Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Kansas, June 12 to 13, 2002

Name: Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Kansas, June 12 to 13, 2002
Start: 2002-06-12T16:50
End: 2002-06-13T00:40
Location: Kansas

June 12 to 13, 2002 · NWS ICT · 26 events in 9 counties and zones

12 hail, 7 flash flood, 5 tornado, 2 thunderstorm wind, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 7 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: $25,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 26

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 forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Wichita, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jun 12, 2:00 PM CST, 2 hours 50 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 12, 2:00 PM CST, 2 hours 50 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
ISSUED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
300 PM CDT WED JUN 12 2002

THE MAIN CONCERN WITH THIS FORECAST CONTINUES TO BE THE TIMING AND
LOCATION OF CONVECTION TONIGHT AND TOMORROW MORNING.

ETA AND AVN SHOW AN MCS DEVELOPING LATE TONIGHT ACROSS EASTERN CO
AND WESTERN KS. THE MAIN PROBLEM IS WHERE THIS MCS WILL GO. THINK
THAT THE MAIN FRONT IS STILL ACROSS FAR NORTHWESTERN SECTIONS OF THE
STATE WITH DEWPOINTS IN THE MID 60S AT HILL CITY. CORFIDI VECTORS
SUGGEST A MORE EASTERLY PROPAGATION TO THE MCS. GIVEN THIS WILL GO A
LITTLE CLOSER TO THE ETAS MORE NORTHERN SOLUTION OF THE MCS TRACK
AND HAVE INCREASED POPS ACROSS THE WHOLE CWA FOR TONIGHT. THE BEST
CHANCE FOR PRECIP SHOULD BE IN SOUTH CENTRAL SECTIONS AND HAVE
LIKELY POPS THERE. WILL ALSO EXTEND THE FLOOD WATCH THROUGH TONIGHT
FOR THE ENTIRE CWA AND LET LATER SHIFTS DECIDE IF IT NEEDS TO BE
EXTENDED INTO THE THURSDAY MORNING. MODELS FORECASTING PRECIPITAL
WATERS GREATER THE 1.5 AND WITH SLOW MOVING FRONT COULD SEE SOME
TOTALS 2 TO 3 INCHES AGAIN. I ALSO INCLUDED SOUTHEAST KANSAS IN THE
WATCH. IT WILL NOT TAKE MUCH MORE PRECIP TO CAUSE PROBLEMS AFTER THE
HEAVY RAINS RECEIVED THIS MORNING ACROSS THE AREA. PREVIOUS FORECAST
FOR THURSDAY MORNING OF A SLIGHT CHANCE IN CENTRAL KS AND 50 POPS IN
SOUTHERN ZONES LOOKS GOOD AND DID NOT CHANGE.

FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FORECAST...DID NOT MAKE MANY CHANGES.
THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY LOOKS DRY AS THE FRONT CONTINUES SOUTH
AND SURFACE RIDGE SLIDES IN. WENT ABOVE GUIDANCE FOR MAX TEMPS ON
FRIDAY THINKING THAT THERE WILL BE A LOT OF JUNE SUNSHINE TO WARM
THINGS UP.

THE NEXT CHANCE FOR PRECIP LOOKS TO BE DURING THE WEEKEND. LEE
TROUGH DEVELOPS DURING THE DAY SATURDAY AS SHORTWAVE ENERGY MOVES
OVER THE CENTRAL PLAINS IN NORTHWESTERLY FLOW. APPEARS AS THOUGH
THE BEST CHANCES WILL BE ON SUNDAY AS A FRONT MOVES SOUTH ACROSS THE
STATE. WILL KEEP TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY DRY WITH TEMPS MODERATING.

PRELIM CCF...

ICT   66  81  56  81  58 /  60  50   -   0
RSL   59  78  52  80  54 /  50  20   0   0
SLN   62  79  55  80  56 /  40  20   0   0
CNU   67  81  57  79  58 /  50  40   -   0

.ICT...
KS...FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 600 AM CDT THURSDAY FOR ENTIRE CWA.

WOLTERS

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jun 12, 10:50 AM CST, 6 hours before

KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-130415-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
ISSUED BY NWS TOPEKA KS
1150 AM CDT WED JUN 12 2002

...SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL BE NEEDED BY LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND INTO
THE EVENING ACROSS PARTS OF CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS...AND
OVERNIGHT IN SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST KANSAS...

