Kansas, 1995

Tornadoes and Hail in Kansas, May 12, 1995

May 12, 1995 · 62 events in 21 counties and zones

43 hail, 11 tornado, 8 thunderstorm wind, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 54 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
1
Property damage
$819,000
Crop damage
$4.5 million
Events
62

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 Goodland radar (KGLD), 103 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:09 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

43 hail, 11 tornado, 8 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Wichita

When
May 12, 1:00 AM CST
Where
Wichita County, Marienthal
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
38.482, -101.347 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Thomas

When
May 12, 1:40 PM CST
Where
Thomas County, Brewster
Measured
2.5 in hail
Coordinates
39.351, -101.055 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Thomas

When
May 12, 1:55 PM CST
Where
Thomas County, Levant
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
39.351, -101.055 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Cheyenne

When
May 12, 2:00 PM CST
Where
Cheyenne County, Bird City
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
39.786, -101.731 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Sherman

When
May 12, 2:00 PM CST
Where
Sherman County, Edson
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
39.351, -101.720 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Crawford

When
May 12, 2:04 PM CST
Where
Crawford County, Girard
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
37.507, -94.852 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Rawlins

When
May 12, 2:10 PM CST
Where
Rawlins County, Atwood
Measured
1.5 in hail
Coordinates
39.785, -101.076 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tornado, Thomas

When
May 12, 2:12 PM CST
Where
Thomas County, Colby
Rating
F0
Path length
0.1 mi
Path width
50 yd
Coordinates
39.430, -101.070

Brief tornado observed by ham radio spotter.

Tornado, Thomas

When
May 12, 2:15 PM CST to 3:00 PM CST
Where
Thomas County, Colby to Menlo
Rating
F2
Path length
18 mi
Path width
1,500 yd
Injuries
1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage
$700,000
Crop damage
$3.5 million
Coordinates
39.420, -101.050

Intermittent tornado damage included farm residence and storage buildings roofs torn off, high voltage electricty towers destroyed,irrigation rigs over-turned, trees snapped. Extensive crop damage from tornado, highs winds, and large hail. Tornado moved nearly due east at 25 mph and entered Sheridan County. One woman was slightly injured while in her home during the tornado. A mobile home was completely destroyed.

Hail, Thomas

When
May 12, 2:30 PM CST
Where
Thomas County, Colby
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
39.351, -101.055 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Thomas

When
May 12, 2:50 PM CST
Where
Thomas County, Gem
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
39.351, -101.055 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Sheridan

When
May 12, 2:55 PM CST
Where
Sheridan County, Seguin
Measured
2.5 in hail
Coordinates
39.350, -100.442 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Thomas

When
May 12, 3:00 PM CST
Where
Thomas County, Colby
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates
39.351, -101.055 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Gustnado observed by weather service employees.

Tornado, Sheridan

When
May 12, 3:00 PM CST to 3:35 PM CST
Where
Sheridan County, Menlo to Hoxie
Rating
F2
Path length
14 mi
Path width
1,000 yd
Crop damage
$300,000
Coordinates
39.350, -100.442 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Intermittent tornado damage continued from Thomas County and unroofed homes, tipped over irrigation rigs, damaged trees, and farm outbuildings. Power lines were also taken down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Johnson

When
May 12, 3:00 PM CST
Where
Johnson County, Edgerton
Property damage
$2,000
Coordinates
38.884, -94.822 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Severe thunderstorms downed several large tree limbs in Edgerton, and produced dime size hail in Stillwell, and nickel size hail in Stanley.

Hail, Sheridan

When
May 12, 3:12 PM CST
Where
Sheridan County, Hoxie
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
39.350, -100.442 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tornado snapped large trees.

Hail, Johnson

When
May 12, 3:20 PM CST
Where
Johnson County, Stillwell
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
38.884, -94.822 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Severe thunderstorms downed several large tree limbs in Edgerton, and produced dime size hail in Stillwell, and nickel size hail in Stanley.

Hail, Johnson

When
May 12, 3:24 PM CST
Where
Johnson County, Stanley
Measured
0.88 in hail
Coordinates
38.884, -94.822 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Severe thunderstorms downed several large tree limbs in Edgerton, and produced dime size hail in Stillwell, and nickel size hail in Stanley.

Hail, Sheridan

When
May 12, 3:30 PM CST
Where
Sheridan County, Hoxie
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
39.350, -100.442 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tornado snapped large trees.

Tornado, Sheridan

When
May 12, 3:45 PM CST to 3:47 PM CST
Where
Sheridan County, Tasco
Rating
F2
Path length
0.8 mi
Path width
200 yd
Crop damage
$50,000
Coordinates
39.370, -100.280

Tornado snapped large trees.

Tornado, Graham

When
May 12, 3:50 PM CST to 3:51 PM CST
Where
Graham County, Studley
Rating
F1
Path length
0.2 mi
Path width
50 yd
Coordinates
39.350, -100.150

Brief tornado reported by law enforcement.

