Alert archive / Kansas / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 27, NWS Topeka, KS

May 18, 2026Cloud County, Republic County, Washington County, Kansas

NWS Topeka, KS issued this tornado warning at May 18, 2026, 2:21 PM CDT for Cloud County, Republic County, Washington County, Kansas. It was in force for 39 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
May 18, 2026, 2:21 PM CDT (19:21 UTC)
Expired
May 18, 2026, 3:00 PM CDT
In force
39 min
Issued by
NWS Topeka, KS
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
2.0 in

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

The radar

The Grand Island radar (KUEX), 109 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:22 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
May 18, 12:50 PM CDTTornado Watch PDSSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Topeka, KS (KTOP), launched 12:00Z, 7.4 hours before the alert went out and 174 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 2026-05-18Temperature 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 2026-05-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 71 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
963 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
56 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
71 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
271 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
4.7

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

578 
WFUS53 KTOP 181921
TORTOP
KSC029-157-201-182000-
/O.NEW.KTOP.TO.W.0027.260518T1921Z-260518T2000Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Topeka KS
221 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026

The National Weather Service in Topeka has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Southeastern Republic County in north central Kansas...
  West central Washington County in north central Kansas...
  North central Cloud County in north central Kansas...

* Until 300 PM CDT.

* At 221 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located 5 miles north of Concordia, moving northeast at 35 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado and hail up to two inches in diameter.

  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...
  Cuba, Haddam, and Agenda.

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 3971 9720 3958 9771 3967 9775 3990 9734
TIME...MOT...LOC 1921Z 245DEG 30KT 3964 9763 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...2.00 IN

$$

Flanagan
3 follow-up statements
656 
WWUS53 KTOP 181929
SVSTOP

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Topeka KS
229 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026

KSC029-157-201-182000-
/O.CON.KTOP.TO.W.0027.000000T0000Z-260518T2000Z/
Republic-Washington-Cloud-
229 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN REPUBLIC...WEST CENTRAL WASHINGTON AND NORTH CENTRAL
CLOUD COUNTIES...

At 229 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 7 miles west of Agenda, moving northeast at 35 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and two inch 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...
Cuba, Haddam, and Agenda.

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 3961 9760 3971 9769 3990 9734 3971 9720
TIME...MOT...LOC 1929Z 243DEG 30KT 3967 9756 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...2.00 IN

$$

Flanagan
095 
WWUS53 KTOP 181937
SVSTOP

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Topeka KS
237 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026

KSC029-181947-
/O.CAN.KTOP.TO.W.0027.000000T0000Z-260518T2000Z/
Cloud-
237 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTH CENTRAL CLOUD 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 800 PM CDT for north central
Kansas.

&&

LAT...LON 3966 9754 3976 9761 3990 9734 3971 9720
TIME...MOT...LOC 1937Z 248DEG 31KT 3972 9749 

$$

KSC157-201-182000-
/O.CON.KTOP.TO.W.0027.000000T0000Z-260518T2000Z/
Republic-Washington-
237 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN REPUBLIC AND WEST CENTRAL WASHINGTON COUNTIES...

At 237 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Agenda, moving east at 35 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and two inch 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...
Cuba, Haddam, and Agenda.

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 3966 9754 3976 9761 3990 9734 3971 9720
TIME...MOT...LOC 1937Z 248DEG 31KT 3972 9749 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...2.00 IN

$$

Flanagan
556 
WWUS53 KTOP 181947
SVSTOP

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Topeka KS
247 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026

KSC157-201-182000-
/O.CON.KTOP.TO.W.0027.000000T0000Z-260518T2000Z/
Republic-Washington-
247 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN REPUBLIC AND WEST CENTRAL WASHINGTON COUNTIES...

At 247 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Cuba, moving northeast at 40 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and two inch 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...
Cuba and Haddam.

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 3971 9751 3980 9753 3990 9734 3973 9721
TIME...MOT...LOC 1947Z 233DEG 33KT 3980 9740 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...2.00 IN

$$

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 May 18, 2:01 PM CDT, 20 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Severe thunderstorms becoming numerous early to mid afternoon today and spreading east to southeast this evening. Very large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes all quite possible.
  • Flash flooding remains a concern through tonight especially where heavy rain fall Sunday night.
  • Gusty south winds on track for the next several hours in southwestern areas.
Area forecast discussion, May 18, 2:01 PM CDT, 20 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Topeka KS
201 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Severe thunderstorms becoming numerous early to mid afternoon today
  and spreading east to southeast this evening. Very large hail,
  damaging winds, and tornadoes all quite possible.

