Alert archive / Kansas / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 32, NWS Topeka, KS

May 18, 2026Washington County, Kansas

NWS Topeka, KS issued this tornado warning at May 18, 2026, 4:02 PM CDT for Washington County, Kansas. It was in force for 29 min. 2 reports 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: May 18, 2026, 4:02 PM CDT (21:02 UTC)
Expired: May 18, 2026, 4:31 PM CDT
In force: 29 min
Issued by: NWS Topeka, KS
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Radar indicated
Hail: 1.0 in

County Washington County, KS

The radar

The Topeka radar (KTWX), 101 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:06 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
May 18, 4:03 PM CDT	TORNADO	3 Se Palmer, KS	Social media photo of a tornado. Media confirmed the report.
May 18, 4:04 PM CDT	TORNADO	2 S Palmer, KS	Spotter reports damage to trees around intersection of HWY 9 and HWY 15.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

Did it verify

Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched 2 storm reports to this tornado warning; the first came 1 minutes after it went out.

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
May 18, 12:50 PM CDT	Tornado Watch PDS	SPC	7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Topeka, KS (KTOP), launched 12:00Z, 9.0 hours before the alert went out and 139 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: 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.

250 
WFUS53 KTOP 182102
TORTOP
KSC201-182145-
/O.NEW.KTOP.TO.W.0032.260518T2102Z-260518T2145Z/

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

The National Weather Service in Topeka has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Southeastern Washington County in north central Kansas...

* Until 445 PM CDT.

* At 401 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located near Palmer, moving northeast at 25 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...
  Washington, Linn, Greenleaf, Barnes, and Palmer.

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 3975 9681 3968 9681 3957 9708 3957 9725
      3984 9712
TIME...MOT...LOC 2101Z 231DEG 21KT 3958 9714 

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

$$

Flanagan

2 follow-up statements

725 
WWUS53 KTOP 182108
SVSTOP

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

KSC201-182145-
/O.CON.KTOP.TO.W.0032.000000T0000Z-260518T2145Z/
Washington-
408 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 445 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN WASHINGTON COUNTY...

At 408 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Linn, moving northeast at 35 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...
Washington, Linn, Greenleaf, Barnes, and Palmer.

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 3969 9681 3959 9707 3960 9718 3984 9712
      3975 9681
TIME...MOT...LOC 2108Z 211DEG 32KT 3965 9708 

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

$$

Flanagan

143 
WWUS53 KTOP 182131
SVSTOP

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

KSC201-182140-
/O.CAN.KTOP.TO.W.0032.000000T0000Z-260518T2145Z/
Washington-
431 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026

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

The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 800 PM CDT for north central
Kansas.

Remember, a Tornado Warning still remains in effect for Washington 
County until 5:15 PM.

&&

LAT...LON 3969 9681 3959 9707 3960 9718 3984 9712
      3975 9681
TIME...MOT...LOC 2129Z 231DEG 21KT 3973 9695 

$$

Flanagan

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, 2 hours 1 minute 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, 2 hours 1 minute 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, 2 hours 24 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, 2 hours 10 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

Local storm report, May 18, 3:51 PM CDT, 11 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Topeka KS
351 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026

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

0345 PM     Hail             1 NE Miltonvale         39.36N 97.43W
05/18/2026  M1.00 Inch       Cloud              KS   Public

            Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).

&&

ST

Local storm report, May 18, 3:52 PM CDT, 10 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Topeka KS
352 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026

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

0350 PM     Hail             Miltonvale              39.35N 97.45W
05/18/2026  E1.00 Inch       Cloud              KS   CO-OP Observer

