Kansas, 1998

Hail and Damaging Winds in Kansas, July 2 to 25, 1998

July 2 to 25, 1998 · NWS ICT · 36 events in 9 counties and zones

19 thunderstorm wind, 16 hail, 1 lightning, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 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
$3.5 million
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
36

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 Wichita radar (KICT), 47 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 04:30 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

19 thunderstorm wind, 16 hail, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Lightning, Sumner

When
July 2, 10:33 AM CST
Where
Sumner County, South Haven
Property damage
$50,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
37.237, -97.477 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning struck a small church, setting fire to the roof and rafters. Water and smoke also damaged the pulpit.

Thunderstorm Wind, Ellsworth

When
July 6, 10:40 PM CST
Where
Ellsworth County, 10 mi E of Lorraine
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
38.570, -98.130

Hail, Kingman

When
July 10, 2:20 PM CST
Where
Kingman County, 6 mi E of Cunningham
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
37.650, -98.320

Thunderstorm Wind, Kingman

When
July 10, 2:38 PM CST
Where
Kingman County, Kingman
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
37.650, -98.120

Hail, Reno

When
July 10, 2:45 PM CST
Where
Reno County, Pretty Prairie
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates
37.780, -98.020

Thunderstorm Wind, Sedgwick

When
July 10, 2:56 PM CST
Where
Sedgwick County, Cheney
Measured
54 kt (62 mph)
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
37.630, -97.780

Thunderstorm Wind, Reno

When
July 10, 3:01 PM CST
Where
Reno County, 10 mi S of Haven
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
37.750, -97.780

Thunderstorm Wind, Sedgwick

When
July 10, 3:06 PM CST to 3:25 PM CST
Where
Sedgwick County, Goddard
Measured
70 kt (81 mph)
Property damage
$500,000
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
37.670, -97.580

Severe thunderstorm winds, ranging from 51-70 KT, ripped across Goddard, inflicting widespread damage to trees, roofs, pwoer lines and power poles.

Thunderstorm Wind, Sedgwick

When
July 10, 3:09 PM CST
Where
Sedgwick County, Colwich
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
37.780, -97.530

Hail, Sedgwick

When
July 10, 3:15 PM CST
Where
Sedgwick County, Mt Hope
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
37.870, -97.670

Thunderstorm Wind, Sedgwick

When
July 10, 3:16 PM CST to 3:41 PM CST
Where
Sedgwick County, Wichita
Measured
80 kt (92 mph)
Property damage
$3.0 million
Reported by
NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)
Coordinates
37.700, -97.330

Severe thunderstorm winds, ranging from 52-80KT, ripped across the Wichita Metropolitan area, inflicting widespread damage to trees, roofs, power lines and power poles. Approximately 60,000 people lost power, about 15,000 of which remained without power for 3 days. While most of the reports were from off-duty NWS staff, reports were also received from law enforcement, trained spotters and amateur radio operators.

Thunderstorm Wind, Sedgwick

When
July 10, 3:20 PM CST
Where
Sedgwick County, Valley Center
Measured
61 kt (70 mph)
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
37.830, -97.370

Thunderstorm Wind, Sedgwick

When
July 10, 3:22 PM CST
Where
Sedgwick County, Maize
Measured
64 kt (74 mph)
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
37.770, -97.470

Thunderstorm Wind, Sedgwick

When
July 10, 3:22 PM CST
Where
Sedgwick County, Valley Center
Measured
61 kt (70 mph)
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
37.830, -97.370

Thunderstorm Wind, Butler

When
July 10, 3:41 PM CST
Where
Butler County, 2 mi NE of Rose Hill
Measured
61 kt (70 mph)
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
37.580, -97.100

Thunderstorm Wind, Butler

When
July 10, 3:47 PM CST
Where
Butler County, Benton
Measured
61 kt (70 mph)
Reported by
UNKNOWN
Coordinates
37.780, -97.120

Numerous trees blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Butler

When
July 10, 4:01 PM CST
Where
Butler County, Potwin
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
37.950, -97.020

