Drought in Kansas, April 1 to 9, 2026

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Springfield MO
1054 PM CDT Tue Mar 31 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Showers and storms are expected tonight into Wednesday, mainly
  north of Highway 54. A few strong storms with hail up to the
  size of quarters may be possible.

- Additional storms are expected to move into the area Wednesday
  evening into Thursday morning. There is a Marginal (1 out 5)
  risk for severe storms west of Highway 65 and a Slight (2 out
  5) risk for severe storms west of I-49 Wednesday and Wednesday
  night.

- Another round of storms are expected Friday evening into
  Saturday morning. There could be the potential for some
  strong to severe storms with this round.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
Issued at 202 PM CDT Tue Mar 31 2026

The latest surface analysis reveals a broad area of surface high
pressure centered off the Eastern Seaboard. To the north, a series
of surface waves with trailing cold fronts extends from New England
southwestward into the Oklahoma Panhandle and northwestward toward
the Pacific Northwest. Locally, the region remains within the warm
sector ahead of a cold front currently positioned across
northwestern Missouri. Within this warm sector, widespread strong
southerly to southwesterly winds prevail, with temperatures
currently in the upper 70s to lower 80s.

Through the remainder of the afternoon and into the early overnight
hours, the area will remain under the influence of the warm sector.
The combination of strong winds, warm temperatures, and low relative
humidity will result in elevated fire weather conditions through the
afternoon, particularly across southwestern portions of the CWA that
did not see morning convection. Later this afternoon/evening, the
surface front currently over northwestern Missouri will drift
southward toward central Missouri. This boundary will provide the
necessary lift for increasing chances of showers and thunderstorms
late this evening and through the early overnight period, before
activity begins to dissipate toward sunrise. Some storms may be
strong to severe, especially across the northern third of the CWA,
where the SPC has a Day 1 Marginal Risk. Damaging winds and large
hail will be the primary hazards associated with any organized
convection.

Showers and thunderstorms are forecast to diminish by Wednesday
morning as the frontal boundary retreats northward as a warm front.
As the region is re-established within the warm sector, a
strengthening low-level jet will develop during the morning and
persist through the afternoon. By Wednesday afternoon, a surface
wave is progged to develop along the Colorado Front Range and eject
northeastward toward northwestern Missouri. This evolution will lead
to increasing shower and thunderstorm chances Wednesday night into
early Thursday morning. Given the favorable environment, the SPC has
placed the CWA under a Day 2 Marginal Risk, with a Day 2 Slight Risk
clipping the far northwestern counties. All convective hazards will
be possible as the primary cold front traverses the region.

The period will be characterized by strong winds and warm
temperatures, leading to elevated fire weather concerns this
afternoon. A sagging cold front will bring chances for showers and
thunderstorms tonight, followed by a brief reprieve on Wednesday as
the front retreats. Gusty winds will return Wednesday ahead of a
more potent cold front, which will bring a renewed threat of strong
to severe thunderstorms Wednesday night into Thursday.

&&

.LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
Issued at 205 PM CDT Tue Mar 31 2026

There is good agreement in the guidance for much of the long term
period with a active pattern setting up across the Middle
Mississippi Valley region through the end of the week. The first
part of the period begins, with the shortwave moving east into the
region and this will usher a cold front into Missouri. There is some
uncertainty where this boundary stalls and therefore uncertainty on
the PoPs for Thursday. Overall looks like based on the various
ensembles systems there is a decent shot for at least measurable
precipitation. However, the finer details will need to be worked
out in coming forecast packages and with help from CAMs. If
storms do develop perhaps a stronger storm could be realized,
but overall the parameter space is on the weaker side. This
seems to line up with SPCs marginal risk for a small portion of
the CWA on Thursday.

The previously mentioned boundary will lift northward Friday as
another shortwave pushes eastward. This will help deepen a surface
low and this helps to a tighten the pressure gradient into southwest
Missouri. This will generate gusty southerly winds especially toward
the western parts of the CWA, where NBM probs of greater than 30 mph
gust are around 70 percent. This will also surge afternoon highs
into the lower 80s. The shortwave and advancing cold front will aid
increasing chances of showers and thunderstorms (generally 80-90
percent chance of rain) especially Friday night into Saturday
morning. There is some indication of for heavier rain in the
ensembles given the plume of PWATs and convection. This will have to
be monitored as it will depend on rounds of convection ahead of this
feature given the progressive nature of this cold front. Some of the
AI and machine learning data is also showing some signal for
stronger storms, but timing for better instability and shear are a
bit off. This will have to be watched closely in later forecasts.

