Kansas, 1991

Tornadoes and Hail in Kansas, May 16, 1991

May 16, 1991 · 78 events in 38 counties and zones

51 hail, 19 tornado, 8 thunderstorm wind, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
2
Property damage
$2.8 million
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
78

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

Event by event

51 hail, 19 tornado, 8 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Rooks

When
May 16, 12:54 PM CST
Where
Rooks County
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
39.430, -99.280

Hail, Graham

When
May 16, 1:05 PM CST
Where
Graham County
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
39.370, -99.700

Hail, Hodgeman

When
May 16, 1:15 PM CST
Where
Hodgeman County
Measured
2.75 in hail
Coordinates
38.080, -100.070

Hail, Russell

When
May 16, 1:30 PM CST
Where
Russell County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
38.930, -98.550

Tornado, Russell

When
May 16, 1:45 PM CST
Where
Russell County
Rating
F0
Path length
1 mi
Path width
50 yd
Property damage
$3,000
Coordinates
38.950, -98.770

Tornado, Hodgeman

When
May 16, 1:47 PM CST
Where
Hodgeman County
Rating
F3
Path length
22 mi
Path width
880 yd
Injuries
2 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage
$250,000
Coordinates
37.930, -100.150

Tornado, Ellis

When
May 16, 1:56 PM CST
Where
Ellis County
Rating
F0
Path length
1 mi
Path width
50 yd
Property damage
$3,000
Coordinates
38.930, -99.150

Hail, Ottawa

When
May 16, 2:05 PM CST
Where
Ottawa County
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
39.130, -97.720

Tornado, Cheyenne

When
May 16, 2:18 PM CST
Where
Cheyenne County
Rating
F0
Path length
7 mi
Path width
20 yd
Coordinates
39.870, -101.600

Hail, Russell

When
May 16, 2:35 PM CST
Where
Russell County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
38.880, -98.680

Hail, Finney

When
May 16, 2:36 PM CST
Where
Finney County
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
37.950, -100.980

Hail, Russell

When
May 16, 2:40 PM CST
Where
Russell County
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
38.970, -98.850

Hail, Rush

When
May 16, 2:42 PM CST
Where
Rush County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
38.650, -99.220

Hail, Hodgeman

When
May 16, 2:45 PM CST
Where
Hodgeman County
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
38.220, -100.080

Hail, Wichita

When
May 16, 2:53 PM CST
Where
Wichita County
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
38.480, -101.220

Hail, Cloud

When
May 16, 2:56 PM CST
Where
Cloud County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
39.350, -97.450

Hail, Wichita

When
May 16, 3:00 PM CST
Where
Wichita County
Measured
1.5 in hail
Coordinates
38.420, -101.430

Hail, Finney

When
May 16, 3:02 PM CST
Where
Finney County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
37.970, -100.880

Hail, Ness

When
May 16, 3:08 PM CST
Where
Ness County
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
38.370, -99.800

Hail, Bourbon

When
May 16, 3:15 PM CST
Where
Bourbon County
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
38.000, -94.700

Hail, Clay

When
May 16, 3:18 PM CST
Where
Clay County
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
39.550, -97.270

Hail, Harper

When
May 16, 3:25 PM CST
Where
Harper County
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
37.280, -97.900

Hail, Bourbon

When
May 16, 3:34 PM CST
Where
Bourbon County
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
37.980, -94.620

Hail, Rush

When
May 16, 3:50 PM CST
Where
Rush County
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
38.530, -99.350

Tornado, Sumner

When
May 16, 3:55 PM CST
Where
Sumner County
Rating
F0
Path length
0.5 mi
Path width
50 yd
Coordinates
37.400, -97.670

Tornado, Sherman

When
May 16, 4:07 PM CST
Where
Sherman County
Rating
F0
Path length
1 mi
Path width
10 yd
Coordinates
39.450, -101.830

Tornado, Sumner

When
May 16, 4:09 PM CST
Where
Sumner County
Rating
F1
Path length
9 mi
Path width
100 yd
Property damage
$25,000
Coordinates
37.430, -97.600

