Tornadoes and Hail in Kansas, May 17, 1993

Name: Tornadoes and Hail in Kansas, May 17, 1993
Start: 1993-05-17T14:50
End: 1993-05-17T21:45
Location: Kansas

May 17, 1993 · 53 events in 16 counties and zones

38 hail, 13 thunderstorm wind, 2 tornado, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 51 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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: 0
Property damage: $504,000
Crop damage: $146,000
Events: 53

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.

The radar

The Dodge City radar (KDDC), 64 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:14 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

38 hail, 13 thunderstorm wind, 2 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Kiowa

When: May 17, 2:50 PM CST
Where: Kiowa County, Mullinville
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 37.558, -99.286 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Kiowa

When: May 17, 2:58 PM CST
Where: Kiowa County, Greensburg
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Coordinates: 37.558, -99.286 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Comanche

When: May 17, 3:29 PM CST
Where: Comanche County, Coldwater
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 37.191, -99.272 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Stafford

When: May 17, 3:46 PM CST
Where: Stafford County, Stafford
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Coordinates: 38.031, -98.717 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Comanche

When: May 17, 3:50 PM CST
Where: Comanche County, Coldwater
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 37.191, -99.272 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Stafford

When: May 17, 3:50 PM CST
Where: Stafford County to Neola
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 38.031, -98.717 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Reno

When: May 17, 4:03 PM CST
Where: Reno County, Turon
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Crop damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 37.953, -98.086 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Comanche

When: May 17, 4:05 PM CST
Where: Comanche County, Wilmore
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 37.191, -99.272 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Reno

When: May 17, 4:07 PM CST
Where: Reno County, Turon
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Crop damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 37.953, -98.086 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Comanche

When: May 17, 4:10 PM CST
Where: Comanche County, Coldwater
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 37.191, -99.272 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Reno

When: May 17, 4:11 PM CST
Where: Reno County, Turon
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Crop damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 37.953, -98.086 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Comanche

When: May 17, 4:16 PM CST
Where: Comanche County, Coldwater
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 37.191, -99.272 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tornado, Reno

When: May 17, 4:17 PM CST
Where: Reno County, Turon
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Coordinates: 37.800, -98.420

The tornado touched ground briefly, but no damage resulted.

Hail, Barber

When: May 17, 4:20 PM CST
Where: Barber County, Medicine Lodge
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 37.229, -98.685 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Barber

When: May 17, 4:30 PM CST
Where: Barber County, Medicine Lodge
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 37.229, -98.685 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Barber

When: May 17, 4:35 PM CST
Where: Barber County, Lake City
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 37.229, -98.685 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Reno

When: May 17, 4:48 PM CST
Where: Reno County, Arlington
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Crop damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 37.953, -98.086 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Kingman

When: May 17, 4:51 PM CST
Where: Kingman County, Kingman
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Crop damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 37.559, -98.136 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Kingman

When: May 17, 4:55 PM CST
Where: Kingman County, Brown Spur
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Crop damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 37.559, -98.136 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Kingman

When: May 17, 5:05 PM CST
Where: Kingman County, Kingman
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Crop damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 37.559, -98.136 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Barber

When: May 17, 5:10 PM CST
Where: Barber County, Medicine Lodge
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 37.229, -98.685 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tornado, Kingman

When: May 17, 5:23 PM CST
Where: Kingman County, Cleveland
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.5 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 37.550, -98.130

A strong thunderstorm dropped golf ball-size and larger hail in several locations across Reno and Kingman counties. It also dropped two brief, weak tornadoes. The first twister touched ground, but caused no damage just east of Turon. The second caused minor damage to a home at Cleveland.

Hail, Butler

When: May 17, 5:25 PM CST
Where: Butler County, El Dorado
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Crop damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 37.781, -96.839 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Barber

When: May 17, 5:29 PM CST
Where: Barber County to Medicine Lodge
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 37.229, -98.685 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Barber

When: May 17, 5:35 PM CST
Where: Barber County, Hardtner
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 37.229, -98.685 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Barber

When: May 17, 5:36 PM CST
Where: Barber County, Hazelton
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 37.229, -98.685 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Harper

When: May 17, 5:37 PM CST
Where: Harper County, Near Duquoin
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Property damage: $500
Crop damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 37.192, -98.075 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Kingman

When: May 17, 6:02 PM CST
Where: Kingman County, Norwich
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Crop damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 37.559, -98.136 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Elk

When: May 17, 6:10 PM CST
Where: Elk County, Howard
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Property damage: $500
Crop damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 37.454, -96.244 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Sedgwick

When: May 17, 6:10 PM CST
Where: Sedgwick County, Viola
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Property damage: $500
Coordinates: 37.685, -97.461 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Sumner

When: May 17, 6:10 PM CST
Where: Sumner County, Milton
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Property damage: $500
Coordinates: 37.237, -97.477 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Sumner

When: May 17, 6:22 PM CST
Where: Sumner County, Conway Springs
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph)
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 37.237, -97.477 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Power lines were knocked down.

