The Junction City – Manhattan area escaped the brunt of severe thunderstorms in the region Thursday evening.

The storms moving through southeast Dickinson and northwest Morris County prompted the National Weather Service to issue a tornado warning for that area but no tornado was ever reported on the ground. There were additional severe thunderstorm warnings that led to gusty winds and heavy rain in Clay, northern Riley, southern Dickinson, and Morris Counties as the storms tracked east at speeds ranging from 20 mph to 55 mph.

For Geary County the Emergency Management Director, Garry Berges noted authorities did not report any damage in the county.

The storm cells began in the Ellis County – Hays area and moved east through the Lindsborg and Saline County area into Dickinson and Morris Counties.