Alert archive / Kansas / Tornado Warnings in 2026
Tornado Warning 16, NWS Wichita, KS
NWS Wichita, KS issued this tornado warning at May 30, 2026, 3:57 PM CDT for Neosho County, Kansas. It was in force for 23 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, 3:57 PM CDT (20:57 UTC)
- Expired
- May 30, 2026, 4:20 PM CDT
- In force
- 23 min
- Issued by
- NWS Wichita, KS
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Radar indicated
- Hail
- 0.75 in
County Neosho County, KS
The radar
The Tulsa radar (KINX), 161 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:57 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, 4:23 PM CDT | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Nw Erie, KS | Reports of limbs down, estimated 60-70+ mph gusts. |
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 tornado 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 nearest sounding before it
Springfield, MO (KSGF), launched 12:00Z, 9.0 hours before the alert went out and 154 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 824 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -105 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 924 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 16 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 84 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 124 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
607
WFUS53 KICT 302057
TORICT
KSC133-302145-
/O.NEW.KICT.TO.W.0016.260530T2057Z-260530T2145Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Wichita KS
357 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026
The National Weather Service in Wichita has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Northern Neosho County in southeastern Kansas...
* Until 445 PM CDT.
* At 357 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 6 miles northwest of Erie, moving east at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado.
SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed.
Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree
damage is likely.
* This dangerous storm will be near...
Erie around 405 PM CDT.
Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include Stark.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.
&&
LAT...LON 3756 9546 3773 9539 3773 9509 3746 9509
TIME...MOT...LOC 2057Z 285DEG 16KT 3763 9534
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
$$
CUELLAR3 follow-up statements
910
WWUS53 KICT 302103
SVSICT
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wichita KS
403 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026
KSC133-302145-
/O.CON.KICT.TO.W.0016.000000T0000Z-260530T2145Z/
Neosho KS-
403 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 445 PM CDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN NEOSHO COUNTY...
At 402 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Erie, moving east at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado and ping pong ball size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage
to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is
likely.
This dangerous storm will be near...
Erie around 410 PM CDT.
St. Paul around 425 PM CDT.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.
Heavy rainfall may hide this tornado. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!
&&
LAT...LON 3756 9541 3768 9536 3768 9509 3746 9509
TIME...MOT...LOC 2102Z 286DEG 16KT 3761 9532
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.50 IN
$$
CUELLAR144
WWUS53 KICT 302113
SVSICT
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wichita KS
413 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026
KSC133-302145-
/O.CON.KICT.TO.W.0016.000000T0000Z-260530T2145Z/
Neosho KS-
413 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 445 PM CDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN NEOSHO COUNTY...
At 413 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Erie, moving east at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado and ping pong ball size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage
to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is
likely.
This dangerous storm will be near...
Erie and St. Paul around 420 PM CDT.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.
Heavy rainfall may hide this tornado. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!
&&
LAT...LON 3755 9538 3766 9532 3765 9509 3746 9509
TIME...MOT...LOC 2113Z 286DEG 16KT 3759 9526
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.50 IN
$$
CUELLAR101 WWUS53 KICT 302120 SVSICT Severe Weather Statement National Weather Service Wichita KS 420 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026 KSC133-302129- /O.CAN.KICT.TO.W.0016.000000T0000Z-260530T2145Z/ Neosho KS- 420 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026 ...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN NEOSHO COUNTY IS CANCELLED... The tornado threat has diminished and the Tornado Warning has been cancelled. However, large hail and damaging winds remain likely and a Severe Thunderstorm Warning remains in effect for the area. However, small hail, gusty winds and heavy rain are still possible with this thunderstorm. To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service Wichita. Remember, a Severe Thunderstorm Warning still remains in effect for Neosho County. && LAT...LON 3755 9538 3766 9532 3765 9509 3746 9509 TIME...MOT...LOC 2118Z 285DEG 16KT 3758 9522 $$ CUELLAR
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this tornado warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Wichita, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at May 30, 1:39 PM CDT, 2 hours 18 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Spotty rain/storms linger in eastern Kansas this afternoon.
