Water Damage Restoration in Platte City, MO

The KC Current women’s soccer team is planning to build a second riverfront soccer stadium, this time on the north side of the Missouri River.

The Riverside Board of Aldermen approved a $16.8 million plan this week for an expansion to the Current’s training complex off Horizons Parkway with a 2,000-seat outdoor stadium and a 17,000 square-foot performance center with indoor and outdoor training areas, locker rooms, a player lounge and a multipurpose room.

The plan would also include a sales tax exemption for construction materials.

Further details were not immediately available. The Current had no comment as of Friday afternoon.

Kathy Rose, the mayor of Riverside, said there was no pushback in the small Northland city with the idea of a new stadium. In fact, this was the easiest process for the city to decide on.

The Current has already brought new people and opportunities to Riverside with their practice facility there.

When the team is not using the field, youth sports and other local activities could be held at the stadium. With the new practice stadium, Riverside would be able to host statewide tournaments for high schoolers comfortably.

“They fit our mold of destination Riverside and it’s just very exciting for this to happen,” said Rose. “That’s what we really focused on the last few years, just trying to create our own excitement in our city. I think we’ve done a fabulous job.”

Rose said she is in awe of how quickly the Current and its players have gained popularity, but she’s not surprised. She called the team “relentless” and praised them for completing everything they set out to do.

“It’s just been amazing to watch and then for the team to develop and grow and be such a wonderful caliber of players,” she said.

The stadium is set to be completed in eight months, just in time for the World Cup in 2026.

“I’ve been told that teams have been here to tour and that they truly do love it, so I’m gonna keep my fingers crossed,” said Rose. “Hopefully, we can land a team there for a base camp!”

As the Current pursues the new stadium and training facilities in Riverside, the team’s development arm is also giving the Berkley Riverfront in Kansas City a full-scale makeover with a new riverfront park and mixed-use buildings that will add businesses and hundreds of new apartments near the team’s main stadium.

If you’re an artist or small business owner who’s always wanted to operate a brick and mortar storefront — but just couldn’t afford it — the city of Kansas City, Missouri, has a World Cup opportunity for you:

The city is willing to foot some, and even up to $25,000 a year, of one’s rent to fill up empty, underutilized stores.

On Thursday, knowing that the arrival of the World Cup and its hundreds of thousands of fans in KC is just one year off, the Kansas City City Council’s voted 12-0, with one abstention, to pass a resolution to put $1.4 million toward a Small Business Storefront Vacancy Revitalization program.

The goals of the program, which is proposed to be open to applicants from across the United States, are two-fold:

First, to fill up to as many as 30 or more empty storefronts and six art studios, whose darkened doors and windows currently cast a pall on the cityscape.

Second, it is to create incentives for small businesses, from within and outside of KC, to help them share in whatever economic windfall the World Cup brings and, hopefully, to see at least some businesses turn into long-term, self-sustaining tenants.

The resolution was passed to the full council Thursday after being approved Tuesday by the council’s Finance, Governance and Public Safety Committee, headed by Councilwoman Andrea Bough.

“We want to present a vibrant city with small business,” Wes Rogers, 2nd District Councilman, told The Star, prior to the committee action. Rogers sponsored the resolution along with co-sponsoring council members Nathan Willett, Ryana Parks-Shaw, Lindsay French and Darrell Curls.

“We want restaurants. We want retail. We want walkable spaces. You don’t want a bunch of empty storefronts and windows busted out,” he said. “If we can create some spaces where people go to different parts of the city, visiting our city and seeing artists and creators making stuff, then I do think that’s a win. That’s worthwhile.”

Parks-Shaw, who represents the 5th District in eastern and southern Kansas City, told The Star that her hope is that the program will do more than fill spaces in the short-term. The city is expecting as many as 600,000 visitors during the month that World Cup matches are to be played here.

“We want to make sure we create as much opportunity as possible,” said Parks-Shaw, who is the mayor pro-tem. “We’ve got a lot of entrepreneurs here in Kansas City. So to be able to give them an opportunity to maybe move some of them out of their homes and into storefront spaces, I think would be an excellent way to generate more revenue for the city.”

But don’t look for an application yet. The main reason is that none yet exists.

Although the City Council on Thursday agreed to create what it considers a pilot program, numerous details of how it will work have yet to be figured out.

Nia Webster, the assistant director of Kansas City’s Neighborhood Services Department, presented the program to the Finance committee.

