Kansas, 1997

Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Kansas, August 1 to 23, 1997

August 1 to 23, 1997 · NWS DDC · 81 events in 20 counties and zones

45 hail, 26 thunderstorm wind, 6 tornado, 2 flash flood, 2 heavy rain, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 4 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
$2.4 million
Crop damage
$55,000
Events
81

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), 105 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:28 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

45 hail, 26 thunderstorm wind, 6 tornado, 2 flash flood, 2 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.

Tornado, Scott

When
August 1, 5:30 PM CST to 5:31 PM CST
Where
Scott County, 2 mi E of Shallow Water
Rating
F0
Path length
0.5 mi
Path width
50 yd
Coordinates
38.380, -100.880

Tornado, Scott

When
August 1, 5:40 PM CST to 5:41 PM CST
Where
Scott County, 10 mi ESE of Scott City
Rating
F0
Path length
0.5 mi
Path width
50 yd
Coordinates
38.430, -100.730

Thunderstorm Wind, Kearny

When
August 1, 6:50 PM CST
Where
Kearny County, Lakin
Measured
55 kt (63 mph)
Coordinates
37.950, -101.250

Thunderstorm Wind, Kearny

When
August 1, 7:00 PM CST
Where
Kearny County, Lakin
Measured
65 kt (75 mph)
Coordinates
37.950, -101.250

Hail, Kearny

When
August 1, 7:00 PM CST
Where
Kearny County, 10 mi NNE of Lakin
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
38.080, -101.180

Thunderstorm Wind, Kearny

When
August 1, 7:00 PM CST
Where
Kearny County, 10 mi NNE of Lakin
Measured
55 kt (63 mph)
Coordinates
38.080, -101.180

Hail, Stanton

When
August 1, 9:10 PM CST
Where
Stanton County, Manter
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
37.520, -101.880

Some damage to cars.

Flash Flood, Kearny

When
August 6, 12:00 AM CST to 7:00 AM CST
Where
Kearny County, 10 mi NW of Lakin
Property damage
$100,000
Crop damage
$50,000
Coordinates
38.000, -101.320 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Widespread stratiform rain fell producing 5 to 10 inches. Flooding washed out a bridge on highway 25 between Lakin and Leoti. A watershed lake filled up to capacity...one that had not had water in it for over 30 years. Rainfall of 2 to 5 inches was widespread across the entire county and other parts of southwest and west central Kansas.

Heavy Rain, Finney

When
August 6, 12:00 AM CST to 8:00 AM CST
Where
Finney County, Garden City
Coordinates
38.044, -100.737 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy rain fell all across the county accumulating up to 5 inches. Minor flooding occurred at the Fair Grounds and in other low lying areas.

Heavy Rain, Hamilton

When
August 6, 12:00 AM CST to 7:00 AM CST
Where
Hamilton County, Syracuse
Coordinates
37.999, -101.791 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy rain fell all across the county accumulating up to 5 inches. No significant flooding was reported.

Hail, Hamilton

When
August 13, 2:35 PM MST
Where
Hamilton County, Coolidge
Measured
0.88 in hail
Coordinates
38.030, -102.000

Hail, Hamilton

When
August 13, 3:10 PM MST
Where
Hamilton County, 2 mi SE of Coolidge
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
38.020, -101.970

Hail, Hamilton

When
August 13, 3:25 PM MST
Where
Hamilton County, 16 mi SW of Syracuse
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
37.820, -101.950

Hail, Hamilton

When
August 13, 3:30 PM MST
Where
Hamilton County, 11 mi SW of Syracuse
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
37.870, -101.900

Tornado, Hamilton

When
August 13, 4:10 PM MST
Where
Hamilton County, 12 mi SW of Syracuse
Rating
F0
Path length
0.2 mi
Path width
50 yd
Coordinates
37.870, -101.900

Hail, Stanton

When
August 13, 5:25 PM CST
Where
Stanton County, 6 mi N of Johnson
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
37.650, -101.750

Some damage to corn.

Flash Flood, Stanton

When
August 13, 5:25 PM CST
Where
Stanton County, 6 mi N of Johnson
Coordinates
37.563, -101.784 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Water over highway K-27.

