Alert archive / Kansas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 113, NWS Topeka, KS

April 26, 20267 counties in Kansas

NWS Topeka, KS issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Apr 26, 2026, 2:07 PM CDT for 7 counties in Kansas. It was in force for 53 min. 1 report 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
Apr 26, 2026, 2:07 PM CDT (19:07 UTC)
Expired
Apr 26, 2026, 3:00 PM CDT
In force
53 min
Issued by
NWS Topeka, KS
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.0 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Jackson County, KS, Lyon County, KS, Morris County, KS, Osage County, KS, Pottawatomie County, KS, Shawnee County, KS, Wabaunsee County, KS

The radar

The Topeka radar (KTWX), 30 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:11 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
Apr 26, 3:03 PM CDTTSTM WND GST 704 Ene Reading, KSmeasured with hand held anemometer.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this severe thunderstorm 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.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Apr 26, 12:07 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Topeka, KS (KTOP), launched 12:00Z, 7.1 hours before the alert went out and 33 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 12:00Z on 2026-04-26Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 54 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 12:00Z on 2026-04-26The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 54 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
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

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

612 
WUUS53 KTOP 261907
SVRTOP
KSC085-111-127-139-149-177-197-262000-
/O.NEW.KTOP.SV.W.0113.260426T1907Z-260426T2000Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Topeka KS
207 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026

The National Weather Service in Topeka has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  Southeastern Morris County in east central Kansas...
  Shawnee County in east central Kansas...
  Wabaunsee County in east central Kansas...
  Northern Osage County in east central Kansas...
  Southeastern Pottawatomie County in northeastern Kansas...
  Southern Jackson County in northeastern Kansas...
  Northern Lyon County in east central Kansas...

* Until 300 PM CDT.

* At 206 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
  extending from near Louisville to 6 miles west of Eskridge to 3
  miles southwest of Dunlap, moving east at 35 mph.

  HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage 
           to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...
  Topeka, Wamego, Osage City, Carbondale, Rossville, Alma, Eskridge,
  St. Marys, Dover, Silver Lake, Auburn, Lyndon, Burlingame,
  Americus, Scranton, Hoyt, Maple Hill, McFarland, Harveyville, and
  Paxico.

This includes the following highways...
 Interstate 70 between mile markers 325 and 355.
 Kansas Turnpike between mile markers 135 and 184.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

&&

LAT...LON 3856 9564 3848 9635 3852 9635 3852 9646
      3885 9627 3924 9639 3932 9567 3909 9559
      3907 9560 3899 9556
TIME...MOT...LOC 1906Z 256DEG 32KT 3922 9634 3887 9622 3855 9641 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

CP
1 follow-up statement
857 
WWUS53 KTOP 261937
SVSTOP

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Topeka KS
237 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026

KSC127-261947-
/O.CAN.KTOP.SV.W.0113.000000T0000Z-260426T2000Z/
Morris-
237 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN MORRIS COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

The storms which prompted the warning have moved out of the warned 
area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 700 PM CDT for
northeastern and east central Kansas.

&&

LAT...LON 3856 9564 3852 9599 3852 9635 3858 9635
      3874 9629 3882 9617 3917 9607 3927 9609
      3932 9567 3911 9560 3907 9560 3899 9556
TIME...MOT...LOC 1937Z 255DEG 30KT 3928 9603 3890 9601 3856 9614 

$$

KSC085-111-139-149-177-197-262000-
/O.CON.KTOP.SV.W.0113.000000T0000Z-260426T2000Z/
Shawnee-Wabaunsee-Osage-Pottawatomie-Jackson-Lyon-
237 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 PM CDT
FOR SHAWNEE...EASTERN WABAUNSEE...NORTHERN OSAGE...SOUTHEASTERN
POTTAWATOMIE...SOUTHERN JACKSON AND NORTHERN LYON COUNTIES...

At 237 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from near Emmett to 3 miles south of Keene to 5 miles south
of Admire, moving east at 35 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to 
         roofs, siding, and trees.

Locations impacted include...
Topeka, Osage City, Carbondale, Rossville, Eskridge, St. Marys,
Dover, Silver Lake, Auburn, Lyndon, Burlingame, Scranton, Hoyt, Maple
Hill, Harveyville, Allen, Delia, Admire, Willard, and Bushong.