The idea, Webster said, is based on a program that currently exists in Seattle, known as Seattle Restored, which began in 2021, and is credited with turning more than 75 vacant stores into pop-up shops, window art installations and artist residences.

San Francisco has its own version, begun in 2023, known as Vacant to Vibrant, which has also turned more than a dozen empty stores into long-term businesses, that include bakeries, ice cream shops and a women’s clothing brand.

In Kansas City, the effort would be a “pilot program,” using $1.4 million previously appropriated for World Cup economic development.

“Ultimately,” Webster told the committee, “this is pretty much a lease subsidy program.”

As outlined, the program would provide:

▪ For long-term leases of a year or more: A cap of $25,000 in lease subsidy, along with a stipend of up to $5,000 for capital and additional expenses, such as staff, merchandise or signage.

▪ Short-term leases of between three and six months: $1,000 per month in rent subsidy, along with a capital stipend of as much as $5,000.

▪ Artist residencies: $1,000 per month in lease subsidy for spaces shared by one to five artists to display and sell their work, or provide live performances, talks or other events.

“This could be local or national businesses,” Webster said. “This would be great for local businesses that are ready to kind of get up and get out of spaces, or get new spaces. This would be great for businesses that are across the state line and want to be closer to where the World Cup (activities) are.

“This would be great for some of the businesses that are maybe in some of the rural sides of Kansas City,” and want to be closer to the World Cup activities.

The program would also provide prospective lease holders with education and technical assistance, providing help with contracts, point-of-sale systems, accessing licenses and permits for food or liquor.

There will be no fee to apply to the program. A city panel will assess the applications. Once accepted, applicants will go through what Webster called “a matchmaking process” to link businesses with an applicable storefront.

Plenty of questions still remain.

A big one: How many empty storefronts are currently in Kansas City? Webster said the city plans to identify their addresses and also identify private property owners who would possibly be interested in participating in the program for short-term pop-ups or long-term leases.

Landlords, she said, would likely be paid directly through the city, similar to receiving a grant, rather than by the tenant.

“If you just drive around now, you will see a plethora of vacant storefronts on the bottom of different private developments around Kansas City,” Webster noted. “So the hope is that we can get those activated, and at least not have any storefront vacancies for the World Cup.”

The goal, she continued, “would be to get these businesses educated, get them into pop-ups, and then ultimately get them into long-term leases. Of course, we’re only subsidized for so long, with the hope that they have built up enough revenue, enough foot traffic and clientele to keep them moving forward.”

City Council members on the raised questions questions and concerns during Tuesday’s committee hearing.

Councilman Crispin Rea asked whether the storefront had to be in any certain area of the city. Webster said the thought was to fill storefronts closest to the busiest World Cup activities, likely in and around downtown, or within a mile of the streetcar line.

Rea noted that there were also businesses along Truman Road with empty storefronts.

Councilwoman Melissa Robinson raised several concerns regarding how long a storefront needed to be empty to qualify. She was concerned about tenants possibly being ejected by landlords in advance of the World Cup to make their spaces available for the program and its guaranteed rent.

“I’m worried about displacement,” Robinson said.

She also raised concerns about businesses and empty storefronts along U.S. 40, close to where the matches will be played.

“The games are going to be held at Arrowhead Stadium,” Robinson said, “and we have a lot of issues as it relates to storefronts that need to be addressed along 40 highway. So I am concerned about what are we doing for the businesses that are already contributing to our economy.

“I’m a believer in dancing with the person who brought you. . . .the businesses that are currently operating that also need support and help.”

She raised questions regarding how much stewardship the city would have over the tenant-landlord contracts as to hold landlords accountable to their agreements. Robinson also wondered how much the program addressed established businesses.

Webster replied that it does. Established businesses were equally eligible to be part of the program. In fact, Webster said, they were desirable.

“The program doesn’t just support new businesses,” Webster explained. “This is really looking for those existing businesses. It gives a business an opportunity that may be in other areas of the city, to maybe be close to where the activations might happen, to be closer to where the tourists will be.

“It’s really about putting them in physical locations. It’s inclusive to those who are already existing to see if there is kind of a way to give them a leg up.”

Robinson also asked how long a business needed to be operating to be eligible for the program. That has also yet to be determined.

“We’re going to work on the definition of that,” Webster said. “Do they have to be in business X,Y,Z amount of time, or is it based on the size of revenue?”