Thunderstorm Wind, Butler

When
July 10, 4:06 PM CST
Where
Butler County, 5 mi E of Potwin
Measured
65 kt (75 mph)
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
37.950, -96.920

Hail, Butler

When
July 10, 4:06 PM CST
Where
Butler County, 5 mi E of Potwin
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
37.950, -96.920

Thunderstorm Wind, Greenwood

When
July 10, 4:45 PM CST
Where
Greenwood County, 10 mi S of Neal
Measured
70 kt (81 mph)
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
37.680, -96.080

Five hundred gallon tank blown over and numerous 3-inch diameter tree limbs blown down along northeast shore of Fall River Lake.

Hail, Lincoln

When
July 12, 11:43 PM CST
Where
Lincoln County, 1 mi N of Shady Bend
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
39.030, -98.020

Hail, Lincoln

When
July 13, 12:32 AM CST
Where
Lincoln County, Vesper
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
39.030, -98.280

Hail, Lincoln

When
July 13, 12:32 AM CST
Where
Lincoln County, 2 mi W of Lincoln
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
39.030, -98.180

Hail, Reno

When
July 13, 4:15 AM CST
Where
Reno County, 2 mi NW of Yoder
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
UNKNOWN
Coordinates
37.950, -97.900

Thunderstorm Wind, Harper

When
July 25, 8:00 PM CST
Where
Harper County, 2 mi SE of Bluff City
Measured
61 kt (70 mph)
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
37.070, -97.830

Power lines blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Kingman

When
July 25, 8:45 PM CST
Where
Kingman County, 2 mi E of Norwich
Measured
61 kt (70 mph)
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
37.450, -97.820

Hail, Sedgwick

When
July 25, 8:46 PM CST
Where
Sedgwick County, 2 mi N of Viola
Measured
1.25 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
37.520, -97.650

Thunderstorm Wind, Sedgwick

When
July 25, 8:46 PM CST
Where
Sedgwick County, 2 mi N of Viola
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
37.520, -97.650

Hail, Sedgwick

When
July 25, 9:20 PM CST
Where
Sedgwick County, 4 mi NE of Goddard
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
37.700, -97.530

Hail, Sedgwick

When
July 25, 9:22 PM CST
Where
Sedgwick County, 2 mi NE of Goddard
Measured
2 in hail
Reported by
BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates
37.680, -97.550

Hail, Sedgwick

When
July 25, 9:27 PM CST
Where
Sedgwick County, 5 mi SW of Maize
Measured
1.25 in hail
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
37.720, -97.530

Thunderstorm Wind, Sedgwick

When
July 25, 9:27 PM CST
Where
Sedgwick County, 5 mi SW of Maize
Measured
61 kt (70 mph)
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
37.720, -97.530

Hail, Sedgwick

When
July 25, 9:30 PM CST
Where
Sedgwick County, Wichita
Measured
1.25 in hail
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
37.700, -97.330

Hail, Sedgwick

When
July 25, 9:32 PM CST
Where
Sedgwick County, Wichita
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)
Coordinates
37.700, -97.330

Hail, Sedgwick

When
July 25, 9:37 PM CST
Where
Sedgwick County, 3 mi S of Maize
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)
Coordinates
37.720, -97.470

Hail, Sedgwick

When
July 25, 10:03 PM CST
Where
Sedgwick County, 3 mi NE of Valley Center
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
37.870, -97.330

What these are

Lightning
A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.
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.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Kansas in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Kansas, July 1998

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: 5654715, 5655746, 5655747, 5655748, 5654605, 5654606, 5654607, 5654608, 5654609, 5654610, 5654611, 5654697, 5654613, 5654614, 5654612, 5654615, 5654694, 5654695, 5654696, 5654698, 5654699, 5654700, 5654701, 5654702, 5654703, 5654704, 5654705, 5654706, 5654707, 5654708, 5654709, 5654710, 5654711, 5654712, 5654713, 5654714.