Isolated severe thunderstorm warnings developed near Emporia on Wednesday.
Widely scattered activity formed ahead of a cold front early Wednesday afternoon, leading to heavy rainfall along the US Highway 56 corridor. A line of storms then began working across the entire KVOE listening area by late afternoon, leading to a handful or warnings.
Official severe weather reports are currently pending. Rain totals:
*KVOE studios: 0.80 inches
*Emporia Municipal Airport: 0.47 inches
*Allen: 2.80 inches
At one time, tornado watches covered the entire KVOE listening area. As of 9:30 pm, all area counties have been cleared of the watches. Both counties are in a watch until 10 pm.
Thursday and Friday should be dry, but showers and storms return to the area Friday night and continue off and on through Tuesday night. There is a slight risk of severe weather areawide Sunday.
If you have storm reports, storm photos or rain totals from Wednesday, message that information to the Bluestem Farm and Ranch text line at 620-342-5863.
4:50 pm Wednesday: Tornado watches issued as Emporia woman hurt in crash, LeRoy siren still offline
All area counties are now in a tornado watch after announcements Wednesday afternoon by the Storm Prediction Center.
Lyon, Coffey, Greenwood, Morris, Osage and Wabaunsee counties are in a watch until 10 pm. Hail up to 1.5 inches in diameter and gusts up to 80 mph are other concerns.
Chase County continues in a watch until 9 pm. Other concerns are hail up to 2.5 inches in diameter and 75 mph winds.
Click here for severe weather alerts and storm reports.
Storm activity northeast of Emporia led to an injury crash Wednesday.
The Kansas Highway Patrol says 54-year-old LaDonna Hensley was hurt in a crash on the Kansas Turnpike around 2 pm. Hensley was northbound when her SUV apparently hydroplaned nearly 30 miles northeast of Emporia. Hensley’s vehicle hit the center barrier wall.
Hensley was taken to Newman Regional Health for suspected minor injuries.
The risk of severe weather also comes as the city of LeRoy is still waiting for repairs on its outdoor warning system. Coffey County Emergency Management says the siren has been down since August and the repair company has been waiting for unspecified parts. There is currently no word on when repairs will take place.
If you have storm reports, storm photos or rain totals from Wednesday, message that information to the Bluestem Farm and Ranch text line at 620-342-5863.
Stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for updates.
2:20 pm Wednesday: Chase County tornado watch announced
The first severe weather-related advisory has been issued for the KVOE listening area Wednesday.
The National Weather Service has placed Chase County in a tornado watch until 9 pm. As KVOE has reported over the last 24 hours, the entire listening area and much of eastern Kansas is covered by an enhanced risk area for storm activity Wednesday evening with all hazards, including scattered tornadoes, possible.
The main concerns will be wind gusts possibly as high as 70 mph and hail to the size of ping pong balls. So far the severe weather threat has led to just a few schedule adjustments Wednesday.
You can find the latest adjustments on the KVOE closings and cancelations page by clicking here.
Be sure to stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for updates and potential adjustments throughout the day. If you have rain totals, storm reports or storm photos related to any activity Wednesday, message that information to the Bluestem Farm and Ranch text line at 620-342-5863.
10:50 am Wednesday: High winds lead all-hazard severe weather risk Wednesday
This may not seem like the right time of year, but severe weather is possible by late Wednesday afternoon across the KVOE listening area.
The Storm Prediction Center has posted an enhanced risk, or Level 3 on its 5-point scale, for all area counties and almost the entire eastern half of Kansas for potential severe storm activity. TV-13 meteorologist Doug Meyers says there could be isolated strong to severe storms developing ahead of a line of severe storms later Wednesday.
Wind gusts up to 70 mph and hail to the size of ping pong balls, or 1.5 inches in diameter, are the lead hazards, but scattered tornadoes — including a few strong tornadoes — are also possible. Heavy rainfall is also possible, with an expected range of 0.50 to 1.5 inches, depending on storm coverage.
Lyon County Emergency Management Director Jarrod Fell says it’s time to review your severe weather plan if you haven’t already done so.
Be sure to stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for updates and potential adjustments through the day. If you have rain totals, storm reports or storm photos related to any activity Wednesday, message that information to the Bluestem Farm and Ranch text line at 620-342-5863.
5:30 am Wednesday:
Halloween is on the calendar Thursday, but Wednesday’s weather forecast is looking much more like spring than fall when it comes to severe weather.
The Storm Prediction Center has posted an enhanced risk, or Level 3 on its 5-point scale, for all area counties and almost the entire eastern half of Kansas for potential severe storm activity. TV-13 meteorologist Doug Meyers says all hazards are in play, especially for late afternoon through mid-evening but also if more isolated storms develop by late morning. Meyers also tells KVOE News rain — heavy at times — is highly likely and some severe weather is also likely with the storms that develop.
Wind gusts up to 70 mph and hail to the size of half dollars are the lead hazards, but scattered tornadoes — including a few strong tornadoes — are also possible. Heavy rainfall is also possible, with an expected range of 0.50 to 1.5 inches, depending on storm coverage.
This follows two extremely windy days across the area, with wind gusts approaching 50 mph Monday and approaching 60 mph Tuesday.
KVOE’s Storm Team volunteer spotter network has been alerted.