This includes the following highways...
 Interstate 70 between mile markers 338 and 355.
 Kansas Turnpike between mile markers 136 and 184.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

&&

LAT...LON 3856 9564 3852 9599 3852 9635 3858 9635
      3874 9629 3882 9617 3917 9607 3927 9609
      3932 9567 3911 9560 3907 9560 3899 9556
TIME...MOT...LOC 1937Z 255DEG 30KT 3928 9603 3890 9601 3856 9614 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

CP

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 Topeka, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Apr 26, 5:52 AM CDT, 8 hours 15 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Complicated severe weather setup tonight. Likely two rounds of severe, one afternoon into early evening and another late evening into the overnight hours. The second round will carry the largest severe threat, but large hail, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes will be possible with both rounds.
  • A few storms may linger into Monday, but severe weather threat mostly shifts to our east.
  • Cooler pattern arrives for the rest of the week behind Monday's cold front. A few chances for light rain.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 26, 5:52 AM CDT, 8 hours 15 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Topeka KS
552 AM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Complicated severe weather setup tonight. Likely two rounds of
severe, one afternoon into early evening and another late evening
into the overnight hours. The second round will carry the largest
severe threat, but large hail, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes
will be possible with both rounds.

- A few storms may linger into Monday, but severe weather threat
mostly shifts to our east.

- Cooler pattern arrives for the rest of the week behind
Monday's cold front. A few chances for light rain.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 339 AM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026

Current water vapor imagery shows the main focus for today - a
strong shortwave trough moving onshore to California and phasing
with the main western US longwave trough. Broad southwest flow is in
place ahead of this system, with the embedded weaker perturbation
responsible for yesterday's severe weather weakening over the
Plains. As the main shortwave approaches the Plains this morning,
pressure will begin to quickly drop in the lee of the Rockies.
Southerly winds will allow moisture to stream back northwards, though
the exact degree of moisture return may be impacted somewhat by the
amount of morning convection over the Arklatex area.

Still expecting two rounds of convection in general, with perhaps a
brief lull in between. The first appears likely as early as mid-day,
with the initial surge of 850 mb WAA. Isentropic ascent along the
frontal boundary currently bisecting the forecast area should
support a cluster of thunderstorms developing towards central and
north-central KS. The broad forcing for ascent may support a messy
storm mode, but with increasing shear and instability a more
organized line or embedded supercell could emerge, moving east
through the early evening hours. If this were the case, large hail
and damaging winds would be possible, along with a low threat for a
brief tornado. Some locally heavy rain could also occur,
particularly if storms can train from west to east.

Behind this initial activity, another round of widespread convection
is expected to develop after sunset across portions of central
Kansas. This would occur as the surface low begins to lift northeast
and a very strong LLJ develops. Lots of uncertainty as to the
location and extent of this convection, with short-term models still
struggling to deal with the evolution of various surface features.
Nevertheless, given the strength of the LLJ and the approaching
shortwave, the environment will be characterized by extreme shear.
So large to very large hail will be possible with any more discrete
supercell, and widespread damaging winds with any more linear
segment. The overnight tornado threat is slightly more uncertain,
and tied to the degree of nocturnal stabilization. However most
guidance tends to keep the cap weak enough that surface based storms
will remain possible, particularly along and south of Interstate 70.
This would support the risk of tornadoes, perhaps strong, well into
the night, with any semi-discrete supercell. Any linear segment
would carry a QLCS tornado risk, given strong 0-3 km shear largely
perpendicular to the front. The severe threat (and potential for
more locally heavy rain) will linger into the early morning hours
tomorrow, as pressures continue to fall just ahead of the surface
low track. Despite the extremely favorable ingredients, it's
important as always to keep in mind any potential failure modes. One
plausible failure mode could be if more widespread convection
develops earlier in the day across parts of northern Oklahoma. This
could help limit moisture return overnight, keeping our storms more
elevated and the strongest surface based storms to our south. But
given the potential ceiling of the event and the very late timing,
certainly important to have a way to monitor the storm threat and
receive warnings overnight tonight.

Still watching early afternoon Monday for a low probability severe
threat (mainly in the form of hail) across far eastern KS before the
front fully clears the area. However the majority of guidance
continues to keep any developing convection to our east across
Missouri, leaving behind a dry afternoon as winds turn to the west
and then northwest behind the front. Following the front, we stay in
a noticeably cooler pattern for the rest of the week as upper
troughing deepens to our east. Highs stay mostly in the 60s, with
lows in the 40s. A few low chances for light rain Tuesday and again
Thu/Fri as embedded shortwaves pass nearby to our south.

