Alert archive / Kansas / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 10, NWS Topeka, KS

April 23, 2026Riley County, Wabaunsee County, Kansas

NWS Topeka, KS issued this tornado warning at Apr 23, 2026, 5:54 PM CDT for Riley County, Wabaunsee County, Kansas. It was in force for 38 min. 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 23, 2026, 5:54 PM CDT (22:54 UTC)
Expired
Apr 23, 2026, 6:32 PM CDT
In force
38 min
Issued by
NWS Topeka, KS
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
1.5 in

Counties Riley County, KS, Wabaunsee County, KS

The radar

The Topeka radar (KTWX), 11 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:58 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.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this tornado 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 23, 2:04 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Topeka, KS (KTOP), launched 12:00Z, 10.9 hours before the alert went out and 60 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 2026-04-23Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 759 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 2026-04-23The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 307 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
759 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-225 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
565 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
24 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
307 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
437 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
2.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

513 
WFUS53 KTOP 232254
TORTOP
KSC161-197-232345-
/O.NEW.KTOP.TO.W.0010.260423T2254Z-260423T2345Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Topeka KS
554 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

The National Weather Service in Topeka has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Southeastern Riley County in northeastern Kansas...
  Northwestern Wabaunsee County in east central Kansas...

* Until 645 PM CDT.

* At 553 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located 4 miles north of Volland, moving east at 20 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado and ping pong ball size hail.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

  IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
           shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. 
           Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree 
           damage is likely.

* Locations impacted include...
  Alma, McFarland, and Paxico.

This includes Interstate 70 between mile markers 317 and 336.
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 3901 9610 3897 9645 3905 9650 3907 9649
      3908 9644 3910 9639 3919 9621
TIME...MOT...LOC 2253Z 250DEG 19KT 3901 9642 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.50 IN

$$

Griesemer
3 follow-up statements
589 
WWUS53 KTOP 232310
SVSTOP

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Topeka KS
610 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

KSC161-232320-
/O.CAN.KTOP.TO.W.0010.000000T0000Z-260423T2345Z/
Riley-
610 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN RILEY COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

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

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 900 PM CDT for east central
Kansas.

&&

LAT...LON 3898 9638 3906 9639 3910 9639 3919 9621
      3901 9610
TIME...MOT...LOC 2310Z 250DEG 19KT 3904 9633 

$$

KSC197-232345-
/O.CON.KTOP.TO.W.0010.000000T0000Z-260423T2345Z/
Wabaunsee-
610 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 645 PM CDT FOR
NORTHWESTERN WABAUNSEE COUNTY...

At 610 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Alma, moving east at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and ping pong ball size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely.

Locations impacted include...
Alma, McFarland, and Paxico.

This includes Interstate 70 between mile markers 323 and 336.
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 3898 9638 3906 9639 3910 9639 3919 9621
      3901 9610
TIME...MOT...LOC 2310Z 250DEG 19KT 3904 9633 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.50 IN

$$

Griesemer
719 
WWUS53 KTOP 232317 RRA
SVSTOP

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Topeka KS
617 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

KSC197-232345-
/O.CON.KTOP.TO.W.0010.000000T0000Z-260423T2345Z/
Wabaunsee-
617 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 645 PM CDT FOR NORTH
CENTRAL WABAUNSEE COUNTY...

At 617 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near McFarland, moving east at 35 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and ping pong ball size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely.

Locations impacted include...
McFarland and Paxico.

This includes Interstate 70 between mile markers 326 and 336.
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 3902 9631 3910 9633 3919 9621 3904 9612
TIME...MOT...LOC 2317Z 254DEG 32KT 3908 9623 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.50 IN

$$

Griesemer
260 
WWUS53 KTOP 232332 RRB
SVSTOP

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Topeka KS
632 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

KSC197-232342-
/O.CAN.KTOP.TO.W.0010.000000T0000Z-260423T2345Z/
Wabaunsee-
632 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTH CENTRAL WABAUNSEE COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and has exited the warned area. Therefore, the warning has
been cancelled.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 900 PM CDT for east central
Kansas.

