Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Kansas, May 3 to 12, 1999

Minor roof damage inflicted to a business in Mayfield. Just north of Mayfield, a metal outbuilding was partially unroofed with minor roof damage inflicted to the adjacent house. The tornado then hit a farmstead where windows were broken on the south and west sides of the house, a satellite dish tilted over, two metal grain bins removed and a metal barn damaged when one of the grain bins was thrown into it. Near termination, major damage was inflicted to two mobile homes, one of which was thrown about 50 feet and destroyed on impact with a row of trees.

Initial touchdown occurred 4 miles north of Wellington in Central Sumner County where several power poles were knocked down. Moving north-northeast near 30 kts, the tornado inflicted damage to about 15 structures including complete destruction of two mobile homes, a pole barn, two wood sheds and one metal shed. Also damaged were a ranch style home and a metal shed, both of which lost most of their roofing. This tornado was responsible for all 4 injuries in Sumner County. Of the injuries, 3 occurred (1 serious) in the two destroyed mobile homes. While in Sumner County, this tornado possessed a path 10 miles long and 1/4 to 1/2 mile wide. It would exit Sumner County at 1930, continuing a north-northeast track into Sedgwick County.

The same tornado that initially touched down 4 miles north of Wellington in Central Sumner County, SKYWARN reports indicate the tornado crossed the Sumner/Sedgwick County line at 1930, 1 mile west of Peck. Moving northeast at 30 kts, the tornado hit Haysville at 1935, destroying a subdivision just southwest of the South Seneca-South 87th Street intersection where the first 2 fatalities occurred in a mobile home park when a woman and her grandson were killed while running for shelter. (A 6th fatality resulted when an elderly man died from his injuries at a Wichita hospital on May 23rd.) The tornado then moved north along South Seneca Avenue, entering the Haysville Central Business District at 1938. The 3rd fatality occurred at this point when an elderly man was killed in a mobile home at South 75th Street. At the South Seneca/South 71st Street intersection, most of the businesses were heavily damaged or destroyed. Damage summary for Haysville (damaged or destroyed): 150 homes, 27 businesses, 3 churches, 1 library, 4 historic buildings and 1 lodge. The tornado entered South Wichita at 1943 when it crossed South 55th Street. The tornado then veered slightly toward the northwest. At South 47th Street it reassumed a northeast track. Crossing MacArthur Avenue, the tornado leveled the Lakeshore and Pacesetter mobile home parks located just northeast of the South Seneca/MacArthur intersection where the 4th and 5th fatalities occurred, one at each mobile home park. At 1945, the tornado crossed the East Harry Street interchange on I-135 and continued to move northeast, lifting in the College Hill District in Northeast Wichita. Along this entire track, the tornado left a path of destruction 14 miles long and 1/4 to 1/2 mile wide. Damage summary for Sedgwick County: 8,480 buildings (all types) damaged or destroyed. Of these, 2,456 were at least 50% destroyed and 1,109 totally destroyed.

Brief touchdown in open country.

Flash flooding from torrential rains resulted in the closure of 21st Street and Central Avenue with Andover Road limited to one-lane traffic.

Torrential rains of 2-3 inches flooded Highway 166 at Cedar Vale.

Major flash flooding occurred in Northwest Butler County along Four Mile Creek, a tributary of the Whitewater River. Several houses were reported in high water. In Towanda, the torrential rains caused widespread street flooding.

At Buhler, a subdivision consisting of 37 homes was hit. Of the 37 homes damaged, 3 were destroyed, 4 sustained major damage and 30 minor damage. This tornado would continue a northeast track into Southwest McPherson County where it skipped along Highway 61.

Initial damage occurred 3.5 miles SW of Inman where an old barn collapsed and trees were uprooted. The greatest damage occurred 3-4 miles east of Inman where one house sustained minor roof damage, a circle irrigation system was destroyed, a tin cattleshed was destroyed, and an irrigation pipe was wrapped around trees. As the tornado continued a northeast track along and just east Highway 61, it inflicted more tree damage as well as damaging part of the wheat crop as it passed 2 miles southeast of Groveland before lifting 3 miles southwest of McPherson. Though possessing an overall track of 10 miles from point of entry into McPherson County to dissipation, the tornado skipped, never maintaining ground contact for more than 2 miles at a time with the segments totalling about 5 miles.

Remained over open country.

Remained over open country.

Remained over open country.

Remaining over open country, the tornado crossed the Lincoln/Mitchell County line, 4 miles northwest of Ash Grove where it lifted just west of Hunter in extreme Southwest Mitchell County.

Initial touchdown occurred over eastern Marion Reservoir at approximately 1535. Moving northeast at 30 kts, the tornado passed near Lincolnville and then just to the east of Lost Springs where it crossed into southwest Morris County. Extensive damage was inflicted upon one home just southeast of Lost Springs where the garage was destroyed and part of roof was lost.

Roof was torn off a metal barn.

A tree was blown over and landed on a car.

Outflow from dissipating thunderstorms over western Kansas induced sustained winds of 52-61kts across most of Barton County downing power lines in Great Bend.

Outflow from dissipating thunderstorms in western Kansas induced wind gusts to 56kts 3 miles east of Halstead.

Outflow from dissipating thunderstorms over western Kansas induced winds of 48-56kts across most of Sedgwick County including Wichita. Observations were obtained from both trained spotters as well as from official National Weather service observations.

Reported in South Wichita.

In Claflin, one farmstead sustained damage where top half of barn was destroyed, grainery destroyed, grain bin disappeared, and chicken house lost nearly 2/3 of it's roof.

Remained over open country.

Onion Creek flooded, closing S. 10th St.