Garden City, Kansas – Thunderstorms packing wind gusts over 60 mph and hail up to 1.5 inches are sweeping across the Central Plains this evening, prompting a Severe Thunderstorm Watch through 9 p.m. MDT for large portions of Kansas, Colorado, and Nebraska.
According to the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Watch #502 covers 41 Kansas counties, 21 in Colorado, and 20 across Nebraska. The largest impacts are expected along and east of the Colorado border where dryline instability and a passing cold front are fueling rapid storm development.
In Kansas, areas from Cheyenne and Greeley to Finney, Ellis, and Ford counties are at risk. Wind damage and hail may impact drivers along I-70 and U.S. 83, especially near Dodge City, Hays, and Garden City. Farther west in Colorado, counties including Pueblo, Baca, El Paso, and Logan are under the watch, with isolated storms capable of damaging rural infrastructure and cutting power. In Nebraska, residents in Buffalo, Lincoln, Chase, and Red Willow counties are advised to seek shelter quickly if warnings are issued.
Emergency officials recommend staying indoors, charging mobile devices, and avoiding travel in warned areas. This setup is similar to a July 2021 storm outbreak that downed power lines and caused crop damage across western Kansas.
Storms are expected to weaken after sunset, but isolated severe cells may persist into late evening. Residents should monitor updates from the National Weather Service as additional warnings or watches may follow.
