Severe thunderstorms initially weren’t part of the forecast for Monday, but scattered storms produced a range of severe hail and led to a pair of tornado warnings.
Storms began developing before 4 pm near the Chase-Marion county line, leading to a trail of severe hail reports. National Weather Service meteorologist Sarah Teefey says the initial storm tapped into an unstable atmosphere.
Area hail reports:
*Emporia: 1.25-inch hail
*4 miles south of Cottonwood Falls: 2.75-inch hail
*4 miles south-southeast of Americus: 1-inch hail
*Cottonwood Falls: 1.75-inch hail
*4 miles south of Cottonwood Falls: 1.75-inch hail
*1 mile south-southeast of Cottonwood Falls: 1.75-inch hail
*1 mile west of Reading: 2-inch hail
*4 miles west of Reading: 1.75-inch hail
*3 miles north-northeast of Saffordville: 1-inch hail
*Toledo: 1-inch hail
Rain totals have been more scattered:
*1 mile north of Allen: 1.30 inches
*Reading: 0.75 inches
Storms also generated enough rotation to trigger tornado warnings for the US Highway 56 corridor from Bushong east to the Lyon-Osage county line, as well as southeast Osage County involving places like Lyndon and Melvern. No tornadic activity was confirmed for area counties, although there was a confirmed tornado in Ottawa later in the evening. Teefey says a survey team will gauge damage in Ottawa and possible damage stretching from eastern Osage County into Franklin County starting Tuesday morning.
Attention now turns to Tuesday afternoon and evening, which has had a severe weather risk for the past few days. Teefey says there are a few subtle differences in the outlooks from Monday and Tuesday, but the basic details are similar.
Teefey expects scattered development by late afternoon.
Hail and wind are the main concerns, although isolated to scattered tornadoes can’t currently be ruled out and isolated flooding is possible. Severe weather is also possible Wednesday and Friday.
KVOE and KVOE.com will have updates. If you have storm photos or rain reports, message the KVOE Bluestem Farm and Ranch Supply text line at 620-342-5863. If you have storm videos, direct message KVOE’s Facebook page.
4:30-10 pm Monday: Tornado warnings announced for parts of Lyon, Osage counties; numerous incidents of large hail reported
Severe weather developed southwest of Emporia late Monday afternoon and moved across the KVOE listening area through the early-evening hours.
Severe weather reports
*Emporia: 1.25-inch hail
*4 miles south of Cottonwood Falls: 2.75-inch hail
*4 miles south-southeast of Americus: 1-inch hail
*Cottonwood Falls: 1.75-inch hail
*4 miles south of Cottonwood Falls: 1.75-inch hail
*1 mile south-southeast of Cottonwood Falls: 1.75-inch hail
*5 miles south of Osage City: 2-inch hail
*1 mile west of Reading: 2-inch hail
*4 miles west of Reading: 1.75-inch hail
*3 miles north-northeast of Saffordville: 1-inch hail
*Toledo: 1-inch hail
KVOE and KVOE.com will have updates.
Photos from KVOE listeners
