Wichita, Kansas – Severe thunderstorms capable of producing 60 mph winds and large hail are expected to sweep across southeast Kansas through 10 p.m. Sunday, prompting a watch across 13 counties.
According to the Storm Prediction Center, Severe Thunderstorm Watch 395 covers areas including Montgomery, Neosho, Crawford, and Sumner counties, with storm development likely along the Kansas-Oklahoma border and expanding northeast through the evening.
Cities under threat include Coffeyville, Winfield, Pittsburg, and Independence. Residents should be prepared for rapidly changing conditions, including torrential rainfall, downed limbs, and potential power outages. Wind gusts strong enough to damage roofing or shatter windows are possible, especially in exposed or rural areas. Drivers on U.S. Route 166 and I-35 should use caution and delay non-essential travel.
Emergency managers urge residents to charge devices, secure outdoor items, and have multiple ways to receive warnings. This is the first widespread severe thunderstorm watch for the region since late May.
Storms are expected to taper off late Sunday night, though additional watches or warnings could be issued if storm cells intensify or linger past 10 p.m.