- Flash flooding remains a concern through tonight especially where
  heavy rain fall Sunday night.

- Gusty south winds on track for the next several hours in
  southwestern areas.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 200 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026

Warm, humid airmass was surging north into central Kansas ahead of a
cold front toward a nearly-stationary front just northeast of
northeast Kansas with a modest upper wave just upstream. Instability
of 3000 J/kg already commonplace in central Kansas at 17Z with 40-50
knots of deep-layer shear. Vectors for this layer remain close to
parallel to the front so there is some uncertainty in how long
storms can remain discrete, but some backing of low-level flow and
otherwise good setup brings all severe hazards in play. Main area of
concern over the next few hours is north-central Kansas with storms
spreading east and southeast and becoming more widespread with time.
Threats should turn more to wind versus strong tornado in eastern
areas as mode shifts to more linear. Overall a more progressive
system should keep storm residence somewhat limited, but areas that
saw heavy rain Sunday night will not take much more rain to
experience flash flooding and intense updrafts with PW values around
1.5 inches will bring quick rainfall. Storms push southeast before
dawn with flash flooding threat falling off, though rivers and
creeks may be high for a few more days. Surface winds

Next few days continue to look benign with modified Canadian high
pressure in place with cooler temperatures. Moisture return in the
mid-levels supports at least moderate precipitation chances Thursday
into Thursday night but instability remains modest. A more unstable
airmass should return around the holiday weekend though forcing for
ascent is not readily apparent.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z TUESDAY/...
Issued at 1223 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026

Confidence is increasing in thunderstorm potential in the 23Z-04Z
window and went ahead with TEMPO inclusion. MVFR cloud should
diminish soon but be more consistent after FROPA around 06Z with some
chance for improvement late in the forecast.

&&

.TOP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Flood Watch through Tuesday morning for KSZ008-KSZ009-KSZ010-KSZ011-
KSZ012-KSZ020-KSZ021-KSZ022-KSZ023-KSZ024-KSZ026-KSZ034-KSZ035-
KSZ036-KSZ037-KSZ038-KSZ039-KSZ040-KSZ054-KSZ055-KSZ056-KSZ058-
KSZ059.
Wind Advisory until 9 PM CDT this evening for KSZ035-KSZ036-KSZ037-
KSZ038-KSZ054.

&&

DISCUSSION...Poage
AVIATION...Poage
Hazardous weather outlook, May 18, 1:38 PM CDT, 43 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Topeka KS
138 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026

KSZ008>012-020>024-026-034>040-054>056-058-059-191845-
Republic-Washington-Marshall-Nemaha-Brown-Cloud-Clay-Riley-
Pottawatomie-Jackson-Jefferson-Ottawa-Dickinson-Geary-Morris-
Wabaunsee-Shawnee-Douglas-Lyon-Osage-Franklin-Coffey-Anderson-
138 PM CDT Mon May 18 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

South winds sustained around 25 MPH with gusts around 45 MPH are
forecast for locations southwest of a line from Abilene to Alma to
Emporia in to the evening.

Severe thunderstorms are expected through the middle of the
afternoon in north central Kansas. These storms may form into a
line as they move east and southeast late this afternoon and this
evening. Very large hail, damaging wind gusts, and a few strong
tornadoes are the main hazards.

Localized flooding is also a concern, especially if storms
persist over areas that received heavy rain Sunday night. A Flood
Watch remains in effect through 7 AM Tuesday morning.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday

The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters will likely be needed this afternoon or tonight.