Tornado, Sherman

When
May 16, 4:12 PM CST
Where
Sherman County
Rating
F0
Path length
1 mi
Path width
10 yd
Coordinates
39.530, -101.950

Hail, Rush

When
May 16, 4:12 PM CST
Where
Rush County
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
38.500, -99.300

Hail, Washington

When
May 16, 4:15 PM CST
Where
Washington County
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
39.630, -97.180

Hail, Washington

When
May 16, 4:16 PM CST
Where
Washington County
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
39.730, -96.920

Hail, Graham

When
May 16, 4:18 PM CST
Where
Graham County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
39.270, -99.720

Hail, Cloud

When
May 16, 4:20 PM CST
Where
Cloud County
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
39.470, -97.620

Tornado, Sedgwick

When
May 16, 4:25 PM CST
Where
Sedgwick County
Rating
F3
Path length
20 mi
Path width
200 yd
Property damage
$2.5 million
Coordinates
37.500, -97.450

Tornado, Sherman

When
May 16, 4:32 PM CST
Where
Sherman County
Rating
F0
Path length
1 mi
Path width
10 yd
Coordinates
39.450, -101.880

Tornado, Barton

When
May 16, 4:38 PM CST
Where
Barton County
Rating
F1
Path length
2 mi
Path width
100 yd
Property damage
$3,000
Coordinates
38.370, -98.780

Tornado, Barton

When
May 16, 4:38 PM CST
Where
Barton County
Rating
F1
Path length
2 mi
Path width
100 yd
Property damage
$25,000
Coordinates
38.520, -98.820

Hail, Hamilton

When
May 16, 4:40 PM CST
Where
Hamilton County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
37.980, -101.850

Hail, Marshall

When
May 16, 4:55 PM CST
Where
Marshall County
Measured
1.5 in hail
Coordinates
39.750, -96.650

Hail, Barton

When
May 16, 5:00 PM CST
Where
Barton County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
38.630, -98.970

Hail, Rawlins

When
May 16, 5:00 PM CST
Where
Rawlins County
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
39.620, -101.280

Hail, Sedgwick

When
May 16, 5:01 PM CST
Where
Sedgwick County
Measured
4 in hail
Coordinates
37.650, -97.180

Tornado, Barton

When
May 16, 5:12 PM CST
Where
Barton County
Rating
F0
Path length
1 mi
Path width
50 yd
Property damage
$25,000
Coordinates
38.600, -98.770

Hail, Russell

When
May 16, 5:14 PM CST
Where
Russell County
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
38.720, -98.850

Tornado, Butler

When
May 16, 5:20 PM CST
Where
Butler County
Rating
F0
Path length
1 mi
Path width
50 yd
Coordinates
37.680, -97.030

Tornado, Butler

When
May 16, 5:25 PM CST
Where
Butler County
Rating
F0
Path length
1 mi
Path width
50 yd
Coordinates
37.670, -96.980

Tornado, Barton

When
May 16, 5:28 PM CST
Where
Barton County
Rating
F0
Path length
1 mi
Path width
50 yd
Coordinates
38.420, -98.500

Hail, Russell

When
May 16, 5:35 PM CST
Where
Russell County
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
38.870, -98.700

Hail, Butler

When
May 16, 5:42 PM CST
Where
Butler County
Measured
4 in hail
Coordinates
37.820, -96.870

Tornado, Rice

When
May 16, 5:45 PM CST
Where
Rice County
Rating
F0
Path length
1 mi
Path width
50 yd
Property damage
$3,000
Coordinates
38.450, -98.350

Tornado, Butler

When
May 16, 5:45 PM CST
Where
Butler County
Rating
F0
Path length
1 mi
Path width
50 yd
Coordinates
37.830, -97.020

Hail, Rawlins

When
May 16, 6:00 PM CST
Where
Rawlins County
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
39.800, -101.050

Hail, Meade

When
May 16, 6:17 PM CST
Where
Meade County
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
37.430, -100.600

