Part of the KVOE listening area is now under a severe thunderstorm watch.
Coffey and Greenwood counties are under a watch until 10 pm Wednesday. Hail up to 3.5 inches in diameter, gusts to 75 mph and isolated tornadoes are possible.
Stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for updates.
10:45 am Wednesday: Marginal-to-slight severe weather risk ahead Wednesday
Severe weather potential returns to the KVOE listening area by Wednesday afternoon.
The National Weather Service has been highlighting a marginal-to-slight risk covering the area for several days, and that remains in effect. The dividing line is from El Dorado to Emporia to Leavenworth, with areas along and southeast of that line in the slight risk.
National Weather Service meteorologist Kyle Poage tells KVOE News a cold front will serve as the likely trigger for storms as they move across the area during the mid-afternoon through early-evening time period.
Poage says storm coverage may not be nearly as widespread across the KVOE signal area as it could be in parts of Missouri, Illinois and Indiana — places that are under enhanced to moderate risks later Wednesday. Poage also says “it’s not a slam dunk” for getting severe weather of any level Wednesday.
Heavy rain is possible, but it appears rainfall will be brief, so flooding is not a widespread concern. Before storms develop, all area counties are in wind advisories with gusts between 40-50 mph possible. Lyon, Chase, Coffey, Greenwood and Osage counties are in a wind advisory from 7 am to 3 pm, while Morris and Wabaunsee counties are in a separate advisory from 7 am to noon. Unsecured objects will be blown around, high-profile vehicles could struggle to maintain straight lines on highways and power outages could develop during the advisory.
Later this week, non-severe storms are possible Thursday, along with sharply cooler temperatures. Air temperatures in the mid-90s Wednesday will give way to highs around 80 degrees Thursday. Showers and storms return to the forecast early Saturday and continue to some degree into the middle of next week, with the most likely times for storms being Saturday night and Sunday.
Any storms Wednesday follow occasional rainfall Tuesday:
*KVOE studios: 0.40 inches
*Emporia Municipal Airport: 0.61 inches
*10th and Weaver: 0.25 inches
*1 mile north of Allen: 0.75 inches
Stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for updates. If you haven’t joined KVOE’s social media platforms, join KVOE on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube — all @kvoenews — and X@kvoeam1400 to get instant information on severe weather alerts from the National Weather Service.
