The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for 17 Kansas counties that was listed to remain in effect until 9 p.m. CT, and the agency later canceled the watch for Nemaha, Pottawatomie and Riley counties, as reported by WIBW.
The original watch included counties such as Dickinson, Douglas, Geary, Lyon, Morris, Osage, Shawnee and Wabaunsee, and it also named Clay, Ottawa, Brown, Jackson, Jefferson and Marshall among the areas covered.
WIBW noted the alert applied to cities across the region, including Topeka, Manhattan, Wamego, Seneca, Sabetha and St Marys, and warned residents to monitor updates from the NWS.
Heat Risk And Broader Weather Impacts
KCTV reported the severe thunderstorm threat in the metro had eased overnight, but light rain showers and sprinkles could produce strong gusts of 45 to 55 mph in the metro until about 2 AM, bringing continued wind concerns.
A Flood Watch to the north remained in effect through the following morning, and KCTV said many northern counties already recorded 2 inches to 4 inches of rain, with isolated spots picking up close to 7 inches.
KCTV declared a First Warn Weather Day for the following day, forecasting dangerous heat alongside a renewed severe weather threat as World Cup Fan Fest activities begin, with highs near 90 degrees and heat indices approaching or exceeding 100 degrees.
The station said gusty southwest winds could reach 35 mph during the heat event, and that afternoon storms would be possible between midday and early evening, with wind and hail the primary severe threats and tornadoes not ruled out.
KCTV assigned a Level 2 out of 5 severe risk for the metro area, with a higher Level 3 out of 5 risk east of Kansas City from Marshall to Chillicothe, indicating localized potential for stronger storms.
Forecasters expected a cold front to bring drier air and lower humidity the day after the heat event, producing sunnier skies and temperatures falling into the low to mid 80s, followed by another elevated storm risk the subsequent weekend, as reported by KCTV.
