Kansas, 1998

Hail and Damaging Winds in Kansas, May 24 to 25, 1998

May 24 to 25, 1998 · NWS DDC · 102 events in 21 counties and zones

84 hail, 16 thunderstorm wind, 2 strong wind, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 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
$2.7 million
Crop damage
$18 million
Events
102

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 national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

84 hail, 16 thunderstorm wind, 2 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Lane

When
May 24, 2:30 PM CST
Where
Lane County, Pendennis
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
38.630, -100.330

Hail, Ness

When
May 24, 3:10 PM CST
Where
Ness County, 1 mi N of Ransom
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
38.650, -99.930

Hail, Ness

When
May 24, 3:20 PM CST
Where
Ness County, Ransom
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
38.630, -99.930

Hail, Ness

When
May 24, 3:20 PM CST
Where
Ness County, 1 mi N of Ransom
Measured
0.88 in hail
Coordinates
38.650, -99.930

Hail covered the ground.

Hail, Ness

When
May 24, 3:20 PM CST
Where
Ness County, 3 mi NW of Brownell
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
38.650, -99.770

Hail covered the ground.

Hail, Ness

When
May 24, 3:25 PM CST
Where
Ness County, 3 mi W of Brownell
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
38.620, -99.780

Hail, Lane

When
May 24, 3:28 PM CST
Where
Lane County, 1 mi W of Dighton
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
38.480, -100.480

Hail, Trego

When
May 24, 3:32 PM CST
Where
Trego County, Cedar Bluff Res
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
38.780, -99.800

Hail, Lane

When
May 24, 3:36 PM CST
Where
Lane County, Dighton
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
38.480, -100.470

Thunderstorm Wind, Lane

When
May 24, 3:36 PM CST
Where
Lane County, Dighton
Measured
61 kt (70 mph)
Coordinates
38.480, -100.470

Hail, Lane

When
May 24, 3:37 PM CST
Where
Lane County, Dighton
Measured
1.25 in hail
Coordinates
38.480, -100.470

Hail, Lane

When
May 24, 3:42 PM CST
Where
Lane County, 5 mi S of Dighton
Measured
0.88 in hail
Coordinates
38.420, -100.470

Hail, Trego

When
May 24, 3:45 PM CST
Where
Trego County, 14 mi SE of Trego Center
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$25,000
Crop damage
$5.5 million
Coordinates
38.730, -99.720

All of the west windows broken out of a house. The hail was part of a swath 7 miles wide that tracked along a line from the Gove county border from section 19-14-25 to the southeast corner of the county. Over 50,000 acres of native grass were mowed down.

Hail, Ellis

When
May 24, 3:57 PM CST
Where
Ellis County, 9 mi W of Schoenchen
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$300,000
Crop damage
$3.8 million
Coordinates
38.720, -99.480

Much of the wheat and corn were mowed down.

Hail, Rush

When
May 24, 4:00 PM CST
Where
Rush County, Liebenthal
Measured
0.88 in hail
Coordinates
38.650, -99.320

Hail, Ellis

When
May 24, 4:11 PM CST
Where
Ellis County, 4 mi SW of Antonino
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
38.750, -99.430

Hail, Rush

When
May 24, 4:15 PM CST
Where
Rush County, Liebenthal
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
38.650, -99.320

Hail covered the ground.

Hail, Ness

When
May 24, 4:15 PM CST
Where
Ness County, 7 mi ENE of Ransom
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$33,000
Crop damage
$1.0 million
Coordinates
38.670, -99.820

Windshield broken. Hail fell in a swath across the county. The swath was about 30 miles wide.

Hail, Ellis

When
May 24, 4:17 PM CST
Where
Ellis County, Schoenchen to (Hys)hays Muni Arpt
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
38.720, -99.320

Hail, Rush

When
May 24, 4:25 PM CST
Where
Rush County, La Crosse
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$2,000
Crop damage
$7.0 million
Coordinates
38.530, -99.300

Hail swath of 7 miles wide produced total devastation to some of the native grasses and destroyed most of the wheat. A USDA report indicated some hail up to softball size but gave no specific information.

