Kansas, 1999

Tornadoes and Flash Flood in Kansas, May 16 to 17, 1999

May 16 to 17, 1999 · NWS ICT · 39 events in 12 counties and zones

25 hail, 7 thunderstorm wind, 5 tornado, 1 flash flood, 1 flood, 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
$604,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
39

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), 60 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:17 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

25 hail, 7 thunderstorm wind, 5 tornado, 1 flash flood, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Kingman

When
May 16, 5:16 PM CST
Where
Kingman County, Kingman
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
37.650, -98.120

Tornado, Marion

When
May 16, 5:28 PM CST
Where
Marion County, 3 mi E of Durham
Rating
F0
Path width
55 yd
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
38.480, -97.170

Brief touchdwon in open country.

Hail, Kingman

When
May 16, 5:34 PM CST
Where
Kingman County, 4 mi E of Kingman
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
37.650, -98.050

Hail, Harvey

When
May 16, 5:38 PM CST
Where
Harvey County, Patterson to 2 mi S of Patterson
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
37.900, -97.650

Hail, Marion

When
May 16, 5:40 PM CST
Where
Marion County, 1 mi W of Ramona
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
38.600, -97.080

Hail, Kingman

When
May 16, 5:55 PM CST
Where
Kingman County, 5 mi S of Kingman
Measured
2.75 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
37.580, -98.120

Tornado, Marion

When
May 16, 6:00 PM CST to 6:08 PM CST
Where
Marion County, Durham to 5 mi SW of Lincolnville
Rating
F1
Path length
2 mi
Path width
440 yd
Property damage
$75,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
38.430, -97.150

Four outbuildings and two vehicles destroyed.

Hail, Harvey

When
May 16, 6:08 PM CST
Where
Harvey County, Halstead
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
38.000, -97.520

Tornado, Kingman

When
May 16, 6:10 PM CST
Where
Kingman County, Belmont
Rating
F0
Path width
55 yd
Reported by
STORM CHASER
Coordinates
37.530, -97.980

Brief touchdown in open country.

Tornado, Kingman

When
May 16, 6:20 PM CST to 6:29 PM CST
Where
Kingman County, Kingman to 3 mi SW of Murdock
Rating
F0
Path length
4 mi
Path width
110 yd
Reported by
STORM CHASER
Coordinates
37.650, -98.170

Remained over open country.

Hail, Sedgwick

When
May 16, 6:41 PM CST
Where
Sedgwick County, Cheney
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
37.630, -97.780

Tornado, Marion

When
May 16, 6:41 PM CST to 6:58 PM CST
Where
Marion County, Hillsboro to 4 mi W of Durham
Rating
F0
Path length
10 mi
Path width
110 yd
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
38.350, -97.270

Remained over open country.

Hail, Kingman

When
May 16, 7:05 PM CST
Where
Kingman County, Mt Vernon
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
37.720, -97.850

Hail, Kingman

When
May 16, 7:50 PM CST
Where
Kingman County, 5 mi SE of Kingman
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
UNKNOWN
Coordinates
37.600, -98.050

Hail, Kingman

When
May 16, 7:51 PM CST
Where
Kingman County, Belmont
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
37.530, -97.980

Hail, Marion

When
May 16, 7:55 PM CST
Where
Marion County, 3 mi NE of Lehigh
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
38.400, -97.270

Hail, Sedgwick

When
May 16, 8:01 PM CST
Where
Sedgwick County, Wichita
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
37.700, -97.330

Hail, Kingman

When
May 16, 8:13 PM CST
Where
Kingman County, Belmont
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
37.530, -97.980

Hail, Sedgwick

When
May 16, 9:10 PM CST to 9:19 PM CST
Where
Sedgwick County, Wichita
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)
Coordinates
37.700, -97.330

Hail, Butler

When
May 16, 9:18 PM CST
Where
Butler County, 7 mi S of Whitewater
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
37.870, -97.150

Flash Flood, Sedgwick

When
May 16, 9:20 PM CST to 11:59 PM CST
Where
Sedgwick County, Wichita
Property damage
$250,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
37.685, -97.461 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Torrential rains caused widespread flooding across the Wichita metropolitan area with water as much as 3 feet deep in some areas. In Northwest Wichita, flash flooding broke out windows at one residence causing water to flow into the basement.

