Severe Thunderstorms With 70 mph Winds Sweep Across Missouri and Kansas
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings Issued for Missouri and Kansas
The US National Weather Service has issued multiple severe thunderstorm warnings for parts of Missouri and Kansas, with storms producing 70 mph wind gusts and threatening considerable tree damage and impacts to mobile homes, roofs and outbuildings. [1] At 2:40 a.m. CDT, severe thunderstorms extended from near Clarksdale to Gower to near Edgerton to near Weston in Missouri, moving east at 60 mph. [1] A separate severe thunderstorm warning covers southern Doniphan County and Atchison County in northeastern Kansas, Buchanan County in northwestern Missouri, northwestern Platte County and southeastern Andrew County in Missouri until 3:00 a.m. CDT. [4] At 2:14 a.m. CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from near Wathena to near Rushville to near Nortonville. [4] These warnings highlight the fast-moving nature of the storms and the potential for damaging winds across the affected regions. [1] [4]
Storm Track and Locations at Risk
Locations impacted include Leavenworth, Liberty, Excelsior Springs, Cameron, Smithville, Kearney, Platte City and Laws. [1] The line of storms tracked eastward at 60 mph, placing communities across northwestern Missouri and northeastern Kansas directly in the path of the severe weather. [1] [4] Southern Doniphan County in northeastern Kansas, Atchison County in northeastern Kansas, Buchanan County in northwestern Missouri, northwestern Platte County in west central Missouri and southeastern Andrew County in northwestern Missouri remained under the warning until 3:00 a.m. CDT. [4] The movement of the storms from near Wathena to near Rushville to near Nortonville underscored the rapid advance that left little time for preparation in the listed areas. [4]
Observed Impacts and Radar Confirmation
A 66 mph wind gust was recorded at St. Joseph airport. [1] Hazards include 70 mph gusts with expected tree damage and structural impacts to mobile homes, roofs and outbuildings. [1] Radar indicated the presence of these severe thunderstorms, confirming the wind speeds and associated threats. [1] The observed gust at the airport aligned with the forecast hazards, reinforcing expectations of considerable tree damage and likely impacts to mobile homes, roofs and outbuildings across the warned zones. [1] Radar data continued to track the line of storms as they moved east at 60 mph, providing real-time confirmation of the intensity. [1]
Fire Weather Threat in the Western US
Fire Weather Watches have been issued for parts of Montana and eastern Idaho due to low humidities, hot temperatures, gusty winds and resulting high fire danger this weekend. [2] [5] In South Central MT Fire Zones 123 through 128, low humidities, hot temperatures and gusty winds may create erratic fire behavior. [2] Southwesterly gusts of 20-30 mph are expected Saturday, shifting to the northwest on Sunday, with humidity in single digits Saturday and teens on Sunday. [2] In eastern Idaho, a building ridge to the south combined with a trough moving across western Canada will tighten the pressure gradient, creating breezy to windy conditions through the weekend. [5] This pattern, along with warming temperatures and low humidity, will lead to high fire danger across much of eastern Idaho, including Fire Weather Zone 410 Upper Snake River Valley/Idaho Falls BLM and Fire Weather Zone 422 Sawtooth Range. [5]
Super Typhoon Dolphin to Bring Heat to Hong Kong
Super Typhoon Dolphin is forecast to bring very hot weather to Hong Kong and southeastern China in the latter part of next week via its outer subsiding airstream, though its exact track remains uncertain. [3] The system is currently over the western North Pacific and is expected to move towards the waters south of Japan in the next few days. [3] Its subsequent trajectory remains uncertain, though there is a higher chance of moving towards the vicinity of the East China Sea. [3] Under the influence of the Dolphin’s outer subsiding airstream, the weather will be very hot over the coast of southeastern China in the latter part of next week. [3] It remains too early to determine whether Dolphin will lead to rainstorms in Hong Kong given the uncertainty surrounding its future movements. [3]
What to watch next: Continued tracking of the severe thunderstorm line moving east at 60 mph across Missouri and Kansas through 3:00 a.m. CDT, alongside monitoring of Fire Weather Watches in Montana and Idaho this weekend and the uncertain path of Super Typhoon Dolphin toward the East China Sea.
