7PM update:

5:30PM Update. 

Closest storms are about 130miles northwest of Concordia.  This activity will become a solid line of storms tonight and rapidly dive south across the eastern portion of Kansas.  A Severe Storm Watch is likely for our area.. but not until late.  Would not expect to see a watch for Topeka until after Midnight... northern counties may have a watch by 9PM (ish).

JG 

Severe Storm Watch for western Kansas issued about 3:45PM. 

http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/watch/ww0268.html

 URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
   SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 268
   NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
   345 PM CDT TUE MAY 6 2008
  
   THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A
   SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF
  
          WESTERN KANSAS
          SOUTHWEST NEBRASKA
  
   EFFECTIVE THIS TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM 345 PM UNTIL
   1000 PM CDT.
  
   HAIL TO 2.5 INCHES IN DIAMETER...THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS TO 70
   MPH...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS.
  
   THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 75
   STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST OF A LINE FROM 25 MILES WEST
   NORTHWEST OF MCCOOK NEBRASKA TO 55 MILES SOUTH SOUTHEAST OF DODGE
   CITY KANSAS.  FOR A COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE THE
   ASSOCIATED WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU8).
  
   REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE
   FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH
   AREA. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR
   THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS
   AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY
   DO PRODUCE TORNADOES.
  
   OTHER WATCH INFORMATION...CONTINUE...WW 265...WW 266...WW 267...
  
   DISCUSSION...HIGH BASED CONVECTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TO SPREAD
   EASTWARD INTO WESTERN KS AND INTENSIFY RAPIDLY THIS AFTERNOON.
   THESE STORMS ARE LIKELY TO POSE A THREAT OF VERY LARGE HAIL AND
   DAMAGING WINDS THROUGH THE EARLY EVENING.
  
   AVIATION...A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT
   TO 2.5 INCHES. EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE WIND GUSTS TO 60
   KNOTS. A FEW CUMULONIMBI WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO 450. MEAN STORM
   MOTION VECTOR 25030.

3PM Update... risk of Severe Weather begins over the next few hours in western Kansas.  Additional storms are developing in Nebraska.

As of 1PM... the Storm Prediction Center has much of Kansas in a "Moderate Risk" of severe weather.  Greatest threat is late tonight, well after sunset.

Hail and wind are the greatest risk, but isolated tornadoes are also possible.