Tornadoes and Hail in Kansas, May 17, 1995

Name: Tornadoes and Hail in Kansas, May 17, 1995
Start: 1995-05-17T00:02
End: 1995-05-17T18:31
Location: Kansas

May 17, 1995 · 62 events in 31 counties and zones

43 hail, 17 thunderstorm wind, 2 tornado, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 61 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: $1.9 million
Crop damage: $265,000
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 Dodge City radar (KDDC), 140 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 08:20 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

43 hail, 17 thunderstorm wind, 2 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Ellis

When: May 17, 12:02 AM CDT
Where: Ellis County, Ellis
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Coordinates: 38.915, -99.317 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Over a million dollars damage was done to crops in Ellis County.

Hail, Scott

When: May 17, 12:05 AM CDT
Where: Scott County, Scott City
Measured: 2.5 in hail
Coordinates: 38.482, -100.907 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Ellis

When: May 17, 12:09 AM CDT
Where: Ellis County, Hays
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 38.915, -99.317 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Wind gusts over 60 mph.

Hail, Ellis

When: May 17, 12:11 AM CDT
Where: Ellis County, Hays
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 38.915, -99.317 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Wind gusts over 60 mph.

Hail, Ellis

When: May 17, 12:21 AM CDT
Where: Ellis County, Hays
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 38.915, -99.317 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph reported. Lots of broken glass.

Hail, Ellis

When: May 17, 12:25 AM CDT
Where: Ellis County, Walker
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Coordinates: 38.915, -99.317 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Wind of 70 to 80 mph with the hail. A grain bin was destroyed by the winds while numerous cars and homes were damaged by the hail.

Hail, Ellis

When: May 17, 12:35 AM CDT
Where: Ellis County, Gorham
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $300,000
Coordinates: 38.915, -99.317 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Wind of 70 to 80 mph with the hail. A grain bin was destroyed by the winds while numerous cars and homes were damaged by the hail.

Hail, Lane

When: May 17, 12:45 AM CDT
Where: Lane County, Dighton
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Coordinates: 38.481, -100.466 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Finney

When: May 17, 1:15 AM CDT to 1:20 AM CDT
Where: Finney County, 20w Kalvesta to Garden City
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 38.044, -100.737 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Ness

When: May 17, 1:23 AM CDT
Where: Ness County, Ransom
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 38.479, -99.916 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Damage was $720,000 done to crops across all of the county.

Tornado, Finney

When: May 17, 1:25 AM CDT
Where: Finney County, Kalvesta
Rating: F0
Path length: 2 mi
Path width: 10 yd
Coordinates: 38.044, -100.737 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Ness

When: May 17, 1:28 AM CDT
Where: Ness County, Ness City
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 38.479, -99.916 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Damage was $720,000 done to crops across all of the county.

Hail, Ottawa

When: May 17, 12:34 AM CST
Where: Ottawa County, Bennington
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 39.133, -97.650 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Lincoln

When: May 17, 12:43 AM CST
Where: Lincoln County, Saylan Grove
Measured: 70 kt (81 mph)
Coordinates: 39.045, -98.208 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Lincoln

When: May 17, 12:45 AM CST
Where: Lincoln County, Lincoln
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph)
Coordinates: 39.045, -98.208 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Dickinson

When: May 17, 1:07 AM CST
Where: Dickinson County, Abilene
Measured: 2 in hail
Property damage: $75,000
Crop damage: $25,000
Coordinates: 38.867, -97.153 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail and high winds combined for widespread damage.

Hail, Rush

When: May 17, 2:10 AM CDT
Where: Rush County, Timken
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Coordinates: 38.523, -99.309 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Dickinson

When: May 17, 1:14 AM CST
Where: Dickinson County, Detroit
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $30,000
Coordinates: 38.867, -97.153 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High winds occurred with the hail and knocked down trees.

Thunderstorm Wind, Dickinson

When: May 17, 1:14 AM CST
Where: Dickinson County, Detroit
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph)
Property damage: $50,000
Crop damage: $10,000
Coordinates: 38.867, -97.153 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High winds and large hail produced widespread damage in the area.