Hail, Ellis

When
May 24, 4:28 PM CST
Where
Ellis County, Schoenchen to 6 mi WNW of (Hys)hays Muni Arpt
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
38.750, -99.420

Hail, Rush

When
May 24, 4:29 PM CST
Where
Rush County, 2 mi N of La Crosse
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
38.570, -99.300

Hail, Rush

When
May 24, 4:30 PM CST
Where
Rush County, Liebenthal
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
38.650, -99.320

Hail, Ness

When
May 24, 4:33 PM CST
Where
Ness County, 6 mi SW of Bazine
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
38.380, -99.770

Hail, Rush

When
May 24, 4:38 PM CST
Where
Rush County, Loretta
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
38.650, -99.180

Hail, Pratt

When
May 24, 5:40 PM CST
Where
Pratt County, Preston
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
37.750, -98.550

Hail, Stanton

When
May 24, 6:09 PM CST
Where
Stanton County, 7 mi N of Big Bow
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
37.670, -101.570

Hail, Stafford

When
May 24, 6:15 PM CST
Where
Stafford County, 12 mi SE of St John
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
37.900, -98.600

Hail, Hamilton

When
May 24, 5:15 PM MST
Where
Hamilton County, 15 mi SE of Syracuse
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
37.830, -101.550

Hail, Edwards

When
May 24, 6:35 PM CST
Where
Edwards County, Lewis to 7 mi SE of Lewis
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
37.830, -99.250

Hail, Edwards

When
May 24, 6:45 PM CST
Where
Edwards County, 10 mi SE of Kinsley
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
37.820, -99.280

Hail, Grant

When
May 24, 6:45 PM CST
Where
Grant County, 12 mi E of Ulysses
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
37.580, -101.150

Thunderstorm Wind, Grant

When
May 24, 6:45 PM CST
Where
Grant County, 12 mi E of Ulysses
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
37.580, -101.150

Thunderstorm Wind, Grant

When
May 24, 7:02 PM CST
Where
Grant County, 8 mi E of Hickok
Measured
70 kt (81 mph)
Property damage
$5,000
Coordinates
37.570, -101.080

Several power poles taken down by the wind.

Hail, Pratt

When
May 24, 7:05 PM CST
Where
Pratt County, Pratt
Measured
1.25 in hail
Coordinates
37.650, -98.730

Hail, Pratt

When
May 24, 7:05 PM CST
Where
Pratt County, 6 mi WSW of Pratt
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
37.620, -98.830

Hail, Barber

When
May 24, 7:06 PM CST
Where
Barber County, 2 mi W of Medicine Lodge
Measured
2 in hail
Coordinates
37.280, -98.620

Thunderstorm Wind, Pratt

When
May 24, 7:08 PM CST
Where
Pratt County, 6 mi WSW of Pratt
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates
37.620, -98.830

Hail, Kiowa

When
May 24, 7:08 PM CST
Where
Kiowa County, 7 mi S of Greensburg
Measured
2 in hail
Coordinates
37.500, -99.300

Hail, Meade

When
May 24, 7:12 PM CST
Where
Meade County, 2 mi W of Fowler
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
37.380, -100.230

Hail, Pratt

When
May 24, 7:20 PM CST
Where
Pratt County, Pratt
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
37.650, -98.730

Hail, Haskell

When
May 24, 7:21 PM CST
Where
Haskell County, 6 mi NE of Satanta
Measured
1.5 in hail
Coordinates
37.500, -100.900

Thunderstorm Wind, Pratt

When
May 24, 7:25 PM CST
Where
Pratt County, 1 mi W of Coats
Measured
57 kt (66 mph)
Coordinates
37.520, -98.850

Hail, Ford

When
May 24, 7:27 PM CST
Where
Ford County, Bucklin
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
37.550, -99.630

Hail, Gray

When
May 24, 7:30 PM CST
Where
Gray County, Copeland
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
37.530, -100.630

Hail, Meade

When
May 24, 7:30 PM CST
Where
Meade County, 6 mi NE of Fowler
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
37.450, -100.120

Hail, Clark

When
May 24, 7:32 PM CST
Where
Clark County, 12 mi S of Minneola
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$160,000
Coordinates
37.270, -99.970

A USDA report indicated tennis ball size hail across parts of the county but no specific information was given to the location or time. There was damage to crops...almost county wide.

Thunderstorm Wind, Kearny

When
May 24, 7:40 PM CST
Where
Kearny County, 5 mi SW of Lakin
Measured
55 kt (63 mph)
Coordinates
37.900, -101.320

Three inch tree limbs down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Meade

When
May 24, 7:40 PM CST
Where
Meade County, Missler to 5 mi NNE of Missler
Measured
70 kt (81 mph)
Property damage
$1.6 million
Crop damage
$200,000
Coordinates
37.380, -100.430

Eleven irrigation sprinklers damaged along with ten power poles. At least 80 mph wind occurred with the Rear Flank Downdraft. Wheat and corn were destroyed in the area.

