Alert archive / Kansas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 14, NWS Topeka, KS

April 9, 20264 counties in Kansas

NWS Topeka, KS issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Apr 9, 2026, 6:45 PM CDT for 4 counties in Kansas. It was in force for 45 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 9, 2026, 6:45 PM CDT (23:45 UTC)
Expired
Apr 9, 2026, 7:30 PM CDT
In force
45 min
Issued by
NWS Topeka, KS
Area
Storm-based polygon
Damage threat
Considerable
Hail
1.75 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Clay County, KS, Cloud County, KS, Republic County, KS, Washington County, KS

The radar

The Grand Island radar (KUEX), 120 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:49 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 9, 5:11 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Topeka, KS (KTOP), launched 12:00Z, 11.8 hours before the alert went out and 165 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 2026-04-09Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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 2026-04-09The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 77 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1733 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
34 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
77 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
108 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 Topeka, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Apr 9, 1:51 PM CDT, 4 hours 54 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Thunderstorms likely tonight. Isolated to scattered severe storms remain possible late this afternoon and this evening with large hail and damaging winds.
  • Cool and cloudy Friday with some showers.
  • Warmer this weekend into the middle of next week with several chances for more thunderstorms, some possibly severe mainly Monday and Tuesday.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 9, 1:51 PM CDT, 4 hours 54 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Topeka KS
151 PM CDT Thu Apr 9 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Thunderstorms likely tonight. Isolated to scattered severe
  storms remain possible late this afternoon and this evening
  with large hail and damaging winds.

- Cool and cloudy Friday with some showers.

- Warmer this weekend into the middle of next week with several
  chances for more thunderstorms, some possibly severe mainly
  Monday and Tuesday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 151 PM CDT Thu Apr 9 2026

Moisture advection near and north of the surface front over extreme
northern Kansas continues to support high-based convection early
this afternoon. This activity, and the lack of much forcing along
the front, lead to some uncertainty in how late afternoon and evening
convection potential transpires. Other than interference from this
precipitation, the setup isn't much different than earlier
expectations, with moderate instability in decent mid-level lapse
rates despite dewpoints in the upper 40s to mid 50s and deep-layer
shear around 35 knots. Most early-morning model output produces near
all deeper convection north of the boundary and this could easily be
the case based on a less pristine warm sector. The front looks to
settle north of the area late this afternoon, and with high cloud
bases, expect the main storm concerns to be wind and hail initially
then hail into the late evening. Storm motions may be parallel
enough to the boundary to bring some locally heavy rain early, but
pushing of the front from outflow and the northern Plains upper wave
should keep storm residence area somewhat limited, with the front
south of the CWA by mid-morning Friday. Deep low stratus and some
scattered precip should keep temps much cooler Friday.

Moisture return Friday night into early Sunday should lead to more
showers and storms, though limited instability should keep a severe
threat in check. Southwest upper flow brings a weak wave or two
through late Sunday into Monday night with minor concern for some
dryline convection Sunday and more so Monday, but greater potential
looks to come around Tuesday when the upper wave may emerge from the
Southwest. Timing differences remain notable at this range and
instability and shear Sunday through Tuesday is not impressive --
LREF probabilities of at least 1000 J/kg with at least 30 knots of
shear are less than 50 percent. Clouds and precip may keep highs
around 70 in some places this weekend with warmer conditions Monday
into at least Wednesday.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 1233 PM CDT Thu Apr 9 2026

High-based showers and a few thunderstorms continue to move
east-northeast from central into northeast Kansas and see little
reason this won't continue for at least several more hours.
Main concerns still on track to come after 00Z as more robust
convection looks more likely though aforementioned activity
leads to some uncertainty. Have increased to TEMPO for TSRA
when potential is highest though timing confidence is not high.
Guidance is very consistent in IFR ceilings moving in behind the
front for the latter third of the forecast.

