Alert archive / Missouri / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 59, NWS Springfield, MO

April 15, 2026Vernon County, Missouri; Bourbon County, Kansas

NWS Springfield, MO issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Apr 15, 2026, 4:43 PM CDT for Vernon County, Missouri; Bourbon County, Kansas. It was in force for 47 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 15, 2026, 4:43 PM CDT (21:43 UTC)
Expired
Apr 15, 2026, 5:30 PM CDT
In force
47 min
Issued by
NWS Springfield, MO
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.25 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Bourbon County, KS, Vernon County, MO

The radar

The Pleasant Hill radar (KEAX), 110 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:47 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 15, 2:31 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Springfield, MO (KSGF), launched 12:00Z, 9.7 hours before the alert went out and 127 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 12:00Z on 2026-04-15Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 192 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 12:00Z on 2026-04-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 163 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
192 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-57 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
810 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
30 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
163 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
148 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

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 15, 1:31 PM CDT, 3 hours 12 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Slight (level 2 of 5) severe thunderstorm risk this afternoon into tonight. All modes of severe storms will be possible with the main risks being large hail and damaging wind.
  • Thursday afternoon has a low-end Marginal (level 1 of 5) risk of severe thunderstorms in the far eastern Ozarks, with primary hazard being large hail.
  • Severe thunderstorms expected again on Friday, with an Enhanced (level 3 of 5) Risk of severe weather beginning in the afternoon and continuing through the overnight hours into early Saturday morning. All modes of severe weather possible.
  • Marginal excessive rainfall concerns through the week in areas that see repeated strong storms and/or training precipitation.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 15, 1:31 PM CDT, 3 hours 12 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Springfield MO
131 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Slight (level 2 of 5) severe thunderstorm risk this afternoon
  into tonight. All modes of severe storms will be possible with
  the main risks being large hail and damaging wind.

- Thursday afternoon has a low-end Marginal (level 1 of 5) risk
  of severe thunderstorms in the far eastern Ozarks, with
  primary hazard being large hail.

- Severe thunderstorms expected again on Friday, with an
  Enhanced (level 3 of 5) Risk of severe weather beginning in
  the afternoon and continuing through the overnight hours into
  early Saturday morning. All modes of severe weather possible.

- Marginal excessive rainfall concerns through the week in areas
  that see repeated strong storms and/or training precipitation.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/...
Issued at 131 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

Synoptic overview and current conditions: Water vapor imagery
and upper level analysis show deep southwesterly flow aloft from
west Texas into New England. Upper low was located over Nebraska
with a trough extending southwest of the low into New Mexico
with another low entering the Pacific northwest. Surface front
was shifting out of central KS into eastern KS where surface
based CAPES were in the 3500-4000 j/kg and no CIN was residing.
The morning convection and low clouds have kept some CIN values
around 50-100 j/kg in the eastern half of the CWA, but this was
slowly eroding and better CAPES were spreading east into the
area. 0-6km shear values were around 50kts out of the southwest.
Still getting some scattered showers/storms over our eastern CWA
with the remnants of this mornings activity.

Severe weather this afternoon / tonight: Expecting convection to
develop along/ahead of cold front/dryline in eastern KS/OK
within the band of higher instability. This activity is expected
to initiaite slightly west of the CWA with some discrete
supercells possible which would include all modes of severe
storms. As the upper wave and surface front shift east by late
afternoon and early evening, storms may form into clusters or
qlcs segments. Damaging wind and an embedded tornado risk will
be the main severe weather risks this evening as the qlcs shifts
east. While there is some timing differences in the CAMS, the
main area of convection should exit the eastern CWA between
midnight and 3 am.

Thursday/Thursday night: Instability is expected to increase
during the afternoon in the wake of any residual precipitation
from the today/tonights shortwave. A secondary shortwave is then
expected to move through the area during the afternoon and early
evening with some of the CAMS generating additional convection
over the eastern Ozarks. We are currently in a marginal risk(1
of 5) for this activity, in which the main risk would be with
large hail. Anything that develops should move out of the area
by the early evening.

&&

.LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
Issued at 131 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

Severe weather chances late Friday into Saturday morning: The
upper level wave currently entering the Pacific northwest will
continue to track east and into the plains during the day on
Friday. A strong upper level jet out of the southwest will be
southeast of the trough and move into the area late in the day.
strong southerly winds in the lower levels will advect Gulf
moisture into the area during the day. With temperatures and
moisture increasing in the low levels, instability will increase
ahead of an eastward moving dry line/cold front which will begin
to push into the area during the late afternoon or early
evening. Discrete supercells are expected to develop ahead of a
dryline over the central/southern plains and dryline. As the
upper wave shifts eastward, the cold front will overtake the
dryline and storms should begin to form into a qlcs with
damaging wind and spin-up tornado risks becoming the more
predominant severe weather risks. The storms and front will
continue to track east across the CWA during the night and
potentially into Saturday morning before ending. This upper wave
will finally end our persistent pattern of southwest flow aloft
with drier air moving in behind the wave and surface front for
the remainder of the weekend into early next week.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY/...
Issued at 1209 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

For the 18z TAFS, surface based CAPES starting to increase to
our west and should creep in here throughout the afternoon.
Could see storm initiation ahead of a dryline towards the onset
of the 18z TAFS to the west of the CWA, however some scattered
activity will be possible over the area before that main area
moves in. Have gone with prob30s until late afternoon and then a
predominant TSRA with heavier rain between 23z and 02z as the
main line moves through. Expecting MVFR conditions with brief
periods of IFR within the stronger convection. Things should
clear east of the TAF sites by 03-04z. May get some stratus in
here overnight towards morning, especially at the BBG site.