&&

LAT...LON 3902 9631 3910 9633 3919 9621 3904 9612
TIME...MOT...LOC 2329Z 250DEG 19KT 3911 9612 

$$

Griesemer

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado 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 tornado warning went out at Apr 23, 2:16 PM CDT, 3 hours 38 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Severe storms possible this afternoon into early evening as storms develop along a cold front over north central areas and move east. Very large hail, damaging winds along with potential for tornadoes is possible. Flooding also can't be ruled out over areas that see repeated storms.
  • A brief window for very high fire danger may set up behind the cold front as winds change to the northwest over north central counties and the relative humidity falls to around or just below 20 percent but overall the winds are expected to remain under 20 mph.
  • Additional rounds of severe storms may be possible late day on Saturday and then again late day into the overnight hours on Sunday. Sunday may be the more impactful storm system but details still remain uncertain at this time.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 23, 2:16 PM CDT, 3 hours 38 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Topeka KS
216 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Severe storms possible this afternoon into early evening as storms
  develop along a cold front over north central areas and move east.
  Very large hail, damaging winds along with potential for tornadoes
  is possible. Flooding also can't be ruled out over areas that see
  repeated storms.

- A brief window for very high fire danger may set up behind the cold
  front as winds change to the northwest over north central counties
  and the relative humidity falls to around or just below 20 percent
  but overall the winds are expected to remain under 20 mph.

- Additional rounds of severe storms may be possible late day on
  Saturday and then again late day into the overnight hours on
  Sunday. Sunday may be the more impactful storm system but details
  still remain uncertain at this time.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 212 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

The main period of concern for today is focused on this afternoon
and evening. Currently, the upper low is over the northern Plains
region with a negatively tilted trough and the best forcing
extending into northeastern Nebraska where storms have been ongoing
for a couple of hours. The surface cold front is just west of the
area through north central Kansas into central and southwestern
Kansas areas. The dryline is further south into north central
Oklahoma.

Storms are expected to initiate across the local area this afternoon
but may initially struggle with strong capping sampled from the 18Z
KTOP sounding. Much of the area today has been under a quite
expansive area of stratus but clearing has taken place over western
areas. Perhaps this has allowed for the cap to weaken sufficiently
over western areas. The lift from the cold front should allow for
storms in an area of steeper low level lapse rates to initiate due
to the slightly better and more long lasting insolation that has
taken place. Mid-level lapse rates are very steep so any storms that
breach the cap should rapidly intensify. If the clearing can continue
over the next couple of hours then the low level moisture in place
will allow for rapid destabilization as well. With environmental
southerly flow in place the low level hodograph structures should
allow for support of tornadoes if the winds can become locally backed
with initial supercellular storms but also 0-3km shear vectors
appear to be forecast to become more orthogonal to the any developing
line of storms later as storms grow upscale along the front. Long
story short, expect initial semi-discrete supercells mainly possible
of very large hail and a tornado or two. Then storms congeal into a
line over the next 3-4 hrs as they advance east focusing more on the
damaging wind threat and possible flooding but also QLCS type tornado
potential. The hail threat appears to diminish with eastward motion.
Two concerns with eastward motion is the cap strength combined with
prior resident time of the stratus. What impact does that have on the
evolution of storms remains to be seen but it wouldn't be surprising
to see storms initiate and rapidly intensify then struggle with
eastward progression.

This weekend, the potential for two more quick moving weather
systems move through the area with severe weather impacts Saturday
afternoon/evening and then again on Sunday evening/night. The time
of day the forcing shifts over the area on Sunday will be critical
to the development of any storms as well as the severity.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 1213 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

Cigs continue to lift overall and some areas continue to see clearing
but these have tended to quickly fill back in with the inversion
holding strong aloft and continued moist advection into the area. The
trends point to BKN to SCT cigs that remain above VFR levels into
and through this afternoon. The cold front is west of KMHK and will
continue to push into and through the area this afternoon into this
evening. Expect thunderstorms to form along the front by mid to late
this afternoon but should progressively move through so have TEMPO
groups indicating the best time frame with storm potential to impact
terminals. Winds change to the WNW post frontal passage.

&&

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

&&

DISCUSSION...Drake
AVIATION...Drake
Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 23, 2:11 PM CDT, 3 hours 43 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Topeka KS
211 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

KSZ008>012-020>024-026-034>040-054>056-058-059-241915-
Republic-Washington-Marshall-Nemaha-Brown-Cloud-Clay-Riley-
Pottawatomie-Jackson-Jefferson-Ottawa-Dickinson-Geary-Morris-
Wabaunsee-Shawnee-Douglas-Lyon-Osage-Franklin-Coffey-Anderson-
211 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 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

Severe storms possible this afternoon into early evening as storms
develop along a cold front over north central areas and move east.
Very large hail, damaging winds along with potential for tornadoes
is possible. Flooding also can't be ruled out over areas that see
repeated storms.