SEVERE STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP OVER CENTRAL...AND ESPECIALLY
SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS....BY MID TO LATE AFTERNOON...THEN CONTINUE
INTO THE EVENING AND OVERNIGHT HOURS ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL AND
SOUTHEAST KANSAS.  THE PRIMARY THREAT WILL BE LARGE HAIL AND
DAMAGING WINDS. HOWEVER...DUE TO THE EXTREME INSTABILITY AND
FAVORABLE WIND SHEAR PROFILES...A FEW TORNADOES COULD ALSO
OCCUR...WITH THE MAIN THREAT FOR TORNADOES IN SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS
DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS. ALONG WITH THE SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM THREAT...LOCALIZED HEAVY RAINS OF 2 TO 4 INCHES WILL
ALSO BE LIKELY OVERNIGHT ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST
KANSAS.

A COLD FRONT...EXTENDING FROM NORTHEAST NEBRASKA INTO EAST CENTRAL
COLORADO AT MID DAY...IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EXPECTED SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM THREAT. THE FRONT WILL BE PUSHING SOUTH INTO THE VERY
WARM AND UNSTABLE AIR ACROSS KANSAS BY LATE AFTERNOON...RESULTING IN
RAPID THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT BY MID TO LATE AFTERNOON.

CONSEQUENTLY...STORM SPOTTER AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACTIVATION
WILL BE NEEDED LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING IN PARTS OF CENTRAL
AND SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS...AND OVERNIGHT IN SOUTH CENTRAL AND
SOUTHEAST KANSAS. .

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...AND OTHER LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS FOR
THE LATEST SEVERE WEATHER INFORMATION FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE IN WICHITA.

Local storm report, Jun 12, 2:18 PM CST, 2 hours 32 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA, KANSAS
318 PM CDT WED JUN 12 2002

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

1227 AM    1 NW ALAMEDA              KS   60 MPH TSTM WIND GUST
06/12/02   KINGMAN                        TRAINED AGTAP SPOTTER
                                          REPORTED

0126 AM    7 E MOUNDRIDGE            KS   FLASH FLOOD
06/12/02   MCPHERSON                      LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED
                                          THAT ONE PERSON WAS
                                          STRANDED ON THE ROAD AT
                                          ARROWHEAD AND 30TH AVENUE.

0145 AM    INDEPENDENCE              KS   60 MPH TSTM WIND GUST
06/12/02   MONTGOMERY                     LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED

0156 AM    OXFORD                    KS   58 MPH TSTM WIND GUST
06/12/02   SUMNER                         LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED

0500 AM    1 NW HUTCHINSON           KS   WIND DAMAGE
06/12/02   RENO                           EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
                                          REPORTED THAT SEVERAL TREE
                                          LIMBS WERE DOWNED.

0510 AM    HUTCHINSON                KS   60 MPH TSTM WIND GUST
06/12/02   RENO                           LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED
                                          THAT 6 INCH TREE LIMBS WERE
                                          DOWNED.

0647 AM    WINFIELD                  KS   60 MPH TSTM WIND GUST
06/12/02   COWLEY                         REPORTED BY NWS ASOS.

0650 AM    ARKANSAS CITY             KS   1.00 INCH HAIL
06/12/02   COWLEY                         REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT

0657 AM    ARKANSAS CITY             KS   .75 INCH HAIL
06/12/02   COWLEY                         REPORTED BY TRAINED AGTAP
                                          SPOTTER

CH

The radar

The Wichita radar (KICT), 57 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:50 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

12 hail, 7 flash flood, 5 tornado, 2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Cowley

When: June 12, 4:50 PM CST
Where: Cowley County, 8 mi E of Rock
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 37.450, -96.850

Tornado, Cowley

When: June 12, 4:54 PM CST to 4:58 PM CST
Where: Cowley County, 7 mi W of Atlanta
Rating: F0
Path length: 1 mi
Path width: 110 yd
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 37.433, -96.900

Remained in the country.

Hail, Harper

When: June 12, 4:58 PM CST
Where: Harper County, 13 mi E of Freeport
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 37.200, -97.617

Hail, Harper

When: June 12, 5:06 PM CST
Where: Harper County, 3 mi NW of Freeport
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 37.233, -97.883

Hail, Harper

When: June 12, 5:12 PM CST
Where: Harper County, 2 mi NE of Freeport
Measured: 2.75 in hail
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 37.217, -97.817

Roof damage and windows smashed on cars and homes.

