Kansas, 1993

Tornadoes and Hail in Kansas, May 6, 1993

May 6, 1993 · 31 events in 22 counties and zones

15 hail, 13 tornado, 3 thunderstorm wind, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 20 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
$8.0 million
Crop damage
$359,000
Events
31

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

15 hail, 13 tornado, 3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Sherman

When
May 6, 6:50 AM CST to 7:05 AM CST
Where
Sherman County, Goodland
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
39.351, -101.720 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Logan

When
May 6, 9:40 AM CST
Where
Logan County, Monument
Measured
88 kt (101 mph)
Coordinates
38.917, -101.148 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Mitchell

When
May 6, 11:20 AM CST
Where
Mitchell County, Beloit
Measured
0.75 in hail
Property damage
$500
Crop damage
$500
Coordinates
39.393, -98.209 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Gove

When
May 6, 11:25 AM CST
Where
Gove County, Quinter
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
38.916, -100.483 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Rooks

When
May 6, 12:50 PM CST
Where
Rooks County, Zurich
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
39.350, -99.325 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Ellis

When
May 6, 12:52 PM CST
Where
Ellis County, Ellis
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
38.915, -99.317 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Rooks

When
May 6, 1:10 PM CST to 1:20 PM CST
Where
Rooks County, Plainville
Measured
1.5 in hail
Coordinates
39.350, -99.325 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Osborne

When
May 6, 1:55 PM CST
Where
Osborne County, Alton
Measured
0.75 in hail
Property damage
$500
Crop damage
$5,000
Coordinates
39.350, -98.768 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Osborne

When
May 6, 2:00 PM CST
Where
Osborne County, Alton
Measured
0.75 in hail
Property damage
$500
Crop damage
$500
Coordinates
39.350, -98.768 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Smith

When
May 6, 2:22 PM CST
Where
Smith County, Gaylord
Measured
0.75 in hail
Property damage
$500
Crop damage
$500
Coordinates
39.785, -98.785 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Smith

When
May 6, 2:30 PM CST
Where
Smith County to Lebanon
Measured
0.75 in hail
Property damage
$500
Crop damage
$500
Coordinates
39.785, -98.785 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Smith

When
May 6, 2:30 PM CST
Where
Smith County, Claudell
Measured
0.75 in hail
Property damage
$500
Crop damage
$500
Coordinates
39.785, -98.785 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Osborne

When
May 6, 2:45 PM CST
Where
Osborne County, Portis
Measured
0.75 in hail
Property damage
$500
Crop damage
$500
Coordinates
39.350, -98.768 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Jewell

When
May 6, 3:36 PM CST
Where
Jewell County, Burr Oak
Measured
0.75 in hail
Property damage
$500
Crop damage
$500
Coordinates
39.785, -98.218 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Chase

When
May 6, 4:00 PM CST
Where
Chase County, Saffordville
Measured
0.75 in hail
Property damage
$5,000
Coordinates
38.302, -96.594 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tornado, Pottawatomie

When
May 6, 4:28 PM CST to 4:45 PM CST
Where
Pottawatomie County, Wheaton to Duluth
Rating
F1
Path length
3.5 mi
Path width
100 yd
Property damage
$500,000
Crop damage
$50,000
Coordinates
39.470, -96.270

The tornado moved through the northern part of the county causing damage at nine different locations. Most damage was to outbuildings and barns although three homes were damaged in Duluth along with numerous utility poles and cable. The tornado had multiple vortices at times.

Tornado, Wabaunsee

When
May 6, 4:44 PM CST to 5:05 PM CST
Where
Wabaunsee County, Eskridge to Maple Hill
Rating
F1
Path length
13 mi
Path width
100 yd
Property damage
$500,000
Crop damage
$50,000
Coordinates
38.870, -96.070

A tornado bounced up and down along a northeast track through the eastern part of the county, mainly in farmland. About half dozen buildings were damaged. At times the tornado had multiple vorticies. This tornado was one of 12 confirmed tornadoes that struck northeast Kansas on the evening of May 6th. Several had multiple vortices that were initially reported as more than one tornado.

Tornado, Nemaha

When
May 6, 4:47 PM CST to 5:30 PM CST
Where
Nemaha County, Centralia to Bern
Rating
F2
Path length
23 mi
Path width
440 yd
Property damage
$5.0 million
Crop damage
$50,000
Coordinates
39.620, -96.130

The longest track tornado of the day moved southwest to northeast across Nemaha county miraculously producing no deaths or injuries. However significant damage occurred to about 20 different farms or farmsteads and related business, machinery and buildings. The tornado just missed populated areas and remained generally in fields and farm areas. Excessive rain in the days after the storm hampered cleanup. Property damage from the tornado was estimated at $1.1 million. In some areas the tornado was about 1/2 mile wide while in other areas damage was only about 100 yards wide. At times the tornado had multiple vortices.