A brief window for very high fire danger may set up behind the
cold front as winds change to the northwest over north central
counties and the relative humidity falls to around or just below 20
percent but overall the winds are expected to remain under 20 mph.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday

Additional rounds of severe storms may be possible late day on
Saturday and then again late day into the overnight hours on Sunday.
Sunday may be the more impactful storm system but details still
remain uncertain at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters are encouraged to report any severe hail, wind or
rainfall amounts over one inch to the National Weather Service in
Topeka.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 23, 4:42 PM CDT, 1 hour 12 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Topeka KS
442 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

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

0440 PM     Hail             4 E Carlton             38.69N 97.23W
04/23/2026  M1.75 Inch       Dickinson          KS   Public

&&

ng
Local storm report, Apr 23, 5:05 PM CDT, 49 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Topeka KS
505 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

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

0503 PM     Hail             3 W Hope                38.69N 97.13W
04/23/2026  M1.75 Inch       Dickinson          KS   Emergency Mngr

&&

ng
Local storm report, Apr 23, 5:10 PM CDT, 44 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Topeka KS
510 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

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

0503 PM     Hail             Hope                    38.69N 97.08W
04/23/2026  M1.75 Inch       Dickinson          KS   Trained Spotter

&&

ng
Local storm report, Apr 23, 5:18 PM CDT, 36 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Topeka KS
518 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

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

0516 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     Herington               38.67N 96.94W
04/23/2026  E70 MPH          Dickinson          KS   Trained Spotter

&&

JP
Local storm report, Apr 23, 5:22 PM CDT, 32 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Topeka KS
522 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

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

0519 PM     Funnel Cloud     Ogden                   39.12N 96.70W
04/23/2026                   Riley              KS   Storm Chaser

            Reporter noted rotating wall cloud and
            funnel looking west from northwest Wabaunsee
            County. Also verified with emergency manager
            via photo.

&&

JP
Local storm report, Apr 23, 5:40 PM CDT, 14 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Topeka KS
540 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

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

0535 PM     Hail             2 WNW Frankfort         39.71N 96.46W
04/23/2026  E1.75 Inch       Marshall           KS   Public

&&

JP

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 23, 1:46 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTOPWashington29 min
Apr 23, 2:24 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTOPWashington36 min
Apr 23, 2:42 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPWashington10 min
Apr 23, 3:34 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPWashington26 min
Apr 23, 4:03 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPDickinson27 min
Apr 23, 4:20 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPDickinson25 min
Apr 23, 4:24 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPDickinson36 min
Apr 23, 4:42 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPDickinson, Geary33 min
Apr 23, 4:48 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPDickinson27 min
Apr 23, 5:00 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPMarshall15 min
Apr 23, 5:01 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPGeary, Riley, Wabaunsee44 min
Apr 23, 5:08 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatTOPDickinson, Morris52 min
Apr 23, 5:14 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPMarshall31 min
Apr 23, 5:17 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPGeary, Pottawatomie, Riley, Wabaunsee20 min
Apr 23, 5:18 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatTOPDickinson, Geary, Morris, Pottawatomie, Riley, Wabaunsee42 min
Apr 23, 5:22 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPGeary, Riley, Wabaunsee19 min
Apr 23, 5:38 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPMarshall, Nemaha37 min
Apr 23, 5:43 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatTOPMarshall, Nemaha47 min
Apr 23, 5:57 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatTOPGeary, Jackson, Lyon, Morris, Osage, Pottawatomie and 3 more48 min
Apr 23, 6:01 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPOsage, Shawnee, Wabaunsee31 min
Apr 23, 6:08 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPMorris37 min
Apr 23, 6:21 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPBrown, Marshall, Nemaha39 min
Apr 23, 6:24 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPLyon, Morris, Wabaunsee51 min
Apr 23, 6:31 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPDouglas, Jefferson, Shawnee, Wabaunsee31 min
Apr 23, 6:40 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatTOPDouglas, Jackson, Jefferson, Osage, Shawnee, Wabaunsee35 min
Apr 23, 6:53 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPBrown, Marshall, Nemaha37 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Kansas, 2026Every tornado warning in 2026Tornadoes 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.