Dodge City, Kan. – Severe thunderstorms are set to threaten southwest Kansas beginning after 5 p.m. Wednesday, putting Dodge City and nearby communities on high alert for large hail, damaging winds, and the risk of tornadoes.
According to the National Weather Service in Dodge City, scattered to numerous storms will develop across the region Wednesday evening. Some of these storms may become severe, producing hail as large as 1 to 2 inches in diameter and wind gusts reaching 60 to 70 mph. The greatest tornado risk is expected between 5 and 8 p.m., before storms organize into a larger complex by 10 p.m.
Residents in Garden City, Ulysses, Liberal, and along Highways 50 and 56 should prepare for sudden changes in weather. Locally heavy rainfall could lead to flash flooding in low-lying areas, especially in Ford, Finney, and Seward counties. Emergency management officials urge everyone to avoid unnecessary travel during peak storm hours and to charge cell phones and weather radios in advance.
This marks one of the most significant severe weather threats of the season for southwest Kansas. Warnings remain in effect through midnight Thursday, and additional alerts may be issued as conditions evolve.
