The risk for severe weather continues to increase for the KVOE listening area with tornado watches now in effect for all area counties.
Lyon, Coffey, Chase, Greenwood, Morris and Osage counties have a watch until 11 p.m. Meanwhile, a particularly dangerous situation watch — reflecting an above-average chance of EF2 and stronger tornadoes, goes until 11 pm Monday for Chase and Greenwood counties.
Regardless of the alert, in addition to the tornado risk, baseball-to-softball-sized hail, wind gusts as high as 80 mph and isolated flooding are all major concerns with any storms that may develop.
The most likely time for storm development locally is in the late afternoon to evening hours. The forecast has led to several schedule adjustments, namely for local schools Monday. We have the latest schedule adjustments available here.
Also, click here for a list of public shelters.
Be sure to stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for more updates as they develop. If you haven’t joined KVOE social media channels, find KVOE on Facebook@kvoenews, Instagram@kvoenews, YouTube@kvoenews and X@kvoeam1400.
If you have a severe weather or rainfall report later, message the Bluestem Farm and Ranch text line at 620-342-5863.
12 pm Monday:
Severe thunderstorms remain possible for most of Kansas, including the entire KVOE listening area Monday evening.
Currently, there is an enhanced risk for most of the area, but areas along and south of a line from Strong City to Emporia to La Cygne are now in a moderate risk as of the Storm Prediction Center’s 11 am outlook update. Besides tornadoes, which could be strong, baseball-sized hail and 80-mph winds are possible — with larger hail further to the south.
Several school-related schedule adjustments has been announced. Click here for an updated list.
Lyon County Emergency Management Director Jarrod Fell says it’s not too late to develop a severe weather safety plan, but several components need to be included — and you need to communicate that plan to family, friends and neighbors.
Fell also says the safety plan includes travel, and he is encouraging people not to travel Monday evening. One thing you should not do is call Emergency Communications unless you have an actual emergency — and asking dispatchers for safety information and tips does not qualify.
Be sure to stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for updates. If you haven’t already joined KVOE social media channels, find KVOE on Facebook@kvoenews, Instagram@kvoenews, YouTube@kvoenews and X@kvoeam1400. If you have a severe weather or rainfall report later, message the Bluestem Farm and Ranch text line at 620-342-5863.
8:30 am Monday: Enhanced to moderate severe storm risk now in place areawide
Now an enhanced to moderate severe weather risk is in place for area counties by Monday evening.
Most of the KVOE listening area remains in an enhanced all-hazards risk, but areas along and south of a line from Strong City to just south of Emporia to Gridley are now in a moderate risk as of the Storm Prediction Center’s 8 am outlook update. The rare high-risk area now covers south-central Kansas and much of Oklahoma. The last high-risk area for the National Weather Service Wichita forecast office was May 18, 2017.
Tornadoes are possible across Kansas, although the main concern for long-tracked twisters is setting up just south of our area. Very large hail and high winds are also possible with any storm Monday.
6 am Monday: Severe weather possible Monday evening; dense fog advisory for most area counties Monday morning
Expect thunderstorms across the KVOE listening area by Monday evening. And expect some of them to be strong to severe.
Meteorologists have mentioned the prospect of a severe weather outbreak for the Central and Southern Plains for several days, and they are still mentioning that possibility Monday morning. TV-13 meteorologist Doug Meyers anticipates severe weather is possible areawide by 5 or 6 pm, and all hazards are possible — including strong tornadoes. However, Meyers says the storm mode — discrete, separated supercells or a line — will likely dictate the threats we actually get.
Besides tornadoes, baseball-sized hail and 80-mph winds are possible — with larger hail further to the south. Currently, most of the KVOE listening area is in an enhanced risk, or Level 3 of 5 on the Storm Prediction Center scale. Areas south of a Potwin-Hamilton-Yates Center line are in a moderate risk, or Level 4 of 5.
This follows light to moderate rain across areas south of US Highway 56 on Sunday:
*KVOE studios: 0.15 inches
*Emporia Municipal Airport: 0.14 inches
*1100 block Constitution: 0.15 inches
*Neosho Rapids: 0.25 inches
*Eureka Lt. William Milliken Airport: 0.50 inches
Currently, dense fog is an issue, although Meyers says this should not have any impact on the evening forecast. Lyon, Coffey, Greenwood and Osage counties are in a dense fog advisory until 9 am for one-mile visibility or less through mid-morning. Drivers are advised to slow down, use low-beam headlights and increase the driving distance between their vehicles and others nearby.
