Kansas, 2002

Tornadoes and Hail in Kansas, May 11, 2002

May 11, 2002 · NWS DDC · 67 events in 13 counties and zones

52 hail, 8 thunderstorm wind, 7 tornado, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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
$7,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
67

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 Dodge City, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 11, 2:28 PM CST, 32 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 11, 2:28 PM CST, 32 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY KS
328 PM CDT SAT MAY 11 2002

DAYS 1-2...

THIS AFTERNOONS WATER VAPOR LOOP SHOWS A JET MAX MIGRATING
NORTHEAST OVER THE WESTERN HIGH PLAINS. AREA WIND PROFILERS ALSO
SUPPORT THIS AS WELL. COLD FRONT STARTING TO LIGHT UP PER RADAR AND
VIS SAT DATA. SFC OBS SHOW BEST LOW-LEVEL MOISTURE FROM THE EASTERN
TEXAS PANHANDLE TO THE FAR EASTERN CWA. AS THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON
PASSES AND COLD FRONT CONTINUES TO SLIDE SOUTH, THE CHANCE FOR
CONVECTION EXISTS. THE BEST CHANCES FOR WIDESPREAD CONVECTION WILL
BE OVER THE EASTERN CWA TONIGHT. WITH THIS IN MIND, WILL KEEP POP
GRADIENT GOING FROM PREVIOUS SHIFT.

FOR SUNDAY...MID/UPPER TROP VORT THATS OVER AZ THIS AFTERNOON WILL
MOVE EAST TONIGHT INTO SUNDAY. BEST MID-LEVEL LAPSE RATES WILL BE
JUST TO OUR SOUTH DURING THE DAY. HOWEVER, THERE WILL BE SOME
MID/UPPER MOISTURE AVAILABLE FOR SHOWERS. THEREFORE, WILL SHOTGUN A
CHANCE POP FOR ALL CWA. WITH CAA AND PLENTIFUL CLOUD OVERHEAD, HIGHS
WILL RANGE FROM THE LOWER 50S NORTH TO THE LOWER 60S FAR SOUTHEAST.

FOR MONDAY...WITH UPPER VORT TO OUR SOUTHEAST, CWA WILL BE UNDER
DOWNWARD MOTION. UPSHOT IS THAT SUNNY SKIES SHOULD PREVAIL. WILL
PLAN TO GO ABOVE CURRENT MAV NUMBERS FOR HIGHS. PCPN NIL THIS PERIOD.

DAYS 3-7...

THE CURRENT EXTENDED LOOKED ON TRACK...FROM WHAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
STUDY. ANALYSIS WAS SHORTENED TODAY DUE TO SEVERE POTENTIAL. TODAY/S
RUN OF THE AVN AND YESTERDAY/S ECMWF ARE SIMILAR THROUGH ABOUT
15/12Z TIME FRAME, THEN THE AVN SPEEDS UP THE EASTWARD MOVEMENT OF
THE UPPER LOW OVER MONTANA, WHILE ECMWF DIGS AND MOVES THIS LOW
PRESSURE CENTER AT SLOWER PACE, AND THUS DIGS A LARGER SCALE TROUGH
THROUGH THE MOUNTAIN STATES. WITH THIS IN MIND, WILL KEEP A CHANCE
FOR THUNDERSTORMS IN THURSDAY AND FRIDAY PERIODS, BUT NOT IN NEWLY
INTRODUCED SATURDAY PERIOD. AHEAD OF APPROACHING UPPER SYSTEM, HIGH
TEMPS COULD GET PRETTY TOASTY WED AND THUR, AND CURRENT FORECAST
REFLECTS THIS.

PRELIMINARY GUIDANCE FOR COORDINATION ONLY. OFFICIAL FORECASTS ARE
CONTAINED WITHIN THE DODGE CITY ZONE FORECAST.

DDC   44  52  38  74 /  70  30   0   0
GCK   45  57  41  77 /  50  30   0   0
EHA   44  55  40  80 /  30  30   0   0
LBL   45  57  41  77 /  50  30   0   0
HYS   44  52  38  74 /  70  30   0   0
P28   47  59  42  75 /  70  30   0   0

.DDC...NONE.

