Tornado sirens went off in Topeka shortly before 5 p.m. April 23 as the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for part of Shawnee County.

The tornado warning posted on X by NWS Topeka included part of northern Shawnee County and extended into Jackson and Jefferson counties. It included the towns of Meriden, Hoyt and Rock Creek.

"Attention, attention, attention," said an alarm at the Kansas Statehouse. "A weather emergency has been reported. Please take immediate cover."

The warning lasted until 5:15 p.m. The NWS advised that hail the size of half dollars is also possible in the area.

Afterward, the weather service advised that" "The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe limits, and no longer appears capable of producing a tornado. Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire. However, small hail and gusty winds are still possible with this thunderstorm."

Shawnee County Emergency Management in 2023 started sounding tornado sirens for three minutes across the entire county to get everyone's attention. After that, sirens are sounded only in the warned area.

The NWS also issued a trio of special weather statements covering Topeka and most of Shawnee County, while also extending into Pottawatomie, Wabaunsee, Osage, Douglas, Jefferson and Jackson counties.

Those statements advised that wind gust speeds of up to 40 mph and hail the sizes of pennies and nickels were possible across the area. Those advisories lasted until 5:45 p.m. on the west and east sides of the city and 6 p.m. to the north.

"Gusty winds could knock down twigs or small limbs and blow around objects," the NWS advised in one of the statements. "Minor hail damage to outdoor objects and vegetation is possible."

The weather service also warned of rain causing flooding.

"Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to localized flooding," the statement warned. "Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways."

An NWS hazardous weather outlook advised that scattered strong to severe thunderstorms remain possible into the evening with a risk of large hail, damaging wind and localized flash flooding. There is also a low chance for severe thunderstorms Thursday afternoon and evening.