An isolated storm caused localized wind damage. Winds in the strongest storm were measures at up to 58 mph.
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Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS SGF wrote it up.
An isolated storm caused localized wind damage. Winds in the strongest storm were measures at up to 58 mph.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Springfield, MO wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 8, 8:56 AM CST, 1 hour 39 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Springfield MO 856 AM CST Thu Jan 8 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Gusty southerly winds will occur across the area today as gusts of 30 to 40 mph occur a times. - Showers and thunderstorms will move across the area today. There is a Marginal Risk (1/5) for a few strong to severe storms this morning and afternoon, with damaging winds the main risk. - Temperatures will cool to more seasonable normals in the 40s for the weekend. && .MESOSCALE... Issued at 856 AM CST Thu Jan 8 2026 A typical low CAPE/high shear setup is fueling an organized line of thunderstorms across central Oklahoma this morning. An impressive 55 to 60 kt 850 mb jet currently over Oklahoma will nose into extreme southeast Kansas and southwest Missouri this morning, which will provide ample low-level shear. RAP output depicts between 50 to 60 kt of effective bulk shear along with 40 to 45 kt of 0-3 km shear. Instability has always been the question mark for today, but mesoanalysis suggests anywhere between 250 to 500 J/kg of surface-based CAPE, and current radar returns show this has been sufficient to keep at least portions of the line of storms balanced. In fact, there have already been two radar-confirmed tornadoes across central Oklahoma earlier this morning, along with several wind damage reports. The environment will continue to be supportive of severe wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph into far southwest Missouri, and at least marginally supportive of a continued brief spin-up tornado threat this morning. The threat may continue farther east, but eventually these storms will outrun the best moisture. && .SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... Issued at 245 AM CST Thu Jan 8 2026 An upper level trough is currently lifting northeast across the southern Plains early this morning. Surface low pressure is developing across the central Plains ahead of the trough. The upper level trough and the surface low will lift northeast across the plains into northern Missouri today then off to the northeast tonight. The pressure gradient will tighten across the area today as the surface low pressure lifts to the northeast. As this occurs winds will increase across the area. Momentum transfer of winds aloft to the surface supports wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph across the area this mid morning into this afternoon. There is some potential for a few gusts up to around 45 mph at times today, but should be more isolated in nature and could be more tied to convection. Mild conditions are across the area currently as temperatures are in the 50s to lower 60s early this morning. A drier air mass was in place across the area on Wednesday afternoon and evening. Moisture advection is starting to return to the area, and will really start increase through the morning hours as the southerly winds continue to increase. A few scattered showers and maybe a storm will start to develop and lift northeast through the area in the next hour or two through sunrise, mainly west of Highway 65 if not west of I-49. Coverage will be limited and most locations will remain dry through sunrise. Further to the southeast convection is starting to develop ahead of the trough across the southern Plains early this morning. As the trough and surface low continue to lift to the northeast, the convection will also continue to develop and increase in coverage and move northeast also. These showers and a few storms will likely start to push into the western portions of the area in 8 to 10 am time range. This activity will then continue to lift northeast this morning into this afternoon hours. The better coverage will likely be along and north of I-44 and could be more scattered south of I-44 and east of Hwy 65 for a time late this morning into this afternoon as the better upper level support will be to the north. A cold front will surge to the east this afternoon/early evening will catch the convection across south central Missouri over the far southeastern portions of the area if not east of the area altogether. As this occurs, coverage in the convection could increase into a narrow strongly forced line. Deep layer shear is increasing across the area along with a low level jet that will move through the region today. Instability will remain on the weaker side but still some surface based weak instability will occur. As a result showers and some storms are expected to occur as the system lifts northeast through the region. Given the strong wind fields in the lower levels of the atmosphere so strong to severe wind gusts will be possible today with the storms and heavier showers, even with the weak instability. This risk will begin with the convection that starts to move into the area in the 8 to 10 am timeframe through the afternoon hours, and possible early evening across south central MO if the activity lingers that long. The Storm Prediction Center has the entire area in a Marginal Risk (1 out 5) for today again with the main risk scattered damaging winds gusts. The weaker instability is