Clay County, KS, Sheriff's Office Investigations Division

05/30/2026

🚨 SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH ISSUED FOR SATURDAY MAY 30TH TILL 10 PM🚨

The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center has issued Severe Thunderstorm Watch #253 for Clay County, Kansas, effective until 10:00 PM CDT this evening.

Potential Hazards Include: 🌩️ Large hail up to 2.5 inches in diameter 💨 Damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph ⚡ Frequent lightning 🌧️ Heavy rainfall and localized flooding

Residents should remain weather aware throughout the evening and be prepared to take action if warnings are issued. A watch means conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms to develop. If a warning is issued for your area, seek shelter immediately.

Safety Tips:
✅ Secure outdoor furniture, trampolines, and loose objects.
✅ Have multiple ways to receive weather alerts.
✅ Move vehicles under cover if possible to protect them from large hail.
✅ Avoid unnecessary travel during severe weather.
✅ Know where you will take shelter if conditions worsen.

The Clay County Sheriff's Office will continue to monitor conditions and provide updates as needed. Stay tuned to local media, trusted weather sources, and official National Weather Service information.

📱 Report emergencies by calling 911, or to our dispatch center at (785)632-5601

Stay alert. Stay informed. Stay safe, Clay County.

Undersheriff Werbin

05/30/2026

🚨 SEVERE WEATHER ALERT – SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2026 🚨

The weather forecast has changed significantly today, and Clay County is now included in an area with an increased risk for severe thunderstorms this evening and tonight.

According to the latest forecast from the National Weather Service, the greatest threat for severe weather is expected between 6:00 PM and Midnight as a line of thunderstorms develops across central Kansas and moves northeast through the region.

⚠️ Primary Hazards Include:
• Damaging straight-line winds of 60–70 mph
• Large hail up to 1 inch in diameter
• Dangerous lightning
• Heavy rainfall and reduced visibility

📍 Clay County residents should be prepared for rapidly changing weather conditions this evening. While only isolated storms are possible earlier in the day, the main severe weather threat is expected to develop after sunset.

✅ Now is the time to prepare:
• Review your severe weather safety plan.
• Make sure you have multiple ways to receive weather warnings.
• Secure outdoor furniture, trampolines, and loose items.
• Charge phones and electronic devices.
• Be prepared to move indoors quickly if warnings are issued.

🚔 The Clay County Sheriff's Office will continue to monitor weather conditions and share updates as they become available. We encourage everyone to stay weather-aware throughout the evening and have a plan ready should severe weather impact our area.

Undersheriff Werbin

05/19/2026

🌧️ Storm Update 🌩

We had an extremely busy afternoon with multiple tornado warnings across the area. It appears the most significant weather has moved through for the evening.

Thankfully, our deputies did not observe any tornadoes on the ground and found no reports of damage. We also took several photos of the storms as they passed through the county.

Hopefully, the rest of our evening will remain quiet and uneventful.

Thank you to everyone who stayed weather-aware and followed safety precautions today. We appreciate your cooperation!

Stay safe, Clay County

Undersheriff Werbin

05/18/2026

🚨🚨BE PREPARED TO TAKE COVER 🚨🚨

We are monitoring the storm and Tornado warning in Ottawa County. Western Clay County needs to be ready to take cover if and when a Tornado Warning is issued.

This might be the only post I can make today, PLEASE PAY ATTENTION AND BE READY TO ACT!

Undersheriff Werbin

05/18/2026

Severe thunderstorms are expected to develop in central and north-central Kansas early this afternoon. Strong tornadoes, very large hail and damaging wind will be the initial threats. Please stay tuned to the weather and have multiple ways to receive warnings.

05/18/2026

🚨 PDS TORNADO WATCH ISSUED TILL 8PM MONDAY MAY 18TH🚨

A Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) Tornado Watch has been issued by the National Weather Service for Clay County, Kansas and surrounding areas.
This watch is in effect until 8:00 PM CDT this evening.

Counties included in Kansas (partial list): Barton, Brown, CLAY, Cloud, Dickinson, Ellsworth, Geary, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Lincoln, Marion, Marshall, McPherson, Mitchell, Morris, Nemaha, Ottawa, Pottawatomie, Republic, Rice, Riley, Saline, Washington, and others.

