Wichita, Kansas – Strong to severe thunderstorms could rattle parts of central and south central Kansas this evening, bringing large hail and damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph.
According to the National Weather Service in Wichita, isolated storms will begin developing late Tuesday afternoon, with the most severe activity expected from Salina south through Wichita to Medicine Lodge. The main hazards include hail as large as ping-pong balls and wind gusts capable of downing trees and power lines.
Counties under a Level 2 risk (on a 1-5 scale) include Sedgwick, Reno, and Kingman, while areas like Manhattan and Emporia sit under a Level 1 marginal risk. Though not every location will see storms, any severe cell that forms could pack a punch. Drivers should remain weather-aware during the evening commute and avoid flooded roadways.
The storm threat will taper overnight, but unsettled conditions will linger through the weekend. Daily thunderstorm chances remain in the forecast with temperatures dipping Friday before warming back into the upper 70s by Sunday.
Storm warnings and advisories may be issued later today—residents are urged to stay updated through local alerts and NOAA Weather Radio.
