UPDATE: Tornadoes were reported in Cowley County late Saturday afternoon as severe thunderstorms moved from Oklahoma into southern Kansas.
Emergency management confirmed a tornado on the ground near Chilocco, Oklahoma around 3 p.m. and the storm moved into southern Cowley County, with a tornado reported east of Arkansas City, and a small tornado reported south of Dexter. There were no reports of damage or injuries.
Another tornado was confirmed to be on the ground around 4:30 p.m. north of Moline, and moving northeast across Elk County. There were five separate reports of tornadoes in Elk County with this storm.
A tornado watch was issued for central, south central and eastern Kansas through 7 p.m. The watch includes Sedgwick County and the surrounding counties in south central Kansas.
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McConnell Air Force Base emptied its flightline on Friday, and most of the base’s KC-135R Stratotanker and KC-46A Pegasus aircraft were launched and relocated away from the local area due to forecasted severe weather. The remaining aircraft, undergoing various phases of maintenance, along with a range of flightline vehicles and equipment, are being stored in hangars.
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has issued a state of disaster emergency proclamation to have state resources ready to help local communities.
[ image: KWCH ]