⚠️ Primary threats ⚠️:
Tornadoes (some potentially strong and long-track)
Hail up to 3.0 inches in diameter
Damaging winds up to 60 mph

‼️What is a PDS Tornado Watch and how does it differ from a regular Tornado Watch?

A regular Tornado Watch means atmospheric conditions are favorable for tornado development, and residents should stay alert and prepared.

A PDS (Particularly Dangerous Situation) Tornado Watch is rarer and more serious. It is issued when the risk of multiple strong, long-lived tornadoes is especially high. The National Weather Service uses this designation to highlight situations where the potential for significant, life-threatening tornadoes is greater than usual. This is a higher level of alert — take it seriously and be ready to take immediate action if warnings are issued.

What you should do right now:
✔️Review your severe weather safety plan with your family.
✔️Have multiple ways to receive weather alerts (NOAA weather radio, phone alerts, local media).
✔️Know your safest shelter location (basement, interior room on the lowest floor, or storm shelter).
✔️Avoid outdoor activities this afternoon and evening.

Do NOT wait until you see a tornado — act quickly if a Tornado Warning is issued for your area.

We will continue to monitor this situation closely and provide updates as needed. We will try to keep you updated but if it gets busy, DO NOT RELY ON THIS PAGE FOR IMMEDIATE UPDATES! Stay weather aware, Clay County!

For the latest information, visit the National Weather Service website or follow NWS Topeka (KTWX).

Stay safe!

Clay County Sheriff's Office

Undersheriff Werbin

05/18/2026

⚠️🚨 Severe Weather Outlook – Monday, May 18th 🚨⚠️

The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center has placed Clay County and much of central Kansas under a Moderate Risk (Level 4 of 5) for severe thunderstorms Monday afternoon and evening.

Weather conditions are expected to become very favorable for dangerous storms capable of producing:

🌪 Strong to intense tornadoes
🧊 Very large hail
💨 Damaging winds in excess of 70 MPH
⛈ Heavy rainfall and dangerous lightning

Forecasters indicate storms may rapidly intensify during the late afternoon and continue into the evening hours. Some tornadoes 🌪 could be strong 💪 and long-lived.

Now is the time to prepare:
✔️ Review your severe weather safety plans
✔️ Make sure multiple ways to receive warnings are available
✔️ Charge phones and devices
✔️ Identify your safe shelter location ahead of time
✔️ Stay weather aware throughout the day Monday

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office will continue to monitor conditions closely and provide updates as information becomes available.

Please do not rely solely on outdoor warning sirens. Have a reliable way to receive emergency alerts (weather radios, phone alerts, etc.)

Stay alert and stay safe, Clay County.

Undersheriff Werbin

05/18/2026

⚠️Update, extended till 1015pm⚠️

🚨 SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING SUNDAY MAY 17TH, 2026 TILL 915PM 🚨

The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Northern Clay County (and surrounding areas) that is ACTIVE NOW until 9:15 PM CDT tonight.

Storm Details:
A severe thunderstorm was located near Miltonvale at 8:29 PM, moving northeast at 45 mph.

✔️Hazards: 60 mph wind gusts and quarter-size hail.
✔️Impacts: Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees is likely.

Locations in Clay County currently impacted or in the path include:
Clay Center
Clifton
Linn
Greenleaf
Morganville
Green
Palmer
Vining
Idana

Safety Message:
For your protection, move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building right away. Avoid windows. If you are in a vehicle, pull over and seek shelter in a sturdy building.

A Tornado Watch also remains in effect until 11:00 PM CDT for north central and northeastern Kansas.

Stay weather aware, monitor local media and NOAA weather radio, and have a plan in place
Clay County Sheriff’s Office will continue to monitor this storm.

Undersheriff Werbin

Stay safe out there!

05/17/2026

Updated information from the US National Weather Service Topeka Kansas for todays storms.

Thunderstorms are beginning to develop along a dryline in north-central Kansas. Storm development is expected to continue over the next several hours in the area shaded in yellow. Storms will become intense quickly posing the risk for large hail, damaging winds and a tornado.