Hail, Kiowa

When
May 24, 7:45 PM CST
Where
Kiowa County, 8 mi SE of Greensburg
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
37.520, -99.200

Hail, Clark

When
May 24, 7:46 PM CST
Where
Clark County, 10 mi S of Minneola
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
37.280, -99.970

Thunderstorm Wind, Pratt

When
May 24, 7:46 PM CST
Where
Pratt County, 1 mi N of Coats
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates
37.530, -98.830

Hail, Pratt

When
May 24, 7:47 PM CST
Where
Pratt County, 9 mi S of Pratt
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
37.520, -98.730

Hail, Hamilton

When
May 24, 6:55 PM MST
Where
Hamilton County, 13 mi N of Coolidge
Measured
0.88 in hail
Coordinates
38.220, -102.000

Hail, Meade

When
May 24, 8:00 PM CST
Where
Meade County, 9 mi N of Meade
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
37.420, -100.330

Hail, Meade

When
May 24, 8:00 PM CST
Where
Meade County, 12 mi NW of Meade
Measured
2.75 in hail
Coordinates
37.400, -100.480

Thunderstorm Wind, Barber

When
May 24, 8:00 PM CST
Where
Barber County, Medicine Lodge
Measured
75 kt (86 mph)
Property damage
$500,000
Coordinates
37.280, -98.580

Rear Flank Downdraft caused extensive damage to roofs, trees, power lines and sheds.

Hail, Barber

When
May 24, 8:03 PM CST
Where
Barber County, 7 mi NNE of Medicine Lodge
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
37.380, -98.530

Hail, Gray

When
May 24, 8:05 PM CST
Where
Gray County, 9 mi SSE of Montezuma
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
37.480, -100.380

Hail, Meade

When
May 24, 8:06 PM CST
Where
Meade County, 6 mi E of Meade
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
37.280, -100.220

Hail, Meade

When
May 24, 8:07 PM CST
Where
Meade County, 4 mi W of Fowler
Measured
2.75 in hail
Coordinates
37.380, -100.270

Hail, Meade

When
May 24, 8:07 PM CST
Where
Meade County, 2 mi N of Meade
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
37.320, -100.330

Hail, Meade

When
May 24, 8:08 PM CST
Where
Meade County, Fowler
Measured
2.75 in hail
Coordinates
37.380, -100.200

Hail, Kiowa

When
May 24, 8:10 PM CST
Where
Kiowa County, 14 mi SSW of Greensburg
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
37.420, -99.400

Hail, Meade

When
May 24, 8:14 PM CST
Where
Meade County, 4 mi W of Fowler
Measured
2.75 in hail
Coordinates
37.380, -100.270

Hail, Comanche

When
May 24, 8:30 PM CST
Where
Comanche County, 1 mi E of Protection
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
37.200, -99.470

Hail, Hamilton

When
May 24, 7:37 PM MST
Where
Hamilton County, 20 mi SW of Syracuse
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
37.780, -102.020

Hail, Comanche

When
May 24, 8:38 PM CST
Where
Comanche County, 14 mi N of Protection
Measured
2 in hail
Coordinates
37.400, -99.480

Hail, Comanche

When
May 24, 8:42 PM CST
Where
Comanche County, 2 mi N of Protection
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
37.230, -99.480

Hail, Kearny

When
May 24, 8:47 PM CST
Where
Kearny County, 10 mi N of Lakin
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
38.100, -101.250

Hail, Meade

When
May 24, 8:58 PM CST
Where
Meade County, Fowler
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
37.380, -100.200

Hail, Meade

When
May 24, 8:58 PM CST
Where
Meade County, 4 mi NNW of Fowler
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
37.430, -100.230

Hail, Clark

When
May 24, 9:00 PM CST
Where
Clark County, 11 mi NE of Ashland
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
37.300, -99.630

Hail, Meade

When
May 24, 9:01 PM CST
Where
Meade County, 3 mi SW of Fowler
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
37.350, -100.230

Hail, Barber

When
May 24, 9:15 PM CST
Where
Barber County, 9 mi NW of Medicine Lodge
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
37.380, -98.700

Hail, Comanche

When
May 24, 9:18 PM CST
Where
Comanche County, Protection
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
37.200, -99.480

Hail, Comanche

When
May 24, 9:20 PM CST
Where
Comanche County, 6 mi NW of Coldwater
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
37.330, -99.420

Hail, Kearny

When
May 24, 9:24 PM CST
Where
Kearny County, 5 mi S of Lakin
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
37.880, -101.250

