Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued for Kansas City Metro: Destructive 3-Inch Hail Expected

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for portions of northeastern Kansas and west central Missouri. This alert is classified as a destructive storm threat due to the potential for significant property damage and injury.

Affected Areas

The warning covers the following regions:

• Northeastern Kansas: Wyandotte County, south central Leavenworth County, and northeastern Johnson County.
• West Central Missouri: Western Clay County, southeastern Platte County, and northwestern Jackson County.

Impacted cities include Kansas City, Overland Park, Independence, Shawnee, Lenexa, Liberty, Gladstone, Merriam, Mission, Smithville, Bonner Springs, De Soto, Parkville, Edwardsville, North Kansas City, Fairway, Mission Hills, Sugar Creek, Riverside, and Weatherby Lake.

Major highways affected include:

• Interstate 70 in Missouri (mile markers 0-8) and Kansas (mile markers 410-423)
• Interstate 35 in Missouri (mile markers 0-18) and Kansas (mile markers 228-235)
• Interstate 29 (mile markers 0-10)
• Interstate 635 (mile markers 0-12)
• Interstate 435 (mile markers 4-21 and 38-62)
• Kansas Turnpike (mile markers 220-226)

What You Should Do

Residents in the warning area should take immediate action for their protection:

• Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building.
• Stay away from windows to avoid injury from shattered glass.
• Ensure pets and animals are brought indoors, as the expected hail size can cause severe injury.

Expected Conditions

At 6:35 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Bonner Springs, moving northeast at 40 mph. The primary hazards associated with this storm include:

• Hail: Three-inch diameter hail (destructive size).
• Wind: Gusts up to 60 mph.

Trained weather spotters have confirmed these conditions. Expected impacts include shattered windows and extensive damage to roofs, siding, and vehicles.

Timeline

The Severe Thunderstorm Warning is effective immediately and is scheduled to expire at 7:15 PM CDT on March 10, 2026. Additionally, a Tornado Watch remains in effect for the broader region until midnight CDT.