Alert archive / Kansas / Tornado Warnings in 2026
Tornado Warning 45, NWS Topeka, KS
NWS Topeka, KS issued this tornado warning at May 18, 2026, 8:08 PM CDT for Osage County, Shawnee County, Wabaunsee County, Kansas. It was in force for 22 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, 8:08 PM CDT (01:08 UTC)
- Expired
- May 18, 2026, 8:30 PM CDT
- In force
- 22 min
- Issued by
- NWS Topeka, KS
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Radar indicated
- Hail
- 1.0 in
Counties Osage County, KS, Shawnee County, KS, Wabaunsee County, KS
The radar
The Topeka radar (KTWX), 40 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 18, 6:14 PM CDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 7 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Topeka, KS (KTOP), launched 00:00Z, 1.1 hours before the alert went out and 30 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
- 3248 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -7 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1108 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 39 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 209 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 370 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 4.1
- Supercell composite
- 22.8
The text
As transmitted.
568
WFUS53 KTOP 190108
TORTOP
KSC139-177-197-190130-
/O.NEW.KTOP.TO.W.0045.260519T0108Z-260519T0130Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Topeka KS
808 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026
The National Weather Service in Topeka has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
South central Shawnee County in east central Kansas...
Southeastern Wabaunsee County in east central Kansas...
Northwestern Osage County in east central Kansas...
* Until 830 PM CDT.
* At 808 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Harveyville, moving east at 55 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...
Carbondale, Auburn, Burlingame, Scranton, and Harveyville.
This includes Kansas Turnpike between mile markers 155 and 170.
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 3876 9564 3875 9587 3874 9595 3874 9603
3880 9607 3898 9582
TIME...MOT...LOC 0108Z 252DEG 49KT 3877 9601
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
$$
Flanagan3 follow-up statements
661
WWUS53 KTOP 190115
SVSTOP
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Topeka KS
815 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026
KSC197-190124-
/O.CAN.KTOP.TO.W.0045.000000T0000Z-260519T0130Z/
Wabaunsee-
815 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN WABAUNSEE COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...
The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has weakened.
moved out of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been
cancelled.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 100 AM CDT for east central
Kansas.
&&
LAT...LON 3876 9564 3875 9587 3874 9595 3889 9595
3898 9582
TIME...MOT...LOC 0114Z 261DEG 52KT 3878 9589
$$
KSC139-177-190130-
/O.CON.KTOP.TO.W.0045.000000T0000Z-260519T0130Z/
Shawnee-Osage-
815 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 830 PM CDT FOR SOUTH
CENTRAL SHAWNEE AND NORTHWESTERN OSAGE COUNTIES...
At 814 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Burlingame, moving east at 60 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...
Carbondale, Auburn, Burlingame, and Scranton.
This includes Kansas Turnpike between mile markers 155 and 170.
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 3876 9564 3875 9587 3874 9595 3889 9595
3898 9582
TIME...MOT...LOC 0114Z 261DEG 52KT 3878 9589
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
$$
Flanagan169
WWUS53 KTOP 190120 RRA
SVSTOP
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Topeka KS
820 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026
KSC177-190130-
/O.CAN.KTOP.TO.W.0045.000000T0000Z-260519T0130Z/
Shawnee-
820 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTH CENTRAL SHAWNEE COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...
The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out
of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 100 AM CDT for east central
Kansas.
&&
LAT...LON 3875 9585 3887 9586 3887 9573 3876 9564
TIME...MOT...LOC 0120Z 259DEG 55KT 3880 9577
$$
KSC139-190130-
/O.CON.KTOP.TO.W.0045.000000T0000Z-260519T0130Z/
Osage-
820 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 830 PM CDT FOR
NORTHWESTERN OSAGE COUNTY...
At 820 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Scranton, moving east at 65 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...
Carbondale, Burlingame, and Scranton.
This includes Kansas Turnpike between mile markers 164 and 165.
