What tornado warnings are in effect for the Kansas City area on Sunday?

Active Tornado Watch

A tornado watch is in place until 11 p.m. Sunday for counties south of Kansas City. The watch area includes Miami and Linn counties in Kansas and Cass, Bates, and Henry counties in Missouri, covering communities like Belton, Raymore, Harrisonville, Butler, and Clinton. Tornado warnings have been issued for specific counties as storms develop, with warnings expiring as the storm system moves through the region.

Severe Weather Threats

Multiple severe hazards are possible during Sunday's storms. Damaging wind gusts of 75 to 80 mph are expected, along with large hail ranging from quarter-size to tennis-ball size or larger. A few brief tornadoes are possible, particularly within the main line of storms expected to develop later this evening and overnight. The primary threat from early afternoon storms will be damaging wind, while the overnight storms will present all severe hazards.

Storm Timeline and Activity

Rain and storms are possible as early as 3 p.m. Sunday, though the storm threat significantly increases after 7 p.m. and continues into the overnight hours while residents are sleeping. Multiple rounds of strong to severe storms are expected, with discrete storms developing in central Kansas during the afternoon and evening, then converging into a line that will enter eastern Kansas after 7 p.m. Storms are expected to linger overnight into early Monday morning before moving out by late morning.

Flooding Concerns

A flood watch is in effect from 7 p.m. Sunday through 7 p.m. Monday. Multiple rounds of scattered to widespread storms could produce rain totals exceeding 2 inches in isolated areas, creating conditions conducive to flash flooding. This flooding threat is significant enough to potentially impact the Monday morning commute, and residents are advised to avoid driving through water over roadways.