Severe storms swept through the Kansas City metro on Tuesday night, leaving over 50,000 customers without power as destructive winds and tornado warnings were issued.
Why it matters: The storm's impact has been substantial, with widespread power outages affecting homes and businesses across the region. Recovery efforts will be underway as officials assess the damage.
As of 10:30 p.m., more than 50,000 Evergy customers were without power, according to reports from local utilities.
Power outages were particularly severe in Missouri, with over 38,600 customers affected.
Central parts of Clay County experienced a tornado warning earlier in the evening, highlighting the storm's intensity.
Driving the news: The storms brought severe weather warnings, including a destructive thunderstorm warning and tornado alerts issued by the National Weather Service. Winds reached up to 80 mph, causing extensive damage.
At 7:41 p.m., just under 20,000 customers were reported without power, which quickly escalated to nearly 30,000 within 10 minutes.
By 8:06 p.m., the number of outages rose to 33,367, with 545 active outages reported.
As the storm progressed, the number of outages peaked at 50,860 customers without power by 10:38 p.m.
State of play: The Kansas City area faced multiple severe thunderstorm warnings throughout the evening. The storm system affected several counties, including Jackson, Clay, and Platte in Missouri, and Johnson and Wyandotte in Kansas.
A tornado warning for Clay County expired without incident, but the risk of severe weather remained high.
Winds of 60 mph were reported, capable of damaging roofs and trees, according to the National Weather Service.
Flood watches were also issued, extending into Wednesday morning, as heavy rainfall accompanied the storms.
The big picture: These storms are part of a larger weather pattern affecting the Midwest, where severe thunderstorms and high winds have become increasingly common during this time of year.
In Kansas City, the most affected areas included Gladstone, Liberty, Richmond, and Parkville, with thousands left without power.
Weatherby Lake saw about 95% of its Evergy customers lose power, illustrating the localized severity of the storm.
Wind gusts were recorded at 72 mph near Mosby, indicating the storm's potential for destruction.
What they're saying: Officials are urging residents to stay safe during these severe weather conditions. The National Weather Service issued warnings about the dangers posed by flying debris and advised seeking shelter.
"Seek shelter now inside an interior room on the lowest floor of a well-built structure," the NWS warned, emphasizing the immediate danger.
Local authorities are working to restore power and clear downed trees and power lines across the metro.
By the numbers: The scale of the outages and storm impact is staggering, with thousands affected across multiple communities.
As of 9 p.m., Evergy had reported 44,740 customers without power, with Kansas City alone accounting for 16,617 outages.
Gladstone had nearly 7,500 customers without power, followed by Liberty with 5,732 and Richmond with 2,681.
In Weatherby Lake, approximately 95% of customers lost power.
What's next: Recovery efforts are set to begin as utility crews work to restore power and assess damage across the Kansas City metro.
Residents are advised to stay updated through local news outlets and utility companies as restoration efforts progress.
The severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect until 11 p.m. Tuesday, with officials monitoring the situation closely for any additional warnings.