Thunderstorm Wind, Sedgwick

When
May 16, 9:30 PM CST to 9:31 PM CST
Where
Sedgwick County, Wichita
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
37.700, -97.330

Tree limbs blown down at intersection of West 29th Street and Amidon.

Hail, Barton

When
May 16, 10:55 PM CST
Where
Barton County, Albert
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$175,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
38.450, -99.020

Golfball-sized hail damaged farm dwellings and approximately 70% of total acreage.

Hail, Barton

When
May 16, 11:03 PM CST
Where
Barton County, Great Bend to 2 mi NW of Great Bend
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
38.370, -98.800

Hail, Barton

When
May 16, 11:12 PM CST
Where
Barton County, Albert to 3 mi N of Albert
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
38.480, -99.020

Thunderstorm Wind, Barton

When
May 16, 11:12 PM CST
Where
Barton County, Albert to 3 mi N of Albert
Measured
61 kt (70 mph)
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
38.480, -99.020

Thunderstorm Wind, Barton

When
May 16, 11:15 PM CST
Where
Barton County, Ellinwood
Measured
56 kt (64 mph)
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
38.350, -98.580

Hail, Saline

When
May 16, 11:15 PM CST
Where
Saline County, 2 mi E of Salina
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
38.830, -97.570

Hail, Barton

When
May 16, 11:17 PM CST
Where
Barton County, 2 mi E of Hoisington
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
38.520, -98.730

All windows broken on west side of house.

Hail, Barton

When
May 16, 11:20 PM CST
Where
Barton County, Great Bend
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
38.370, -98.770

Hail, Ellsworth

When
May 16, 11:36 PM CST to 11:40 PM CST
Where
Ellsworth County, 2 mi SW of Holyrood
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
38.570, -98.430

Golfball-sized hail damaged approximately 15,000 acres of crops including 20-30% of the wheat crop.

Hail, Rice

When
May 16, 11:49 PM CST
Where
Rice County, Lyons
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
38.350, -98.200

Hail, Rice

When
May 16, 11:50 PM CST to May 17, 12:15 AM CST
Where
Rice County, Silica to Chase
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$100,000
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
38.350, -98.450

Marble to golfball-sized hail damaged roofs, vehicles, numerous trees and broke windows. A total of 85,000 acres of farmland (wheat, corn and alfalfa) were affected.

Thunderstorm Wind, Rice

When
May 16, 11:50 PM CST to May 17, 12:15 AM CST
Where
Rice County, Silica to Chase
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
38.350, -98.450

Thunderstorm Wind, Ellsworth

When
May 16, 11:53 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, Wilson

When
May 16, 11:55 PM CST
Where
Wilson County, Fredonia
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
37.530, -95.820

Flood, Kingman

When
May 17, 12:01 AM CST to 2:00 AM CST
Where
Kingman forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
37.559, -98.136 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several roads under water in Murdock.

Thunderstorm Wind, Allen

When
May 17, 12:20 AM CST to 12:30 AM CST
Where
Allen County, Iola to La Harpe
Measured
61 kt (70 mph)
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
37.920, -95.400

Numerous trees blown down, a few with trunks 2 feet in diameter.

Thunderstorm Wind, Neosho

When
May 17, 12:35 AM CST to 12:45 AM CST
Where
Neosho County, Erie
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Property damage
$3,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
37.570, -95.250

Large tree blown into a house in Erie.

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.
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.
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.
Flood
Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

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, May 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: 5690178, 5690471, 5690375, 5690376, 5690377, 5690378, 5690379, 5690380, 5690381, 5690382, 5690383, 5690384, 5690385, 5690386, 5690387, 5690388, 5690389, 5690390, 5690391, 5690392, 5690393, 5690394, 5690395, 5690396, 5690397, 5690398, 5690399, 5690400, 5690401, 5690402, 5690678, 5690679, 5690685, 5690686, 5690680, 5690681, 5690684, 5690682, 5690683.