Hail, Stanton

When
August 13, 5:28 PM CST
Where
Stanton County, 5 mi N of Johnson
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
37.630, -101.750

Hail, Stanton

When
August 13, 5:55 PM CST
Where
Stanton County, 5 mi N of Johnson
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
37.630, -101.750

Hail, Pawnee

When
August 15, 1:30 AM CST
Where
Pawnee County, 2 mi W of Rozel
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
38.200, -99.430

Hail, Pawnee

When
August 15, 1:35 AM CST
Where
Pawnee County, 1 mi N of Rozel
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
38.220, -99.400

Hail, Pawnee

When
August 15, 2:00 AM CST
Where
Pawnee County, 2 mi N of Sanford
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
38.220, -99.320

Tornado, Stanton

When
August 18, 5:56 PM CST to 5:57 PM CST
Where
Stanton County, 5 mi S of Johnson
Rating
F0
Path length
0.5 mi
Path width
50 yd
Coordinates
37.500, -101.750

Thunderstorm Wind, Seward

When
August 18, 6:09 PM CST
Where
Seward County, 5 mi E of Liberal
Measured
55 kt (63 mph)
Coordinates
37.030, -100.850

Knocked out power.

Hail, Seward

When
August 18, 6:35 PM CST
Where
Seward County, 13 mi ENE of Liberal
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
37.100, -100.720

Tornado, Seward

When
August 18, 6:41 PM CST to 6:44 PM CST
Where
Seward County, Liberal to 10 mi E of Liberal
Rating
F0
Path length
1.5 mi
Path width
300 yd
Coordinates
37.030, -100.750

Hail, Meade

When
August 18, 6:50 PM CST
Where
Meade County, 19 mi SW of Meade
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
37.080, -100.580

Thunderstorm Wind, Meade

When
August 18, 6:56 PM CST
Where
Meade County, 15 mi S of Plains
Measured
55 kt (63 mph)
Coordinates
37.050, -100.600

Trees damaged.

Hail, Kearny

When
August 18, 8:40 PM CST
Where
Kearny County, 16 mi NW of Lakin
Measured
0.88 in hail
Coordinates
38.120, -101.450

Hail, Stafford

When
August 20, 8:54 AM CST
Where
Stafford County, 5 mi E of St John
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
38.020, -98.650

Hail, Stafford

When
August 20, 8:58 AM CST
Where
Stafford County, 5 mi E of St John
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
38.020, -98.650

Hail covered the ground.

Hail, Rush

When
August 20, 9:23 AM CST
Where
Rush County, 17 mi SE of La Crosse
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
38.370, -99.080

Hail, Pratt

When
August 20, 9:25 AM CST
Where
Pratt County, 13 mi NE of Pratt
Measured
2.75 in hail
Coordinates
37.780, -98.570

Hail covered the ground. Corn and milo destroyed on the Pratt/Stafford county line. Trailers damaged at the Pratt county lake.

Hail, Pawnee

When
August 20, 9:30 AM CST
Where
Pawnee County, 8 mi NE of Larned
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
38.270, -99.000

Hail, Pawnee

When
August 20, 9:30 AM CST
Where
Pawnee County, 11 mi ENE of Larned
Measured
1.5 in hail
Coordinates
38.250, -98.920

Hail, Pawnee

When
August 20, 9:30 AM CST
Where
Pawnee County, 12 mi NE of Larned
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
38.300, -98.950

Thunderstorm Wind, Stafford

When
August 20, 10:03 AM CST
Where
Stafford County, Stafford
Measured
64 kt (74 mph)
Coordinates
37.970, -98.600

Power lines down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Stafford

When
August 20, 10:05 AM CST
Where
Stafford County, 9 mi ESE of St John
Measured
55 kt (63 mph)
Coordinates
37.970, -98.600

Thunderstorm Wind, Stafford

When
August 20, 10:13 AM CST
Where
Stafford County, Zenith
Measured
55 kt (63 mph)
Coordinates
37.950, -98.480

Hail, Kiowa

When
August 20, 11:08 AM CST
Where
Kiowa County, 9 mi E of Greensburg
Measured
0.88 in hail
Coordinates
37.600, -99.130

Hail, Comanche

When
August 20, 12:02 PM CST
Where
Comanche County, 3 mi NE of Wilmore
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
37.370, -99.180

Hail, Clark

When
August 20, 1:32 PM CST
Where
Clark County, 1 mi E of Minneola
Measured
1.5 in hail
Coordinates
37.430, -99.950

Hail, Clark

When
August 20, 1:43 PM CST
Where
Clark County, Minneola
Measured
4.5 in hail
Property damage
$2.0 million
Coordinates
37.430, -99.970

Nearly every window in the small community were broken with siding destroyed on many homes. Cars received considerable damage too. Shingles were also torn off. Skylights broken at the school.

