Alert archive / Kansas / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 4, NWS Topeka, KS

April 27, 2026Wabaunsee County, Kansas

NWS Topeka, KS issued this flash flood warning at Apr 27, 2026, 4:11 AM CDT for Wabaunsee County, Kansas. It was in force for 2 hr. 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 27, 2026, 4:11 AM CDT (09:11 UTC)
Expired
Apr 27, 2026, 6:38 AM CDT
In force
2 hr
Issued by
NWS Topeka, KS
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

County Wabaunsee County, KS

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this flash flood 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 nearest sounding before it

Topeka, KS (KTOP), launched 00:00Z, 9.2 hours before the alert went out and 35 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 2026-04-27Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 99 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 2026-04-27The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 236 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
99 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-92 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
644 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
49 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
236 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
443 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.1
Supercell composite
1.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

373 
WGUS53 KTOP 270911
FFWTOP
KSC197-271130-
/O.NEW.KTOP.FF.W.0004.260427T0911Z-260427T1130Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Topeka KS
411 AM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026

The National Weather Service in Topeka has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Eastern Wabaunsee County in east central Kansas...

* Until 630 AM CDT.

* At 411 AM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing 
  heavy rain across the warned area. Between 2.5 and 4 inches of 
  rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches are 
  possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected 
  to begin shortly.

  HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

  SOURCE...Radar.

  IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban
           areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as
           other poor drainage and low-lying areas.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Eskridge, Maple Hill and Keene.

This includes Interstate 70 between mile markers 337 and 346.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the 
dangers of flooding.

&&

LAT...LON 3913 9604 3912 9603 3912 9602 3912 9601
      3911 9600 3911 9598 3910 9596 3910 9595
      3886 9595 3879 9638 3914 9605 3914 9604

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$
2 follow-up statements
017 
WGUS53 KTOP 271046
FFWTOP
KSC197-271230-
/O.EXT.KTOP.FF.W.0004.000000T0000Z-260427T1230Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Topeka KS
546 AM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026

The National Weather Service in Topeka has extended the

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Eastern Wabaunsee County in east central Kansas...

* Until 730 AM CDT.

* At 545 AM CDT, Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated 
  thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 
  3 and 6 inches of rain have fallen. Flash flooding is already 
  occurring.

  HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

  SOURCE...Radar and automated gauges.

  IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban
           areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as
           other poor drainage and low-lying areas.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Eskridge, Maple Hill and Keene.

This includes Interstate 70 between mile markers 337 and 345.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood 
deaths occur in vehicles.

Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the 
dangers of flooding.

&&

LAT...LON 3913 9604 3912 9603 3912 9602 3912 9601
      3911 9600 3911 9598 3910 9596 3910 9595
      3886 9595 3879 9638 3914 9605 3914 9604

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR AND GAUGE INDICATED

$$
464 
WGUS73 KTOP 271138 RRA
FFSTOP

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Topeka KS
638 AM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026

KSC197-271148-
/O.CAN.KTOP.FF.W.0004.000000T0000Z-260427T1230Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Wabaunsee KS-
638 AM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR EASTERN WABAUNSEE COUNTY HAS BEEN 
REPLACED WITH A FLOOD WARNING...

&&

LAT...LON 3913 9604 3912 9603 3912 9602 3912 9601
      3911 9600 3911 9598 3910 9596 3910 9595
      3886 9595 3879 9638 3914 9605 3914 9604

$$

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this flash flood warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Topeka, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at Apr 27, 1:59 AM CDT, 2 hours 12 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Severe storms continue west to east through the overnight hours into early Monday morning with large hail up to 2 inches in diameter the main threat with some stronger gusty outflows possible as well. Tornado threat is low, but not zero.
  • Possible redevelop of storms for far eastern portions of the state early Monday afternoon along the cold front but most of the activity will shift east.
  • Coolest day of the week Monday afternoon with a warming trend through the rest of the week but still on the cooler than average side for this time of year.
  • Next chance for precipitation comes Thursday night into Friday for northeastern portions of the viewing area.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 27, 1:59 AM CDT, 2 hours 12 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Topeka KS
159 AM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Severe storms continue west to east through the overnight hours
  into early Monday morning with large hail up to 2 inches in
  diameter the main threat with some stronger gusty outflows
  possible as well. Tornado threat is low, but not zero.

- Possible redevelop of storms for far eastern portions of the state
  early Monday afternoon along the cold front but most of the
  activity will shift east.

- Coolest day of the week Monday afternoon with a warming trend
  through the  rest of the week but still on the cooler than average
  side for this time of year.

