Severe storms are possible across the KVOE listening area at times through the first half of the upcoming weekend.
The Storm Prediction Center has upgraded the risk from marginal to slight involving all area counties late Friday night through early Saturday morning, following a marginal risk between midnight and sunrise Friday morning. Wind is the lead concern for both time periods.
There is also a marginal severe weather risk areawide for Saturday night into early Sunday. Again, wind is the main concern.
In between the storm chances early and late Friday, heat will be a major concern areawide. Heat index readings by late Friday afternoon could be as high as 106, mirroring heat seen areawide earlier this week.
KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media will have updates.
7:40 am Thursday: Marginal severe weather risk ahead early, late Friday
Seasonal temperatures Thursday will give way to a brief heat burst Friday, as well as severe thunderstorm chances both early and late Friday.
All area counties are in a marginal severe weather risk for the pre-sunrise hours Friday morning and again for the late-night hours Friday night. The main hazard with both time periods will be wind gusts up to 70 mph. Brief heavy rainfall is also possible.
Meanwhile, highs in the upper 80s Thursday will be followed by highs approaching 100 Friday. Heat index readings by late Friday afternoon could be as high as 106, mirroring heat seen areawide earlier this week.
KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media will have updates.
Cleanup continues near Emporia after Wednesday morning storms
Meanwhile, parts of Osage and Wabaunsee counties just north of the KVOE listening area remain without power after severe storm activity early Wednesday morning. Evergy says it has about 3,000 customers offline in an area from Lawrence to near Paxico and south to near Lyndon after wind gusts as high as 82 mph. 4 Rivers Electric, meanwhile, had over 300 customers offline in Lyon, Coffey, Osage and Wabaunsee counties early Wednesday but all outages have been restored.
A large tree was downed just south of Emporia. Significant tree damage was reported in Burlingame, Melvern and Osage City. In north Wabaunsee County, at least two semis were toppled due to high winds along Interstate 70.