Hail, Sheridan

When
May 12, 3:50 PM CST
Where
Sheridan County, Tasco
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
39.350, -100.442 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Graham

When
May 12, 3:58 PM CST
Where
Graham County, Penokee
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
39.350, -99.883 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Graham

When
May 12, 4:00 PM CST
Where
Graham County, Studley
Measured
2.75 in hail
Coordinates
39.350, -99.883 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Sheridan

When
May 12, 4:04 PM CST
Where
Sheridan County, Studley
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
39.350, -100.442 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Rooks

When
May 12, 4:10 PM CST
Where
Rooks County, Damar
Measured
2.75 in hail
Property damage
$10,000
Crop damage
$150,000
Coordinates
39.350, -99.325 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Graham

When
May 12, 4:18 PM CST
Where
Graham County, Hill City
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
39.350, -99.883 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Golf ball-size hail also reported at Hill City 1607 CST.

Hail, Cheyenne

When
May 12, 4:35 PM CST
Where
Cheyenne County, St. Francis
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
39.786, -101.731 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Graham

When
May 12, 4:41 PM CST
Where
Graham County, Bogue
Measured
2 in hail
Coordinates
39.350, -99.883 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Golf ball-size hail also reported 1E Bogue at 1645 CST.

Thunderstorm Wind, Rooks

When
May 12, 4:42 PM CST
Where
Rooks County, Palco
Measured
56 kt (64 mph)
Property damage
$30,000
Crop damage
$50,000
Coordinates
39.350, -99.325 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Rooks

When
May 12, 5:00 PM CST
Where
Rooks County, Zurich
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$10,000
Crop damage
$100,000
Coordinates
39.350, -99.325 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tornado, Ellis

When
May 12, 6:20 PM CDT
Where
Ellis County, Hays
Rating
F0
Path length
0.1 mi
Path width
50 yd
Coordinates
38.915, -99.317 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A silo was destroyed and power lines down.

Tornado, Rooks

When
May 12, 5:24 PM CST
Where
Rooks County, Codell
Rating
F0
Path length
0.1 mi
Path width
25 yd
Coordinates
39.200, -99.180

Thunderstorm Wind, Ellis

When
May 12, 6:30 PM CDT
Where
Ellis County, Ellis
Measured
80 kt (92 mph)
Property damage
$40,000
Coordinates
38.915, -99.317 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A silo was destroyed and power lines down.

Tornado, Rooks

When
May 12, 5:45 PM CST
Where
Rooks County, Plainville
Rating
F0
Path length
0.1 mi
Path width
25 yd
Coordinates
39.200, -99.300

Hail, Osborne

When
May 12, 5:55 PM CST
Where
Osborne County, Natoma
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
39.350, -98.768 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Supercell thunderstorms produced baseball-size hail at Osborne and Damar and wind gusts to 65 mph at Palco. In Rooks County, the wind and hail combined to destroy 15 percent of the wheat crop and 25 percent of the alfalfa crop. Damage to 22 farm buildings was estimated at $50 thousand. Brief tornado touchdowns occurred near Codell and Plainville.

Hail, Osborne

When
May 12, 5:57 PM CST
Where
Osborne County, Alton
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
39.350, -98.768 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Supercell thunderstorms produced baseball-size hail at Osborne and Damar and wind gusts to 65 mph at Palco. In Rooks County, the wind and hail combined to destroy 15 percent of the wheat crop and 25 percent of the alfalfa crop. Damage to 22 farm buildings was estimated at $50 thousand. Brief tornado touchdowns occurred near Codell and Plainville.

Hail, Osborne

When
May 12, 5:58 PM CST
Where
Osborne County, Osborne
Measured
2.75 in hail
Coordinates
39.350, -98.768 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Supercell thunderstorms produced baseball-size hail at Osborne and Damar and wind gusts to 65 mph at Palco. In Rooks County, the wind and hail combined to destroy 15 percent of the wheat crop and 25 percent of the alfalfa crop. Damage to 22 farm buildings was estimated at $50 thousand. Brief tornado touchdowns occurred near Codell and Plainville.

Hail, Osborne

When
May 12, 6:08 PM CST
Where
Osborne County, Covert
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
39.350, -98.768 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Supercell thunderstorms produced baseball-size hail at Osborne and Damar and wind gusts to 65 mph at Palco. In Rooks County, the wind and hail combined to destroy 15 percent of the wheat crop and 25 percent of the alfalfa crop. Damage to 22 farm buildings was estimated at $50 thousand. Brief tornado touchdowns occurred near Codell and Plainville.

Hail, Osborne

When
May 12, 6:11 PM CST
Where
Osborne County, Osborne
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
39.350, -98.768 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Supercell thunderstorms produced baseball-size hail at Osborne and Damar and wind gusts to 65 mph at Palco. In Rooks County, the wind and hail combined to destroy 15 percent of the wheat crop and 25 percent of the alfalfa crop. Damage to 22 farm buildings was estimated at $50 thousand. Brief tornado touchdowns occurred near Codell and Plainville.