- Next chance for precipitation comes Thursday night into Friday for
  northeastern portions of the viewing area.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 200 AM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026

Upper level low evident on IR pushing east across southern Canada
with a positively oriented L/W trough extending southwestward
through the Desert Southwest. WV shows the main finger of the PFJ
around the base of the aforementioned trough extending through the
High/Great Plains with southwest flow for the CWA. Associated cold
front that has sparked the ongoing severe thunderstorms is along this
line from north central to southwest KS with ample difluence aloft
ahead of all of this. This has given ample exhaust to the lifting and
instability that will extend through the overnight hours. Current
severe watch during this time as storm activity has increased the
past couple of hours west to east giving way to ample elevated
convection with the associated warm front lifting north along this
west to east boundary evident on radar. Predominant threats has been
hail up to 1 to 2 inches in diameter with gusty outflows possible
(30-40%) of up to 40 to 50 mph. Steep lapse rates continue through
the path of the shortwave as evident on some 00Z soundings, in
particular DDC. Tornado threat has diminished, but not totally out of
the question due to the earlier convection that tends to eat away at
the instability, especially into the overnight hours. With the west
to east entrainment, storm coverage and severity should be on the
decline into the early Monday morning hours but possible flooding
could come to fruition by daybreak that will keep an eye on in the
coming hours.

Otherwise, storms will exit east with the associated cold front but
models show it stall further east that will spark another round of
convection early Monday afternoon. However, the thermodynamics of
the system will be mainly on the "cooler" side that will keep severe
storm development further into MO. If any severe storms do develop
for far eastern portions of the CWA, they will quickly race out by
mid afternoon. Beyond that, expect Monday afternoon to be the coolest
day of the week with a warming/mainly dry trend but still on the
cooler than average side for the end of April through the remainder
of the work week and into the weekend as the aforementioned trough
pushes north and northeastward. Westerly zonal flow mostly during the
time with a ripple extending south from the previous upper level low
that could extend down to northeastern portions of the CWA Thursday
night into Friday. Impacts look to be low at this point but something
to keep an eye on in the coming days.

&&

.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z TUESDAY/...
Issued at 938 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026

Numerous rain showers and thunderstorms will pass through the area
from the start of the TAF period until about 13Z. Large hail and
damaging wind will be possible (40%) with all storms. PROB30 groups
have been changed to TEMPO groups as the chance of impacts at
terminals is over 80%. Conditions will drop to IFR as storms impact
terminals, with prevailing MVFR conditions through at least Monday
morning. Low clouds (BKN030) will hang around KTOP and KFOE through
Monday afternoon, with improvement by 01Z Tuesday. Wind will remain
from the east tonight with a wind shift behind the front by 14-15Z.
Wind will be breezy behind the front averaging 10-15 knots, with
gusts of 15 to 20 knots through Monday afternoon. Wind will then
become more northerly Monday evening.

&&

.TOP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Flood Watch until 1 PM CDT this afternoon for KSZ010-KSZ011-KSZ012-
KSZ023-KSZ024-KSZ026-KSZ039-KSZ040.

&&

DISCUSSION...Lowe
AVIATION...Blair
Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 26, 5:12 PM CDT, 10 hours 59 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Topeka KS
512 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026

KSZ010>012-023-024-026-039-040-272215-
Marshall-Nemaha-Brown-Pottawatomie-Jackson-Jefferson-Shawnee-Douglas-
512 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026

...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING THROUGH MONDAY
AFTERNOON...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for east central Kansas and
northeast Kansas.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

Flood watch through 12 PM Monday. Thunderstorms will redevelop and
some will be severe with the primary hazard being large hail,
isolated damaging wind gusts, and heavy rainfall.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday.

Flood watch through 12 PM Monday.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

&&

.SPOTTER MESSAGE

Weather spotters are encouraged to relay reports of hail, damaging
wind, tornadoes and flooding.

&&

More detailed information can be found at:
www.weather.gov/media/top/DssPacket.pdf

KSZ008-009-020>022-034>038-054>056-058-059-272215-
Republic-Washington-Cloud-Clay-Riley-Ottawa-Dickinson-Geary-Morris-
Wabaunsee-Lyon-Osage-Franklin-Coffey-Anderson-
512 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Kansas, east central
Kansas, north central Kansas and northeast Kansas.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

Thunderstorms will redevelop late Tonight. Some of the storms will
be severe with the primary hazard being large hail and isolated
damaging wind gusts.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday.

The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low.

.SPOTTER MESSAGE

Weather spotters are encouraged to relay reports of hail, damaging
wind, tornadoes and flooding.

&&

More detailed information can be found at:
www.weather.gov/media/top/DssPacket.pdf

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 27, 2:58 AM CDT, 1 hour 13 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Topeka KS
258 AM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026

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

0252 AM     Tstm Wnd Gst     3 N Topeka              39.09N 95.67W
04/27/2026  E70 MPH          Shawnee            KS   Emergency Mngr

&&
Local storm report, Apr 27, 3:00 AM CDT, 1 hour 11 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Topeka KS
300 AM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026

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

0257 AM     Hail             3 SW Tecumseh           39.02N 95.62W
04/27/2026  M1.00 Inch       Shawnee            KS   Public

            Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).