16/12

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 11, 12:36 PM CST, 2 hours 24 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY, KS
136 PM CDT SAT MAY 11 2002

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

0123 AM    16 ESE ULYSSES            KS   .75 INCH HAIL
05/11/02   GRANT                          REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT

0130 AM    16 N SUBLETTE             KS   1.00 INCH HAIL
05/11/02   HASKELL                        REPORTED BY PUBLIC

0140 AM    12 S GARDEN CITY          KS   .88 INCH HAIL
05/11/02   FINNEY                         REPORTED BY CO-OP
                                          OBSERVERS

TSB

The radar

The Dodge City radar (KDDC), 25 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:59 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

52 hail, 8 thunderstorm wind, 7 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Hodgeman

When
May 11, 3:00 PM CST
Where
Hodgeman County, 8 mi SSW of Jetmore
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
37.983, -99.950

Hail, Gray

When
May 11, 3:05 PM CST
Where
Gray County, 8 mi S of Cimarron
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
37.683, -100.350

Hail, Hodgeman

When
May 11, 3:11 PM CST
Where
Hodgeman County, 13 mi SSE of Jetmore
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
37.917, -99.817

Hail, Edwards

When
May 11, 3:25 PM CST
Where
Edwards County, 8 mi NW of Kinsley
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
38.000, -99.517

Tornado, Edwards

When
May 11, 3:44 PM CST to 3:45 PM CST
Where
Edwards County, 4 mi N of Kinsley
Rating
F0
Path length
0.3 mi
Path width
30 yd
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
37.967, -99.417

This was a brief tornado (not a gustnado).

Hail, Pawnee

When
May 11, 3:47 PM CST
Where
Pawnee County, 4 mi SW of Garfield
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
38.050, -99.300

Hail, Pawnee

When
May 11, 3:50 PM CST
Where
Pawnee County, 4 mi SSE of Garfield
Measured
1.5 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
38.033, -99.217

Hail, Pawnee

When
May 11, 3:57 PM CST
Where
Pawnee County, 4 mi SW of Garfield
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
38.050, -99.300

Hail, Pawnee

When
May 11, 3:57 PM CST
Where
Pawnee County, 1 mi NE of Garfield
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
38.100, -99.233

Hail, Pawnee

When
May 11, 4:00 PM CST
Where
Pawnee County, 1 mi NE of Garfield
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
38.100, -99.233

Hail, Edwards

When
May 11, 4:00 PM CST
Where
Edwards County, 1 mi NW of Belpre
Measured
1.25 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
37.967, -99.117

Hail, Pawnee

When
May 11, 4:00 PM CST
Where
Pawnee County, 3 mi SW of Garfield
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
38.050, -99.283

Thunderstorm Wind, Edwards

When
May 11, 4:10 PM CST
Where
Edwards County, 4 mi NE of Belpre
Measured
70 kt (81 mph)
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
37.983, -99.050

Four inch diameter tree limbs were broken.

Thunderstorm Wind, Edwards

When
May 11, 4:10 PM CST
Where
Edwards County, 3 mi E of Belpre
Measured
70 kt (81 mph)
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
37.950, -99.050

Shingles were blown off a roof.

Hail, Pawnee

When
May 11, 4:15 PM CST
Where
Pawnee County, 3 mi S of Zook
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
38.000, -99.083

Hail, Seward

When
May 11, 4:30 PM CST
Where
Seward County, 2 mi S of Kismet
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
37.167, -100.700

Hail, Stafford

When
May 11, 4:40 PM CST
Where
Stafford County, 4 mi N of Macksville
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
38.017, -98.967

Hail, Kiowa

When
May 11, 4:45 PM CST
Where
Kiowa County, Greensburg
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
37.600, -99.300

Thunderstorm Wind, Kiowa

When
May 11, 4:51 PM CST
Where
Kiowa County, 7 mi N of Greensburg
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
37.700, -99.300

Four power poles were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Edwards

When
May 11, 4:53 PM CST
Where
Edwards County, 4 mi NE of Lewis
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
37.967, -99.200

Power lines were blown down along a 1/2 mile stretch of a road.

