News Updates: Severe Weather In The Plains, April 26, 2026

News Updates: Severe Weather In The Plains, April 26, 2026

Drone Footage Reveals Texas Trail Of Destruction

Another spherical of harmful storms tore via the Plains Sunday afternoon and night, the most recent in a multi-day siege of lethal extreme climate. Below, you’ll find our dwell updates from Sunday evening, and for extra on the extreme climate and twister menace within the days forward, read our forecast article.

(08:52 p.m. EDT) What The Overnight Hours Hold

From meteorologists Rob Shackelford and Caitlin Kaiser:

The extreme storm menace is anticipated to proceed via the in a single day hours, particularly for the Central Plains.

Parts of southern Kansas and northern Oklahoma have the potential to see sturdy tornadoes over the following hour or so.

The storm that produced the big and harmful twister in Sycamore, Kansas, continues its observe to the east throughout southern Kansas and can finally head into Missouri. While the storm has no noticed twister on the bottom at the moment, storms which have a historical past of tornadoes have the potential to generate extra.

So far this night, we’ve seen 41 hail experiences, 16 damaging wind experiences and two twister experiences throughout the Plains. These numbers will seemingly proceed to rise in a single day.

(08:41 p.m. EDT) Damage Reported In Sycamore, Kansas

While we do not but know the way extreme the injury is, emergency managers are reporting that there’s injury in Sycamore, Kansas, a city with a inhabitants of about 70 individuals in Montgomery County, Kansas. Fire and EMS are on their method to the city.

(08:26 p.m. EDT) Tornado Threatening Sycamore, Kansas

Storm chaser Charles Peek is sharing video on social media displaying the twister trying to spin up in Sycamore, Kansas, which is beneath a PDS twister warning:

(08:13 p.m. EDT) PDS Tornado Warning In Southeastern Kansas

A “particularly dangerous situation” twister warning has been issued for Montgomery County, Kansas, within the southeastern portion of the state. Towns included on this PDS twister warning embrace Sycamore and Cherryvale.

“You are in a life-threatening situation,” stated the National Weather Service. “Flying debris may be deadly to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes will be destroyed. Considerable damage to homes, businesses, and vehicles is likely and complete destruction is possible.”

With the specter of tornadoes anticipated over the following a number of hours, we should always break down the kinds of twister warnings.

The first is a “radar indicated” twister warning. This doesn’t imply {that a} twister has been confirmed but it surely might be at any second. Take these warnings as severely as some other warning.

The subsequent is twister warnings with a confirmed tag. There are two varieties: radar confirmed and spotter confirmed.

Then, there are Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) Confirmed Tornadoes. These are uncommon and an elevated model of a twister warning and counsel an unusually excessive menace of injury and lack of life.

Finally, there’s a twister emergency. This is the rarest kind of warning and is barely used for dire conditions.

To discover extra info on the different sorts, click here.

(07:56 p.m. EDT) Another Tornado Watch Issued In Missouri

From meteorologist Rob Shackelford:

A twister watch has been issued for southern Missouri till 2 a.m. native time.

The major threats are just a few tornadoes, tennis-ball-sized hail (2 inches in diameter) and wind gusts to 70 mph.

The mixed inhabitants beneath twister watches between the 4 twister watches is now over 4 million individuals.

(07:33 p.m. EDT) Largest Hail Report So Far

From meteorologist Caitlin Kaiser:

A hailstone 3 inches in diameter was reported in Iowa City, Texas — the biggest hail report to this point this night.

The menace for 2- to 3-inch hail is growing throughout components of northern Texas and southern Oklahoma, in addition to the possibility of a twister.

Another notable report was a 2-inch hailstone in Madison, Kansas. In whole, there have been greater than 20 hail experiences to this point, with the majority of them occurring in Kansas. This quantity is anticipated to extend because the evening progresses.

(07:14 p.m. EDT) What To Expect The Rest Of The Night

From meteorologist Rob Shackelford:

As storms proceed to fireplace up throughout the Central Plains, here is a quick forecast of the place storms ought to be within the subsequent few hours.

The major line of storms we’ve been watching are shifting via southern Kansas into Iowa and Missouri. This line of storms has a historical past of extreme thunderstorms and twister warnings as a result of it has loads of moisture and instability, elements mandatory for extreme storm improvement. The strongest storms are anticipated on the southern finish of this preliminary line of storms.

Storms will fill in behind this preliminary line and can transfer via the identical areas within the coming hours, which may deliver one other spherical of gusty winds, giant hail and even the specter of a powerful twister. This second spherical of storms is anticipated to observe within the footsteps of the primary line, so together with the extreme storm menace, heavy rainfall can be potential.

(06:50 p.m. EDT) Storm Damage Reported Near Kansas City

Southwest of Kansas City, houses had been broken and a barn was destroyed close to Edgerton, Kansas, in response to native storm experiences. No additional particulars had been instantly accessible.

(06:32 p.m. EDT) Tornado Watch Issued For Parts Of Oklahoma, Arkansas

From meteorologist Rob Shackelford:

The twister watches are starting to fill in throughout the Central Plains as storms are ramping up throughout the area.