Tornado, Clark

When
August 20, 1:47 PM CST to 1:48 PM CST
Where
Clark County, 6 mi SSW of Minneola
Rating
F0
Path length
0.4 mi
Path width
50 yd
Coordinates
37.350, -100.020

Hail, Clark

When
August 20, 2:10 PM CST
Where
Clark County, 10 mi S of Minneola
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
37.280, -99.970

Hail, Gray

When
August 20, 4:10 PM CST
Where
Gray County, 5 mi E of Charleston
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
37.870, -100.470

Hail covered the ground.

Hail, Gray

When
August 20, 5:12 PM CST
Where
Gray County, Montezuma
Measured
0.88 in hail
Coordinates
37.600, -100.450

Hail covered the ground.

Hail, Gray

When
August 20, 5:15 PM CST
Where
Gray County, 5 mi NNW of Montezuma
Measured
0.88 in hail
Coordinates
37.670, -100.480

Hail, Meade

When
August 20, 5:48 PM CST
Where
Meade County, 13 mi NW of Meade
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
37.420, -100.500

Hail, Gray

When
August 20, 5:50 PM CST
Where
Gray County, 8 mi WNW of Montezuma
Measured
2.75 in hail
Coordinates
37.650, -100.580

Hail, Finney

When
August 20, 6:37 PM CST
Where
Finney County, 11 mi S of Garden City
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
37.800, -100.870

Hail, Hamilton

When
August 20, 5:38 PM MST
Where
Hamilton County, Syracuse
Measured
0.88 in hail
Coordinates
37.980, -101.750

Hail, Finney

When
August 20, 6:44 PM CST
Where
Finney County, 15 mi S of Garden City
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
37.750, -100.870

Hail, Hamilton

When
August 20, 6:05 PM MST
Where
Hamilton County, 5 mi S of Syracuse
Measured
1.5 in hail
Coordinates
37.920, -101.750

Hail, Haskell

When
August 20, 7:05 PM CST
Where
Haskell County, 12 mi N of Sublette
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
37.650, -100.850

Hail, Stanton

When
August 20, 7:05 PM CST
Where
Stanton County, 9 mi N of Johnson
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
37.700, -101.750

Thunderstorm Wind, Trego

When
August 21, 9:47 PM CST
Where
Trego County, Wakeeney
Measured
62 kt (71 mph)
Property damage
$1,000
Coordinates
39.020, -99.880

A few power poles blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Ellis

When
August 21, 10:01 PM CST
Where
Ellis County, 4 mi N of Ellis
Measured
73 kt (84 mph)
Coordinates
38.980, -99.550

Thunderstorm Wind, Rush

When
August 21, 10:05 PM CST
Where
Rush County, 5 mi NW of Otis
Crop damage
$5,000
Coordinates
38.580, -99.120

20 acres of milo destroyed by wind.

Thunderstorm Wind, Ellis

When
August 21, 10:15 PM CST
Where
Ellis County, Hays
Measured
56 kt (64 mph)
Coordinates
38.870, -99.320

Flag pole and satellite dish blown down. Trees uprooted.

Thunderstorm Wind, Rush

When
August 21, 10:20 PM CST
Where
Rush County, Otis
Measured
73 kt (84 mph)
Coordinates
38.530, -99.050

Shed destroyed...camper overturned...windows broken...tree limbs blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Rush

When
August 21, 10:30 PM CST
Where
Rush County, 4 mi S of Otis
Crop damage
$200
Coordinates
38.480, -99.050

Roof blown off of a well pump house.

