Alert archive / Kansas / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 16, NWS Topeka, KS

April 23, 2026Osage County, Kansas

NWS Topeka, KS issued this tornado warning at Apr 23, 2026, 7:38 PM CDT for Osage County, Kansas. It was in force for 37 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, 7:38 PM CDT (00:38 UTC)
Expired: Apr 23, 2026, 8:15 PM CDT
In force: 37 min
Issued by: NWS Topeka, KS
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Radar indicated
Hail: 1.0 in

County Osage County, KS

The radar

The Topeka radar (KTWX), 63 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:41 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.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Apr 23, 2:04 PM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Topeka, KS (KTOP), launched 00:00Z, 0.6 hours before the alert went out and 37 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 1551 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -24 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1022 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 29 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 203 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 228 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 1.3
Supercell composite: 6.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

966 
WFUS53 KTOP 240038
TORTOP
KSC139-240115-
/O.NEW.KTOP.TO.W.0016.260424T0038Z-260424T0115Z/

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

The National Weather Service in Topeka has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Osage County in east central Kansas...

* Until 815 PM CDT.

* At 738 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located over Osage City, moving east at 30 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado and quarter 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...
  Osage City, Overbrook, Lyndon, Burlingame, Scranton, Quenemo,
  Melvern, and Pomona Lake.

This includes Kansas Turnpike near mile marker 156.
 
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 3869 9551 3850 9551 3854 9595 3876 9594
      3881 9550 3870 9550
TIME...MOT...LOC 0038Z 259DEG 28KT 3863 9585 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN

$$

BD

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, 6:32 PM CDT, 1 hour 6 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, 6:32 PM CDT, 1 hour 6 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Topeka KS
632 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 /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SATURDAY/...
Issued at 625 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

A line of storms continues to move east through the area. KMHK is now
on the backside of the line of storms and should see shower and storm
activity end within an hour. Winds should lighten, and become more
variable within 00-03Z.

KTOP and KFOE are both expected to be hit by the line of storms
around 00Z. The line has had a history of producing tornadoes.
Expected winds to shift out of the west and reach 35-50kts as the
line passes. The line and storm activity should end by 0130-0200Z.
Both terminals should then see winds become variable before
stabilizing from the north around 6-10kts. VFR conditions are
expected to hold when the storms pass.

&&

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

&&

DISCUSSION...Drake
AVIATION...GLD

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 23, 2:11 PM CDT, 5 hours 27 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, 5:40 PM CDT, 1 hour 58 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

Local storm report, Apr 23, 6:31 PM CDT, 1 hour 7 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Topeka KS
631 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

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

0626 PM     Tornado          1 W Dunlap              38.58N 96.39W
04/23/2026                   Morris             KS   Storm Chaser

            Confirmed by photo on social media.

&&

JP

Local storm report, Apr 23, 6:37 PM CDT, 1 hour 1 minute before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Topeka KS
637 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

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

0630 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     4 SW Dunlap             38.53N 96.42W
04/23/2026                   Morris             KS   Emergency Mngr

            Roof blown off of home near Kahola Lake.

&&

JP

Local storm report, Apr 23, 6:53 PM CDT, 45 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Topeka KS
653 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

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

0629 PM     Tornado          4 SW Dunlap             38.53N 96.42W
04/23/2026                   Morris             KS   Emergency Mngr

            Time estimated by radar. Delayed report from
            EM on at least 3 homes damaged near Lake
            Kahola from a tornado.

&&

JP

Local storm report, Apr 23, 7:00 PM CDT, 38 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Topeka KS
700 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

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

0654 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     7 WSW Topeka            39.02N 95.80W
04/23/2026  E60 MPH          Shawnee            KS   Trained Spotter

            dime size hail.

&&

JP

Local storm report, Apr 23, 7:11 PM CDT, 27 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Topeka KS
711 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

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

0706 PM     Tornado          6 S Allen               38.56N 96.17W
04/23/2026                   Lyon               KS   Emergency Mngr

            Report of tornado south of Admire on road L
            and 280. Relayed by Emergency Manager. Time
            Estimated radar.

&&

JP

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 23, 7:01 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	TOP	Coffey, Lyon, Osage, Wabaunsee	29 min
Apr 23, 7:05 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	TOP	Lyon, Osage	40 min
Apr 23, 7:09 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	TOP	Douglas, Jackson, Jefferson, Osage, Shawnee	24 min
Apr 23, 7:17 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	TOP	Lyon	28 min
Apr 23, 7:24 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Brown	36 min
Apr 23, 7:26 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	TOP	Lyon	15 min
Apr 23, 7:32 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Douglas, Jefferson, Shawnee	28 min
Apr 23, 7:43 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	TOP	Lyon	47 min
Apr 23, 7:50 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Douglas, Jefferson, Shawnee	25 min
Apr 23, 7:55 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	TOP	Coffey, Lyon	22 min
Apr 23, 8:05 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Douglas, Franklin, Osage	21 min
Apr 23, 8:09 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	TOP	Douglas, Franklin, Osage	39 min
Apr 23, 8:12 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Douglas, Jefferson	33 min
Apr 23, 8:16 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	TOP	Anderson, Coffey, Franklin, Osage	59 min
Apr 23, 8:19 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	TOP	Douglas, Franklin, Osage	26 min
Apr 23, 8:40 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	TOP	Douglas, Franklin, Osage	35 min
Apr 23, 8:43 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	TOP	Anderson, Coffey	32 min
Apr 23, 9:14 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	TOP	Anderson, Coffey, Douglas, Franklin	46 min

Nearby

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