According to the National Weather Service of Topeka, showers and thunderstorms will occur across the area today and a few of the storms may be capable of producing quarter size hail and gusty winds along with heavy rains.However widespread severe storms are not anticipated today. A greater risk for severe storms will exist late Saturday afternoon into Saturday night across the area especially west of an Emporia to Manhattan to Belleville line. At this time we expect severe storms to develop out around Dodge City north toward Goodland Saturday afternoon and those storms will race northeast at 50 to 60 mph toward northeast Kansas.

The severe storms could arrive in the Salina to Concordia areas by 6 p.m. and then spread northeast across the remainder of the area between 6 p.m. and midnight. These storms will have the potential to produce damaging winds, large hail and tornadoes are also possible. We urge everyone to monitor the weather on Saturday and have a plan in place to shelter if necessary along with ways to receive weather watch and warning information.

Today: Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of thunderstorms. Highs around 80. South winds 5 to 15 mph with gusts to around 25 mph.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of thunderstorms. Lows around 66. South winds 10 to 15 mph.

Saturday: Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of thunderstorms. Highs around 76. South winds 10 to 20 mph with gusts to around 30 mph.

Saturday Night: Breezy. Thunderstorms likely. Some thunderstorms may be severe. Lows in the lower 60s. South winds 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.

Sunday: Sunny. Highs in the upper 70s. Southwest winds around 15 mph with gusts to around 25 mph.

Sunday Night And Monday: Cooler. Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 50s. Highs in the mid 60s.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 40s.

Tuesday: Partly sunny with a 20 percent chance of showers. Highs in the mid 60s.

Tuesday Night: Showers likely and isolated thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 40s. Chance of rain 70 percent.

Wednesday: Showers likely and isolated thunderstorms. Highs around 60. Chance of rain 60 percent.

Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of showers. Lows in the upper 40s.

Thursday: Mostly cloudy. Highs in the mid 60s.