Tornado, Jackson

When
May 6, 5:00 PM CST to 5:12 PM CST
Where
Jackson County, Soldier
Rating
F1
Path length
5 mi
Path width
250 yd
Property damage
$500,000
Crop damage
$50,000
Coordinates
39.417, -95.794 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A multiple vortex tornado bounced up and down along its path damaging about 15 to 20 buildings, barns and homes at six locations in northwest Jackson county. Most of the smaller sheds were totally destroyed. Numerous power poles and cable also damaged.

Thunderstorm Wind, Pottawatomie

When
May 6, 5:26 PM CST
Where
Pottawatomie County, Westmoreland
Measured
63 kt (72 mph)
Coordinates
39.379, -96.342 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A wind gust to 55 kts was reported by weather spotters.

Tornado, Brown

When
May 6, 5:50 PM CST to 6:18 PM CST
Where
Brown County, Fairview
Rating
F2
Path length
8 mi
Path width
300 yd
Property damage
$500,000
Crop damage
$50,000
Coordinates
39.700, -95.730

The tornado began near Highway 75 about eight miles south of Fairview and moved northnortheast damaging about half dozen farmsteads before dissipating southeast of Fairview. The tornado was not on the ground continuously along its path. Debris from the tornado was reported in the sky west of Hiawatha.

Tornado, Atchison

When
May 6, 5:55 PM CST to 6:25 PM CST
Where
Atchison County, Arrington to Huron
Rating
F2
Path length
12 mi
Path width
500 yd
Property damage
$500,000
Crop damage
$50,000
Coordinates
39.470, -95.550

The tornado formed west of Arrington near Highway K116 moved north along the Delware River bottom crossing the river 0.5 miles west of Muscotah, then moved northeast through open country before dissipating five miles west of Huron near the county lake. The Tornado was not on the ground continuously but bounced up and down leaving many areas undamaged. At least four farmsteads sustained significant damage along with many trees and numerous power poles and cable. No injures or deaths were reported.

Tornado, Osage

When
May 6, 5:56 PM CST to 5:58 PM CST
Where
Osage County, Melvern
Rating
F0
Path length
1.5 mi
Path width
100 yd
Coordinates
38.480, -95.630

A small tornado hit briefly in open country with no reported or observed damage.

Tornado, Franklin

When
May 6, 5:58 PM CST to 5:59 PM CST
Where
Franklin County, Ottawa
Rating
F0
Path length
0.3 mi
Path width
30 yd
Coordinates
38.500, -95.420

Members of the Kansas University Tornado Intercept team observed a small brief tornado for about 30 seconds about ten miles west-southwest of Ottawa. No damage reported or observed.

Tornado, Franklin

When
May 6, 6:25 PM CST to 6:27 PM CST
Where
Franklin County, Ottawa
Rating
F0
Path length
0.3 mi
Path width
75 yd
Coordinates
38.680, -95.350

A tornado hit briefly in an open field with no damage reported.

Tornado, Brown

When
May 6, 6:27 PM CST to 6:45 PM CST
Where
Brown County, Everest to Robinson
Rating
F1
Path length
6 mi
Path width
100 yd
Property damage
$500,000
Crop damage
$50,000
Coordinates
39.730, -95.430

The tornado was mostly aloft during its path and damaged about five farmsteads and attending buildings and barns.

Thunderstorm Wind, Doniphan

When
May 6, 6:40 PM CST
Where
Doniphan County, Leona
Measured
61 kt (70 mph)
Coordinates
39.788, -95.147 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tornado, Douglas

When
May 6, 6:45 PM CST to 6:50 PM CST
Where
Douglas County, Pleasant Grove
Rating
F0
Path length
1 mi
Path width
75 yd
Coordinates
38.880, -95.320

A small tornado touched down briefly in open country south of Lawrence. No damage reported or observed.

Hail, Shawnee

When
May 6, 7:03 PM CST
Where
Shawnee County, Billard Aiport
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
39.042, -95.756 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Large hail fell briefly at Topeka Billard airport.

Tornado, Shawnee

When
May 6, 7:08 PM CST to 7:09 PM CST
Where
Shawnee County, Forbes Field
Rating
F0
Path length
0.3 mi
Path width
30 yd
Coordinates
39.042, -95.756 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A brief tornado was observed just east of the Forbes Airport moving through an open field.

Tornado, Leavenworth

When
May 6, 7:26 PM CST to 7:27 PM CST
Where
Leavenworth County, Jarbalo
Rating
F0
Path length
0.1 mi
Path width
20 yd
Property damage
$5,000
Coordinates
39.200, -95.070

A tornado touched down briefly at Jarbalo with reports of damage to trees and roof damage to barns.

What these are

Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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.
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.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Kansas in 1993Every state in 1993This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Kansas, 1993Warnings 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: 10325167, 10326844, 10325967, 10323412, 10325248, 10323373, 10325249, 10326180, 10326181, 10325294, 10325295, 10325368, 10326182, 10326727, 10323998, 10326201, 10326290, 10326032, 10326656, 10326202, 10323719, 10324377, 10326129, 10323634, 10323635, 10323720, 10323289, 10323303, 10324564, 10324565, 10326649.