&&
Local storm report, Apr 27, 3:01 AM CDT, 1 hour 10 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Topeka KS
301 AM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026

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

0259 AM     Hail             4 N Topeka              39.10N 95.67W
04/27/2026  E0.75 Inch       Shawnee            KS   Public

            Report from mPING: Dime (0.75 in.).

&&
Local storm report, Apr 27, 3:03 AM CDT, 1 hour 8 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Topeka KS
303 AM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026

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

0250 AM     Tstm Wnd Gst     5 NNW Topeka            39.11N 95.72W
04/27/2026  M58 MPH          Shawnee            KS   Public

            Personal Weather Station.

&&
Local storm report, Apr 27, 3:45 AM CDT, 26 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Topeka KS
345 AM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026

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

0331 AM     Tstm Wnd Gst     4 NE Clinton            38.95N 95.33W
04/27/2026  M59 MPH          Douglas            KS   Public

            Personal Weather Station.

&&
Local storm report, Apr 27, 3:57 AM CDT, 14 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Topeka KS
357 AM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026

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

0351 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     3 NNW Clinton           38.95N 95.40W
04/27/2026                   Douglas            KS   Emergency Mngr

            Power lines downed.

&&

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 26, 7:45 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTOPAnderson30 min
Apr 26, 11:43 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatTOPDickinson, Morris32 min
Apr 26, 11:47 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPClay, Pottawatomie, Riley28 min
Apr 26, 11:53 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPGeary, Morris, Wabaunsee37 min
Apr 27, 12:14 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPDickinson, Geary, Lyon, Morris31 min
Apr 27, 12:27 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPGeary, Pottawatomie, Riley, Shawnee, Wabaunsee33 min
Apr 27, 12:37 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatTOPDickinson23 min
Apr 27, 12:46 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPDickinson, Geary, Morris29 min
Apr 27, 12:49 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPClay, Dickinson, Ottawa26 min
Apr 27, 12:54 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPDickinson, Geary, Morris36 min
Apr 27, 12:55 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPJackson, Pottawatomie, Shawnee22 min
Apr 27, 1:10 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatTOPGeary, Lyon, Morris, Wabaunsee35 min
Apr 27, 1:14 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPClay, Dickinson, Ottawa31 min
Apr 27, 1:24 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPDickinson, Geary, Morris, Riley, Wabaunsee36 min
Apr 27, 1:35 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatTOPGeary, Lyon, Morris, Wabaunsee25 min
Apr 27, 1:54 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatTOPPottawatomie, Wabaunsee36 min
Apr 27, 1:58 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPGeary, Morris, Pottawatomie, Riley, Wabaunsee15 min
Apr 27, 1:58 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPCloud, Ottawa47 min
Apr 27, 2:09 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatTOPDouglas, Jackson, Jefferson, Osage, Pottawatomie, Shawnee and 1 more51 min
Apr 27, 2:14 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPGeary, Pottawatomie, Riley31 min
Apr 27, 2:20 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningTOPDickinson, Geary, Morris, Pottawatomie, Riley, Wabaunsee4 hr
Apr 27, 2:26 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatTOPWabaunsee34 min
Apr 27, 2:39 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPGeary, Riley, Wabaunsee36 min
Apr 27, 2:42 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatTOPJefferson18 min
Apr 27, 2:52 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatTOPDouglas, Jackson, Jefferson, Osage, Shawnee, Wabaunsee38 min
Apr 27, 3:02 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPDickinson28 min
Apr 27, 3:25 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatTOPDouglas, Jefferson, Shawnee35 min
Apr 27, 3:29 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPMorris, Wabaunsee31 min
Apr 27, 3:49 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPGeary, Riley, Wabaunsee26 min
Apr 27, 3:49 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPLyon, Morris, Osage, Wabaunsee26 min
Apr 27, 4:00 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPDouglas, Jefferson30 min
Apr 27, 4:05 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPLyon, Osage, Shawnee, Wabaunsee40 min
Apr 27, 4:29 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningTOPDouglas, Jackson, Jefferson, Shawnee2 hr
Apr 27, 4:33 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPDouglas, Jefferson42 min
Apr 27, 4:53 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningTOPShawnee4 hr
Apr 27, 5:02 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningTOPWabaunsee22 hr
Apr 27, 5:12 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPDouglas18 min
Apr 27, 6:38 AM CDTAreal Flood WarningTOPWabaunsee11 hr
Apr 27, 6:38 AM CDTAreal Flood WarningTOPDickinson, Geary, Morris, Pottawatomie, Riley, Wabaunsee11 hr
Apr 27, 6:38 AM CDTAreal Flood WarningTOPDouglas, Jackson, Jefferson, Shawnee5 hr
Apr 27, 7:11 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningTOPLyon, Osage18 hr
Apr 27, 7:35 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningTOPOsage9 hr
Apr 27, 8:17 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningTOPShawnee11 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Kansas, 2026Every flash flood 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.