Hail, Russell

When
May 12, 6:12 PM CST
Where
Russell County, Waldo
Measured
4 in hail
Coordinates
38.915, -98.762 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tornado, Russell

When
May 12, 6:18 PM CST
Where
Russell County, Lucas
Rating
F1
Path length
4 mi
Path width
50 yd
Coordinates
39.050, -98.620

Tornado touched down 3 W Lucas and moved east along Highway 18 and then lifted as it left the town of Lucas. It destroyed a 100,000 buildings, grain bins partially removed the roof of a feed store and downed numerous trees and power lines.

Tornado, Lincoln

When
May 12, 6:30 PM CST
Where
Lincoln County, Sylvan Grove
Rating
F1
Path length
1 mi
Path width
50 yd
Coordinates
39.100, -98.380

Tornado went mainly over open country but did do considerable damage to several farm homes.

Hail, Russell

When
May 12, 6:41 PM CST
Where
Russell County, Lucas
Measured
2.5 in hail
Coordinates
38.915, -98.762 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Lincoln

When
May 12, 6:53 PM CST
Where
Lincoln County, Sylvan Grove
Measured
1.5 in hail
Coordinates
39.045, -98.208 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Lincoln

When
May 12, 7:00 PM CST
Where
Lincoln County, Lincoln
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
39.045, -98.208 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Greeley

When
May 12, 7:30 PM CST
Where
Greeley County, St. Francis
Measured
1.5 in hail
Coordinates
38.481, -101.806 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Lincoln

When
May 12, 7:31 PM CST
Where
Lincoln County, Beverly
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
39.045, -98.208 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Ottawa

When
May 12, 7:55 PM CST
Where
Ottawa County, Bennington
Measured
2 in hail
Coordinates
39.133, -97.650 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Ottawa

When
May 12, 7:55 PM CST
Where
Ottawa County, Minneapolis
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
39.133, -97.650 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Ottawa

When
May 12, 8:00 PM CST
Where
Ottawa County, Minneapolis
Measured
60 kt (69 mph)
Property damage
$5,000
Coordinates
39.133, -97.650 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High winds knocked down power lines and power poles.

Tornado, Ottawa

When
May 12, 8:01 PM CST to 8:10 PM CST
Where
Ottawa County, Bennington
Rating
F0
Path length
3 mi
Path width
80 yd
Coordinates
39.133, -97.650 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A tornado was spotted by storm chasers in southeast Ottawa county moving east through open fields. No damage was reported.

Hail, Dickinson

When
May 12, 8:42 PM CST
Where
Dickinson County, Chapman
Measured
1.5 in hail
Coordinates
38.867, -97.153 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Dickinson

When
May 12, 8:48 PM CST
Where
Dickinson County, Chapman
Measured
55 kt (63 mph)
Property damage
$5
Coordinates
38.867, -97.153 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High winds accompanied by large hail knocked down power lines.

Hail, Geary

When
May 12, 9:00 PM CST
Where
Geary County, Junction City
Measured
1 in hail
Property damage
$5,000
Crop damage
$400,000
Coordinates
39.002, -96.752 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Damage by both wind and hail to crops is estimated.

Hail, Geary

When
May 12, 9:00 PM CST
Where
Geary County, Junction City
Measured
2 in hail
Property damage
$8,000
Coordinates
39.002, -96.752 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Large hail caused damage to buildings and vehicles near the Grandview Plaza.

Thunderstorm Wind, Geary

When
May 12, 9:00 PM CST
Where
Geary County, Junction City
Measured
55 kt (63 mph)
Property damage
$6,000
Coordinates
39.002, -96.752 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High winds and hail to one inch caused property and power line damage.

Hail, Geary

When
May 12, 9:07 PM CST
Where
Geary County, Ft Riley Base
Measured
1 in hail
Property damage
$3,000
Coordinates
39.002, -96.752 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Large hail fell in Custer Hill area of the military base.

Hail, Riley

When
May 12, 9:30 PM CST
Where
Riley County, Manhattan
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
39.297, -96.735 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Wabaunsee

When
May 12, 10:00 PM CST
Where
Wabaunsee County, Alma
Measured
60 kt (69 mph)
Coordinates
38.953, -96.205 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High winds knocked down trees and tree limbs.

Hail, Wabaunsee

When
May 12, 10:20 PM CST
Where
Wabaunsee County, Maple Hill
Measured
1.5 in hail
Coordinates
38.953, -96.205 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Clay

When
May 12, 11:35 PM CST
Where
Clay County, Clay Center
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
39.350, -97.165 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

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 1995Every state in 1995This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Kansas, 1995Warnings in Kansas, May 1995

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: 10325419, 10325020, 10325021, 10324217, 10325288, 10323238, 10326144, 10325022, 10325023, 10325024, 10325025, 10325083, 10325026, 10325084, 10325836, 10325085, 10325837, 10325858, 10325086, 10325087, 10323507, 10325088, 10323508, 10323509, 10325089, 10325262, 10323510, 10324218, 10323511, 10325263, 10325264, 10323427, 10325265, 10323428, 10325266, 10326252, 10326253, 10326254, 10326255, 10326256, and more.