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 3875 9585 3887 9586 3887 9573 3876 9564
TIME...MOT...LOC 0120Z 259DEG 55KT 3880 9577
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
$$
Flanagan085 WWUS53 KTOP 190125 SVSTOP Severe Weather Statement National Weather Service Topeka KS 825 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026 KSC139-190135- /O.EXP.KTOP.TO.W.0045.000000T0000Z-260519T0130Z/ Osage- 825 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026 ...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN OSAGE COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT 830 PM CDT... The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe limits, and no longer appears capable of producing a tornado. Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire. A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 100 AM CDT for east central Kansas. Remember, a Severe Thunderstorm Warning still remains in effect for Osage County until 8:45 MPH. && LAT...LON 3875 9585 3887 9586 3887 9573 3876 9564 TIME...MOT...LOC 0125Z 252DEG 49KT 3882 9571 $$ 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, 6:22 PM CDT, 1 hour 46 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, 6:22 PM CDT, 1 hour 46 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Topeka KS 622 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 /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z TUESDAY/... Issued at 611 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026 Line of strong/severe thunderstorms pushing through KMHX currently with continued eastward movement of main convective line. TEMPO group through 01-05z for KTOP and KFOE for TSRA with viz 1SM and MVFR/IFR conditions. Conditions improve from west to east later in forecast period, around 05z for western TAF sites; 10z for eastern TAF sites. && .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...JTW
Hazardous weather outlook, May 18, 1:38 PM CDT, 6 hours 30 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, 7:26 PM CDT, 42 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Topeka KS
726 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0726 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 4 S Holton 39.40N 95.75W
05/18/2026 M65 MPH Jackson KS Public
Measured on a personal weather station.
&&
STLocal storm report, May 18, 7:35 PM CDT, 33 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Topeka KS
735 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0715 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 4 SE Circleville 39.47N 95.81W
05/18/2026 Jackson KS Emergency Mngr
Barn destroyed.
&&
SMBLocal storm report, May 18, 7:40 PM CDT, 28 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Topeka KS
740 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0734 PM Hail 6 NNW Volland 39.02N 96.45W
05/18/2026 M1.50 Inch Wabaunsee KS Emergency Mngr
&&
SMBLocal storm report, May 18, 7:48 PM CDT, 20 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Topeka KS
748 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0715 PM Tornado 3 SSE Circleville 39.47N 95.83W
05/18/2026 Jackson KS Broadcast Media
Damage to home, barn, and trees.
&&
SMBLocal storm report, May 18, 7:52 PM CDT, 16 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Topeka KS
752 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0751 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 1 E Council Grove 38.67N 96.47W
05/18/2026 E80 MPH Morris KS Public
&&
SMBLocal storm report, May 18, 8:06 PM CDT, 2 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Topeka KS
806 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0805 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 2 NW Dover 38.99N 95.97W
05/18/2026 E65 MPH Wabaunsee KS Trained Spotter
&&
SMBThe office that day
Everything else NWS Topeka, KS issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 18, 7:07 PM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | TOP | Marshall, Nemaha | 2 hr |
| May 18, 7:17 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | TOP | Geary, Pottawatomie, Riley | 3 hr |
| May 18, 7:20 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TOP | Brown, Nemaha | 40 min |
| May 18, 7:22 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | TOP | Jackson | 23 min |
| May 18, 7:27 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TOP | Brown, Jackson, Jefferson, Nemaha, Shawnee | 33 min |
| May 18, 7:28 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TOP | Geary, Jackson, Pottawatomie, Riley, Shawnee, Wabaunsee | 36 min |
| May 18, 7:31 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TOP | Geary, Lyon, Morris, Wabaunsee | 44 min |
| May 18, 7:41 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | TOP | Geary, Riley, Wabaunsee | 3 hr |
| May 18, 7:47 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | TOP | Lyon, Morris, Wabaunsee | 28 min |
| May 18, 7:49 PM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | TOP | Pottawatomie, Wabaunsee | 3 hr |
| May 18, 7:53 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TOP | Coffey, Jefferson, Lyon, Osage, Shawnee, Wabaunsee | 52 min |
| May 18, 7:56 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | TOP | Lyon, Wabaunsee | 19 min |
| May 18, 8:00 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TOP | Coffey, Franklin, Lyon, Osage, Wabaunsee | 45 min |
| May 18, 8:28 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TOP | Douglas, Franklin, Jefferson, Osage, Shawnee | 47 min |
| May 18, 8:36 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TOP | Lyon | 39 min |
| May 18, 9:11 PM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | TOP | Lyon | 114 min |
| May 18, 9:11 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TOP | Franklin | 22 min |
| May 18, 9:13 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TOP | Coffey, Lyon | 47 min |
| May 18, 9:45 PM CDT | River Flood Warning | TOP | Marshall | 41 hr |
| May 18, 9:56 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | TOP | Coffey | 34 min |
| May 18, 10:18 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TOP | Coffey, Lyon | 42 min |
| May 18, 10:57 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TOP | Anderson, Coffey | 33 min |
| May 18, 11:07 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TOP | Anderson, Coffey | 23 min |
| May 18, 11:25 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TOP | Anderson, Franklin | 20 min |
| May 18, 11:37 PM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | TOP | Anderson, Coffey | 3 hr |
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.