&&

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

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 18, 1:52 PM CDT, 29 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Topeka KS
152 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026

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

0151 PM     Hail             3 S Jamestown           39.55N 97.86W
05/18/2026  M1.00 Inch       Cloud              KS   Public

&&

ST

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 17, 7:11 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPWashington19 min
May 17, 7:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatTOPOttawa45 min
May 17, 7:35 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPWashington40 min
May 17, 7:35 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPCloud25 min
May 17, 7:38 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPOttawa26 min
May 17, 7:51 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPCloud, Republic24 min
May 17, 8:03 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatTOPCloud, Ottawa42 min
May 17, 8:05 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPMarshall, Washington40 min
May 17, 8:10 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatTOPCloud, Republic, Washington35 min
May 17, 8:16 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatTOPOttawa44 min
May 17, 8:16 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPMarshall, Washington29 min
May 17, 8:29 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPClay, Cloud, Riley, Washington46 min
May 17, 8:41 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPMarshall, Washington34 min
May 17, 8:56 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPMarshall, Washington34 min
May 17, 8:57 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatTOPOttawa48 min
May 17, 9:10 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPMarshall, Washington35 min
May 17, 9:16 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPClay, Riley29 min
May 17, 9:26 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPMarshall34 min
May 17, 9:40 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryTOPOttawa99 min
May 17, 9:41 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatTOPClay, Dickinson, Ottawa34 min
May 17, 9:46 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPMarshall, Nemaha44 min
May 17, 10:13 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPOttawa18 min
May 17, 10:25 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTOPBrown, Nemaha65 min
May 17, 10:30 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTOPClay30 min
May 17, 10:56 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPBrown, Jackson, Nemaha32 min
May 17, 11:19 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningTOPOttawa3 hr
May 17, 11:37 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPOttawa38 min
May 18, 12:06 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPDickinson, Ottawa24 min
May 18, 12:23 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPClay, Dickinson, Geary, Morris, Riley37 min
May 18, 2:37 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryTOPOttawa4 hr
May 18, 4:47 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningTOPOttawa5 hr
May 18, 1:08 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPCloud, Republic67 min
May 18, 2:02 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPCloud, Republic, Washington58 min
May 18, 2:05 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatTOPOttawa55 min
May 18, 2:17 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPOttawa43 min
May 18, 2:28 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPWashington32 min
May 18, 2:50 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPCloud, Ottawa40 min
May 18, 2:55 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPRepublic, Washington38 min
May 18, 3:08 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningTOPWashington4 hr
May 18, 3:10 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPCloud, Ottawa35 min
May 18, 3:22 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPClay, Cloud, Washington21 min
May 18, 3:40 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPClay, Cloud, Ottawa35 min
May 18, 3:42 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPClay, Cloud, Washington33 min
May 18, 4:02 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPWashington29 min
May 18, 4:04 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPClay, Cloud, Ottawa56 min
May 18, 4:10 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPClay, Dickinson, Ottawa35 min
May 18, 4:13 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPMarshall, Nemaha17 min
May 18, 4:28 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPRepublic32 min
May 18, 4:30 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPClay, Marshall, Riley, Washington45 min
May 18, 4:33 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPClay, Dickinson, Ottawa42 min
May 18, 5:07 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedTOPMarshall, Washington53 min
May 18, 5:11 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPClay, Dickinson, Geary, Ottawa, Riley49 min
May 18, 5:11 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPClay, Riley, Washington12 min
May 18, 5:15 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPClay, Geary, Riley30 min
May 18, 5:40 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryTOPClay, Marshall, Washington3 hr
May 18, 5:42 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPClay, Pottawatomie, Riley27 min
May 18, 5:43 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryTOPClay3 hr
May 18, 5:51 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedTOPMarshall, Nemaha54 min
May 18, 5:54 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPClay, Dickinson, Geary, Morris, Riley36 min
May 18, 6:09 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryTOPMarshall3 hr
May 18, 6:21 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatTOPDickinson, Geary, Morris, Pottawatomie, Riley, Wabaunsee24 min
May 18, 6:31 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPNemaha44 min
May 18, 6:42 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatTOPGeary, Jackson, Nemaha, Pottawatomie, Riley, Shawnee and 1 more48 min
May 18, 6:46 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryTOPGeary, Pottawatomie, Riley3 hr
May 18, 6:49 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPBrown, Nemaha26 min
May 18, 6:52 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Destructive damage threatTOPJackson, Pottawatomie, Shawnee, Wabaunsee23 min
May 18, 6:54 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatTOPBrown, Jackson, Nemaha, Pottawatomie36 min
May 18, 6:59 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPDickinson, Geary, Morris, Wabaunsee46 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.