- Severe storms likely today, developing in south-central Kansas this afternoon and progressing east through the evening.
- Isolated severe storms possible Sunday afternoon, mainly east of I-135.
- Seasonal temperatures over the next week with highs in the 80s to around 90.
Area forecast discussion, May 30, 1:39 PM CDT, 2 hours 18 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Wichita KS 139 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Spotty rain/storms linger in eastern Kansas this afternoon. - Severe storms likely today, developing in south-central Kansas this afternoon and progressing east through the evening. - Isolated severe storms possible Sunday afternoon, mainly east of I-135. - Seasonal temperatures over the next week with highs in the 80s to around 90. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 134 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026 Currently, a shortwave trough is situated over the Central Rockies with a larger trough extending across the Canadian and Northwest US Pacific Coast. Weak ridging is positioned just to our south across the Southern Plains. In the mid-levels, WAA continues across the region and the overnight LLJ is beginning to weaken to our southwest. At the surface, a low pressure has developed and sits over the Central High Plains. Sub-severe showers and thunderstorms dot eastern Kansas. This activity will gradually push east out of the area over the next few hours. As we move through this afternoon and evening, the western trough will lift into the High Plains and the surface low in the lee of the Rockies will begin to shift further east into western Kansas, pushing a sharpening dryline from western into central Kansas during the afternoon into evening hours. Ample instability (3500-4500 J/kg MLCAPE) and shear of around 30 kts will make the most of a relatively uncapped environment leading to widespread strong to severe storms. Storms look to initially develop along the dryline across central Kansas as a few discrete cells after 3pm. Because of the weak cap, once we see convective initiation, we will see a cascade effect of storms unzipping along a line in central Kansas. Due to the lack of deep shear, discrete supercellular structure will not be supported and the convection will evolve into a broken line that will quickly move east-northeast. Strong winds of 70-80 mph and large hail up to tennis ball sized would be the primary threats with the strongest storms, though a brief tornado or two cannot be ruled out. As the upper level and lee surface trough slowly move over the High Plains into Sunday morning, a few widely scattered showers could linger, especially over northern and eastern portions of the forecast area through the morning hours. Then for Sunday afternoon, a dryline will once again develop across central Kansas that could initiate afternoon and evening convection once again. Confidence remains low as the ridge to the south begins to build in over the region, leading to increasing heights and weakening overall ascent over the region. Decent instability and sufficient shear would support isolated storms should they manage to develop. Current guidance indicates development along and east of I-135 with activity pushing east through the night. Then for next week, a mid/upper level ridge will continue to build in over the region with the forecast area remaining just north of the ridge axis. This will lead to not only increasing temps (middle 80s to lower 90s), but an overall less supportive environment for more potent convection due to synoptic scale subsidence. However, due to the positioning of the upper-level flow, and given the buoyant lower-level airmass, some diurnally driven showers and storms look to develop each afternoon/evening. Confidence remains low on exact location and intensity of any convection for Sunday afternoon through Thursday. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SUNDAY/... Issued at 1235 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026 A band of showers and thunderstorms continues to shift to the northeast across the Flint Hills and southeast Kansas. This activity may miss CNU to the north and south hence only PROB30s have been included at this time but the activity could produce gusty and erratic winds as well as drops in visibility due to heavy rainfall. Additional showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop across central and south central Kansas this afternoon and then spread to the northeast this evening and impact most of the TAF sites. These storms will be more potent, with the potential for large hail, damaging downburst winds, frequent lightning, and heavy rainfall. Activity should shift east and north of the TAF sites around sunset although a few lingering showers and thunderstorms may continue through late tonight. Low clouds and fog will try to develop early tomorrow morning which could lead to some IFR to LIFR ceilings and visibility. Confidence on seeing this activity is highest across central Kansas but may also impact ICT and HUT as well. VFR conditions will return by late tomorrow morning to all sites. && .ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && DISCUSSION...AMD AVIATION...WI