Hail, Elk

When: May 17, 6:25 PM CST
Where: Elk County, Howard
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Property damage: $500
Crop damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 37.454, -96.244 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A thunderstorm dropped three-quarter inch hail around Howard.

Thunderstorm Wind, Sumner

When: May 17, 6:26 PM CST
Where: Sumner County, Wellington
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph)
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 37.237, -97.477 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Butler

When: May 17, 6:28 PM CST
Where: Butler County, El Dorado Lake
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $50,000
Crop damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 37.781, -96.839 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Sumner

When: May 17, 6:38 PM CST
Where: Sumner County, Wellington Airpor
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph)
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 37.237, -97.477 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Sumner

When: May 17, 6:40 PM CST
Where: Sumner County, Wellington
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph)
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 37.237, -97.477 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Trees, power lines and fences were knocked down.

Hail, Sumner

When: May 17, 6:55 PM CST
Where: Sumner County, Wellington
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Crop damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 37.237, -97.477 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Butler

When: May 17, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Butler County, Rosalia
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Property damage: $500
Crop damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 37.781, -96.839 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A thunderstorm dropped hail as large as golf balls east of El Dorado.

Thunderstorm Wind, Sumner

When: May 17, 7:02 PM CST
Where: Sumner County, Oxford
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph)
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 37.237, -97.477 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The roof was ripped off a mobile home.

Thunderstorm Wind, Sumner

When: May 17, 7:05 PM CST
Where: Sumner County, Oxford
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 37.237, -97.477 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A large section of a tin roof was torn from the Oxford Flour Mill.

Hail, Cowley

When: May 17, 7:17 PM CST
Where: Cowley County to Winfield
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Property damage: $500
Crop damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 37.238, -96.837 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Montgomery

When: May 17, 7:42 PM CST
Where: Montgomery County, Independence
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Crop damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 37.193, -95.743 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Montgomery

When: May 17, 7:50 PM CST
Where: Montgomery County, Elk City
Measured: 2.5 in hail
Property damage: $50,000
Crop damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 37.193, -95.743 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Montgomery

When: May 17, 7:59 PM CST
Where: Montgomery County, Independence
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $50,000
Crop damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 37.193, -95.743 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Cowley

When: May 17, 8:00 PM CST
Where: Cowley County, Winfield
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Property damage: $500
Crop damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 37.238, -96.837 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A line of thunderstorms produced 70 mile an hour winds and hail as large as golf balls across parts Harper, Kingman, Sedgwick, Sumner and Cowley Counties. Sumner County, including Wellington, Conway Springs and Oxford caught some significant damage, while only minor damage occurred in the other locations.

Hail, Montgomery

When: May 17, 8:00 PM CST
Where: Montgomery County, Elk City
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 37.193, -95.743 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Montgomery

When: May 17, 8:00 PM CST
Where: Montgomery County, Elk City
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph)
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 37.193, -95.743 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Montgomery

When: May 17, 8:42 PM CST
Where: Montgomery County, Coffeyville
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Crop damage: $500
Coordinates: 37.193, -95.743 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Chautauqua

When: May 17, 8:45 PM CST
Where: Chautauqua County, Peru
Measured: 70 kt (81 mph)
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 37.150, -96.245 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Labette

When: May 17, 9:00 PM CST
Where: Labette County, Bartlett
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 37.191, -95.298 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Montgomery

When: May 17, 9:30 PM CST
Where: Montgomery County, Coffeyville
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph)
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 37.193, -95.743 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Cherokee

When: May 17, 9:45 PM CST
Where: Cherokee County, Columbus
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 37.169, -94.846 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A series of slow moving thunderstorms produced winds near 70 miles an hour that caused tree and power line damage. They also dropped large hail in a few spots and widespread heavy rain that resulted in flash flooding.

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

Every storm in Kansas in 1993 Every state in 1993 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Kansas, 1993 Warnings in Kansas, May 1993

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: 10326811, 10326812, 10323175, 10325494, 10323176, 10325495, 10326153, 10323177, 10326154, 10323178, 10324969, 10323179, 10324970, 10324388, 10324389, 10324285, 10324971, 10326759, 10326760, 10326761, 10324286, 10326762, 10323836, 10324287, 10324288, 10324289, 10326518, 10326763, 10323363, 10325680, 10325788, 10325789, 10323364, 10325790, 10323837, 10325791, 10325792, 10325793, 10323838, 10325794, and more.