Alert archive / Kansas / Tornado Warnings in 2026
Tornado Warning 18, NWS Topeka, KS
NWS Topeka, KS issued this tornado warning at Apr 23, 2026, 8:09 PM CDT for Douglas County, Franklin County, Osage County, Kansas. It was in force for 39 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 23, 2026, 8:09 PM CDT (01:09 UTC)
- Expired
- Apr 23, 2026, 8:48 PM CDT
- In force
- 39 min
- Issued by
- NWS Topeka, KS
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Radar indicated
- Hail
- 0.75 in
Counties Douglas County, KS, Franklin County, KS, Osage County, KS
The radar
The Pleasant Hill radar (KEAX), 83 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:09 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
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 23, 8:29 PM CDT | FUNNEL CLOUD | 5 Wsw Baldwin City, KS | Along US-59 just north of the Douglas/Franklin County line. |
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 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, 1.2 hours before the alert went out and 47 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.
- 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
The text
As transmitted.
241
WFUS53 KTOP 240109
TORTOP
KSC045-059-139-240200-
/O.NEW.KTOP.TO.W.0018.260424T0109Z-260424T0200Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Topeka KS
809 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026
The National Weather Service in Topeka has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Northern Franklin County in east central Kansas...
Southern Douglas County in east central Kansas...
Northeastern Osage County in east central Kansas...
* Until 900 PM CDT.
* At 809 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 4 miles west of Globe, moving east at 45 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado.
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...
Baldwin City, Wellsville, Overbrook, Centropolis, Pleasant Grove,
Vinland, and Globe.
This includes Interstate 35 between mile markers 191 and 198.
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 9507 3865 9507 3868 9560 3881 9560
3889 9506 3870 9506
TIME...MOT...LOC 0109Z 264DEG 38KT 3876 9547
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
$$
BD3 follow-up statements
855
WWUS53 KTOP 240122
SVSTOP
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Topeka KS
822 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026
KSC139-240132-
/O.CAN.KTOP.TO.W.0018.000000T0000Z-260424T0200Z/
Osage-
822 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN OSAGE COUNTY IS CANCELLED...
The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out
of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 900 PM CDT for east central
Kansas.
&&
LAT...LON 3869 9507 3865 9507 3867 9540 3882 9537
3889 9506 3870 9506
TIME...MOT...LOC 0122Z 264DEG 38KT 3877 9532
$$
KSC045-059-240200-
/O.CON.KTOP.TO.W.0018.000000T0000Z-260424T0200Z/
Franklin-Douglas-
822 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM CDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN FRANKLIN AND SOUTHEASTERN DOUGLAS COUNTIES...
At 822 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 4 miles northeast of Centropolis, moving east at 45 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado.
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...
Baldwin City, Wellsville, Centropolis, and Vinland.
This includes Interstate 35 between mile markers 192 and 198.
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 9507 3865 9507 3867 9540 3882 9537
3889 9506 3870 9506
TIME...MOT...LOC 0122Z 264DEG 38KT 3877 9532
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
$$
BD551
WWUS53 KTOP 240131
SVSTOP
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Topeka KS
831 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026
KSC045-059-240200-
/O.CON.KTOP.TO.W.0018.000000T0000Z-260424T0200Z/
Franklin-Douglas-
831 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM CDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN FRANKLIN AND SOUTHEASTERN DOUGLAS COUNTIES...
At 829 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 4 miles west of Baldwin City, moving east at 45 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado.
SOURCE...Emergency management reported a funnel cloud along highway
59 along the Douglas county border at 8:29 pm CDT.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage
to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is
likely.
Locations impacted include...
Baldwin City, Wellsville, Centropolis, and Vinland.
This includes Interstate 35 between mile markers 192 and 198.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.
&&
LAT...LON 3869 9507 3865 9507 3867 9540 3882 9537
3889 9506 3870 9506
TIME...MOT...LOC 0129Z 264DEG 38KT 3877 9526
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
$$
BD458
WWUS53 KTOP 240148
SVSTOP
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Topeka KS
848 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026
KSC045-059-240158-
/O.CAN.KTOP.TO.W.0018.000000T0000Z-260424T0200Z/
Franklin-Douglas-
848 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN FRANKLIN AND SOUTHEASTERN
DOUGLAS COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...
The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and no longer appears capable of producing a tornado.
Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 900 PM CDT for east central
Kansas.
Remember, a Severe Thunderstorm Warning still remains in effect for
Douglas and Franklin counties.
&&
LAT...LON 3869 9507 3865 9507 3867 9540 3882 9537
3889 9506 3870 9506
TIME...MOT...LOC 0147Z 264DEG 38KT 3879 9500
$$
GriesemerWhat 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 37 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 37 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 58 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, 6:31 PM CDT, 1 hour 38 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.
&&
JPLocal storm report, Apr 23, 6:37 PM CDT, 1 hour 32 minutes 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.
&&
JPLocal storm report, Apr 23, 6:53 PM CDT, 1 hour 16 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.
&&
JPLocal storm report, Apr 23, 7:00 PM CDT, 1 hour 9 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.
&&
JPLocal storm report, Apr 23, 7:11 PM CDT, 58 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.
&&
JPLocal storm report, Apr 23, 8:08 PM CDT, 1 minute before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Topeka KS
808 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0805 PM Tstm Wnd Gst Perry 39.08N 95.40W
04/23/2026 E60 MPH Jefferson KS Fire Dept/Rescue
Emergency manager relayed fire chief in
Perry report of 60 mph winds and pea size
hail.
&&
DRThe 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 | 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 | TOP | Douglas, Jackson, Jefferson, Osage, Shawnee | 24 min |
| Apr 23, 7:17 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | 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, 7:38 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | TOP | Osage | 37 min |
| Apr 23, 7:43 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | 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, 8:12 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TOP | Douglas, Jefferson | 33 min |
| Apr 23, 8:16 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TOP | Anderson, Coffey, Franklin, Osage | 59 min |
| Apr 23, 8:19 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TOP | Douglas, Franklin, Osage | 26 min |
| Apr 23, 8:40 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TOP | Douglas, Franklin, Osage | 35 min |
| Apr 23, 8:43 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TOP | Anderson, Coffey | 32 min |
| Apr 23, 9:14 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TOP | Anderson, Coffey, Douglas, Franklin | 46 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.