High winds and a high potential for severe storm activity are both in the forecast Tuesday.
The National Weather Service has placed Lyon, Chase, Greenwood, Morris and Wabaunsee counties into a wind advisory from 10 am Tuesday to 1 am Wednesday. This reflects forecasted wind speeds between 25 to 35 mph throughout the day, with gusts possibly as high as 50 mph.
Given the high winds, Lyon County Emergency Management Director Jarrod Fell is asking all landowners to make sure any recent fires are completely out to avoid any rekindles or wildfire development.
On top of the wind advisory, the entire KVOE listening area is under an enhanced risk for severe weather with high winds, possibly up to 70 mph, coupled with large hail up to the size of a tennis ball, or 2.5 inches in diameter, as the main concerns. The current forecast also shows potential for isolated tornadoes.
The best time for storm development, according to the latest information from the National Weather Service, will be just after sunset Tuesday into the early morning hours Wednesday.
KVOE will have live on-air updates across our airwaves as well as online updates through KVOE.com and social media alerts through Facebook, Instagram and X whenever there is severe storm activity in the area. Again this year, our coverage will be enhanced with information from the volunteer KVOE Storm Team spotter network.
7:30 am Monday: Severe weather possible Tuesday evening
After a calm and cool spring day Monday, more unsettled weather is ahead Tuesday.
Severe weather appears possible across most of Kansas by Tuesday evening, including the entire KVOE listening area. The main concerns are hail to the size of tennis balls, or 2.5 inches in diameter — bigger than the egg-sized hail that hit Allen this past Thursday — and wind gusts up to 70 mph. Isolated tornadoes are also possible.
Before storms roll through, strong southerly winds as high as 45 mph will also be a concern with potential impacts to power and traffic.
KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media will have updates.
The severe weather potential follows thunderstorm activity Saturday night that brought light rainfall to the area:
*KVOE studios: 0.15 inches
*Emporia Municipal Airport: 0.20 inches
*1100 block Constitution: 0.15 inches
*Eureka Milliken Airport: 0.32 inches
Along with around a foot of snowfall in January and February, the KVOE studios have received 1.05 inches of rainfall so far this year — all in the month of March.
