The NOAA Storm Prediction Center has issued Tornado Watch 303 in effect until 9 PM CDT Wednesday for a broad swath of the central Midwest — covering 27 Kansas counties, 30 Missouri counties, 13 Iowa counties and Richardson County in Nebraska.
Conditions are favorable for tornadoes, large hail and damaging winds through this evening.
Tornado Watch Covers Four States
Tornado Watch 303, issued at 2:10 PM CDT by the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, is in effect until 9 PM CDT Wednesday. A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for tornado development — not that a tornado has been spotted, but that the atmosphere is primed and residents must be prepared to act immediately if a Tornado Warning is issued.
In Kansas, the watch covers Shawnee (Topeka), Johnson (Overland Park and Olathe), Wyandotte (Kansas City KS), Douglas (Lawrence), Riley (Manhattan), Geary, Saline (Salina), McPherson, Harvey, Jackson, Jefferson, Marshall, Nemaha, Brown, Doniphan, Atchison, Leavenworth, Chase, Pottawatomie, Morris, Wabaunsee, Ottawa, Lyon, Marion, Osage, Clay and Dickinson counties.
In Missouri, the watch covers Jackson (Kansas City MO), Buchanan (St. Joseph), Clay, Platte, Clinton, Caldwell, DeKalb, Ray, Carroll, Chariton, Lafayette, Saline, Livingston, Daviess, Grundy, Adair, Sullivan, Putnam, Schuyler, Mercer, Harrison, Nodaway, Worth, Gentry, Andrew, Atchison, Holt, Linn, Randolph and Macon counties.
In Iowa, the watch includes Wapello (Ottumwa), Wayne, Decatur, Taylor, Clarke, Ringgold, Union, Monroe, Lucas, Page, Davis, Adams and Appanoose counties. Richardson County in southeastern Nebraska is also included.
Enhanced Risk: Two Rounds of Storms Today
This is not a routine storm day. The NWS Quad Cities office has issued an Enhanced Risk (Level 3 of 5) for severe weather, flagging two distinct rounds of storms today: the first from 10 AM to 4 PM, the second from 4 to 10 PM, with potentially only a few hours’ gap between them at any location.
In the first phase, discrete supercell storms capable of very large hail and tornadoes are the primary concern. As those storms grow into squall lines, the hazards shift to “winds of 70 to 80 plus mph possible in the strongest storms,” the Quad Cities office warned — enough for extensive structural damage. The NWS Topeka office adds hail up to 2 inches in diameter, while the NWS Wichita office flags heat index values of 100–105°F across south-central Kansas on top of the storm risk. The Kansas City NWS office has designated an Enhanced Risk for the entire KC metro region, with tornadoes not ruled out.
This Continues Into Thursday
The severe weather does not end Wednesday night. The NWS Kansas City office has flagged another Enhanced Risk (Level 3 of 5) for Thursday afternoon and evening, with large hail, damaging winds and “a couple tornadoes possible.” The Quad Cities office added that the tornado risk Thursday may be even higher than Wednesday due to a strong low-pressure system moving through. The NWS Des Moines office also issued an Enhanced Risk for both days for Iowa, warning that “severe storms with all hazards are possible” through Thursday — and that Saturday may bring additional severe weather on already-saturated ground.
What You Must Do Right Now
In any Tornado Watch area: identify your shelter location now — a basement, storm cellar or interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Do not wait for a Tornado Warning to locate your shelter. Have a battery-powered weather radio or a phone alert app active so you are woken up if a warning is issued overnight. Avoid mobile homes, vehicles and outbuildings.
Monitor warnings in real time at spc.noaa.gov and your local NWS office. A Tornado Watch can become a Tornado Warning in minutes — be ready to move.