Thunderstorm Wind, Dickinson

When: May 17, 1:16 AM CST
Where: Dickinson County, Abilene
Measured: 65 kt (75 mph)
Property damage: $100,000
Coordinates: 38.867, -97.153 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High winds did substantial damage to the Abilene airport.

Hail, Barton

When: May 17, 1:19 AM CST
Where: Barton County, Albert
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 38.479, -98.756 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Ottawa

When: May 17, 1:26 AM CST
Where: Ottawa County, Ada
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Coordinates: 39.133, -97.650 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Ottawa

When: May 17, 1:26 AM CST
Where: Ottawa County, Minneapolis
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 39.133, -97.650 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Ottawa

When: May 17, 1:26 AM CST
Where: Ottawa County, Minneapolis
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Property damage: $50,000
Crop damage: $25,000
Coordinates: 39.133, -97.650 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Large hail and high winds produced widespread damage in the county.

Hail, Geary

When: May 17, 1:30 AM CST
Where: Geary County, Ft Riley Military
Measured: 3 in hail
Property damage: $125,000
Crop damage: $25,000
Coordinates: 39.002, -96.752 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Large hail with by high winds caused widespread damage to roofs, cars and windows. The supercell thunderstorm that produced the damage began near Salina and moved quickly east to north of Lawrence before diminishing.

Hail, Barton

When: May 17, 1:35 AM CST
Where: Barton County, Hoisington
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Coordinates: 38.479, -98.756 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Barton

When: May 17, 1:35 AM CST
Where: Barton County, Hoisington
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 38.479, -98.756 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Clay

When: May 17, 1:45 AM CST
Where: Clay County to Longford
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $25,000
Crop damage: $10,000
Coordinates: 39.350, -97.165 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Clay

When: May 17, 1:45 AM CST
Where: Clay County, Longford
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Coordinates: 39.350, -97.165 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Geary

When: May 17, 1:45 AM CST
Where: Geary County, Junction City
Measured: 2.5 in hail
Injuries: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates: 39.002, -96.752 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A man riding a bike was caught in a hail storm west of Junction City. He was knocked from the bike and took refuge in a ditch, but was pelted by the wind driven large hail. He was treated and then released from the local community hospital.

Hail, Ellsworth

When: May 17, 1:59 AM CST
Where: Ellsworth County, Bushton
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 38.697, -98.205 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Rice

When: May 17, 1:59 AM CST
Where: Rice County, Bushton
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 38.347, -98.201 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Wabaunsee

When: May 17, 2:00 AM CST
Where: Wabaunsee County, Alma
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $400,000
Crop damage: $40,000
Coordinates: 38.953, -96.205 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Large hail driven by 60 to 80 mph winds caused widespread damage throughout the north half of the county. Many windows were broken, siding chip and riped and vehicles damaged. Several school buildings suffered enough damage to cancel class for at least a day.

Tornado, Shawnee

When: May 17, 2:21 AM CST
Where: Shawnee County, Silver Lake
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.5 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Property damage: $100,000
Crop damage: $15,000
Coordinates: 39.100, -95.870

A small weak tornado touched down briefly on the west side of Silver Lake, near the COOP business, damaging several buildings, a storage tank and a shed.

Hail, McPherson

When: May 17, 2:28 AM CST
Where: McPherson County, McPherson
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 38.392, -97.648 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Shawnee

When: May 17, 2:33 AM CST
Where: Shawnee County, Topeka
Measured: 2.5 in hail
Property damage: $30,000
Crop damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 39.042, -95.756 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Large hail and a wind gust to 59 mph damaged vehicles, roofs and tore down tree and tree limbs.

Thunderstorm Wind, Shawnee

When: May 17, 2:33 AM CST
Where: Shawnee County, Topeka
Measured: 51 kt (59 mph)
Crop damage: $10,000
Coordinates: 39.042, -95.756 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A wind gust to 51 kts was measured at the National Weather Service office along with 2.30 inch hail that damaged vehicles, roofs and trees.

