models are a little slower with the frontal
passage with it moving into the western portions of the area
Monday afternoon and across the area into Monday evening. There
will a again be the potential for severe weather will this round
across the entire area. Large hail, damaging winds, and a few
tornadoes will also be possible.

Locally heavy rainfall will be possible with each round of
storms, and with multiple rounds of storms, there will be the
potential for flooding of rivers and flood prone areas,
especially if these multiple rounds of rain track over locations
north of I-44 that received heavy rain last week.

The front will push south of the area on Tuesday and stall. The
front may then lift back to the north mid/late week with
chances for showers and storms returning.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SATURDAY/...
Issued at 628 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

Cloudcover and incoming convection this evening will make for
changing flight conditions throughout the TAF period. Currently,
sites are VFR or high-end MVFR as the primary cloud deck pushes
in from the south and convective clouds begin to impinge from
the west. Ceilings will deteriorate over the course of the
evening, and thunderstorms will begin to move in, affecting JLN
and SGF as early as 05Z. Spotty LLWS may be a concern as the
primary hazard with expected linear convection will be high
winds.

Ceilings especially, and potentially visibility, are expected
to deteriorate to IFR as the thunderstorms move through, between
roughly 06 and 18Z. Winds start gusty out of the south and
become quite variable throughout the overnight, generally
turning clockwise, becoming westerly and finally northerly by
the end of the period. Non-thunderstorm gusts cease shortly
after sundown this evening.

&&

.SGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
KS...None.
MO...None.

&&

SHORT TERM...Wise
LONG TERM...Wise
AVIATION...Nelson
Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 23, 8:42 PM CDT, 2 hours 53 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Springfield MO
842 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

KSZ073-097-101-MOZ055>058-066>071-077>083-088>098-101>106-250145-
Bourbon-Crawford-Cherokee-Benton-Morgan-Miller-Maries-Vernon-
St. Clair-Hickory-Camden-Pulaski-Phelps-Barton-Cedar-Polk-Dallas-
Laclede-Texas-Dent-Jasper-Dade-Greene-Webster-Wright-Newton-
Lawrence-Christian-Douglas-Howell-Shannon-McDonald-Barry-Stone-
Taney-Ozark-Oregon-
842 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of the Missouri
Ozarks and extreme southeast Kansas.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

Weather hazards expected...

  Slight tornado risk.
  Slight hail risk.
  Enhanced thunderstorm wind damage risk.
  Elevated lightning risk.
  Limited excessive rainfall risk
  Limited non thunderstorm wind risk.

DISCUSSION...

Gusty winds over 30 mph will continue to occur into early this
evening in advance of a storm system across the plains.

Storms developed across the plains this evening and are expected
to form into a line of storms and then move east into the area
late this evening into the overnight hours. The main risk will be
damaging winds of 60 to 70 mph with the squall line as it moves
through overnight. Scattered large hail and a few brief tornadoes
will also be possible west of Highway 65 overnight.

Heavy rainfall will accompany the storms and may pose a limited
localized flooding risk should training of storms occur across
the same areas.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.

Thunderstorms will likely be ongoing early Friday morning over
south central Missouri. Additional strong thunderstorms will be
possible over southern Missouri Friday afternoon.

Some strong to severe storms will again be possible late Saturday
night into Sunday morning and then again Sunday night. Another
round will move through on Monday afternoon and evening and once
again bring the potential for severe weather to the area.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

 Spotter activation may be needed tonight.

&&

More detailed information can be accessed at:
http://www.weather.gov/sgf/dsspacket

This product in graphical format...along with other weather...
hydrological and climate information...at
http://www.weather.gov/sgf

Hatch

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Apr 23, 11:31 PM CDT, 4 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Springfield MO
1131 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

KSZ097-101-MOZ077-088-240515-
Cherokee KS-Crawford KS-Barton MO-Jasper MO-
1131 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN CHEROKEE...
SOUTHEASTERN CRAWFORD...SOUTHWESTERN BARTON AND NORTHWESTERN JASPER
COUNTIES THROUGH 1215 AM CDT...

At 1130 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Cherokee, or 7 miles south of Girard, moving east at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 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.

Locations impacted include...
Pittsburg, Prairie State Park, Frontenac, Girard, Arma, Cherokee,
Weir, Mulberry, Scammon, Chicopee, Nashville, Mindenmines, Franklin,
Asbury, West Mineral, Roseland, Burgess, Beulah, Opolis, and
Croweburg.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 400 AM CDT for
southeastern Kansas...and southwestern Missouri.

&&

LAT...LON 3729 9496 3748 9498 3762 9460 3744 9443
      3727 9457
TIME...MOT...LOC 0430Z 266DEG 24KT 3740 9488

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH

Hatch

The office that day

Everything else NWS Springfield, MO issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 23, 10:37 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningSGFSt. Clair, Vernon53 min
Apr 23, 11:17 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningSGFBenton, Hickory, St. Clair43 min
Apr 23, 11:49 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementSGFBenton, Morgan56 min
Apr 23, 11:57 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementSGFBarton, Jasper, Newton33 min
Apr 23, 11:59 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningSGFJasper, Newton46 min
Apr 24, 12:30 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementSGFDade, Jasper, Lawrence, Newton45 min
Apr 24, 12:47 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningSGFJasper, Lawrence, Newton43 min
Apr 24, 1:02 AM CDTTornado WarningSGFLawrence12 min
Apr 24, 1:20 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementSGFChristian, Greene55 min
Apr 24, 1:28 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningSGFGreene14 min
Apr 24, 4:34 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningSGFDouglas, Howell, Ozark, Texas41 min
Apr 24, 5:04 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementSGFHowell26 min
Apr 24, 5:12 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementSGFTexas33 min
Apr 23, 10:23 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningSGFBourbon52 min
Apr 23, 11:31 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementSGFCrawford44 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.