Large hail, wind, possible tornadoes again for Wichita area. Here are details
The threat of severe weather is moving into the Wichita area for the second time in less than a week.
Storms could start to develop anytime after 4 p.m. Thursday, National Weather Service forecaster Ali Davis told The Wichita Eagle, and last until around midnight.
“We are looking at the possibility for isolated tornadoes, large hail (and) wind gusts,” Davis said. “But then as the evening progresses, it does look like it’s going to turn more into a wind and hail threat, with the tornado threat gradually diminishing.”
The last time Wichita saw a threat of severe weather was Friday, April 17.
The area could see hail up to 2 inches and wind gusts reaching 70 mph, the National Weather Service shared on X.
For tornadoes, the threat will mostly be in south central to eastern Kansas, in a line from Topeka down to Wichita, Davis said.
“That (I-135) kind of Turnpike corridor is probably the area (with the) biggest threat for those isolated tornadoes,” Davis said.
Davis said the area could see some lingering storms.
“It shouldn’t last into the morning hours. It should be out of our hair, between probably midnight and 2 a.m.,” Davis said.
The threat of severe weather returns over the weekend, with both Saturday and Sunday seeing chances of the same threats as today’s storm.
Davis said it’s important for people to have multiple ways of getting information during storm season.
“The big thing is just to stay weather aware (with) multiple ways to receive warnings, whether that’s (a) weather radio or a cell phone, different apps, that sort of thing,” she said. “If you have loved ones that maybe doesn’t have a reliable way to receive information, be sure to keep them up to date as well.”
Everyone should also know where to shelter if severe weather does strike.