the limiting factor. The instability is weak but much of it is in the low levels of the atmosphere. If any more organized line or line segments can develop and become slightly shear dominant and have surges to the east northeast there could be a low risk (2%) for a brief tornado this morning into this afternoon. The convection will move east through the area this morning and afternoon and will occur longest across southeastern Kansas and western Missouri. There could also be some scattered showers this afternoon into this evening from west to east that can develop until the cold front move through the entire area. Rainfall amounts will be heaviest around southeastern Kansas and west central Missouri where around one inch of rain fall will be possible to one quarter inch or less across southern Missouri. There could be localized amounts up to one and half inches mainly across the northwestern portions of the area. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... Issued at 245 AM CST Thu Jan 8 2026 Another upper level trough is currently digging south across the west coast early this morning. The trough will continue to dig south into the southwestern U.S. today and then start to lift northeast tonight and move through the region later Friday into Saturday. This trough may phase with the upper level trough that will move through the region today as one long trough. This will continue the front that will move through the area later today to the southeast of the area. Moisture return would then be more limited with preciptiation chances across the area as the better chances will remain closer to the front southeast of the area. Still there may be enough lift for some light precipitation Friday evening night. Any precipitation should start off as rain but some snowflakes could mix in before the precipitation ends Saturday morning. No impacts are expected. Cooler conditions will occur this weekend with highs in the 40s on Saturday. Another upper level trough will move south through the region Saturday night into Sunday. Again a dry air mass will be in place so not expecting any measurable precipitation but a few flurries cannot be ruled out. Highs will only warm into the 30s on Sunday behind this system. Next week the ensemble model members continue to show an upper level ridge moving on to the west coast and remaining in place there through mid week. This will leave the region in a northwest flow upper level pattern and mostly dry early next week and moisture return will be limited. Early in the week temperature will gradually warm back into the 50s. The middle of next week the ensemble model members show an upper level trough moving through the northwest flow across the region. There are difference between the model members on the exact timing and track of the this system. The trough will bring cooler conditions to the area. Again most return will be limited and most members have the area remaining dry with the trough during the middle of next week at this time. && .AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z FRIDAY/... Issued at 452 AM CST Thu Jan 8 2026 A system will bring gusty southerly winds to the area along with showers and thunderstorms. Showers and some storms have developed across portions of Kansas and Oklahoma early this morning. This activity will continue to move northeast into and through the area this morning into this afternoon. MVFR to IFR ceilings will also occur across the area this morning into this afternoon. Ceilings may improve this afternoon into early this evening, though ceilings could bounce between MVFR and VFR at times during this timeframe. MVFR and possibly IFR ceilings will then develop over the area again by late this evening into tonight. && .SGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... KS...None. MO...None. && MESOSCALE...Didio SHORT TERM...Wise LONG TERM...Wise AVIATION...Wise
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Springfield MO 253 AM CST Thu Jan 8 2026 KSZ073-097-101-MOZ055>058-066>071-077>083-088>098-101>106-090900- 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- 253 AM CST Thu Jan 8 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of the Missouri Ozarks and extreme southeast Kansas. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Weather hazards expected... Marginal tornado risk. Marginal hail risk. Marginal thunderstorm wind damage risk. Limited lightning risk. Limited excessive rainfall risk Limited non thunderstorm wind risk. DISCUSSION... Gusty southerly winds will occur across the area this morning into this afternoon. Gusts of 30 to 40 mph will occur at times. Showers and some thunderstorms will develop and move northeast through the area this morning and afternoon. There is a Marginal risk of strong to severe storms, with scattered damaging winds up to 60 mph being the main risk. There is a low risk for a brief isolated tornado. Locally heavy rainfall will also be possible mainly northwest of I-44 but the flooding risk is low. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .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 Wise
The Springfield radar (KSGF), 128 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 16:34 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A flag pole at the Courthouse was bent over by strong winds. A personal weather station 6 miles NNW of the Courthouse recorded a wind gust of 57 mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kansas in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Kansas, January 2026
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1310429.