&&

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

&&

DISCUSSION...Poage
AVIATION...Poage
Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 9, 3:47 AM CDT, 14 hours 58 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Topeka KS
347 AM CDT Thu Apr 9 2026

KSZ008>012-020>024-026-034>040-054>056-058-059-100900-
Republic-Washington-Marshall-Nemaha-Brown-Cloud-Clay-Riley-
Pottawatomie-Jackson-Jefferson-Ottawa-Dickinson-Geary-Morris-
Wabaunsee-Shawnee-Douglas-Lyon-Osage-Franklin-Coffey-Anderson-
347 AM CDT Thu Apr 9 2026

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

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

A few strong to severe storms are possible late this afternoon and
evening. Damaging wind gusts and large hail will be the main hazards
with the strongest storms.

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

The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low.

.SPOTTER MESSAGE

Spotters may be needed this afternoon or tonight.

&&

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

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Apr 9, 5:10 PM CDT, 1 hour 35 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Topeka KS
510 PM CDT Thu Apr 9 2026

KSZ038-039-092245-
Wabaunsee-Shawnee-
510 PM CDT Thu Apr 9 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN SHAWNEE AND
SOUTHEASTERN WABAUNSEE COUNTIES THROUGH 545 PM CDT...

At 510 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Eskridge, moving northeast at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Strong wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
Eskridge, Dover, Willard, and Keene.

This includes Interstate 70 between mile markers 342 and 349.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3878 9619 3886 9629 3911 9596 3896 9576
TIME...MOT...LOC 2210Z 228DEG 25KT 3890 9608

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH

Flanagan
Special weather statement, Apr 9, 5:53 PM CDT, 52 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Topeka KS
553 PM CDT Thu Apr 9 2026

KSZ039-040-055-092330-
Shawnee-Douglas-Osage-
553 PM CDT Thu Apr 9 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN SHAWNEE...WEST
CENTRAL DOUGLAS AND NORTHEASTERN OSAGE COUNTIES THROUGH 630 PM CDT...

At 553 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Auburn, moving east at 35 mph.

HAZARD...Strong wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to vegetation is possible.

Locations impacted include...
Southern Topeka, Richland, Auburn, Pauline, and Berryton.

This includes Kansas Turnpike between mile markers 165 and 180, and
between mile markers 185 and 189.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3886 9589 3896 9589 3905 9549 3883 9548
TIME...MOT...LOC 2253Z 264DEG 29KT 3891 9579

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH

Flanagan
Local storm report, Apr 9, 6:24 PM CDT, 21 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Topeka KS
624 PM CDT Thu Apr 9 2026

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

0621 PM     Hail             3 S Haddam              39.81N 97.30W
04/09/2026  M1.75 Inch       Washington         KS   Public

            Report from mPING: Golf Ball (1.75 in.).

&&

AJ
Local storm report, Apr 9, 6:25 PM CDT, 20 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Topeka KS
625 PM CDT Thu Apr 9 2026

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

0610 PM     Hail             1 SE Belleville         39.82N 97.63W
04/09/2026  E1.00 Inch       Republic           KS   Public

            Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).

&&

AJ
Local storm report, Apr 9, 6:35 PM CDT, 10 minutes before
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Local storm report, Apr 9, 6:42 PM CDT, 3 minutes before
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    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 9, 9:08 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTOPCloud22 min
Apr 9, 9:25 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTOPWashington35 min
Apr 9, 9:32 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPWashington28 min
Apr 9, 4:52 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTOPWabaunsee23 min
Apr 9, 5:10 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTOPWabaunsee35 min
Apr 9, 5:27 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPRepublic33 min
Apr 9, 5:51 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPRepublic, Washington24 min
Apr 9, 5:53 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTOPShawnee37 min
Apr 9, 5:57 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatTOPRepublic33 min
Apr 9, 6:14 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatTOPWashington46 min
Apr 9, 6:17 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPRepublic28 min
Apr 9, 6:27 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPRepublic33 min
Apr 9, 6:49 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPWashington41 min
Apr 9, 6:54 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPRepublic, Washington36 min
Apr 9, 6:59 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPRepublic31 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.