Kansas, 1999

Tornadoes and Hail in Kansas, April 2 to 8, 1999

April 2 to 8, 1999 · NWS ICT · 40 events in 15 counties and zones

Synoptic-scale high winds of 39-53kts with gusts to 63kts ripped across Central Kansas from mid-morning thru late afternoon. The high winds tore the roof off a modular building around 9:30 am at St.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 10 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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
2
Property damage
$2.8 million
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
40

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS ICT wrote it up.

Synoptic-scale high winds of 39-53kts with gusts to 63kts ripped across Central Kansas from mid-morning thru late afternoon. The high winds tore the roof off a modular building around 9:30 am at St. Francis Academy, 5 miles west of Salina. Building was unoccupied at time of the event. Tractor-trailers were overturned along I-70 in Saline County. In Russell County, several power poles were blown down causing power outages in and around Russell. Widespread damage to houses, primarily to roofs and guttering, occurred throughout the county.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

16 thunderstorm wind, 11 hail, 7 high wind, 3 lightning, 3 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Butler

When
April 2, 3:34 PM CST
Where
Butler County, 2 mi W of Leon
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
37.680, -96.820

Hail, Butler

When
April 2, 3:38 PM CST
Where
Butler County, 5 mi SW of El Dorado
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
37.770, -96.930

Hail, Butler

When
April 2, 3:43 PM CST
Where
Butler County, 5 mi N of El Dorado
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
37.880, -96.870

Hail, Greenwood

When
April 2, 3:45 PM CST
Where
Greenwood County, Eureka
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
37.820, -96.300

Hail, Greenwood

When
April 2, 3:54 PM CST
Where
Greenwood County, 2 mi NW of Eureka
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
37.830, -96.330

Thunderstorm Wind, Greenwood

When
April 2, 4:06 PM CST
Where
Greenwood County, 1 mi S of Climax
Measured
70 kt (81 mph)
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
37.700, -96.220

Roof blown off house. Numerous tree limbs blown down.

Hail, Greenwood

When
April 2, 4:50 PM CST
Where
Greenwood County, 2 mi W of Madison
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
38.130, -96.170

Hail occurred at Godfrey Airport.

Lightning, Cowley

When
April 2, 11:00 PM CST to 11:59 PM CST
Where
Cowley County, 6 mi E of Arkansas City
Property damage
$30,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
37.238, -96.837 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning struck a home, setting it ablaze.

Thunderstorm Wind, Harper

When
April 3, 1:50 AM CST
Where
Harper County, Waldron
Measured
78 kt (90 mph)
Property damage
$50,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
37.000, -98.180

At one farmstead, a roundtop was blown off it's foundation and demolished. Part of the roundtop stuck into a silo located immediately north of where roundtop had been positioned.

Thunderstorm Wind, Sumner

When
April 3, 2:31 AM CST to 8:31 PM CST
Where
Sumner County, Geuda Spgs
Measured
61 kt (70 mph)
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
37.120, -97.150

Thunderstorm Wind, Cowley

When
April 3, 2:38 AM CST
Where
Cowley County, 2 mi S of Winfield
Measured
51 kt (59 mph)
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
37.220, -96.980

Thunderstorm Wind, Cowley

When
April 3, 2:40 AM CST
Where
Cowley County, 2 mi SE of Winfield
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Property damage
$300,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
37.230, -96.950

Rubbermaid plant lost 100 feet of roofing.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cowley

When
April 3, 2:45 AM CST
Where
Cowley County, 2 mi E of Winfield
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Injuries
2 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage
$250,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
37.250, -96.950

In southeast Winfield, one barn was blown off it's foundation, slamming into the west wall of a home. One couple sustained minor injuries due to broken glass. Three other barns also sustained damage. A second house, 9 miles southeast of Winfield, sustained damage to siding. In addition, seven mobile homes sustained damage including one that was destroyed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cowley

When
April 3, 2:55 AM CST
Where
Cowley County, Dexter
Measured
61 kt (70 mph)
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
37.180, -96.720

Hail, Kingman

When
April 3, 8:23 PM CST
Where
Kingman County, Cunningham
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
37.650, -98.430

Hail, Harper

When
April 5, 3:24 AM CST
Where
Harper County, Corwin
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
37.080, -98.300

Thunderstorm Wind, Harper

When
April 5, 3:24 AM CST
Where
Harper County, Corwin
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
37.080, -98.300

Tornado, Harper

When
April 5, 3:45 AM CST to 4:00 AM CST
Where
Harper County, Duquoin to 2 mi E of Duquoin
Rating
F0
Path length
2 mi
Path width
167 yd
Property damage
$25,000
Reported by
NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates
37.350, -98.080

Weak tornado, embedded in strong downburst winds, inflicted damage to one double-wide home. Damage was mainly to the roof and due to tree limb impalement to west side of house. One shed was also damaged.

Thunderstorm Wind, Harper

When
April 5, 4:14 AM CST
Where
Harper County, Duquoin
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Property damage
$3,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
37.380, -98.080

The roof was torn off a carport and a windmill was blown over.

