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

Drone Footage Reveals Texas Trail Of Destruction

Another spherical of harmful storms rage throughout the Plains Sunday afternoon and night, the newest in a multi-day siege of lethal extreme climate. Below, yow will discover our dwell updates from Sunday night time, and for extra on the extreme climate and twister menace within the days forward, read our forecast article.

(08:52 pm EDT) What The Overnight Hours Hold

From meteorologists Rob Shackelford and Caitlin Kaiser:

The extreme storm menace is predicted to proceed by means of 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 subsequent hour or so.

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

So far this night, now we have seen 41 hail stories, 16 damaging wind stories and two twister stories throughout the Plains. These numbers will probably proceed to rise in a single day.

(08:41 pm EDT) Damage Reported In Sycamore, Kansas

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

(08:26 pm EDT) Tornado Threatening Sycamore, Kansas

Storm chaser Charles Peek is sharing video on social media exhibiting the twister making an attempt to spin up in Sycamore, Kansas, which is below a PDS twister warning:

(08:13 pm 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 embody Sycamore and Cherryvale.

“You are in a life-threatening situation,” mentioned 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 subsequent a number of hours, we should always break down the forms of twister warnings.

The first is a “radar indicated” twister warning. This doesn’t suggest {that a} twister has been confirmed however it could possibly be at any second. Take these warnings as severely as another 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 harm and lack of life.

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

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

(07:56 pm EDT) Another Tornado Watch Issued In Missouri

From meteorologist Rob Shackelford:

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

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

The mixed inhabitants below twister watches between the 4 twister watches is now over 4 million folks.

(07:33 pm 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 reported to date this night.

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

Another notable report was a 2-inch hailstone in Madison, Kansas. In complete, there have been greater than 20 hail stories to date, with the majority of them occurring in Kansas. This quantity is predicted to extend because the night time progresses.

(07:14 pm EDT) What To Expect The Rest Of The Night

From meteorologist Rob Shackelford:

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

The essential line of storms now we have been watching are shifting by means of 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, substances obligatory 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 by means of the identical areas within the coming hours, which might deliver one other spherical of gusty winds, giant hail and even the specter of a powerful twister. This second spherical of storms is predicted to comply with within the footsteps of the primary line, so together with the extreme storm menace, heavy rainfall can be potential.

(06:50 pm EDT) Storm Damage Reported Near Kansas City

Southwest of Kansas City, properties have been broken and a barn was destroyed close to Edgerton, Kansas, based on native storm stories. No additional particulars have been instantly obtainable.

(06:32 pm 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 night time has been issued for elements of northeastern Oklahoma and northwestern Arkansas. This watch consists of the town of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

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

The mixed inhabitants below twister watches between the three twister watches is now over 3.5 million folks.

(06:16 pm EDT) Severe Storms Starting To Fire Up In Texas

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 might 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 pm EDT) Severe Weather Safety 101

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

Meteorologist Caitlin Kaiser breaks down the frequent errors folks make and a few doubtlessly life-saving ideas that can assist you put together here.

(05:40 pm EDT) Strong Storms Ongoing For Eastern Kansas, Western Missouri

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 constructing in behind them, resulting in heavy rainfall “training” over the identical areas. That means we might 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 pm EDT) Another Tornado Watch In Effect

From digital meteorologist Caitlin Kaiser:

A twister watch has been issued for elements of Oklahoma and Texas till 11 pm native time. The essential threats are hail as much as the scale of an apple, wind gusts as much as 70 mph and a few tornadoes.

(04:23 pm EDT) Tornado Watch Issued For Parts Of Missouri, Kansas

From digital meteorologist Rob Shackelford:

The first twister watch of the night time has been issued for elements of Kansas and Missouri till 11 pm native time.

The essential threats are tornadoes, hail as much as tennis ball dimension 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 pm EDT) Nighttime Tornadoes Are Especially Deadly

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

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

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

The greatest motive for the rise in fatalities for nighttime tornadoes is that you may be asleep whereas the menace tracks by means of your space.

Meteorologist Rob Shackelford breaks it all down here.

(03:56 pm EDT) How Large Could The Hail Get Tonight?

From meteorologist Caitlin Kaiser:

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

The hail could possibly be as giant as 2 to three inches in diameter. But how large really is that this?

Hail that’s 2 inches in diameter is similar 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 harm it could trigger to you and your property.

(03:26 pm EDT) More Details On The Deadly Texas Tornado

According to the Associated Press, two folks died late Saturday night time when tornadoes prompted main harm to properties in a number of North Texas cities. An EF2 twister introduced 130-mph winds to Runaway Bay, killing one individual. Later within the night, an EF1 twister with 105-mph winds killed one other individual on the south aspect 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 JD 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 pm 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 prolong by means of Tuesday.

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

With sufficient heat, humid air and powerful wind shear in place, these supercells might 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 might impression cities like Dallas, San Antonio and Austin with giant hail and damaging winds.