Alert archive / Kansas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 113, NWS Hastings, NE

May 30, 2026Jewell County, Smith County, Kansas

NWS Hastings, NE issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 30, 2026, 7:41 PM CDT for Jewell County, Smith County, Kansas. It was in force for 34 min. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued: May 30, 2026, 7:41 PM CDT (00:41 UTC)
Expired: May 30, 2026, 8:15 PM CDT
In force: 34 min
Issued by: NWS Hastings, NE
Area: Storm-based polygon
Hail: 1.0 in
Wind: 60.0 mph

Counties Jewell County, KS, Smith County, KS

The radar

The Grand Island radar (KUEX), 55 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:40 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What was reported inside it

Time	Report	Where	Remark
May 30, 7:45 PM CDT	HAIL 0.7	Lebanon, KS	Delayed report. Observer reported strong winds and dime sized hail about 745 PM 5/30. Hail lasted for less than 10 minutes.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this severe thunderstorm warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
May 30, 3:34 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

N. Platte/Lee Bi, NE (KLBF), launched 00:00Z, 0.7 hours before the alert went out and 235 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.

Mixed-layer CAPE: 2499 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -10 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1248 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 21 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 32 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 130 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 4.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

071 
WUUS53 KGID 310041
SVRGID
KSC089-183-310115-
/O.NEW.KGID.SV.W.0113.260531T0041Z-260531T0115Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Hastings NE
741 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026

The National Weather Service in Hastings has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  Northwestern Jewell County in north central Kansas...
  Northeastern Smith County in north central Kansas...

* Until 815 PM CDT.

* At 740 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
  extending from near Lebanon to 6 miles southwest of Esbon to near
  Ionia, moving northeast at 30 mph.

  HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage 
           to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Severe thunderstorms will be near...
  Lebanon and Esbon around 745 PM CDT.
  Burr Oak around 800 PM CDT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

&&

LAT...LON 3967 9822 3968 9857 3978 9872 3999 9858
      4000 9855 4000 9806
TIME...MOT...LOC 0040Z 208DEG 26KT 3981 9861 3975 9852 3969 9842 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

Rossi

1 follow-up statement

415 
WWUS53 KGID 310101
SVSGID

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Hastings NE
801 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026

KSC089-183-310115-
/O.CON.KGID.SV.W.0113.000000T0000Z-260531T0115Z/
Jewell KS-Smith KS-
801 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 815 PM CDT
FOR NORTHWESTERN JEWELL AND NORTHEASTERN SMITH COUNTIES...

At 801 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from 9 miles north of Lebanon to near Esbon to near Burr
Oak, moving northeast at 30 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to 
         roofs, siding, and trees.

These severe storms will be near...
  Burr Oak around 805 PM CDT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

&&

LAT...LON 3973 9819 3979 9860 3985 9868 3999 9858
      4000 9855 4000 9806
TIME...MOT...LOC 0101Z 208DEG 26KT 3994 9852 3988 9843 3982 9833 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

Rossi

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Hastings, NE wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at May 30, 6:22 PM CDT, 1 hour 19 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

Thunderstorms becoming likely across much of the area this evening, with some severe weather expected. Hail to around 2 inches, wind gusts to 70 mph and an isolated tornado (main potential across north central Kansas) all possible.
Additional periodic chances for showers and thunderstorms across the local area through the end of next week, mainly favoring the evening through late night hours.
Seasonably warm temperatures will continue through the period, with highs most days in the 80s and lows near 60 (averaging about 3-5 degrees above normal).

Area forecast discussion, May 30, 6:22 PM CDT, 1 hour 19 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Hastings NE
622 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026

...AVIATION UPDATE...

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Thunderstorms becoming likely across much of the area this
  evening, with some severe weather expected. Hail to around 2
  inches, wind gusts to 70 mph and an isolated tornado (main
  potential across north central Kansas) all possible.

- Additional periodic chances for showers and thunderstorms
  across the local area through the end of next week, mainly
  favoring the evening through late night hours.

- Seasonably warm temperatures will continue through the period,
  with highs most days in the 80s and lows near 60 (averaging
  about 3-5 degrees above normal).

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 242 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026

Looks like it will be fairly active across the local area this
evening as CU is just starting to get agitated along the
dryline across southwestern Kansas. Despite fairly marginal
shear, this CU will be moving into an area of increased (and
very strong) instability which will help fuel explosive growth
as they track northward towards the local area. This will most
likely favor some large hail and strong wind gust potential as
the storms expand and merge, but if a few storms are able to
remain discrete, an isolated tornado (as advertised by SPC) will
also be possible across our local area.