Thunderstorm Wind, Pawnee

When
August 21, 10:55 PM CST
Where
Pawnee County, 9 mi ENE of Larned
Measured
59 kt (68 mph)
Coordinates
38.230, -98.950

Thunderstorm Wind, Pawnee

When
August 21, 10:55 PM CST
Where
Pawnee County, 6 mi NE of Larned
Measured
65 kt (75 mph)
Coordinates
38.250, -99.020

6 inch tree limbs and a large tree blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Stafford

When
August 21, 11:00 PM CST
Where
Stafford County, Radium
Measured
65 kt (75 mph)
Coordinates
38.170, -98.900

Large tree limbs broken.

Thunderstorm Wind, Stafford

When
August 21, 11:15 PM CST
Where
Stafford County, 4 mi W of Stafford
Measured
55 kt (63 mph)
Coordinates
37.970, -98.670

Tree limbs blown down.

Hail, Scott

When
August 21, 11:25 PM CST
Where
Scott County, Scott City
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
38.480, -100.900

Hail, Pratt

When
August 21, 11:30 PM CST
Where
Pratt County, Byers
Measured
0.88 in hail
Coordinates
37.780, -98.870

Thunderstorm Wind, Stafford

When
August 21, 11:35 PM CST
Where
Stafford County, 8 mi SE of Stafford
Measured
65 kt (75 mph)
Coordinates
37.880, -98.500

5 inch diameter tree limbs blown down.

Hail, Pratt

When
August 21, 11:40 PM CST
Where
Pratt County, 1 mi S of Iuka
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
37.720, -98.730

Thunderstorm Wind, Pratt

When
August 21, 11:40 PM CST
Where
Pratt County, 1 mi S of Iuka
Measured
68 kt (78 mph)
Coordinates
37.720, -98.730

Hail, Pratt

When
August 21, 11:50 PM CST
Where
Pratt County, Pratt
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
37.650, -98.730

Thunderstorm Wind, Pratt

When
August 21, 11:50 PM CST
Where
Pratt County, Pratt
Measured
60 kt (69 mph)
Coordinates
37.650, -98.730

2 inch tree limbs blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Gray

When
August 22, 12:00 AM CST
Where
Gray County, 7 mi N of Charleston
Property damage
$250,000
Coordinates
37.970, -100.570

2 pivot sprinklers overturned...power poles blown down...a small airplane hanger was destroyed...a combine was rolled and crumpled up.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hodgeman

When
August 22, 12:20 AM CST
Where
Hodgeman County, 18 mi SW of Jetmore
Measured
62 kt (71 mph)
Coordinates
37.900, -100.130

3 inch tree limbs blown down.

Hail, Ford

When
August 22, 12:50 AM CST
Where
Ford County, 11 mi SSE of Dodge City
Measured
0.88 in hail
Coordinates
37.600, -99.930

Thunderstorm Wind, Clark

When
August 22, 1:25 AM CST
Where
Clark County, Ashland
Measured
59 kt (68 mph)
Coordinates
37.180, -99.770

Hail, Kearny

When
August 23, 5:06 PM CST
Where
Kearny County, 13 mi NW of Lakin
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
38.080, -101.420

Hail covered the ground.

Thunderstorm Wind, Kearny

When
August 23, 5:40 PM CST
Where
Kearny County, 12 mi W of Lakin
Measured
68 kt (78 mph)
Coordinates
37.950, -101.470

Hail, Kearny

When
August 23, 5:46 PM CST
Where
Kearny County, 12 mi W of Lakin
Measured
0.88 in hail
Coordinates
37.950, -101.470

Thunderstorm Wind, Hamilton

When
August 23, 5:09 PM MST
Where
Hamilton County, 4 mi E of Syracuse
Measured
59 kt (68 mph)
Coordinates
37.980, -101.680

What these are

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.
Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Flash Flood
Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.
Heavy Rain
Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Kansas in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Kansas, 1997Warnings in Kansas, August 1997

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: 5623317, 5623318, 5623319, 5623320, 5623321, 5623322, 5623323, 5623324, 5623450, 5623451, 5623325, 5623326, 5623327, 5623328, 5623329, 5623330, 5623331, 5623332, 5623333, 5623334, 5623335, 5623336, 5623337, 5623338, 5623339, 5623340, 5623341, 5623342, 5623343, 5623344, 5623345, 5623346, 5623385, 5623386, 5623387, 5623388, 5623389, 5623390, 5623391, 5623392, and more.