Hail, Barber

When
May 24, 9:30 PM CST
Where
Barber County, 9 mi NW of Hardtner
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
37.120, -98.770

Hail, Comanche

When
May 24, 9:30 PM CST
Where
Comanche County, Coldwater
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
37.270, -99.330

Hail, Comanche

When
May 24, 9:31 PM CST
Where
Comanche County, Coldwater
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
37.270, -99.330

Hail, Kearny

When
May 24, 9:35 PM CST
Where
Kearny County, 1 mi SE of Lakin
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
37.930, -101.230

Hail, Clark

When
May 24, 9:45 PM CST
Where
Clark County, 11 mi NE of Ashland
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
37.300, -99.630

Thunderstorm Wind, Gray

When
May 24, 9:55 PM CST
Where
Gray County, 2 mi W of Charleston
Measured
57 kt (66 mph)
Coordinates
37.870, -100.600

Hail, Clark

When
May 24, 9:58 PM CST
Where
Clark County, 12 mi NE of Ashland
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
37.300, -99.620

Hail, Haskell

When
May 24, 10:00 PM CST
Where
Haskell County, Sublette
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
37.480, -100.850

Thunderstorm Wind, Finney

When
May 24, 10:00 PM CST
Where
Finney County, 4 mi S of Holcomb
Measured
63 kt (72 mph)
Coordinates
37.930, -100.980

Hail, Comanche

When
May 24, 10:03 PM CST
Where
Comanche County, 2 mi W of Protection
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
37.200, -99.520

Hail, Ford

When
May 24, 10:17 PM CST
Where
Ford County, 2 mi NE of Howell
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
37.800, -100.150

Hail, Clark

When
May 24, 10:44 PM CST
Where
Clark County, 13 mi SE of Ashland
Measured
0.88 in hail
Coordinates
37.050, -99.600

Hail, Meade

When
May 24, 10:45 PM CST
Where
Meade County, Fowler
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
37.380, -100.200

Thunderstorm Wind, Meade

When
May 24, 10:45 PM CST
Where
Meade County, Fowler
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates
37.380, -100.200

Hail, Gray

When
May 24, 10:58 PM CST
Where
Gray County, Ensign
Measured
0.88 in hail
Coordinates
37.650, -100.230

Thunderstorm Wind, Gray

When
May 24, 10:58 PM CST
Where
Gray County, Ensign
Measured
61 kt (70 mph)
Coordinates
37.650, -100.230

Thunderstorm Wind, Clark

When
May 24, 11:00 PM CST
Where
Clark County, 18 mi WSW of Ashland
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates
37.080, -100.070

Hail, Clark

When
May 24, 11:00 PM CST
Where
Clark County, 18 mi WSW of Ashland
Measured
0.88 in hail
Coordinates
37.080, -100.070

Strong Wind, Ford

When
May 24, 11:17 PM CST
Where
Ford County, 10 mi SW of Dodge City
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates
37.692, -99.888 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Clark

When
May 24, 11:19 PM CST
Where
Clark County, 1 mi W of Ashland
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
37.180, -99.780

Strong Wind, Ford

When
May 24, 11:43 PM CST
Where
Ford County, Dodge City Arpt
Measured
51 kt (59 mph)
Coordinates
37.692, -99.888 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Comanche

When
May 25, 12:10 AM CST
Where
Comanche County, 22 mi SE of Coldwater
Measured
1.5 in hail
Coordinates
37.030, -99.050

Thunderstorm Wind, Comanche

When
May 25, 12:10 AM CST
Where
Comanche County, 22 mi SE of Coldwater
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates
37.030, -99.050

Thunderstorm Wind, Barber

When
May 25, 12:20 AM CST
Where
Barber County, 21 mi WSW of Medicine Lodge
Measured
61 kt (70 mph)
Coordinates
37.170, -98.930

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.
Strong Wind
Non-thunderstorm winds below high wind criteria that nonetheless caused damage or casualties.

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, May 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: 5645913, 5645914, 5645915, 5645916, 5645917, 5645918, 5645919, 5645920, 5645921, 5645922, 5645923, 5645924, 5645992, 5645993, 5645994, 5645995, 5645996, 5645997, 5645998, 5645999, 5646000, 5646001, 5646002, 5646003, 5646004, 5646005, 5646006, 5646007, 5646008, 5646009, 5646010, 5646011, 5646012, 5646013, 5646014, 5646015, 5646016, 5646017, 5646018, 5646019, and more.