&&

.AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z MONDAY/...
Issued at 552 AM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026

IFR to MVFR stratus remains west of the main TAF sites,
and confidence is still low that it will reach KMHK at any point
this morning. Confidence is increasing that thunderstorms will
impact the terminals at some point this afternoon, though exact
timing and placement is still somewhat uncertain. More
thunderstorms, likely accompanied by more widespread MVFR ceilings,
look to arrive late evening and overnight, but timing and coverage
is uncertain for this round as well. Winds should be more
southeasterly after sunrise and stay so through the period,
generally around 8-14 kts.

&&

.TOP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.

&&

DISCUSSION...Reese
AVIATION...Reese
Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 26, 3:44 AM CDT, 10 hours 23 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Topeka KS
344 AM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026

KSZ008>012-020>024-026-034>040-054>056-058-059-270845-
Republic-Washington-Marshall-Nemaha-Brown-Cloud-Clay-Riley-
Pottawatomie-Jackson-Jefferson-Ottawa-Dickinson-Geary-Morris-
Wabaunsee-Shawnee-Douglas-Lyon-Osage-Franklin-Coffey-Anderson-
344 AM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026

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

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Several rounds of thunderstorms are expected across the entire area
today and tonight, with some of these storms being severe. Large
hail, damaging winds, locally heavy rain, and a few tornadoes will
all be possible, particularly late this evening into the overnight
hours.

.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 26, 12:38 PM CDT, 1 hour 29 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Topeka KS
1238 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026

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

1229 PM     Hail             Carlton                 38.69N 97.29W
04/26/2026  E1.00 Inch       Dickinson          KS   Emergency Mngr

&&

BD
Local storm report, Apr 26, 12:53 PM CDT, 1 hour 14 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Topeka KS
1253 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026

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

1250 PM     Hail             6 NNW Hope              38.77N 97.11W
04/26/2026  M1.00 Inch       Dickinson          KS   Public

&&

BD
Local storm report, Apr 26, 1:10 PM CDT, 57 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Topeka KS
110 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026

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

0108 PM     Hail             4 W White City          38.80N 96.82W
04/26/2026  M1.00 Inch       Morris             KS   Trained Spotter

&&

BD

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 25, 7:14 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTOPCloud31 min
Apr 25, 7:41 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPClay, Cloud, Ottawa34 min
Apr 25, 8:10 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPClay, Cloud, Ottawa35 min
Apr 25, 8:20 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPOttawa25 min
Apr 25, 8:39 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPClay36 min
Apr 25, 9:10 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPClay, Dickinson, Geary, Riley35 min
Apr 25, 9:37 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPClay, Dickinson, Geary, Riley18 min
Apr 25, 9:54 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTOPGeary, Riley36 min
Apr 25, 10:27 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTOPRiley33 min
Apr 25, 10:57 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTOPRiley33 min
Apr 26, 11:03 AM CDTFlood WatchTOPBrown, Douglas, Jackson, Jefferson, Marshall, Nemaha and 2 more20 hr
Apr 26, 11:48 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatTOPDickinson42 min
Apr 26, 12:26 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatTOPDickinson34 min
Apr 26, 12:48 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPClay, Dickinson, Geary, Riley42 min
Apr 26, 12:51 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPDickinson, Geary, Morris, Riley54 min
Apr 26, 1:15 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPClay, Geary, Pottawatomie, Riley45 min
Apr 26, 1:29 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPGeary, Lyon, Morris, Pottawatomie, Riley, Wabaunsee46 min
Apr 26, 1:51 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPMarshall, Nemaha, Pottawatomie, Riley39 min
Apr 26, 2:11 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPLyon64 min
Apr 26, 2:54 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPLyon, Osage, Shawnee, Wabaunsee51 min
Apr 26, 3:03 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPCoffey, Lyon, Osage42 min
Apr 26, 3:11 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPOsage22 min
Apr 26, 3:24 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatTOPDouglas, Franklin, Osage, Shawnee66 min
Apr 26, 3:28 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPDouglas, Osage, Shawnee19 min
Apr 26, 3:36 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPAnderson, Coffey54 min
Apr 26, 4:16 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatTOPAnderson29 min
Apr 26, 4:25 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPFranklin24 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.