Severe storm threat ends for Kansas, cooldown follows

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - Friday night wrap, look ahead to weekend: The severe weather risk has ended for Kansas, although thunderstorm chances may linger into early Saturday. Pockets of heavy rainfall will remain along with some occasional wind gusts up to around 40 mph.

Some rain showers will regenerate over central and eastern Kansas Saturday morning, but amounts will be pretty light. Western Kansas may have some early showers, but again, it won’t be much more than just a trace for many areas. Strong north to northwest winds will make it feel colder than what you’ll see on thermometers. Lows will be in the 30s and 40s, and highs will mostly be in the upper 40s to near 50. Wind gusts will be up to around 25 or 30 mph.

Sunday is a return to sunshine with gusty northwest winds to around 20 or 25. It should be much warmer with highs in the 60s. Expect the wind to die down Sunday evening.

Update 8 p.m. Thunderstorms marching east into portions of central Kansas have been marginally severe with some reports of quarter-inch hail and strong winds. The latest future track shows a line of storms forming in central and south central Kansas, moving east along the the Interstate 135 corridor.

A storm anticipated to bring strong winds, rain and the possibility of small hail is expected to arrive in the Wichita area by about 10 p.m.

Update 6:20 p.m. A severe thunderstorm watch for most of Kansas’ eastern half continues until midnight. Spotty thunderstorms continue to develop in portions of southwest and central Kansas. Most of the active weather with confirmations of hail and wind has been happing northeast of Wichita, into Chase County. The hail threat has diminished with a storm impacting the Emporia area with heavy rain and strong wind. Heavy rain, pea-sized hail and lightning continues to impact northern Butler County, moving northeast at about 40 mph.

Back to the west in rural Stafford County, up to dime-or-nickel-sized hail is reported north of St. John.

Heading into the night, large hail, heavy rain and strong winds are primary threats with possibly severe storms.

Update 5:20 p.m. A stronger band of rain passed over the KWCH studio in north Wichita. A storm system pushing east included reports of about half-inch diameter hail near El Dorado, in Butler County The ongoing threat for severe weather for much of the state prompted a few closures and cancelations. The Wichita Wind Surge postponed fireworks planned to follow Friday night’s game to a later date. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

“We will continue to monitor the storm and update our social media channels as information is received,” the team reported.

As of 5:20 p.m., severe thunderstorm warnings are in effect for Butler, Chase and Greenwood counties until at least 6 p.m. and for Jewell County until at least 5:45 p.m. The storm impacting Butler County brings a threat of wind gusts up to 60 mph and half dollar size hail.

Update 4:30 p.m. Cloud cover accompanied light rain and rolls of thunder outside the KWCH studio in north Wichita as storms gradually move east. The severe weather threat continues into the night with more storms firing up in western Kansas. Within the last couple of hours, law enforcement in Harper County reported pea-sized hail. Storm Team 12 anticipates severe storm watches to begin within the next half hour.

Scattered storms and potential severe weather is still expected this evening over central and eastern Kansas. Most, if not all of the severe wind and hail will take place east of a Hays to Dodge City line. Initial storms could produce some large hail and wind, but after 9 or 10 pm, it will mostly be heavy rainfall and some occasional wind gusts to around 60.

In the overnight, some showers will make their way across central and western Kansas, but there’s no reason to be concerned about any severe weather in the overnight. Strong north winds usher in colder temperatures and most of us will have morning temperatures in the 30s and 40s.

Highs on Saturday will remain in the 40s with leftover showers in the morning, ending during the late afternoon. It will continue to be windy with gusts (out of the northwest) up around 35 mph.

Sunday could have frost in central and western Kansas, but during the afternoon, it will be warming back up with highs in the 60s. Unfortunately, it will be another windy day on Sunday with some gusts up to around 30 mph.

WICHITA AREA FORECAST

Tonight: Scattered evening storms, then cloudy and windy. Wind: S/NW 15-25; gusty. Low: 50.

Tomorrow: Morning rain and some thunder, then cloudy and windy. Wind: NW 20-30; gusty. High: 53.

Tomorrow Night: Clearing late. Wind: NW 10-20; gusty. Low: 37.

Sun: High: 67 Sunny and windy.

Mon: High: 79 Low: 36 Sunny.

Tue: High: 80 Low: 53 Partly cloudy and breezy.

Wed: High: 83 Low: 58 Partly cloudy and windy.

Thu: High: 79 Low: 62 Partly cloudy and breezy.

Fri: High: 60 Low: 53 Mostly cloudy; scattered showers and storms.

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