Severe Thunderstorms Bring Golf Ball Hail to Southeast Kansas Overnight
Severe Thunderstorms Strike Southeast Kansas Overnight
Severe thunderstorms with large hail and damaging winds are moving through parts of southeast Kansas early Wednesday, while Red Flag Warnings for critical fire weather remain in effect across portions of Oregon and Washington state for Wednesday. A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in effect for Labette County, Kansas, where a storm with golf ball size hail and 60 mph wind gusts was located over Galesburg at 1243 AM CDT, moving southeast at 30 mph. [1] A separate Severe Thunderstorm Warning covers Neosho County, Kansas, with a storm near Chanute at 1215 AM CDT producing 60 mph winds and quarter size hail, also moving southeast at 30 mph. [5] Red Flag Warnings for critical fire weather are in effect Wednesday from 11 AM to 9 PM PDT in the Central Mountains of Oregon, Kittitas Valley, and Lower Columbia Basin due to breezy winds, relative humidity as low as 8 percent, and dry fuels. [2]
Labette County Warning Details
A Severe Thunderstorm Warning remains active for Labette County, Kansas. At 1243 AM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Galesburg, or 10 miles southwest of Erie, moving southeast at 30 mph. [1] The primary hazards include golf ball size hail and 60 mph wind gusts, according to radar indications. [1] Locations impacted include Parsons, Oswego, Chetopa, Altamont, St. Paul, Thayer, Mound Valley, Galesburg, Bartlett, Labette, and Lak. [1] The storm's southeast movement at 30 mph places these communities directly in the path of the severe weather through the overnight hours.
Neosho County Warning Details
A separate Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in effect for Neosho County, Kansas. At 1215 AM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Chanute, moving southeast at 30 mph. [5] Hazards associated with this storm consist of 60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail, based on radar data. [5] Communities expected to see impacts include Chanute, Thayer, Earlton, and Chanute Airport. [5] The storm continues on its southeast trajectory at 30 mph, maintaining the threat of hail and wind damage across the warned area.
Critical Fire Weather Warnings in Pacific Northwest
Red Flag Warnings for critical fire weather are in effect across multiple zones in the Pacific Northwest on Wednesday. The warnings cover the Central Mountains of Oregon, Kittitas Valley, and Lower Columbia Basin of Oregon. [2] These alerts highlight conditions from 11 AM to 9 PM PDT Wednesday that support rapid wildfire spread. [2] Breezy northwesterly to northerly winds, very low relative humidity, and dry fuels combine to create an environment where any new fire could ignite and expand quickly. [3]
Fire Weather Conditions and Impacts
Conditions supporting the Red Flag Warnings include northwest winds of 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph across the affected zones. [2] Relative humidity values are expected to drop as low as 8 percent during the warning period. [2] The warnings apply specifically from 11 AM to 9 PM PDT Wednesday in Fire Weather Zone 700 for the Central Mountains of Oregon and Fire Weather Zone WA690 for the Kittitas Valley. [2] Any fire that develops under these circumstances will catch and spread quickly due to the combination of wind, low humidity, and dry fuels. [4]
Safety Guidance for Affected Areas
Impacts from the Kansas storms include injury risk to people and animals outdoors plus damage to roofs, siding, windows, vehicles, and trees. [1] Hail damage to vehicles is expected in Neosho County alongside wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees. [5] In the fire weather zones, any fires that ignite will spread quickly, requiring heightened caution with outdoor burning or ignition sources. [2] Residents in warned areas should remain alert to changing conditions and follow local guidance to minimize exposure to hail, wind, and potential fire spread.
What to watch next includes continued monitoring of the southeastward-moving storms in southeast Kansas and the persistence of critical fire weather conditions through 9 PM PDT Wednesday across the specified Oregon and Washington zones.