She continued, “Because we want them to be successful. Because the idea (is), ‘I’m not subsidizing you for life. I’m only subsidizing to support that you were activated during the World Cup.’ So we want to make sure that we have businesses that can actually perform, that actually create revenue, that can be in the space and actually be successful.”

Perhaps successful enough, Webster said, that the pops-ups and other businesses put in place during the World Cup will last far beyond.

“We would hope that the legacy of this program would be that we could expand it out into other parts of the city,” Webster said, “and deeper into the neighborhoods.”

Kansas City is seeing flooding around the metro, plus downed trees and traffic crashes, after a "confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado" was reported in Raytown near the Truman Sports Complex.

Damage around the Kansas City metro appears to be limited after a tornadic storm system moved through Tuesday afternoon, and there were no immediate reports of widespread injuries.

Tornado warnings were called Tuesday afternoon for Johnson County, Kansas, and Jackson County, Missouri, as well as several surrounding counties. Those have since been canceled.

The National Weather Service warned of a “confirmed large and extremely dangerous” tornado near Raytown and Independence. The tornado moved eastward towards Buckner, Missouri, but its size and strength have yet to be verified.

Some damage, including downed trees and power lines, was reported in Overland Park, Kansas; the Truman Sports Complex, which houses the Royals’ Kauffman Stadium and the Chiefs’ Arrowhead Stadium; and Independence, Missouri.

More than one semi truck overturned on highways during the storm, and officials temporarily closed some roads because of flash flooding.

As of 8:30 p.m., Evergy reported nearly 4,000 customers without power. Independence Power and Light said more than 800 of its customers were without power.

"This remains an ever-evolving situation," Kansas City's emergency operations team said in a news release.

Jackson County officials said they were ready to assist local first responders if needed.

“While full assessments are still underway, we’re incredible grateful for the swift and selfless actions of our emergency responders and residents,” Jackson County Executive Frank White Jr. said in a statement.

White said additional rainfall and storms could return Tuesday evening. He said residents should avoid driving through standing water as the risk of flooding continues.

A flood watch remains in effect for Jackson, Clay, Platte and several other northwest Missouri counties through Wednesday morning.

The weather service said that as of 7 p.m., 2.46 inches of rain had fallen in the area, which broke a daily record of 2.25 inches set in 2015.

In Independence, Evan and Isabel King had just returned from the hospital, where they were checking on their mother after surgery, to discover a tree split in two on their fence and power line.

"We got home to no power and we got home to these limbs being down with a sign saying road closed," said Evan King, 30. "We had no idea about this."

Isabel King, 29, said they had two pet cattle dogs who sit in that area of the yard — but they were inside all day.

"We keep them in a little enclosed room in the back, and they have little huts they get into if there are fireworks or anything like that, that's their safe space," Isabel King said. "They were in their hut when this all happened, and fortunately nothing fell on that top on that area of the house."

"We know that not everyone was as fortunate as us," Isabel King continued. "Our hearts do go out to the ones who saw the worst-case scenario."

Resident Eric Johnson was walking near Indian Creek in south Kansas City shortly after the storm moved through the area. Normally, Johnson said, he would rate the creek's water intensity at a 2 out of 10. On Tuesday afternoon, he gave it a 6.

“Right now, it is not peaceful,” he said. “It’s a raging river that is kind of frightening.”

Johnson encouraged others to keep an eye on the water level from a safe distance.

“Definitely don’t try to go fishing or play in it or swim with a life jacket,” he said. “Take a look at the water levels and listen for flood warnings.”

Kansas City, Missouri, announced that KCATA and Streetcar operations have resumed, and community centers are open with regular hours. However, pools around the metro closed for the day.

"More than 50 street maintenance crews are monitoring the roads for damage, debris and flooding," Kansas City's emergency operations team said in a statement.

Kansas City residents can report storm damage through the myKCMO app or by calling 311.

Our Emergency Operation team is continuing to monitor the weather. After the storm, cleanup will take time. Please stay off the roads if you can and let crews work safely. https://t.co/hYVgmTSXcH

— Kansas City (@KansasCity) June 3, 2025

Heavy rain and flooding remain the biggest potential weather risks for the rest of the week.

"We’re going to get more showers and storms that’ll move into the area, most likely onThursday night into Friday," said National Weather Service meteorologist Chad Omitt on Tuesday.

However, Omitt says the risk for tornadoes appears relatively low the rest of the week.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. —

Monday is a First Alert Weather Alert Day for Kansas City as the chance for severe thunderstorms lingers into the afternoon, evening and overnight hours.

