Severe threat Thursday - heavy rainfall potential

Severe weather chances are ramping up for parts of Kansas heading into the evening and overnight. It is the start of a very active stretch with chances of much needed moisture across the west. Although we do have multiple chances for storms, western Kansas will have to get the rain on round #1 because the other rounds of storms coming Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are going to be focused a bit farther east.

Thursday evening: A warm front will be in western Kansas and that's where the stronger storms are expected to fire. Other showers and storms farther east (closer to I-135) probably won't have the ingredients to do much more than produce small hail and heavy rains. It is something to watch, but we think the larger hail and wind threat is south of I-70 and across much of southwest Kansas.

Thursday overnight/early Friday: Heavy rains will be spreading south and east and catching areas in central Kansas. I don't know how much rain you would order up, but this won't be enough to erase drought.

Friday evening - there will be a few isolated storms along and east of I-135, but most of these should not be severe. There's going to be a great deal of warmth and humidity around to help fuel some of the storms.

There will be more chances coming on Sunday. The latest look at the rainfall potential map is still showing some very generous amounts - but for western Kansas, it really does need to happen Thursday night because what comes over the weekend will be focused a little farther east.