Storms possible tonight and Friday

Storms are possible during the next few days. (National Weather Service graphic)
On Friday afternoon and evening, there is a marginal chance of severe thunderstorms. (National Weather Service graphic)

Scattered thunderstorms are in the forecast tonight into Friday morning, according to the National Weather Service forecast.

Look for showers tonight before 10 p.m., then a chance of showers and storms after 1 a.m., according to the weather service.

A second round of storms on Friday may develop in eastern Kansas, building into western Missouri in the afternoon, the weather service said. The afternoon storms may depend on the remnant showers and cloud cover from the morning.

A few strong to severe thunders are possible Friday afternoon, according to the weather service. Damaging hail and winds are possible, and tornado risk is low at this time.

Today, there could be patchy drizzle before 11 a.m., then a 20 percent chance of showers after 11 a.m., the weather service said. It will be partly sunny with a high near 72 and an east southeast wind of 6 to 8 mph, the weather service said.

Tonight, there is a 50 percent chance of showers before 10 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 a.m., according to the weather service. The low will be around 63 with an east southeast wind of 5 to 7 mph. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch are possible.

Friday, there is a 60 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a high near 77, the weather service said, and a southeast wind of 6 to 9 mph. Between a tenth and quarter-inch of rain is possible.

Friday night, there is a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a low of 64, according to the weather service, and a light south southeast wind. Between a tenth and quarter-inch of rain is possible.

Saturday, there is a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1 p.m., then a slight chance of showers. The high will be near 85 with a calm wind becoming south 5 to 8 mph in the morning. Less than a tenth of an inch of rain is expected.

Saturday night, there is a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1 a.m., according to the weather service. The low will be around 70. Less than a tenth of an inch of rain is expected.

Sunday, there is an 80 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1 p.m., with a high near 82, the weather service said.

Sunday night, there is an 80 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a low of 64, according to the weather service.

Monday, Memorial Day, there is a 70 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms likely, with a high near 75, the weather service said.

Monday night, there is a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a low of 60, according to the weather service.

Tuesday, there is a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a high near 76, the weather service said.

Tuesday night, it will be partly cloudy, with a low of 61, according to the weather service.

Wednesday, there is a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a high near 79, the weather service said.

Some Amazon workers call for more safety measures

The Unified Government’s COVID-19 outbreak map showed the locations of several COVID-19 outbreaks in Wyandotte County. (From UG COVID-19 hub website)

Some Amazon distribution facility workers in Kansas City, Kansas, held a walkout this afternoon over safety issues.

The Amazon facility in Kansas City, Kansas, has eight confirmed COVID-19 cases, according to the Unified Government Health Department COVID-19 webpage.

A worker, Sean Fuller, has concerns about safety. He said he believed there were more positive cases than that.

About four workers participated in a walkout on Wednesday.

“They really need to shut down and do a thorough cleaning from back to back and side to side,” Fuller said. “We’ve got a lot of cleaning issues.”

He said he had concerns about his own health and his colleagues’ health.

Possibly 1,000 or less people are currently working there, but at peak seasons, the number of employees could rise to 2,000 to 5,000.

Fuller said although they are trying to do social distancing, sometimes people will come up to them and say they need to be 6 feet apart, while not following their own advice.

“I’ve been told I’m a hero, an essential worker,” he said. “I don’t feel that. I feel that those that are doctors, nurses, firefighters, police officers, and paramedics are the true heroes.”

He said he got tested for COVID-19 after he had some minor symptoms, and the test was negative.

Amazon, on its website, says it has provided personal protective equipment and made improvements to its facilities to deal with COVID-19. The statement is at https://blog.aboutamazon.com/company-news/how-amazon-prioritizes-health-and-safety-while-fulfilling-customer-orders?token=GW&utm_content=COVID-19_safety&utm_medium=card&utm_source=gateway&utm_term=gw04272020.


The company, which has COVID-19 cases nationwide, stated that its top concern is the health and safety of its employees. It is providing $800 million worth of personal protective equipment and improvements, and implementing safety procedures, according to the website.

Janell Friesen, a spokesman for the UG Health Department, said there have been eight positive COVID-19 cases confirmed at the Amazon facility.

The outbreak continues to be under investigation, she said. The Health Department provides guidelines to facilities and does contact tracing of any confirmed cases, she said.

If anyone else who works there has symptoms, or doesn’t have symptoms, they can get tested at the Health Department or the pop-up testing sites, she said. Anyone in close contact with a positive confirmed case, or associated with an outbreak of at least five cases, can be tested. Test sites are listed at https://wyandotte-county-covid-19-hub-unifiedgov.hub.arcgis.com/pages/what-to-do-if-you-think-you-have-covid-19.

Friesen said the Health Department staff has provided guidance to the leadership at Amazon about what kind of infection control measures to take.

The UG’s outbreak locations map showed several industrial and work sites with COVID-19 outbreaks in Wyandotte County. Other locations, according to the UG outbreak information, included National Beef Packaging, Kansas City, Kansas, 42 cases; Smithfield, Edwardsville, with six cases; MWI Animal Health, Kansas City, Kansas, with seven cases; the Legacy Warehouse, Kansas City, Kansas, five cases; Donnelly College construction site, Kansas City, Kansas, eight cases; Liberty Fruit Company, Kansas City, Kansas, eight cases; Premier Custom Foods, Kansas City, Kansas, 12 cases; El Torito Supermarket, Kansas City, Kansas, 16 cases; and Kellogg’s Bakery, Kansas City, Kansas, 21 cases;

The largest COVID-19 outbreak in Wyandotte County was at the Riverbend Post-Acute Rehabilitation facility, with 132 cases and 36 deaths, according to UG outbreak information. Other nursing facilities with cases here included the Life Care Center of Kansas City with 42 cases, and Delaware Highlands Assisted Living with 18 cases.

The UG outbreak map is at https://wyandotte-county-covid-19-hub-unifiedgov.hub.arcgis.com/.