Urgent Tornado Warning: Live Updates, Safety Maps & How to Protect Your Family

UPDATED 3:10 p.m. CDT — The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued multiple tornado warnings across the Kansas City metro this afternoon, triggering outdoor sirens from Olathe to Independence and putting more than two million residents under immediate threat. A confirmed “large and extremely dangerous tornado” was located near Independence at 2:45 p.m., racing east at 45 mph toward Blue Springs, Grain Valley and eastern Jackson County<KCUR url="https://www.kcur.org/news/2025-06-03/tornado-warning-kansas-city" />. Why today’s storms turned severe • A potent cold front colliding with 70 °F dewpoints has created an environment primed for rotating supercells. • Strong wind shear—over 50 kt in the lowest 6,000 ft—allows storms to spin and drop tornadoes. • Storm motion of 40–45 mph means little time to react once a warning is issued. Counties currently under tornado warnings or recent warnings • Jackson, Clay and Ray (MO) until 3:00 p.m. • Johnson and Miami (KS) earlier between 1:45 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. • Cass, Lafayette and portions of northern Henry counties could be added as storms track east. Impacted cities and neighborhoods Independence, Lee’s Summit, Blue Springs, Raytown, Grain Valley, Lake Tapawingo, Buckner, Gardner, Spring Hill, Edgerton, Overland Park and Olathe were all named in NWS polygon warnings this afternoon. Radar has shown tight rotation signatures, and spotters have reported debris lofted near I-70 and Noland Road. Safety checklist if you are in the warning area 1. Go to a basement or a small, windowless interior room on the lowest level. 2. Put on sturdy shoes and protect your head with a helmet, pillow or heavy blanket. 3. Mobile homes are not safe—drive to the nearest substantial shelter if time allows. 4. Stay off roadways; heavy rain is hiding the tornado in some locations, making it impossible to see until it is on top of you. 5. Keep a battery-powered weather radio and phone charger with you; power outages are being reported from Gardner to Lee’s Summit. What happens after the warning expires? Even if the tornado warning lifts, a tornado watch remains in effect for the metro until 8 p.m., meaning conditions are still favorable for additional tornadoes and destructive hail. The NWS urges residents not to be lulled into a false sense of security; new storms are rapidly redeveloping along the boundary west of Lawrence. Travel and event disruptions • Flights at Kansas City International are experiencing ground stops; check with your airline. • The Royals have delayed tonight’s game at Kauffman Stadium. • Several school districts, including Blue Springs and Olathe, are holding students until storms pass. How to track the storm in real time • Turn on Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) on your smartphone. • Follow @NWSKansasCity and local TV meteorologists on social media. • Stream live radar from the NWS or trusted weather apps; delay on social feeds can be several minutes. Looking ahead Once the front clears overnight, cooler, less humid air arrives Wednesday. However, a secondary disturbance Thursday could revive isolated severe storms east of the metro. Residents should review—and restock—their tornado preparedness kits now, as the heart of Midwest tornado season runs through mid-June. Bottom line If you hear tornado sirens or receive a warning, act immediately. Seconds count, and today’s storms are capable of life-threatening damage. Stay sheltered, stay informed and do not venture outside until the NWS gives the all-clear.