Hail, McPherson

When: May 17, 2:35 AM CST
Where: McPherson County, McPherson
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 38.392, -97.648 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Jefferson

When: May 17, 2:35 AM CST
Where: Jefferson County, Grantville
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $15,000
Crop damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 39.236, -95.383 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Shawnee

When: May 17, 2:37 AM CST
Where: Shawnee County, Silver Lake
Measured: 63 kt (72 mph)
Property damage: $25,000
Coordinates: 39.042, -95.756 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High winds and hail to nearly two inches produced damage in the area. Jefferson County Perry ,17,0250CST,,,0,0,10K,?,Hail (0.75)

Thunderstorm Wind, Marion

When: May 17, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Marion County, Lehigh
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 38.359, -97.097 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Dickinson

When: May 17, 3:01 AM CST
Where: Dickinson County, Herington
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 38.867, -97.153 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Morris

When: May 17, 3:20 AM CST
Where: Morris County, Delavan
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $25,000
Crop damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 38.687, -96.650 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Morris

When: May 17, 3:35 AM CST
Where: Morris County, Council Grove
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $500,000
Crop damage: $75,000
Coordinates: 38.687, -96.650 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Large hail produced extensive damage across the county including both property and crop. Many roofs, vehicles and windows were broken or damaged.

Hail, Lyon

When: May 17, 3:53 AM CST
Where: Lyon County, Bushong
Measured: 2.75 in hail
Property damage: $50,000
Crop damage: $15,000
Coordinates: 38.456, -96.153 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Osage

When: May 17, 4:23 AM CST
Where: Osage County, Osage City
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 38.652, -95.727 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Cowley

When: May 17, 5:42 AM CST
Where: Cowley County, Geuda Springs
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 37.238, -96.837 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Cowley

When: May 17, 5:51 AM CST
Where: Cowley County, Winfield
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph)
Coordinates: 37.238, -96.837 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Greenwood

When: May 17, 3:46 PM CST
Where: Greenwood County, Eureka
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 37.878, -96.233 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Greenwood

When: May 17, 4:03 PM CST
Where: Greenwood County, Hamilton
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 37.878, -96.233 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Sumner

When: May 17, 4:19 PM CST
Where: Sumner County, Caldwell
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 37.237, -97.477 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Montgomery

When: May 17, 5:10 PM CST
Where: Montgomery County, Coffeyville
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 37.193, -95.743 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Bourbon

When: May 17, 5:33 PM CST
Where: Bourbon County, Fort Scott
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 37.855, -94.849 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Neosho

When: May 17, 5:38 PM CST
Where: Neosho County, Galesburg
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 37.559, -95.307 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Neosho

When: May 17, 5:38 PM CST
Where: Neosho County, Thayer
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 37.559, -95.307 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Sumner

When: May 17, 5:40 PM CST
Where: Sumner County, South Haven
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 37.237, -97.477 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Labette

When: May 17, 5:40 PM CST
Where: Labette County, Big Hill
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 37.191, -95.298 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Crawford

When: May 17, 6:10 PM CST
Where: Crawford County, Pittsburg
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 37.507, -94.852 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Cherokee

When: May 17, 6:12 PM CST
Where: Cherokee County, Columbus
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 37.169, -94.846 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Bourbon

When: May 17, 6:15 PM CST
Where: Bourbon County, Hammond
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 37.855, -94.849 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Cherokee

When: May 17, 6:20 PM CST
Where: Cherokee County, Columbus
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 37.169, -94.846 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Crawford

When: May 17, 6:31 PM CST
Where: Crawford County, Pittsburg
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 37.507, -94.852 (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

Every storm in Kansas in 1995 Every state in 1995 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Kansas, 1995 Warnings 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: 10323431, 10325663, 10323432, 10323433, 10323434, 10323435, 10323436, 10326641, 10323449, 10326084, 10323450, 10326085, 10326320, 10326789, 10326790, 10323283, 10325358, 10323284, 10323285, 10323286, 10323099, 10326321, 10326322, 10326323, 10323410, 10323100, 10323101, 10323140, 10323141, 10323411, 10323520, 10325158, 10325113, 10324995, 10325880, 10324996, 10324997, 10325881, 10326726, 10325075, and more.