Dodge City, Kansas – Residents across five states are under a severe thunderstorm watch this evening as strong storms continue to build across the Southern Plains. From 4 p.m. until 11 p.m. CDT Friday, parts of Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas face threats of damaging wind gusts and hail.
According to the National Weather Service, the watch covers southeast Colorado, far southwest Kansas, northeast New Mexico, the Oklahoma Panhandle, and western Texas Panhandle. The storms may produce scattered hail up to ping pong size, winds up to 60 mph, and a tornado or two can’t be ruled out.
In southwest Kansas, the alert includes Hamilton, Stanton, Morton, Kearny, Grant, and Stevens counties. Farther west, La Junta, Lamar, and Trinidad, CO are also in the impact zone, along with Las Vegas and Tucumcari, NM. Cities like Guymon, OK, and Dalhart and Hereford, TX, could see the strongest wind gusts as storms intensify through the evening.
Drivers along Highway 54, U.S. 287, and Interstate 25 should remain cautious and be prepared to pull over if hail or visibility-reducing wind hits.
Storm activity is expected to diminish after 11 p.m., but additional alerts may follow if storms persist or redevelop overnight.