High pressure will push toward the area and this will lead to dry
weather through the weekend into early next week. In the wake of
this cold front expect northwest flow and more seasonable airmass to
arrive across southwest Missouri for the weekend, with afternoon
highs topping out into the upper 50s to lower 60s Saturday and
Sunday. Then by early next week afternoon highs surge back into the
upper 60s and even lower 70s.

&&

.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z THURSDAY/...
Issued at 1054 PM CDT Tue Mar 31 2026

Scattered showers and storms will continue to move northeast
across east central Kansas through central Missouri tonight.
This activity should remain north of the TAF sites. Mid level
clouds will remain over the area overnight.

Isolates storm develop will be possible mainly along and north
of Highway 60 late Wednesday morning into the afternoon hours
then again Wednesday evening. More widespread showers and storms
will then likely move east into the area Wednesday night just
afternoon the TAF period. MVFR ceilings will be possible
Wednesday morning and lower visibilities will occur with any of
the storms and heavier showers.

&&

.SGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
KS...None.
MO...None.

&&

SHORT TERM...Wise
LONG TERM...Wise
AVIATION...Wise
CLIMATE...Lindenberg

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Springfield MO
748 PM CDT Tue Mar 31 2026

KSZ073-097-101-MOZ055>058-066>071-077>083-088>098-101>106-020100-
Bourbon-Crawford-Cherokee-Benton-Morgan-Miller-Maries-Vernon-
St. Clair-Hickory-Camden-Pulaski-Phelps-Barton-Cedar-Polk-Dallas-
Laclede-Texas-Dent-Jasper-Dade-Greene-Webster-Wright-Newton-
Lawrence-Christian-Douglas-Howell-Shannon-McDonald-Barry-Stone-
Taney-Ozark-Oregon-
748 PM CDT Tue Mar 31 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of the Missouri
Ozarks and extreme southeast Kansas.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

Weather hazards expected...

  Marginal hail risk.
  Marginal thunderstorm wind damage risk.
  Elevated lightning risk.
  Limited excessive rainfall risk

DISCUSSION...

Scattered storms will be possible this evening into tonight
mainly along and north of the Highway 54 corridor. A few strong
storms will be possible with hail up to the size of quarters
possible with the strongest storms.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday.

There will the potential for severe storms mainly west of I-49
Wednesday evening and west of Highway 65 Wednesday night. Strong
to severe storms will remain possible east of I-49 on Thursday as
a front moves east into the area.

Another system will move through the region later Friday into
Saturday bringing additional shower and storms to the area. There
could be the potential for a few strong to severe storms with
this round too.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

  Spotter activation will not be needed through tonight.

&&

More detailed information can be accessed at:
http://www.weather.gov/sgf/dsspacket

This product in graphical format...along with other weather...
hydrological and climate information...at
http://www.weather.gov/sgf

Hatch

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Springfield MO
1041 PM CDT Tue Mar 31 2026

MOZ055-010415-
Benton MO-
1041 PM CDT Tue Mar 31 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHERN BENTON COUNTY THROUGH
1115 PM CDT...

At 1040 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Lincoln, or 9 miles north of Warsaw, moving northeast at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and half inch hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Truman State Park, Truman Lake, Lincoln, Cole Camp, Ionia, Palo
Pinto, Racket, Mora, and Crockerville.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3853 9307 3835 9307 3826 9352 3832 9352
      3841 9351 3851 9335 3851 9329 3854 9329
TIME...MOT...LOC 0340Z 238DEG 19KT 3838 9338

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

Didio

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Springfield MO
1257 AM CDT Wed Apr 1 2026

KSZ097-010645-
Crawford KS-
1257 AM CDT Wed Apr 1 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT CRAWFORD COUNTY THROUGH 145 AM
CDT...

At 1257 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Girard, moving east at 40 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and penny size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Pittsburg, Frontenac, Girard, Arma, Mulberry, Chicopee, Mccune,
Franklin, Arcadia, Beulah, Croweburg, Greenbush, Yale, Ringo, Lone
Oak, Farlington, Brazilton, Polk, and Englevale.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3759 9509 3767 9462 3737 9462 3734 9507
      3743 9509
TIME...MOT...LOC 0557Z 256DEG 35KT 3749 9492

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

Wise