Kansas City, Missouri – Residents across Missouri and eastern Kansas have a brief window of calm weather before a potentially dangerous round of severe thunderstorms arrives Wednesday afternoon and evening.
According to the National Weather Service in Kansas City, dry and pleasant conditions will continue through Monday with highs in the upper 70s and lower 80s. A weaker round of showers and thunderstorms may move through overnight into Tuesday morning, but severe weather is not expected with that activity.
Attention then turns to Wednesday, when a stronger storm system could bring severe thunderstorms capable of producing large hail, damaging winds and a few tornadoes. Forecasters say all severe weather hazards remain possible as storms develop Wednesday afternoon and continue into the evening hours.
The threat area includes Kansas City, St. Joseph, Sedalia, Chillicothe, Carrollton, Bethany, Moberly and surrounding communities across north-central and western Missouri. Rain and thunderstorm chances increase significantly Wednesday afternoon, with many locations showing precipitation probabilities reaching 70% to 90%.
Residents should review severe weather safety plans now, especially if they have outdoor activities scheduled Wednesday evening. Make sure mobile alerts are enabled and identify a sturdy shelter location in case warnings are issued.
Additional rounds of showers and thunderstorms may continue into the upcoming weekend, and some of those storms could also become severe.
The National Weather Service expects to refine details on storm timing and intensity over the next 24 to 48 hours. Additional outlooks, watches and warnings may be issued as confidence increases in Wednesday’s severe weather setup.