Lightning, Harvey

When
April 5, 5:43 AM CST
Where
Harvey County, Burrton
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
38.043, -97.427 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning struck a house, inflicting minor wall damage.

Lightning, Harvey

When
April 5, 6:00 AM CST
Where
Harvey County, Newton
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
38.043, -97.427 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning struck a house, setting fire to the attic.

Tornado, Sedgwick

When
April 5, 6:10 AM CST to 6:15 AM CST
Where
Sedgwick County, Andale to 1 mi E of Andale
Rating
F0
Path length
2 mi
Path width
350 yd
Property damage
$100,000
Reported by
NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates
37.780, -97.630

Weak tornado, embedded in strong downburst winds, inflicted minor damage to 3 houses, 1 silo, 1 trailer and to numerous trees.

Hail, Sedgwick

When
April 5, 6:14 AM CST
Where
Sedgwick County, Wichita
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
37.700, -97.330

Hail, Sedgwick

When
April 5, 6:15 AM CST
Where
Sedgwick County, Wichita
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
37.700, -97.330

Thunderstorm Wind, Sedgwick

When
April 5, 6:15 AM CST
Where
Sedgwick County, Wichita
Measured
70 kt (81 mph)
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates
37.700, -97.330

Garage door caved in and shingles blown off numerous roofs.

Thunderstorm Wind, Sedgwick

When
April 5, 6:30 AM CST
Where
Sedgwick County, Wichita
Measured
56 kt (64 mph)
Property damage
$3,000
Reported by
BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates
37.700, -97.330

Shingles blown off roofs and 2-inch diameter tree limbs blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Sedgwick

When
April 5, 6:38 AM CST
Where
Sedgwick County, Wichita
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
37.700, -97.330

Occurred at McConnell Air Force Base.

Tornado, Sedgwick

When
April 5, 6:40 AM CST to 6:45 AM CST
Where
Sedgwick County, Wichita
Rating
F0
Path length
2 mi
Path width
50 yd
Property damage
$2.0 million
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
37.700, -97.330

The weak tornado fromed along the gust front of a downburst in East Wichita. Initial touchdown occurred just west of the East Harry/South Oliver intersection. The tornado moved northeast to the Kellogg/Oliver intersection, then almost due north to just east of the Central/Oliver intersection where it lifted. The tornado inflicted extensive tree damage, destroyed two portable grade school classrooms, caved in the ceiling of a supermarket, and caused extensive roof damage to homes and businesses.

Thunderstorm Wind, Sedgwick

When
April 5, 6:42 AM CST
Where
Sedgwick County, Wichita
Measured
56 kt (64 mph)
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
37.700, -97.330

Occurred at Brooks Middle School, E. 27th St.

Thunderstorm Wind, Sedgwick

When
April 5, 6:55 AM CST
Where
Sedgwick County, Derby
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates
37.550, -97.270

Occurred at St. Mary's Elementary.

Thunderstorm Wind, Butler

When
April 5, 7:00 AM CST
Where
Butler County, Potwin
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
37.950, -97.020

Occurred at K-196 and Meadowlark Rd.

Hail, Butler

When
April 5, 7:53 AM CST
Where
Butler County, El Dorado
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
37.820, -96.870

Thunderstorm Wind, Butler

When
April 5, 7:53 AM CST
Where
Butler County, El Dorado
Measured
61 kt (70 mph)
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
37.820, -96.870

High Wind, Russell

When
April 8, 9:00 AM CST to 10:00 PM CST
Where
Russell forecast zone
Measured
63 kt (72 mph)
Property damage
$25,000
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
38.915, -98.762 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Saline

When
April 8, 9:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where
Saline forecast zone
Measured
51 kt (59 mph)
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates
38.784, -97.650 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Barton

When
April 8, 9:00 AM CST to 10:00 PM CST
Where
Barton forecast zone
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
38.479, -98.756 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Rice

When
April 8, 9:00 AM CST to 10:30 PM CST
Where
Rice forecast zone
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
38.347, -98.201 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Ellsworth

When
April 8, 9:00 AM CST to 10:30 PM CST
Where
Ellsworth forecast zone
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
38.697, -98.205 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Lincoln

When
April 8, 9:00 AM CST to 10:30 PM CST
Where
Lincoln forecast zone
Measured
47 kt (54 mph)
Property damage
$3,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
39.045, -98.208 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, McPherson

When
April 8, 9:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where
McPherson forecast zone
Measured
51 kt (59 mph)
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
38.392, -97.648 (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.
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.
Lightning
A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.
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.
High Wind
Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Kansas in 1999Every state in 1999This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Kansas, 1999Warnings in Kansas, April 1999

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: 5686408, 5686407, 5686409, 5686410, 5686411, 5686412, 5686413, 5686516, 5686414, 5686415, 5686416, 5686417, 5686498, 5686499, 5686500, 5686501, 5686502, 5686519, 5686503, 5686517, 5686518, 5686520, 5686504, 5686505, 5686506, 5686418, 5686419, 5686507, 5686420, 5686508, 5686421, 5686422, 5686423, 5686509, 5686510, 5686511, 5686512, 5686513, 5686514, 5686515.