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.
Get warm in Lawrence:
• See this page for locations to get warm during the day and overnight, where to get help for pets and more.
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.
If resources like this are helpful to you, please support The Lawrence Times.
Click here to subscribe.
Don’t miss a beat … Click here to sign up for our email newsletters
Click here to learn more about our newsletters first
Latest weather coverage:
Lawrence likely to see storms, strong winds Tuesday night
The Douglas County area will likely see thunderstorms and strong wind gusts overnight Tuesday into Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service forecast.
Rain, snow headed to Douglas County; driving could be hazardous
Some rain and snow is on the way to Douglas County, but not much is expected to stick. Blowing snow, however, could create visibility issues, making driving dangerous.
Lawrence school district to add makeup time into school days, extra days at end of year
The Lawrence school district will make up for nine inclement weather days this year by tacking minutes onto the end of school days and adding a day and a half day to the end of the year.
Latest Lawrence news:
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Loved ones remember Lawrence teen killed last year on what would’ve been his 18th birthday
When Natasha Neal embraces her late son Isaiah Neal’s child, familiar eyes look back at her. The 4-month-old baby never got to meet his father but carries his name and more. Isaiah would’ve turned 18 on Wednesday, but he was shot and killed in June 2024.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Lawrence to ban camping effective in mid-August as shelter options expand; coalition forming in opposition
The City of Lawrence is planning to ban people from camping “anywhere in Lawrence” effective in mid-August, representing a change that has long been in the works.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
State court upholds Lawrence’s ordinance to protect against housing voucher discrimination
Kansas Court of Appeals judges have upheld Lawrence’s ordinance intended to ensure voucher recipients can secure housing, finding that “State and local governments have a legitimate interest in protecting the affordability and quality of housing.”
Historic Resources Commission advances plans for row houses near former Borders building
Plans to build 15 row houses next to the former Borders building in downtown Lawrence got a 3-2 nod of approval from the Historic Resources Commission Thursday evening, and the city is considering the former book store building for a City Hall annex.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Lawrence City Commission to consider resolution pledging compliance with federal executive orders
City staff members are asking the Lawrence City Commission to pass a resolution saying the city will indefinitely suspend enforcement of its equal rights ordinances in hopes of maintaining federal funding.