Hail, Sedgwick

When: June 12, 5:15 PM CST
Where: Sedgwick County, Clearwater
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 37.500, -97.500

Hail, Butler

When: June 12, 5:25 PM CST
Where: Butler County, Rose Hill
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 37.567, -97.133

Tornado, Harper

When: June 12, 5:35 PM CST to 5:36 PM CST
Where: Harper County, 2 mi SE of Freeport
Rating: F0
Path length: 1 mi
Path width: 110 yd
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 37.183, -97.817

Remaining in the country, this tornado would cross the Harper/Sumner county line at 1736.

Tornado, Sumner

When: June 12, 5:36 PM CST to 5:38 PM CST
Where: Sumner County, 5 mi SW of Milan
Rating: F0
Path length: 2 mi
Path width: 110 yd
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 37.200, -97.750

The same tornado that began 2 miles southeast of Freeport, this tornado crossed the Harper/Sumner county line at 1736, lifting 3 miles southwest of Milan.

Hail, Sedgwick

When: June 12, 5:40 PM CST
Where: Sedgwick County, 1 mi E of Greenwich
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 37.783, -97.183

Cooperative observer.

Hail, Woodson

When: June 12, 5:42 PM CST
Where: Woodson County, Yates Center
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 37.883, -95.733

Hail, Sumner

When: June 12, 5:44 PM CST
Where: Sumner County, 7 mi S of Argonia
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 37.167, -97.767

Hail, Harper

When: June 12, 5:44 PM CST
Where: Harper County, 5 mi E of Freeport
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 37.200, -97.767

Tornado, Butler

When: June 12, 6:00 PM CST to 6:10 PM CST
Where: Butler County, Rose Hill
Rating: F0
Path length: 4 mi
Path width: 110 yd
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 37.567, -97.133

Although the tornado remained in open country, it traveled perilously close to the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad tracks.

Tornado, Sumner

When: June 12, 6:07 PM CST
Where: Sumner County, 7 mi NW of Caldwell
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.5 mi
Path width: 55 yd
Reported by: STORM CHASER
Coordinates: 37.100, -97.683

Brief touchdown in open country.

Hail, Kingman

When: June 12, 6:14 PM CST
Where: Kingman County, 2 mi NW of Spivey
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 37.467, -98.200

Flash Flood, Butler

When: June 12, 6:41 PM CST to 10:55 PM CST
Where: Butler County, 1 mi E of Douglass
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 37.781, -96.839 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Some roads flooded 3-5 inches deep.

Thunderstorm Wind, Wilson

When: June 12, 6:45 PM CST
Where: Wilson County, Buffalo
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 37.700, -95.700

Flash Flood, Butler

When: June 12, 6:53 PM CST to 10:55 PM CST
Where: Butler County, 4 mi W of Douglass
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 37.781, -96.839 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Indianola/210th St. intersection flooded 1 foot deep.

Thunderstorm Wind, Wilson

When: June 12, 6:55 PM CST
Where: Wilson County, Buffalo
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 37.700, -95.700

Hail, Sumner

When: June 12, 7:40 PM CST
Where: Sumner County, 5 mi SW of Mayfield
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 37.217, -97.617

Flash Flood, Sedgwick

When: June 12, 7:46 PM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Sedgwick County, Wichita
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 37.685, -97.461 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Harry & Meridian intersection flooded curb to curb.

Flash Flood, Butler

When: June 12, 8:17 PM CST to 10:55 PM CST
Where: Butler County, Douglass
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 37.781, -96.839 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Most roads in and around town flooded.

Flash Flood, Cowley

When: June 12, 8:20 PM CST to 10:55 PM CST
Where: Cowley County, 4 mi W of Atlanta
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 37.238, -96.837 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

32nd Street barricaded.

Flash Flood, Neosho

When: June 12, 8:38 PM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Neosho County, 1 mi S of Earlton
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 37.559, -95.307 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Highway 169 flooded 6-8 inches deep.

Flash Flood, Sumner

When: June 12, 8:45 PM CST to June 13, 12:40 AM CST
Where: Sumner County, 10 mi S of Wellington
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 37.237, -97.477 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Highway 81/Rome Rd. intersection flooded 2 feet deep.

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.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Kansas in 2002 Every state in 2002 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Kansas, 2002 Warnings in Kansas, June 2002

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: 5297845, 5297846, 5297847, 5297848, 5297849, 5297850, 5297851, 5297852, 5297930, 5297933, 5297934, 5297931, 5297932, 5297935, 5297940, 5297936, 5297937, 5297838, 5297938, 5297939, 5297839, 5297840, 5297841, 5297842, 5297843, 5297844.