The third twister watch of the evening has been issued for components of northeastern Oklahoma and northwestern Arkansas. This watch contains town of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The major threats are a few intense tornadoes, giant apple-sized hail (3 inches in diameter) and gusts to 70 mph.

The mixed inhabitants beneath twister watches between the three twister watches is now over 3.5 million individuals.

(06:16 p.m. EDT) Severe Storms Starting To Fire Up In Texas

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From meteorologist Caitlin Kaiser:

After a quiet afternoon, we’re beginning to see storms pop up in Texas.

The first extreme thunderstorm warning for the Lone Star State has been issued for a cell shifting towards Wichita Falls.

The storm may deliver golf ball-sized hail and winds as much as 60 mph.

The circumstances are anticipated to proceed to deteriorate throughout the tornado-watched space within the coming hours.

(05:55 p.m. EDT) Severe Weather Safety 101

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Lightning lights up the sky behind a tv tower as a thunderstorm strikes via the world Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Kansas City, Missouri.

(AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Is your space beneath the specter of extreme climate tonight? It’s vital to be ready earlier than the storms attain you.

Meteorologist Caitlin Kaiser breaks down the widespread errors individuals make and a few probably life-saving ideas that will help you put together here.

(05:40 p.m. EDT) Strong Storms Ongoing For Eastern Kansas, Western Missouri

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From meteorologist Rob Shackelford:

A line of highly effective storms is shifting throughout jap Kansas simply south of Kansas City.

These storms have extreme thunderstorm and twister warnings issued for them, the place gusts to 70 mph, ping-pong-ball-sized hail and even a twister are potential.

These storms are additionally anticipated to have extra storms construct in behind them, resulting in heavy rainfall “training” over the identical areas. That means we may see flash flooding in these areas, as rainfall charges of 1 to 2 inches per hour are potential. There is a flood watch in impact for these areas, together with Kansas City.

(04:56 p.m. EDT) Another Tornado Watch In Effect

From digital meteorologist Caitlin Kaiser:

A twister watch has been issued for components of Oklahoma and Texas till 11 p.m. native time. The major threats are hail as much as the dimensions of an apple, wind gusts as much as 70 mph and a few tornadoes.

(04:23 p.m. EDT) Tornado Watch Issued For Parts Of Missouri, Kansas

From digital meteorologist Rob Shackelford:

The first twister watch of the evening has been issued for components of Kansas and Missouri till 11 p.m. native time.

The major threats are tornadoes, hail as much as tennis ball measurement and wind gusts as much as 75 mph.

Here’s how you can tell the difference between a twister watch and a twister warning.

(04:12 p.m. EDT) Nighttime Tornadoes Are Especially Deadly

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The menace of tornadoes is anticipated to final into the in a single day hours, and a latest research has confirmed that nighttime twisters are almost twice as lethal as daytime tornadoes.

There are a number of causes for the elevated threat. The most blatant one: visibility. Nighttime tornadoes are solely illuminated by lightning, which lasts for just a few seconds.

Also, there aren’t as many storm chasers and educated spotters out after darkish.

The largest cause for the rise in fatalities for nighttime tornadoes is that you could be asleep whereas the menace tracks via your space.

Meteorologist Rob Shackelford breaks it all down here.

(03:56 p.m. EDT) How Large Could The Hail Get Tonight?

From meteorologist Caitlin Kaiser:

Severe climate tonight may deliver the menace for big to very giant hail throughout components of the Plains, together with locations like Kansas City, Wichita, Dallas and Oklahoma City.

The hail might be as giant as 2 to three inches in diameter. But how massive really is that this?

Hail that’s 2 inches in diameter is akin to a hen’s egg, whereas 3-inch hail is much like a big apple.

Find more information here on hail and the kind of injury it will possibly trigger to you and your property.

(03:26 p.m. EDT) More Details On The Deadly Texas Tornado

According to the Associated Press, two individuals died late Saturday evening when tornadoes brought on main injury to houses in a number of North Texas cities. An EF2 twister introduced 130-mph winds to Runaway Bay, killing one particular person. Later within the night, an EF1 twister with 105-mph winds killed one other particular person on the south facet of Springtown.

“Access has been difficult due to blocked roadways and downed utilities, but crews have continued pushing forward to reach those in need,” Wise County Judge J.D. Clark instructed reporters. “Roads in the affected area will remain closed by law enforcement to ensure safety and allow emergency crews to manage the scene without obstruction.”

(03:08 p.m. EDT) Here’s The Latest As We Start The Afternoon

From meteorologist Jennifer Gray:

A harmful climate weekend and begin to the upcoming week continues throughout the Plains and Midwest that has already claimed two lives. Significant threats of tornadoes, hail and damaging winds lengthen via Tuesday.

The menace of supercell thunderstorms is in play within the Central and Southern Plains, particularly in components of Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri.

With sufficient heat, humid air and robust wind shear in place, these supercells may spawn sturdy tornadoes, along with very giant hail and damaging wind gusts. Cities like Kansas City and Oklahoma City have to be on alert.

A decrease extreme storm menace may affect cities like Dallas, San Antonio and Austin with giant hail and damaging winds.

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