KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City area is once again under threat for all forms of severe weather Friday afternoon and early evening.
LINK | KSHB 41 Weather Radar
LINK | KSHB 41 Traffic
LINK | KSHB 41 Weather forecast
LINK | KSHB 41 Weather Blog
LINK | KSHB 41 Severe Alerts
If we break into programming with special weather coverage, you can watch in the live video player below.
Check back throughout the day for updates.
UPDATE, 2:57 p.m. | A tornado warning has been issued until 3:30 p.m. for southeastern Atchison County in Kansas, and southwestern Buchanan and northern Platte counties in Missouri.
UPDATE, 2:51 p.m. | A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued by NWS until 3:30 p.m. for east central Daviess, northwestern Linn, Grundy, Sullivan, Mercer, southwestern Putnam and northwestern Livingston counties in Missouri.
UPDATE, 2:47 p.m. | East central Doniphan County in Kansas, and southern Gentry, eastern Andrew and northern DeKalb counties in Missouri are in a severe thunderstorm warning until 3:15 p.m.
Ray County in Missouri is in a severe thunderstorm warning until 3:15 p.m., per NWS.
UPDATE, 2:35 p.m. | The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning until 3:15 p.m. for eastern Worth, northeastern Gentry and northern Harrison counties in Missouri.
UPDATE, 2:27 p.m. | A severe thunderstorm warning is in place until 3:15 p.m. for Daviess, Grundy, Ray, Carroll, Caldwell and Livingston counties in Missouri, per the National Weather Service.
A severe thunderstorm warning was also issued until 3:15 p.m. for Doniphan and Atchison counties in Kansas, and Buchanan and Platte counties in Missouri.
UPDATE, 2:15 p.m. | Clay County, Missouri, offices will close at 3 p.m. due to the threat of severe weather.
“We appreciate your understanding and encourage everyone to stay safe and take necessary precautions,” Clay County said in a press release.
UPDATE, 2:03 p.m. | The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning until 2:45 p.m. for northern Gentry and southeastern Nodaway counties in Missouri.
UPDATE, 2 p.m. | City offices in Leawood, Kansas, closed at 2 p.m. Friday due to expected severe storms.
UPDATE, 1:45 p.m. | The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch that includes the greater Kansas City until 9 p.m. Friday.
1:30pm FRI–A TORNADO WATCH including the Kansas City metro is in effect until 9PM
Storms capable of 60-90 MPH wind gusts, softball size hail, and tornadoes will move through between 2pm-8pm
PLEASE be prepared to act quickly when warnings are issued #mowx #kswx #kcwx pic.twitter.com/It06lvgnh1
— Wes Peery (@WesWeather) April 17, 2026
UPDATE, 1:16 p.m. | A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued until 2 p.m. for Worth, Gentry and Nodaway counties in Missouri, per the National Weather Service.
UPDATE 1:00 p.m. | All Mid-Continent Public Library locations will close at 2:30 p.m.
The Park Hill School District will also dismiss early.
UPDATE, 12:50p.m.| Jackson County has announced that it will close its facilities at 3:00 p.m. due to the severe weather threat. Public safety and emergency services will remain fully operational. Residents are encouraged t complete business before the closure. Many services remain available online at JacksonGov.org.
UPDATE, noon | “It’s about to get rough out there, KC,” said Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas on social media regarding the expected severe storms.
Lucas is reminding residents to stay safe.
It’s about to get rough out there, KC.
Severe storms expected this afternoon into evening. Damaging winds, hail, and possible tornadoes. Check in with your people. Have a way to get warnings. Stay safe this weekend. pic.twitter.com/YYZym1m1K3
— Mayor Quinton Lucas (@MayorLucasKC) April 17, 2026
UPDATE, 11:55 a.m. | Additional schools are adding to the list of early dismissals. Those include Liberty, Academie Lafayette, Cristo Ray KC, Hickman Mills, Kearney and Raytown.
UPDATE, 11:50 a.m. | KSHB 41 meteorologist Wes Peery gives an update on social media regarding the viewing areas severe risk. Threats include possible tornadoes, large hail and wind gusts over 80 mph.
12 PM Friday UPDATE
Our severe risk has increased; now a 4 out of 5—confidence is growing in widespread severe storms after 2pm into the evening
Threats include tornadoes, very large hail, and wind gusts over 80 mph
Make sure you’re ready to act on warnings! #mowx #kswx #kcwx pic.twitter.com/efYM50htlM
— Wes Peery (@WesWeather) April 17, 2026
UPDATE, 11:35 a.m. | KSHB 41’s Wes Peery provides an update on the timing of storms. For Kansas City, it will generally be between 2 to 10 p.m.
STORM TIMING
Here are some useful graphics that show the timing of the storms and when each threat is more likely
For Kansas City, it’s generally 2-10pm pic.twitter.com/m1IjbmZV8p
— Wes Peery (@WesWeather) April 17, 2026
UPDATE, 10:45 a.m. | A few more schools join the list of early dismissal including KCPS, Grandview and Belton.
UPDATE, 10:15 a.m. | Additional school districts dismissing early Friday: Concordia, Ray-Pec, Sherwood, Cass, Strasburg, Metropolitan Community College, Fort Osage, Independence, Odessa, Lone Jack, Mound City and Pleasanton.
UPDATE, 9:30 a.m. | Several school districts have announced or are considering an early dismissal Friday.
The Lee’s Summit, Blue Springs and Independence school districts announced early dismissals on Friday.
UPDATE, 9 a.m. | Here’s the latest thoughts on today’s forecast from the KSHB 41 Weather team:
KSHB 41 Weather Update
—