Severe storms hit south central Kansas, threaten tornadoes, drop large hail

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - Storm clouds began forming Tuesday afternoon ahead of severe weather in south-central and eastern Kansas.

Several viewers sent in photos and video of a landspout near Haven. Other precipitations included rain and hail. A larger area of Kansas could see a few severe storms coming up on Wednesday. Storm Team 12 has already issued Weather Alert for the risk of hail, wind, and a tornado or two through midweek.

Follow updates below as storms fire up and move north and east.

Tuesday Night Wrap: Chances for severe weather lessened late Tuesday night as the focus shifts to Wednesday and a Weather Alert Day for severe storm chances in central and southern Kansas, including the Wichita area.

A cold front is making its way through the area but should stall along the Kansas/Oklahoma state line into early Wednesday. The highest chance of active weather will remain near or just south of Wichita during the overnight, and early Wednesday could have a few morning storms in south-central Kansas. We don’t expect any severe weather in the early morning hours. However, in the afternoon, we’ll be watching an area east of a line from Hays to Greensburg for storms to fire up in the mid-late afternoon hours. Highs will be in the 60s and 70s for much of the state.

Update 9 p.m.: A tornado warning issued for eastern Chautauqua County expired, but potentially damaging winds continue with the storm continuing to move east. Severe thunderstorm warnings continue for Cowley, Elk, Sumner and Harper counties.

Update 8:30 p.m.: The list of counties under a tornado watch has shrunk to only include Cowley, Elk, Greenwood, Harper and Sumner counties. Severe thunderstorm warnings are in effect for Cowley, Elk, Sumner and Harper counties. The primary threats include quarter-sized hail and wind gusts of about 60 mph.

Update 7:30 p.m.: A storm that fired up southwest of Wichita dumped softball-ball-sized hail in Anthony. As of 7:30 p.m., there are no tornado threats but severe thunderstorm warnings continue for several counties in south-central Kansas.

Update 7 p.m.: The storm threat is over for Wichita as the threat primarily continues to impact areas southeast of the metro area. We’re getting more looks at damage reports, including tree limbs down in Towanda in Butler County and an irrigation pivot damaged in a field northwest of Sedgwick.

Update 6:55 p.m.: There isn’t currently a funnel emerging with the tornado warning for northwest Cowley County with the storm that continues to push northeast. For now, however, that tornado warning remains in effect.

Update 6:40 p.m.: An area of concern northeast of Oxford featuring a wall cloud and a funnel prompted a tornado warning. There are reports of sirens being activated in Udall, in northwestern Cowley County. This storm is south of Udall. This warning includes the Winfield area, but this storm will move north of Winfield and the town is not included with the threat.

Update 6:30 p.m.: The tornado warning for southeast Butler County has been allowed to expire. The lone confirmed tornado in Kansas Tuesday was in Westmoreland, part of a separate storm system north of Manhattan.

Update 6:25 p.m.: A storm that slammed the Wichita area with powerful winds, heavy rain and hail up to about golf-ball-sized left some damage including powerlines down at Pawnee and Webb Road, in southeast Kansas.

Update 6:20 p.m.: The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for southeastern Butler County. The impacted area is east of Douglass. Radar is showing rotation about a mile east of Douglass.

Update 6:05 p.m.: Small hail accompanied by heavy rain in Wichita and the surrounding area, including outside the KWCH station near 37th and Hillside.

Update 5:50 p.m.: The tornado warning issued for Harvey County has been allowed to expire. Severe thunderstorms in Sedgwick and surrounding counties continue, bringing primary threats of hail and strong winds.

Update 5:45 p.m.: A severe thunderstorm impacting south central Kansas prompted a tornado warning in southeastern Harvey County. A severe storm capable of producing a tornado was spotted southeast of Newton, moving east at about 25 mph. Newton is not included in this warning.

Severe thunderstorm warnings continue for Chase, Marion, Harvey, Sedgwick and Kingman counties.

Update: A tornado warning has been issued for southeastern Harvey County until 6 p.m. This does not include the city of Newton but south and east of town. Storm Team 12 Chief Meteorologist said this is radar indicated but lowerings have been spotted with the storm.

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