Updated at 11:55 a.m., Saturday, April 27
By SALINA POST
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Storm Prediction Center (NOAA SPC) released and updated forecast for Saturday's severe weather risk.
The forecast's summary states, "Severe thunderstorms are likely today and tonight across the southern and central Plains into the lower to mid-Missouri Valley."
It continues, "The most numerous/intense storms are expected from north Texas into Oklahoma and Southeast Kansas, where strong tornadoes, very large hail of 2 to 3 inches in diameter and damaging winds of 60 to 80 mph are all possible."
Further in the update, forecasters state that today's atmosphere sports "chaotic development of discrete supercells," which is fueled by high humidity and unstable conditions in the atmosphere.
Toward the mid-afternoon, forecasters turned their attention to the possibility of a strong line of thunderstorms developing and stretching from southeast Colorado into most of northern Kansas.
Visit the Salina Post Live Weather page to stay updated on severe weather conditions and storm chasers across the region.
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Updated at 9:30 a.m., Friday, April 26
Thunderstorms will rumble through the far northeastern parts of Kansas today, with another round of severe weather on the forecast for tomorrow.
Yesterday evening, a tornado struck rural Cheyanne County in western Kansas and caused no damage or injuries. Although yesterday had an enhanced risk for cyclonic activity, few supercells spun into large damaging storms.
From this article's original publication on Wednesday, April 24.
After thunderstorms rumble through the area on Friday afternoon, Kleinsasser and other meteorologists at NWS Wichita forecast an increased potential for severe weather stretching from Salina to northern Texas on Saturday.
"We've got another potential for some scattered thunderstorms," Kleinsasser said. "Some of those may be severe as well with large hail, damaging winds and possibly some tornadoes as well Saturday afternoon into Saturday night."
READ MORE: Spring ahead of schedule in Kansas — climatologists uncertain for severe weather season
Often, severe weather only impacts a small area, so although the forecast spreads across most of Kansas and large areas of the Great Plains, it will likely strike in isolated areas.
Salina has a slight risk for severe weather on Saturday afternoon and evening, which Kleinsasser said residents should prepare for by making a severe weather action plan.
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By OLIVIA BERGMEIER
Lead Reporter - Salina Post
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Storm Prediction Center (NOAA SPC) forecasted a multi-day severe weather outbreak headed for the Great Plains, with pockets of stronger storms possible across central and north-central Kansas through the weekend.
U.S. National Weather Service Wichita (NWS Wichita) Meteorologist Andy Kleinsasser said showers and moderate thunderstorms are on Salina's forecast for this evening into Thursday morning.
Still, stronger weather may follow on Thursday afternoon.
The current forecast shows more significant chances for severe thunderstorms west of Salina and Interstate 135 in the late afternoon and evening.
However, Kleinsasser said central Kansas still has an increased chance for severe weather.
"Tomorrow evening through Friday morning is what we call more of a conditional threat," Kleinsasser said. "Most of the storms may stay out in western Kansas, but there is a chance after dark we could get a few thunderstorms into the Wichita and Salina areas."
"If we do get those storms, they could be severe, with some large hail and damaging winds, and you can't rule out an isolated tornado as well."
The NOAA SPC forecast shows a hatched area of increased risk, which Kleinsasser said predicts that thunderstorms in that area have an increased risk of developing into concerning supercells.
"Hatched risk is an area that the Storm Prediction Center forecasters are concerned with a chance for higher in severe weather," Kleinsasser said. "When I say higher in severe weather [that means] hail greater than two inches in diameter... it also would include the potential for some strong, violent tornadoes — tornadoes that are EF-2 in intensity and stronger."
The chance for severe weather doesn't end Thursday night, as Friday morning has a lower chance than Thursday, but localized heavy rain and large hail are still possible.
After thunderstorms rumble through the area on Friday afternoon, Kleinsasser and other meteorologists at NWS Wichita forecast an increased potential for severe weather stretching from Salina to northern Texas on Saturday.
"We've got another potential for some scattered thunderstorms," Kleinsasser said. "Some of those may be severe as well with large hail, damaging winds and possibly some tornadoes as well Saturday afternoon into Saturday night."
READ MORE: Spring ahead of schedule in Kansas — climatologists uncertain for severe weather season
Often, severe weather only impacts a small area, so although the forecast spreads across most of Kansas and large areas of the Great Plains, it will likely strike in isolated areas.
Salina has a slight risk for severe weather on Saturday afternoon and evening, which Kleinsasser said residents should prepare for by making a severe weather action plan.
"People always say, 'It never hits us,' because it's really hard to get hit by a severe thunderstorm because most storms aren't severe. But the few that become severe could be pretty big the next few days," Kleinsasser said. "We recommend that people have a plan, and they communicate that plan with their family, especially if they have young kids."
Kleinsasser said he recommends that residents have multiple ways to receive critical weather information through any device, including television sets, cellphones and battery-powered radios.
In the next few days, much of the forecasted area for predicted severe weather stays along Interstates 135 and 70, which could impact some drivers through the weekend.
Those traveling this weekend along those routes and other major traffic zones should prepare by keeping a radar application or website easily accessible.
"Folks driving need to stay aware where the storms are and use radar apps — phone radar apps are a dime a dozen, and most of them are free," Kleinsasser said. "We encourage people to have a radar app and keep their eyes on the sky. If it looks really bad and dark up ahead, maybe pull over and use that radar app. If there's a big red blob or a warning, don't drive into it — wait it out."
For more information and live weather updates, visit the Salina Post Live Weather Radar page to see storm chaser locations and other weather information.