Hazardous weather outlook, May 30, 1:43 PM CDT, 2 hours 14 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Wichita KS 143 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026 KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-311845- Russell-Lincoln-Barton-Ellsworth-Saline-Rice-McPherson-Marion-Chase- Reno-Harvey-Butler-Greenwood-Woodson-Allen-Kingman-Sedgwick-Harper- Sumner-Cowley-Elk-Wilson-Neosho-Chautauqua-Montgomery-Labette- 143 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of central Kansas, east central Kansas, south central Kansas and southeast Kansas. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight Isolated to scattered thunderstorms will continue this afternoon across eastern Kansas. The strongest storms may produce hail up to penny size, gusty winds between 40-50 mph, and heavy rainfall. Severe thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and evening. The strongest thunderstorms will be capable of hail up to tennis ball size, damaging winds up to 80 mph, and a tornado or two cannot be ruled out. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday Additional thunderstorms are possible Sunday through Friday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will be needed this afternoon and tonight. && For a graphical version of this information, see our webpage at: https://www.weather.gov/erh/ghwo?wfo=ict
In the hours before
Local storm report, May 30, 3:10 PM CDT, 47 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wichita KS
310 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0305 PM Hail Fall River 37.61N 96.03W
05/30/2026 E1.00 Inch Greenwood KS Public
&&Local storm report, May 30, 3:12 PM CDT, 45 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wichita KS
312 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0310 PM Hail Fall River 37.61N 96.03W
05/30/2026 E1.25 Inch Greenwood KS Trained Spotter
&&Local storm report, May 30, 3:19 PM CDT, 38 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wichita KS
319 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0315 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 2 ESE Buffalo 37.70N 95.67W
05/30/2026 E60 MPH Wilson KS Trained Spotter
Occasional gusts to 70 mph and pea-sized
hail.
&&Local storm report, May 30, 3:26 PM CDT, 31 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wichita KS
326 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0320 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 ESE Buffalo 37.70N 95.67W
05/30/2026 Wilson KS Trained Spotter
Multiple 4+ in limbs down, gusts estimated
70+ mph.
&&Local storm report, May 30, 3:53 PM CDT, 4 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wichita KS
353 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0348 PM Hail Chanute 37.68N 95.46W
05/30/2026 E1.00 Inch Neosho KS Public
Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).
&&The office that day
Everything else NWS Wichita, KS issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 29, 9:13 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ICT | Barton, Ellsworth, Rice | 47 min |
| May 29, 10:00 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ICT | Ellsworth, McPherson, Rice, Saline | 30 min |
| May 29, 10:04 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ICT | Lincoln, Russell | 26 min |
| May 30, 2:51 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ICT | Allen, Neosho, Wilson, Woodson | 54 min |
| May 30, 3:03 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ICT | Elk, Greenwood, Wilson | 43 min |
| May 30, 3:15 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ICT | Neosho, Wilson | 45 min |
| May 30, 3:41 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ICT | Allen, Neosho, Wilson, Woodson | 64 min |
| May 30, 4:00 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ICT | Harper, Kingman | 45 min |
| May 30, 4:23 PM CDT | Areal Flood Warning | ICT | Allen, Neosho, Wilson, Woodson | 4 hr |
| May 30, 4:29 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ICT | Neosho | 7 min |
| May 30, 4:39 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ICT | Harper, Kingman, Reno, Sedgwick, Sumner | 51 min |
| May 30, 5:16 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ICT | Barton, Russell | 59 min |
| May 30, 5:27 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ICT | Harper, Harvey, Kingman, Reno, Sedgwick, Sumner | 48 min |
| May 30, 6:11 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ICT | Barton, Russell | 53 min |
| May 30, 6:14 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ICT | Butler, Harvey, McPherson, Reno, Sedgwick | 31 min |
| May 30, 6:17 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ICT | Kingman, Reno, Sedgwick | 28 min |
| May 30, 6:42 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ICT | Kingman, Reno | 48 min |
| May 30, 6:43 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ICT | Lincoln, Russell | 46 min |
| May 30, 6:45 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ICT | Butler, Harvey, McPherson, Marion | 45 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in Kansas, 2026Every tornado warning in 2026Tornadoes 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.