Wichita, Kansas – Severe thunderstorms will target eastern Kansas late this afternoon through 8 p.m., with damaging winds and hail set to impact communities from Wichita to Topeka and Lawrence. Gusts as high as 65 mph, quarter-size hail, and torrential rain could create dangerous travel conditions and localized flash flooding during the Friday evening commute.
According to the National Weather Service in Wichita, a Level 2 risk zone covers northeast Kansas—including Topeka, Lawrence, Manhattan, and Emporia—where storms may intensify quickly after 4 p.m. The strongest cells could topple tree limbs, down power lines, and send debris onto highways like I-70, I-35, and US-75. Wichita, Hutchinson, and Salina remain under a Level 1 risk but should stay alert for sudden downpours and frequent lightning.
Flash flooding is a major concern in low-lying neighborhoods and near creeks, especially east of Manhattan and south through Ottawa County. Residents are urged to have multiple ways to receive warnings and to move indoors at the first sign of thunder. Outdoor events may be disrupted, and power outages are possible in the hardest-hit towns…