Severe Thunderstorm Warning 98, NWS Topeka, KS

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Topeka KS
643 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- A few severe storms possible this evening, mainly towards central Kansas.
  Wind/hail the main hazards.

- Better chance for severe storms Sunday into Sunday night. Still a
  fair amount of uncertainty, but large hail, damaging winds, and a
  few tornadoes all possible.

- There is a minor change in the Monday period for now as the some
  forecast models suggest that the cold front may be slow enough to
  move east that a few morning storms could linger across eastern
  areas. Would expect mainly a large hail and wind threat during the
  morning period but this appears to be an overall low chance
  outcome.

- Cooler and near normal temperature remain in place for the balance of
  the upcoming week after the cold front pushes through the area
  late Sunday into early Monday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 254 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

A complex 24 to 36 hrs looks to be setting up before a solid frontal
system finally pushes through the area taking much of the severe
weather potential east and southeast of the area into Monday
morning.

Currently, the primary upper low pressure system resides north of
the CONUS just into south central Canada. The main trough axis
extends into and through northern California into the eastern
Pacific just off the coast of southern California. A complex series
of shortwave disturbances continue to lift across the southern and
central Rockies into the central Plains region. As of this hour, a
low amplitude lead shortwave is over north-central Kansas into south-
central Nebraska. Sufficient ascent with weak height falls is just
enough to cause a few showers and storms over south-central Nebraska
areas early this afternoon. One storm briefly looked impressive
right along the quasi-stationary cold front over south-central
Nebraska with a semi-persistent BWER and strong updraft core before
subsequently collapsing. Generally, a few storms this afternoon can
be expected along the weak surface low pressure area that is over
west central Kansas areas. Mainly showers have been scattered over
central into north-central Kansas areas with overall weak ascent in
place. However, into this afternoon with sufficiently steep mid-
level lapse rates in place and thus 1-2K J/kg instability into the
area, can't rule out a couple of storms that may become severe later
this afternoon into this evening. Would still anticipate mainly hail
and wind threats but a tornado could be possible west mainly along
the boundary which is most probable just west of the TOP forecast
area. Right now tornado probabilities into the area remain low
overall with hail and wind best into central Kansas areas. The semi-
persistent areas of showers only help to keep this idea in check as
the afternoon wears on.

Sunday, could start with morning showers and storms as weak
convergence along the LLJ maintains a few areas of showers and
storms as one of the primary shortwaves lift into the Rockies from
the southwest. This will act to bring additional height falls to the
central Plains into the morning and through the day as the surface
low pressure develops off the lee of the Rockies and deepens over
southwestern Kansas areas before lifting northeast into and likely
through the forecast area into the Sunday evening hours. Regarding
the morning storm potential, could see mainly a hail threat as
storms are likely to be elevated.  Clearing into the afternoon
appears to be on the docket with a weak cap in place with the
southwest flow aloft which becomes more southerly through the the
lower levels of the atmosphere as the more amplified shortwave works
into the area taking on a slight negative tilt. This will increase
more quality more moist transport into the area with higher overall
theta-e air advecting north thus increasing the dewpoints to around
70 especially southern areas. The main concern really ramps up into
the evening hours and possibly even after dark as the LLJ increases
to 50kts or possibly higher. Concern becomes nighttime tornado
potential to set up across the area especially with the track of the
low itself working across the area. If this is indeed the scenario,
then expect a busy evening if storms can stay semi-discrete which
could be a reasonable scenario with 0-6km shear vectors largely
orthogonal off the cold front as the dryline itself may just be
south of the area. Again, very large hail possibly greater than 2
inches, damaging winds 70 mph or greater with any bowing segment
that may develop if storms congeal and also supercellular nighttime
tornadoes could be in play especially with the elongated nature of
the hodographs as the LLJ ramps up. Flooding doesn't appear to be
all the high on the list since it appears storms should be
progressive once they begin and the lack of overall shear vectors
being parallel to the boundary.

Monday morning may be a potential gotcha for elevated hail if the
front does slow slightly into the overnight period and enough
residual instability remains aloft behind the front but this again
appears to be a low probability outcome. After the system moves
through expect a transition to a more quasi-zonal to northwest flow
pattern with highs and lows near normal for the week ahead and
possibly ridging into next weekend. Outside of a few chances for
periods of precipitation into the latter part of the upcoming week,
should remain mostly quiet weather-wise.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z MONDAY/...
Issued at 638 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

A line of scattered thunderstorms will move towards the KMHK terminal
between 1Z-3Z SUN. The storms may weaken and become more widely
scattered as they approach the KTOP and KFOE terminals. Late tonight
MVFR stratus may move across the terminals. Scattered thunderstorms
will develop across the terminals during the late morning and early
afternoon hours. Some of the storms may become strong to severe
Sunday afternoon.

&&

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

&&

DISCUSSION...Drake
AVIATION...Gargan

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Topeka KS
259 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

KSZ008>012-020>024-026-034>040-054>056-058-059-262000-
Republic-Washington-Marshall-Nemaha-Brown-Cloud-Clay-Riley-
Pottawatomie-Jackson-Jefferson-Ottawa-Dickinson-Geary-Morris-
Wabaunsee-Shawnee-Douglas-Lyon-Osage-Franklin-Coffey-Anderson-
259 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

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

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight

A few severe storms will be possible this evening, mainly towards
central and north-central Kansas. Large hail and damaging winds will
be the main hazards.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday

Better chances for severe storms arrive Sunday evening into
Sunday night across the entire area. There is still some degree of
variability with regard to timing, but very large hail, damaging
winds, and a few tornadoes all appear possible. Nighttime
tornadoes can not be ruled out.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

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

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Topeka KS
553 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

KSZ020-252315-
Cloud-
553 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN CLOUD COUNTY
THROUGH 615 PM CDT...

At 552 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Scottsville, moving east at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Strong 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. Hail damage to outdoor objects and
         vegetation is possible.

Locations impacted include...
Jamestown.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 900 PM CDT for
north central Kansas.

&&

LAT...LON 3965 9793 3965 9778 3943 9777 3943 9793
TIME...MOT...LOC 2252Z 258DEG 18KT 3951 9794

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

BD

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Topeka KS
609 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026

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

0606 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     6 S Jamestown           39.52N 97.87W
04/25/2026  E60 MPH          Cloud              KS   Trained Spotter

            Also hail up to nickel size nearly covered
            the ground.

&&