Tornado, Butler

When
May 16, 6:20 PM CST
Where
Butler County
Rating
F0
Path length
1 mi
Path width
50 yd
Coordinates
37.980, -96.870

Hail, Clay

When
May 16, 6:20 PM CST
Where
Clay County
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
39.220, -97.020

Thunderstorm Wind, Clay

When
May 16, 6:30 PM CST
Where
Clay County
Measured
60 kt (69 mph)
Coordinates
39.550, -97.030

Thunderstorm Wind, Riley

When
May 16, 6:30 PM CST
Where
Riley County
Measured
60 kt (69 mph)
Coordinates
39.370, -96.820

Thunderstorm Wind, Clay

When
May 16, 6:37 PM CST
Where
Clay County
Measured
60 kt (69 mph)
Coordinates
39.380, -97.120

Hail, Marshall

When
May 16, 6:40 PM CST
Where
Marshall County
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
39.680, -96.670

Hail, Marshall

When
May 16, 6:45 PM CST
Where
Marshall County
Measured
1.5 in hail
Coordinates
39.700, -96.420

Hail, Greenwood

When
May 16, 7:15 PM CST
Where
Greenwood County
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
38.030, -96.430

Hail, Sherman

When
May 16, 7:15 PM CST
Where
Sherman County
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
39.220, -101.530

Thunderstorm Wind, Greenwood

When
May 16, 7:30 PM CST
Where
Greenwood County
Measured
58 kt (67 mph)
Coordinates
38.030, -96.430

Thunderstorm Wind, Dickinson

When
May 16, 7:35 PM CST
Where
Dickinson County
Measured
65 kt (75 mph)
Coordinates
38.930, -97.250

Thunderstorm Wind, Ottawa

When
May 16, 7:40 PM CST
Where
Ottawa County
Measured
60 kt (69 mph)
Coordinates
39.030, -97.600

Hail, Thomas

When
May 16, 7:43 PM CST
Where
Thomas County
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
39.370, -101.300

Hail, Geary

When
May 16, 8:00 PM CST
Where
Geary County
Measured
1.5 in hail
Coordinates
38.950, -96.830

Hail, Lyon

When
May 16, 8:00 PM CST
Where
Lyon County
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
38.270, -96.170

Thunderstorm Wind, Riley

When
May 16, 8:00 PM CST
Where
Riley County
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates
39.180, -96.580

Hail, Lyon

When
May 16, 8:05 PM CST
Where
Lyon County
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
38.370, -95.980

Hail, Osage

When
May 16, 8:30 PM CST
Where
Osage County
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
38.630, -95.820

Hail, Coffey

When
May 16, 8:40 PM CST
Where
Coffey County
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
38.250, -95.680

Thunderstorm Wind, Pottawatomie

When
May 16, 8:45 PM CST
Where
Pottawatomie County
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates
39.200, -96.320

Hail, Douglas

When
May 16, 9:10 PM CST
Where
Douglas County
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
38.950, -95.100

Hail, Douglas

When
May 16, 9:45 PM CST
Where
Douglas County
Measured
1.5 in hail
Coordinates
38.920, -95.380

Hail, Chase

When
May 16, 10:10 PM CST
Where
Chase County
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
38.300, -96.730

Hail, Marshall

When
May 16, 10:10 PM CST
Where
Marshall County
Measured
1.5 in hail
Coordinates
39.820, -96.600

Hail, Nemaha

When
May 16, 10:30 PM CST
Where
Nemaha County
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
39.730, -96.130

What these are

Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Tornado
A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Kansas in 1991Every state in 1991This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Kansas, 1991Warnings in Kansas, May 1991

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 10036841, 10036842, 10036843, 10036844, 10036845, 10036846, 10036847, 10036848, 10036849, 10036850, 10036851, 10036852, 10036853, 10036854, 10036855, 10036856, 10036857, 10037710, 10037711, 10037925, 10037926, 10037927, 10037928, 10037929, 10037930, 10037931, 10037932, 10037933, 10037934, 10037935, 10037936, 10037937, 10037938, 10037939, 10037940, 10037941, 10037942, 10037943, 10037944, 10037945, and more.