Track radar | Download the KMBC app | Sign up for severe weather alerts | See active alerts

The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for parts of the Kansas City metro ahead of a strong line of storms expected to impact the area Monday afternoon.

Live updates:

10:25 p.m. - The tornado watch has been allowed to expire.

Storm damage reported in Brookside's Wornall Homestead neighborhood:

8:55 p.m. - A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in place until 9:30 p.m. Monday for parts of northeastern Kansas and northwestern Missouri, including Buchanan, Clinton, Clay, Platte and surrounding counties.

8:54 p.m. - The National Weather Service has extended Tornado Watch 294 until 11 p.m. Monday for much of the Kansas City metro and surrounding counties in Missouri and Kansas. The watch was previously set to expire at 9 p.m.

Counties still under the watch include Jackson, Clay, Platte, Johnson (both Missouri and Kansas), Cass, Leavenworth, Wyandotte and others.

The watch has been canceled for Atchison and Doniphan counties in Kansas, and Atchison and Holt counties in Missouri.

8:46 p.m. - The tornado warning has been allowed to expire in Buchanan County.

8:39 p.m. - The tornado warning for Platte County has been allowed to expire.

8:38 p.m. - A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued until 9:30 p.m. for Wyandotte, Leavenworth, and Johnson counties in Kansas, and Platte and Clay counties in Missouri.

8:28 p.m. - The National Weather Service issued a Tornado Warning for northeastern Platte County, Missouri, until 9 p.m. Monday. A severe thunderstorm near Weston was moving east at 25 mph and had radar-indicated rotation, with the potential to produce a tornado and quarter-size hail.

Another tornado warning is in place for Buchanan County.

8:05 p.m. - Strong storms capable of producing 60 mph winds and quarter-size hail have resulted in a severe thunderstorm warning for parts of Atchison, Johnson, Leavenworth, and Wyandotte counties in Kansas, and Platte County in Missouri.

The storm line was moving east at 35 mph, impacting areas including Leavenworth, Parkville, and Kansas City International Airport.

8:00 p.m. - A Flash Flood Warning has been extended for parts of Johnson, Leavenworth, and Wyandotte counties in Kansas, as well as Cass, Clay, Jackson, and Platte counties in Missouri.

7:52 p.m. - The NWS issued a Tornado Warning for southeastern Pettis County, Missouri, until 8:15 p.m. Monday. A storm capable of producing a tornado was located near Cole Camp, moving northeast at 30 mph, with radar indicating rotation.

7:30 p.m. - The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning for parts of Doniphan and Atchison counties in Kansas and Buchanan County in Missouri until 8 p.m. Monday. The storm, located near Effingham and moving northeast at 35 mph, is capable of producing 60 mph wind gusts and penny-size hail.

7:30 p.m. - The tornado warning has been allowed to expire.

7:21 p.m. - The National Weather Service has upgraded the storm to a radar confirmed tornado. The warning includes southeastern Henry Country.

KMBC's Nick Bender is tracking the storm:

7:15 p.m. - A tornado warning was issued for southeastern Henry County, Missouri, until 7:45 p.m. Monday after radar indicated rotation near Lowry City, with the storm moving northeast at 25 mph.

4:49 p.m. - The National Weather Service has issued an additional Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Cass, Jackson and Johnson Counties in Missouri until 5:15 p.m.

4:40 p.m - Cass and Miami Counties have been removed from the Severe Thunderstorm Warning. Wyandotte, Johnson and Jackson Counties remain under warning.

4:26 p.m. - If your phone just went off with an EAS alert for the Severe Thunderstorm Warning, it's because the National Weather Service upgraded this storm's winds to 80 mph in Jackson and Johnson counties, setting off the threshold for Wireless Emergency Alerts for "destructive" storms moving through the area.

4:16 p.m. - A Severe Thunderstorm WARNING has been issued for Wyandotte, Miami and Johnson Counties in Kansas, and Cass and Jackson Counties in Missouri until 4:45 p.m. 70 mile per hour wind gusts and quarter-sized hail have been noted with this storm.

4:15 p.m. - The National Weather Service has issued a FLASH FLOOD WARNING for Johnson, Leavenworth and Wyandotte Counties in Kansas, and Cass, Clay, Jackson and Platte Counties in Missouri until 8:15 p.m.

4:10 p.m. - A new Severe Thunderstorm WARNING has been issued for Daviess, Grundy, Clinton, Clay, Ray, Carroll, Caldwell, Jackson and Livingston Counties in Missouri until 5 p.m.