This activity across southwestern Kansas this afternoon is only
one area of concern, and a separate area of convection is
anticipated to develop across the high plains to our west in
response to an upper level low rotating across northern
Colorado. Eventually, these two clusters of storms may merge
across the local area by mid to late evening as it lifts
northeast of the area overnight. As these lines of storms merge,
the main threat should transition to strong winds late tonight,
with some possible sub-severe redevelopment hinted at in its
wake during the pre-dawn hours Sunday.

Thereafter...the main upper level low will then lift north
toward Montana by Sunday afternoon, with a weak west
southwesterly flow steering addition weak disturbances across
the local area as we go through the upcoming work week. While
Sunday afternoon/evening looks fairly quiet, this will result in
periodic, mainly evening/night-time chances for thunderstorms
across the local area, along with seasonably warm temperatures
through the end of the extended periods. Overall, the best shot
for some severe weather appears to be with the late afternoon
and evening convection today, but cannot rule out more isolated
chances for strong or severe storms later in the period.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY/...
Issued at 517 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026

For KGRI/KEAR Airports:

Thunderstorms are rapidly approaching the terminals from the
south. Expect these storms to be in the VCTY of both sites over
the next hour or two, with a period of 1-3 hours of reduced
VSBYS and near IFR CIGS as the initial push crosses the
terminals. Could see some redevelopment overnight behind the
initial line and kept a prob30 group from 31/08-31/10 to cover
this. Clearing skies and steady southerly breezes near 12 KTS
are expected to return by the afternoon hours Sunday.

&&

.GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NE...None.
KS...None.

&&

DISCUSSION...Rossi
AVIATION...Rossi

Hazardous weather outlook, May 30, 12:01 PM CDT, 7 hours 40 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Hastings NE
1201 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026

KSZ005>007-017>019-NEZ039>041-046>049-060>064-072>077-082>087-
311715-
Phillips-Smith-Jewell-Rooks-Osborne-Mitchell-Valley-Greeley-Nance-
Sherman-Howard-Merrick-Polk-Dawson-Buffalo-Hall-Hamilton-York-
Gosper-Phelps-Kearney-Adams-Clay-Fillmore-Furnas-Harlan-Franklin-
Webster-Nuckolls-Thayer-
1201 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for south central Nebraska and
portions of north central Kansas.

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight.

Scattered strong to severe thunderstorms are possible across the
local outlook area during the late afternoon through evening
hours. All forms of severe weather will be possible, including 2
inch hail, 70 mph wind gusts, and an isolated tornado.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday.

Periodic thunderstorm chances continue across at least parts of
the local area each day Sunday through Thursday. A few storms on
Sunday and Monday could be strong to marginally severe, though
the exact details remain uncertain.

&&

More information may be obtained at the following web page:
   https://www.weather.gov/hastings

Rossi

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 30, 7:05 PM CDT, 36 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Hastings NE
705 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0645 PM     Hail             1 E Cambridge           40.28N 100.16W
05/30/2026  M1.25 Inch       Furnas             NE   Trained Spotter

&&

Pfannkuch

Local storm report, May 30, 7:15 PM CDT, 26 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Hastings NE
715 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0710 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     2 E Tipton              39.34N 98.43W
05/30/2026  M52 MPH          Mitchell           KS   Mesonet

            Unofficial personal weather station.

&&

Pfannkuch

Local storm report, May 30, 7:21 PM CDT, 20 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Hastings NE
721 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0713 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     2 W Franklin            40.10N 98.99W
05/30/2026  E60 MPH          Franklin           NE   Trained Spotter

&&

Pfannkuch

Local storm report, May 30, 7:22 PM CDT, 19 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Hastings NE
722 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0652 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Arapahoe                40.31N 99.91W
05/30/2026                   Furnas             NE   Public

            12 inch tree limb down...time estimated from
            radar.

&&

Pfannkuch

Local storm report, May 30, 7:24 PM CDT, 17 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Hastings NE
724 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0651 PM     Hail             2 NNW Cambridge         40.32N 100.18W
05/30/2026  E1.25 Inch       Furnas             NE   Public

&&

Pfannkuch

Local storm report, May 30, 7:33 PM CDT, 8 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Hastings NE
733 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0729 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     3 S Johnson Lake        40.64N 99.84W
05/30/2026  M59 MPH          Gosper             NE   Mesonet

            Unofficial personal weather station.

&&

Pfannkuch

The office that day

Everything else NWS Hastings, NE issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 30, 7:12 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GID	Phillips, Smith	48 min
May 30, 7:18 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GID	Jewell, Mitchell, Osborne, Smith	42 min
May 30, 7:58 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GID	Jewell, Smith	47 min
May 30, 9:42 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	GID	Osborne	48 min
May 30, 10:34 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	GID	Osborne	74 min
May 30, 10:54 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	GID	Osborne	36 min
May 30, 11:48 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	GID	Osborne	5 hr
May 31, 5:28 AM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	GID	Osborne	5 hr

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Kansas, 2026 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2026

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.