Severe weather resources for Lawrence and Douglas County
Here’s helpful info for when a storm strikes. You’ll also see this box at the bottom of our severe weather coverage.
We try to keep these resources up to date as much as possible. Please let us know ASAP if a link is broken or something needs to be updated or added to this list.
Severe weather resources
Evergy outages:
• Check the status of power outages on the Evergy outage map, outagemap.evergy.com.
• Report a power outage at evergy.com/report-outage, or call 800-544-4857.
• For down powerlines, call Evergy’s emergency line, 800-383-1183, if above-ground lines are arcing or making contact with trees or vegetation. Call 911 immediately if overhead power lines are on the ground or a fire starts. Do not go near the line.
National Weather Service local office (Topeka):
• Find the latest weather forecast info and severe weather advisories for the Lawrence area at this link.
• In the event of rapidly changing severe weather, such as tornadoes, the NWS posts frequent updates on Twitter, @NWSTopeka. You do not need a Twitter account to see tweets from NWS.
• NWS is also on Facebook, facebook.com/NWSTopeka.
• Call 785-234-2592 to hear the forecast.
Douglas County Emergency Management:
• Follow @DgCoEM on Twitter or Douglas County, KS- Emergency Management on Facebook, facebook.com/dgcoem.
• Sign up to receive emergency alerts at dgcoks.org/emalerts.
• Find lots of tips on severe weather and other emergency preparedness on DgCoEM’s website at douglascountyks.org/emergency-management.
• Report storm damage (for non-emergencies only, and after storm danger has passed) by calling the nonemergency dispatch line at 785-843-0250 or 785-832-7509.
City of Lawrence snow info:
• The city has snow information and a map at lawrenceks.org/snow that shows information about road conditions and where snowplows have been. The city typically begins snow and ice control for residential roadways when 2 or more inches of snowfall or icing occurs.
Highway conditions beyond Lawrence:
• KanDrive, an app and website from the Kansas Department of Transportation, has info on highway conditions statewide. KanDrive is available online at KanDrive.gov, and its app is available for download free on the App Store and Google Play.
Air quality:
• Check the current air quality index in Lawrence and elsewhere through AirNow, airnow.gov.
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Latest weather coverage:
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Extreme cold temperatures persist; Lawrence Public Schools and more to be closed Monday
Lawrence Public Schools will be closed Monday as snow has passed through the area but extremely cold temperatures and wind chills as low as 22° below will continue for another day. Find details and more closures here.
Winter storm soon to move into Lawrence; here’s info on shelter options, city streets and more
Several inches of snow, extreme cold and dangerous wind chills are en route to Lawrence. A cold weather advisory and winter storm warning will be in effect starting Friday evening.
Lawrence Public Library to close amid winter weather, plus other area closures and cancellations
The Lawrence Public Library will be closed Saturday as heavy snow is in the forecast for the area and most of the state. We’ll add other closures here as we receive them.
Latest Lawrence news:
Logan Pierson / Lawrence Times
Lawrence bike collective aims to make cycling affordable, teach repair skills
A local bicycle collective called Lawrence Community Cycles is not only a place to buy or earn a repaired bicycle — it’s also a community hub that aims to teach people how to fix their own bikes, and to expand access to cycling.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Lawrence school board to meet with few agenda items, including some capital projects
The Lawrence school board will open its Monday meeting with executive sessions, followed by a sparse agenda that includes a few capital improvement projects and a settlement agreement.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Haskell students gather Lawrence community in peaceful protest, demand ICE stay out of Lawrence
A peaceful, anti-ICE protest organized by Haskell students Friday afternoon brought swaths of community members together to declare that no one is illegal on stolen land.
Local resources available to help Lawrence residents file taxes
Free local helpers and resources are available to help Lawrencians navigate the 2026 tax season, including services intended for older people and Spanish speakers.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Lawrence sober living home expands beds for women in recovery to live with their children, build tenacity
A renovated historical home in Lawrence has joined Cardinal Housing Network’s transitional housing options for women recovering from substance use, this time allowing residents to live with their children.