&&

.CLIMATE...
Issued at 630 AM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

Record High Temperatures:

April 16:
KVIH: 85/2006

April 17:
KSGF: 87/1937
KVIH: 86/2004
KUNO: 87/2006

Record High Minimum Temperatures:

April 15:
KSGF: 63/2006
KJLN: 66/2006
KUNO: 62/2006
KVIH: 63/1976

April 16:
KSGF: 66/1963

April 17:
KSGF: 66/1976

&&

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

&&

SHORT TERM...Lindenberg
LONG TERM...Lindenberg
AVIATION...Lindenberg
CLIMATE...Camden
Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 15, 1:47 PM CDT, 2 hours 56 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Springfield MO
147 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

KSZ073-097-101-MOZ055>058-066>071-077>083-088>098-101>106-161900-
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-
147 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

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

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight.

Weather hazards expected...

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

DISCUSSION...

Strong to severe storms will be possible this afternoon into
tonight. All modes of severe storms will be possible with the
best chance of severe weather west of a West Plains to Salem line.
Hail to the size of golf balls, damaging wind up to 70 mph and a
few tornadoes will be possible.

Heavy rainfall associated with multiple rounds of thunderstorms
could cause localized flooding concerns. Damaging wind gusts up to
35-40 miles per hour will be possible outside of thunderstorms at
times today into tonight as well.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.

A few strong storms will be possible on Thursday afternoon in the
eastern Ozarks with the main risk being hail to the size of
quarters.

A strong upper level wave and surface front will be the focus for
strong to severe weather late Friday into Friday night. All modes
of severe storms will be possible with the best severe weather
chances northwest of a Joplin to Osage Beach line.

Flooding may be possible in areas that receive multiple rounds of
heavy rainfall.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed this afternoon and tonight for
most of the area.

&&

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

Lindenberg

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 15, 1:55 PM CDT, 2 hours 48 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Springfield MO
155 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

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

0124 AM     Tstm Wnd Gst     Walnut Grove            37.41N 93.55W
04/15/2026  M54 MPH          Greene             MO   Public

&&

teo
Special weather statement, Apr 15, 2:57 PM CDT, 1 hour 46 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Springfield MO
257 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

KSZ073-097-152030-
Crawford KS-Bourbon KS-
257 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHERN BOURBON AND NORTHERN
CRAWFORD COUNTIES THROUGH 330 PM CDT...

At 257 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Walnut, or 9 miles northeast of St. Paul, moving northeast at 35 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and penny 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...
Marmaton, Arcadia, Walnut, Redfield, Hepler, Greenbush, Pawnee
Station, Hiattville, Petersburg, Farlington, Brazilton, Porterville,
and Englevale.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 900 PM CDT for southeastern
Kansas...and southwestern and west central Missouri.

&&

LAT...LON 3790 9489 3767 9461 3760 9462 3747 9508
      3771 9509
TIME...MOT...LOC 1957Z 239DEG 30KT 3760 9504

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

Didio
Local storm report, Apr 15, 4:25 PM CDT, 18 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Springfield MO
425 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

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

0422 PM     Hail             Faulkner                37.11N 95.01W
04/15/2026  M1.00 Inch       Cherokee           KS   Public

            Also report of 60mph winds.

&&

TG
Local storm report, Apr 15, 4:27 PM CDT, 16 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Springfield MO
427 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

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

0415 PM     Hail             Walnut                  37.60N 95.08W
04/15/2026  E1.25 Inch       Crawford           KS   Public

&&

TG
Local storm report, Apr 15, 4:33 PM CDT, 10 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Springfield MO
433 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

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

0431 PM     Hail             Columbus                37.17N 94.84W
04/15/2026  E1.50 Inch       Cherokee           KS   Trained Spotter

            Ping Pong size hail, 40mph wind gust,
            torrential rainfall.

&&

TG
Local storm report, Apr 15, 4:35 PM CDT, 8 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Springfield MO
435 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

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

0431 PM     Hail             3 WSW Columbus          37.15N 94.89W
04/15/2026  E1.00 Inch       Cherokee           KS   Fire Dept/Rescue

            Quarter size hail.

&&

TG

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 15, 12:00 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningSGFMcDonald45 min
Apr 15, 12:21 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningSGFBarton, Jasper22 min
Apr 15, 12:34 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementSGFBarry26 min
Apr 15, 12:42 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementSGFNewton33 min
Apr 15, 1:34 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementSGFGreene, Lawrence26 min
Apr 15, 4:46 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatSGFBarton, Jasper44 min
Apr 15, 5:23 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningSGFBarton, Dade, Jasper36 min
Apr 15, 5:35 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningSGFBarton, Jasper6 hr
Apr 15, 6:07 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningSGFBarton, Jasper, Newton68 min
Apr 15, 6:09 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningSGFSt. Clair, Vernon66 min
Apr 15, 6:28 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningSGFDallas, Hickory, Polk47 min
Apr 15, 6:31 PM CDTTornado WarningSGFSt. Clair44 min
Apr 15, 6:48 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningSGFDade, Lawrence42 min
Apr 15, 6:52 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningSGFBenton, St. Clair12 min
Apr 15, 2:57 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementSGFBourbon33 min
Apr 15, 3:31 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatSGFBourbon44 min
Apr 15, 4:07 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningSGFCherokee53 min
Apr 15, 4:09 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningSGFBourbon, Crawford51 min
Apr 15, 4:56 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningSGFBourbon, Crawford35 min
Apr 15, 5:35 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningSGFCherokee40 min
Apr 15, 5:37 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisorySGFBourbon4 hr
Apr 15, 6:59 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementSGFCherokee46 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Missouri, 2026Severe 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.