Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued for Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas

April 19, 2025 – A dangerous weather system is expected to sweep across parts of Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas today, bringing severe thunderstorms with hail potentially as large as baseballs and damaging winds that threaten millions of residents.

Meteorologists warn that strong storms may develop in the afternoon, particularly from northeast Kansas through Oklahoma to western Texas and extreme eastern New Mexico. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued hazardous weather outlooks for the impacted areas.

AccuWeather senior meteorologist Tom Kines noted that while it is difficult to pinpoint exact locations for the largest hail, west Texas and Oklahoma appear to have the highest risk. Property owners in high-risk zones are urged to secure their belongings and prepare emergency plans.

The storm threat is heightened after a severe weather outbreak over the recent Easter weekend, which resulted in over 435 reports of hail across the region. In Nebraska, excess wind gusts of 82 mph and baseball-sized hail resulted in significant structural damage, according to reports from The Weather Channel.

In Ada, Oklahoma, an EF1 tornado inflicted damage, and two fatalities occurred in Moore when a vehicle was swept away by high water. The severe weather pattern is likely to remain active throughout the week, with storms expected to shift westward on Wednesday.

For Thursday, forecasters predict a continued threat stretching from northwestern Kansas to central Texas. By Friday, storms could move further east into the Mississippi and Ohio valleys, where potential flooding may arise due to the frequency of the storms.

The NWS office in Dodge City, Kansas, specifically warned about severe storms possible south of a Stafford to Greensburg and Ashland line after 5 pm. Meanwhile, the NWS in Lubbock, Texas, communicated that scattered thunderstorms would develop by this afternoon, bringing the risk of large hail and damaging winds.

As the week progresses, there may be a return of severe storms to the Texas and Oklahoma regions by early next week. Residents are advised to stay informed and prepared for rapidly changing weather conditions.