KS thunderstorm watch forecasts strong wind gusts, hail and a threat of a tornado
Wichita and the rest of south central Kansas will be under a severe thunderstorm watch until midnight Tuesday. Strong wind gusts and dry conditions have the area under a fire danger warning until 10 p.m. as well.
Thunderstorms are expected to roll in this evening mainly along and east of the Kansas Turnpike. The weather event could bring 70 mph wind gusts, scattered hail and the possibility of a brief tornado, according to a National Weather Service outlook report.
Meanwhile, wildfires continue to burn west of Wichita in Stafford and Pawnee counties, meteorologist Robb Lawson of National Weather Service says.
The area affected the most by the fire danger will be west of a line that stretches from Salina to Anthony. Wind gust speeds are forecast to be in the 40-55 mph range, and could potentially peak at 70 mph for the affected area.
A grass fire started in Sedgwick County around 1 p.m. near 45th and Greenwich, Wichita fire officials say. The NWS says that fire has been extinguished.
These strong winds mixed with dry conditions can allow wildfires to quickly spread out of control, Lawson said.