&&

ST

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 17, 7:11 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Washington	19 min
May 17, 7:30 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	TOP	Ottawa	45 min
May 17, 7:35 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Washington	40 min
May 17, 7:35 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Cloud	25 min
May 17, 7:38 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	TOP	Ottawa	26 min
May 17, 7:51 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Cloud, Republic	24 min
May 17, 8:03 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	TOP	Cloud, Ottawa	42 min
May 17, 8:05 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Marshall, Washington	40 min
May 17, 8:10 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	TOP	Cloud, Republic, Washington	35 min
May 17, 8:16 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	TOP	Ottawa	44 min
May 17, 8:16 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	TOP	Marshall, Washington	29 min
May 17, 8:29 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Clay, Cloud, Riley, Washington	46 min
May 17, 8:41 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Marshall, Washington	34 min
May 17, 8:56 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Marshall, Washington	34 min
May 17, 8:57 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	TOP	Ottawa	48 min
May 17, 9:10 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Marshall, Washington	35 min
May 17, 9:16 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Clay, Riley	29 min
May 17, 9:26 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Marshall	34 min
May 17, 9:40 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	TOP	Ottawa	99 min
May 17, 9:41 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	TOP	Clay, Dickinson, Ottawa	34 min
May 17, 9:46 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Marshall, Nemaha	44 min
May 17, 10:13 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Ottawa	18 min
May 17, 10:25 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	TOP	Brown, Nemaha	65 min
May 17, 10:30 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	TOP	Clay	30 min
May 17, 10:56 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Brown, Jackson, Nemaha	32 min
May 17, 11:19 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	TOP	Ottawa	3 hr
May 17, 11:37 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Ottawa	38 min
May 18, 12:06 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Dickinson, Ottawa	24 min
May 18, 12:23 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Clay, Dickinson, Geary, Morris, Riley	37 min
May 18, 2:37 AM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	TOP	Ottawa	4 hr
May 18, 4:47 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	TOP	Ottawa	5 hr
May 18, 1:08 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Cloud, Republic	67 min
May 18, 2:02 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Cloud, Republic, Washington	58 min
May 18, 2:05 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	TOP	Ottawa	55 min
May 18, 2:17 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	TOP	Ottawa	43 min
May 18, 2:21 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	TOP	Cloud, Republic, Washington	39 min
May 18, 2:28 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	TOP	Washington	32 min
May 18, 2:50 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	TOP	Cloud, Ottawa	40 min
May 18, 2:55 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	TOP	Republic, Washington	38 min
May 18, 3:08 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	TOP	Washington	4 hr
May 18, 3:10 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Cloud, Ottawa	35 min
May 18, 3:22 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	TOP	Clay, Cloud, Washington	21 min
May 18, 3:40 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Clay, Cloud, Ottawa	35 min
May 18, 3:42 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Clay, Cloud, Washington	33 min
May 18, 4:04 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	TOP	Clay, Cloud, Ottawa	56 min
May 18, 4:10 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Clay, Dickinson, Ottawa	35 min
May 18, 4:13 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Marshall, Nemaha	17 min
May 18, 4:28 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Republic	32 min
May 18, 4:30 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	TOP	Clay, Marshall, Riley, Washington	45 min
May 18, 4:33 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	TOP	Clay, Dickinson, Ottawa	42 min
May 18, 5:07 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	TOP	Marshall, Washington	53 min
May 18, 5:11 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Clay, Dickinson, Geary, Ottawa, Riley	49 min
May 18, 5:11 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	TOP	Clay, Riley, Washington	12 min
May 18, 5:15 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	TOP	Clay, Geary, Riley	30 min
May 18, 5:40 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	TOP	Clay, Marshall, Washington	3 hr
May 18, 5:42 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	TOP	Clay, Pottawatomie, Riley	27 min
May 18, 5:43 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	TOP	Clay	3 hr
May 18, 5:51 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	TOP	Marshall, Nemaha	54 min
May 18, 5:54 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Clay, Dickinson, Geary, Morris, Riley	36 min
May 18, 6:09 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	TOP	Marshall	3 hr
May 18, 6:21 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	TOP	Dickinson, Geary, Morris, Pottawatomie, Riley, Wabaunsee	24 min
May 18, 6:31 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Nemaha	44 min
May 18, 6:42 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	TOP	Geary, Jackson, Nemaha, Pottawatomie, Riley, Shawnee and 1 more	48 min
May 18, 6:46 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	TOP	Geary, Pottawatomie, Riley	3 hr
May 18, 6:49 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	TOP	Brown, Nemaha	26 min
May 18, 6:52 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Destructive damage threat	TOP	Jackson, Pottawatomie, Shawnee, Wabaunsee	23 min
May 18, 6:54 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	TOP	Brown, Jackson, Nemaha, Pottawatomie	36 min
May 18, 6:59 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Dickinson, Geary, Morris, Wabaunsee	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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.