Alert archive / Kansas / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 9, NWS Topeka, KS

April 23, 2026Geary County, Riley County, Wabaunsee County, Kansas

NWS Topeka, KS issued this tornado warning at Apr 23, 2026, 5:22 PM CDT for Geary County, Riley County, Wabaunsee County, Kansas. It was in force for 19 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, 5:22 PM CDT (22:22 UTC)
Expired
Apr 23, 2026, 5:41 PM CDT
In force
19 min
Issued by
NWS Topeka, KS
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
1.75 in

Counties Geary County, KS, Riley County, KS, Wabaunsee County, KS

The radar

The Topeka radar (KTWX), 14 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:25 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.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Apr 23, 2:04 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Topeka, KS (KTOP), launched 12:00Z, 10.4 hours before the alert went out and 65 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 2026-04-23Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 759 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Topeka, KS at 12:00Z on 2026-04-23The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 307 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
759 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-225 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
565 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
24 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
307 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
437 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
2.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

773 
WFUS53 KTOP 232222
TORTOP
KSC061-161-197-232300-
/O.NEW.KTOP.TO.W.0009.260423T2222Z-260423T2300Z/

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

The National Weather Service in Topeka has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Southeastern Geary County in east central Kansas...
  Southeastern Riley County in northeastern Kansas...
  Northwestern Wabaunsee County in east central Kansas...

* Until 600 PM CDT.

* At 522 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located 9 miles north of Dwight, moving northeast at 35 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado and golf ball 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...
  Alma and McFarland.

This includes Interstate 70 between mile markers 313 and 332.
 
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 3903 9617 3893 9664 3901 9669 3918 9629
TIME...MOT...LOC 2222Z 241DEG 28KT 3898 9661 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.75 IN

$$

BD
2 follow-up statements
807 
WWUS53 KTOP 232233 RRA
SVSTOP

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Topeka KS
533 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

KSC061-161-197-232300-
/O.CON.KTOP.TO.W.0009.000000T0000Z-260423T2300Z/
Geary-Riley-Wabaunsee-
533 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM CDT FOR EAST
CENTRAL GEARY...SOUTHEASTERN RILEY AND NORTHWESTERN WABAUNSEE
COUNTIES...

At 533 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 7 miles northwest of Volland, moving northeast at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and golf ball 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...
Alma and McFarland.

This includes Interstate 70 between mile markers 314 and 332.
 
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 3903 9617 3895 9659 3903 9663 3918 9629
TIME...MOT...LOC 2233Z 241DEG 28KT 3902 9651 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.75 IN

$$

BD
877 
WWUS53 KTOP 232241
SVSTOP

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Topeka KS
541 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

KSC061-161-197-232249-
/O.CAN.KTOP.TO.W.0009.000000T0000Z-260423T2300Z/
Geary-Riley-Wabaunsee-
541 PM CDT Thu Apr 23 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL GEARY...SOUTHEASTERN RILEY
AND NORTHWESTERN WABAUNSEE COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...

The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has weakened. 
Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 900 PM CDT for northeastern
and east central Kansas.

Remember, a Severe Thunderstorm Warning still remains in effect for
eastern Wabaunsee county, eastern Geary, and southern Riley county.

&&

LAT...LON 3903 9617 3895 9659 3903 9663 3918 9629
TIME...MOT...LOC 2238Z 241DEG 28KT 3905 9645 

$$

Griesemer

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 23, 1:46 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTOPWashington29 min
Apr 23, 2:24 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTOPWashington36 min
Apr 23, 2:42 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPWashington10 min
Apr 23, 3:34 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPWashington26 min
Apr 23, 4:03 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPDickinson27 min
Apr 23, 4:20 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPDickinson25 min
Apr 23, 4:24 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPDickinson36 min
Apr 23, 4:42 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPDickinson, Geary33 min
Apr 23, 4:48 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPDickinson27 min
Apr 23, 5:00 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPMarshall15 min
Apr 23, 5:01 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPGeary, Riley, Wabaunsee44 min
Apr 23, 5:08 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatTOPDickinson, Morris52 min
Apr 23, 5:14 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPMarshall31 min
Apr 23, 5:17 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPGeary, Pottawatomie, Riley, Wabaunsee20 min
Apr 23, 5:18 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatTOPDickinson, Geary, Morris, Pottawatomie, Riley, Wabaunsee42 min
Apr 23, 5:38 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPMarshall, Nemaha37 min
Apr 23, 5:43 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatTOPMarshall, Nemaha47 min
Apr 23, 5:54 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPRiley, Wabaunsee38 min
Apr 23, 5:57 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatTOPGeary, Jackson, Lyon, Morris, Osage, Pottawatomie and 3 more48 min
Apr 23, 6:01 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPOsage, Shawnee, Wabaunsee31 min
Apr 23, 6:08 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPMorris37 min
Apr 23, 6:21 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPBrown, Marshall, Nemaha39 min
Apr 23, 6:24 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPLyon, Morris, Wabaunsee51 min
Apr 23, 6:31 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPDouglas, Jefferson, Shawnee, Wabaunsee31 min
Apr 23, 6:40 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatTOPDouglas, Jackson, Jefferson, Osage, Shawnee, Wabaunsee35 min
Apr 23, 6:53 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPBrown, Marshall, Nemaha37 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.