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3:49 p.m. - A Severe Thunderstorm WARNING has been issued for Johnson and Wyandotte Counties in Kansas and Platte, Clay and Jackson Counties in Missouri until 4:30 p.m. The NWS notes risks with this warning include hail up to 1.5 inches and strong winds.

3:48 p.m. - The National Weather Service and Johnson County EMA reports a trained spotter has observed 1-inch hail in Overland Park near the JCCC campus.

3:47 p.m. - The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm WATCH for a number of counties downstream from the existing tornado watch. These counties include Chariton, Grundy, Harrison, Linn, Macon, Mercer, Putnam, Sullivan, Adair, and Schuyler Counties in Missouri until 10 p.m.

3:29 p.m. - The National Weather Service has issued a SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING for Daviess, Clinton, Clay, Ray, Caldwell, and DeKalb Counties in Missouri until 4:15 p.m.

Under a tornado watch:

Counties Included in Kansas:

Counties Included in Missouri:

Cities Included in the Watch Area:Adrian, Albany, Atchison, Belton, Braymer, Breckenridge, Butler, Cameron, Carrollton, Chillicothe, Clarksdale, Clinton, Concordia, Country Club Villa, Craig, Elwood, Excelsior Springs, Fairfax, Forest City, Fort Leavenworth, Gallatin, Gladstone, Grant City, Hamilton, Harrisonville, Higginsville, Highland, Independence, Jamesport, Kansas City, Kansas City Kansas, Kearney, King City, La Cygne, Lansing, Lathrop, Lawson, Leavenworth, Lenexa, Lexington, Liberty, Louisburg, Maitland, Marshall, Maryville, Maysville, Mound City, Odessa, Olathe, Oregon, Osawatomie, Osborn, Overland Park, Paola, Parkville, Platte City, Plattsburg, Pleasant Hill, Pleasanton, Polo, Raymore, Rich Hill, Richmond, Riverside, Rock Port, Savannah, Sedalia, Shawnee, St. Joseph, St. Joseph Airport, Stanberry, Stanley, Stewartsville, Tarkio, Troy, Union Star, Warrensburg, Wathena, Weatherby Lake, Weston, and Windsor.

Kansas City will likely see two rounds of severe weather Monday. The first and stronger of the two rounds looks to impact the area between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. with the second round coming after 7 p.m. and before 11 p.m.

We want to stress that all types of severe weather are possible with these events, including large hail, damaging winds and tornadoes.

There are a number of limiting factors in place for these storms, but regardless, we want you to prepare for the worst-case scenario for safety. Review your communication and safety plans. Act fast if a warning is issued. And make sure you have multiple ways to receive alerts, like the KMBC 9 News app, and a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather Radio.

Stay with the First Alert Weather Team for updates as these storms continue to develop.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. —

The line of storms heading for the Kansas City area has a history of producing .5 to 2.5 inches of rain in some places with a chance for between 1 to 3 inches in an hour.

A Flash Flood Warning has been issued for part of the Kansas City area through Tuesday evening.

In addition to the flood risk, this quickly-evolving system has the potential to bring a greater tornado risk into the metro in the form of embedded circulations along the line. Damaging straight line winds are also a concern.

LIVE UPDATES:

4:21 p.m. -- A number of counties have been removed from the active Tornado Watch. Those counties are Miami, Johnson and Linn Counties in Kansas, and Livingston, Ray, Cass, Caldwell, Jackson and Bates Counties in Missouri.

These counties remain under a Tornado Watch: Johnson, Macon, Sullivan, Linn, Randolph, Lafayette, Adair, Cooper, Saline, Carroll, Chariton, Henry, Pettis and Howard Counties in Missouri.

3:50 p.m. -- Flooding has been reported along Indian Creek. As the potential tornado risk begins to weaken, flooding will become a greater concern for the Kansas City area.

3:32 p.m. -- A Kansas City, Missouri, Fire Department Ambulance had to be towed Tuesday afternoon after it went off the road dodging a falling tree in Raytown.

3:28 p.m. -- A new Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for Carroll, Chariton, Johnson, Ray, Cass, Lafayette, Pettis, Jackson and Saline Counties in Missouri until 4:15 p.m.

3:21 p.m. -- The Tornado Warning for Ray and Lafayette Counties in Missouri has been canceled. There are no current active Tornado Warnings.

3:14 p.m. -- A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for Carroll, Chariton, Sullivan, Linn, Livingston, Ray, Daviess, Caldwell and Grundy Counties until 4 p.m.

3:08 p.m. -- Clay and Jackson Counties have been removed from the Tornado Warning. The Tornado Warning continues for Ray and Lafayette Counties continues.

3:02 p.m. -- Emergency crews in Kansas responded to an injury crash involving a semi-truck Tuesday afternoon in Wyandotte County. The crash occurred on Interstate 635 near Parallel Parkway.

2:55 p.m. -- A new TORNADO WARNING has been issued for Ray, Lafayette, Clay and Jackson Counties in Missouri until 3:30 p.m.

2:53 p.m. -- A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has also been issued for Carroll and Livingston counties.

2:50 p.m. -- A Severe Thunderstorm Warning remains in effect until 3 p.m. for Miami, Johnson, Cass, Clinton, Clay, Ray, Caldwell, Lafayette and Jackson counties.

The Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been canceled for Wyandotte and Platte counties.

2:47 p.m. -- A Tornado Warning for west central Lafayette County has been canceled.

2:42 p.m. -- A Tornado Warning has been continued for Ray, Clay and Jackson Counties in Missouri.

2:35 p.m. -- A crash at I-435 and Raytown Road snarls traffic as severe weather hits the area.

2:30 p.m. -- A Tornado Warning for Ray, Lafayette, Clay and Jackson Counties has been continued.

Drivers had to navigate high water on Interstate 35 in Kansas City during Tuesday's severe weather.

2:24 p.m. -- A TORNADO WARNING has been issued for Ray, Lafayette, Clay and Jackson Counties in Missouri until 3p.m.

2:17 p.m. -- A Flash Flood Warning has been issued for Wyandotte, Miami, Johnson and Leavenworth Counties in Kansas and Platte, Ray, Cass, Clay and Jackson Counties in Missouri until 7 p.m.

2:08 p.m. -- A TORNADO WARNING has been issued for Johnson County, Kansas, and Cass and Jackson Counties in Missouri until 2:45 p.m.

A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for Wyandotte, Miami, Johnson and Leavenworth Counties in Kansas and Platte, Ray, Cass, Lafayette, Clay, Caldwell, Clinton, and Jackson Counties in Missouri until 3 p.m.

2:01 p.m. -- The Tornado Warning for Miami and Johnson Counties has been allowed to expire.

1:46 p.m. -- A TORNADO WARNING has been issued for Miami and Johnson Counties in Kansas until 2 p.m.

1:39 p.m. -- A TORNADO WATCH has been issued for the following counties:

Kansas: Johnson, Linn, Miami

Missouri: Cooper, Howard, Pettis, Saline, Caldwell, Carroll, Chariton, Linn, Livingston, Macon, Randolph, Sullivan, Adair, Bates, Cass, Henry, Jackson, Johnson, Lafayette, Ray

1:32 p.m. -- A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for Leavenworth, Miami, Johnson and Wyandotte Counties in Kansas and Platte County in Missouri until 2:30 p.m. Hazards associated with this line of storms include 60 mph wind gusts and nickel-sized hail.

1:12 p.m. -- The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Warning for Atchison, Leavenworth and Wyandotte Counties in Kansas and Platte County, Missouri until 7 p.m.

Today is a First Alert Weather Alert Day due to a risk of severe thunderstorms, especially this afternoon.

[Click here to track radar]

Multiple rounds of downpours and thunderstorms will affect your outdoor plans this morning. While the severe potential is low during this time of day, some stronger storms could briefly become severe, with the potential for strong wind gusts and hail.

This afternoon’s severe risk may be reduced due to a lack of instability caused by the morning’s rain and thunderstorms. However, high-resolution weather models indicate sufficient recovery of instability this afternoon to support a risk of severe thunderstorms.

The main threats from the strongest thunderstorms, anticipated between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., include damaging wind gusts and flash flooding. Additional threats include the possibility of large hail and a brief tornado. The timeframe most favorable for a brief tornado is near the end of this period when wind shear is expected to increase, especially for communities along and south of a line from Butler, Clinton, and Sedalia. While the tornado potential remains low, it is not zero.

Flash flooding will become a growing concern with each subsequent round of downpours and thunderstorms. Widespread rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches are expected today into tonight, with some locations in central Missouri potentially receiving up to 4 inches. This may result in street flooding as well as rising streams, creeks, and rivers over the next couple of days.