Tornado, Kiowa

When
May 11, 4:56 PM CST
Where
Kiowa County, 7 mi NE of Greensburg
Rating
F0
Path length
0.3 mi
Path width
50 yd
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
37.667, -99.217

This was a very brief tornado (but not a gustnado).

Hail, Kiowa

When
May 11, 5:00 PM CST
Where
Kiowa County, 3 mi N of Greensburg
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
37.650, -99.300

Tornado, Stafford

When
May 11, 5:12 PM CST to 5:13 PM CST
Where
Stafford County, 6 mi E of Stafford
Rating
F0
Path length
0.3 mi
Path width
50 yd
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
37.967, -98.483

Another brief tornado reported (again, not a gustnado).

Tornado, Stafford

When
May 11, 5:13 PM CST to 5:15 PM CST
Where
Stafford County, 6 mi E of Stafford
Rating
F0
Path length
0.5 mi
Path width
50 yd
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
37.967, -98.483

Another brief tornado spinup in the same general location as the 1712 CST tornado.

Tornado, Pratt

When
May 11, 5:15 PM CST to 5:16 PM CST
Where
Pratt County, 2 mi S of Cullison
Rating
F0
Path length
0.3 mi
Path width
30 yd
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
37.600, -98.900

This was a brief tornado (not a gustnado).

Thunderstorm Wind, Stafford

When
May 11, 5:20 PM CST
Where
Stafford County, 4 mi NE of Stafford
Measured
61 kt (70 mph)
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
38.000, -98.550

Three to four inch diameter tree branches were broken.

Thunderstorm Wind, Pratt

When
May 11, 5:25 PM CST
Where
Pratt County, Pratt
Measured
70 kt (81 mph)
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
37.650, -98.733

Hail, Meade

When
May 11, 5:30 PM CST
Where
Meade County, 13 mi SSW of Meade
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
37.117, -100.417

Hail, Clark

When
May 11, 5:30 PM CST
Where
Clark County, 9 mi NW of Englewood
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
37.133, -100.100

Hail, Clark

When
May 11, 5:30 PM CST
Where
Clark County, 7 mi NE of Englewood
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
37.100, -99.900

Tornado, Pratt

When
May 11, 5:30 PM CST to 5:33 PM CST
Where
Pratt County, 2 mi WSW of Pratt
Rating
F0
Path length
1.2 mi
Path width
50 yd
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
37.633, -98.767

This was a brief tornado (not a gustnado).

Hail, Stafford

When
May 11, 5:45 PM CST
Where
Stafford County, 7 mi S of Stafford
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
37.867, -98.600

Hail, Ford

When
May 11, 5:50 PM CST
Where
Ford County, 1 mi S of Bucklin
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
37.533, -99.633

Hail, Edwards

When
May 11, 6:00 PM CST
Where
Edwards County, 8 mi S of Offerle
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
37.767, -99.550

Hail, Pratt

When
May 11, 6:00 PM CST
Where
Pratt County, 1 mi E of Cairo
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
37.650, -98.550

Hail, Clark

When
May 11, 6:04 PM CST
Where
Clark County, 4 mi S of Ashland
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
37.133, -99.767

Hail, Clark

When
May 11, 6:10 PM CST
Where
Clark County, Ashland
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
37.183, -99.767

Hail, Clark

When
May 11, 6:15 PM CST
Where
Clark County, Sitka
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
37.183, -99.667

Hail, Kiowa

When
May 11, 6:15 PM CST
Where
Kiowa County, 5 mi SW of Greensburg
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
37.550, -99.367

Hail, Clark

When
May 11, 6:15 PM CST
Where
Clark County, 4 mi S of Ashland
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
37.133, -99.767

Hail, Meade

When
May 11, 6:30 PM CST
Where
Meade County, 8 mi S of Meade
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
37.167, -100.333

Hail, Comanche

When
May 11, 6:37 PM CST
Where
Comanche County, 1 mi W of Protection
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
37.200, -99.500

Hail, Clark

When
May 11, 6:40 PM CST
Where
Clark County, 10 mi NW of Ashland
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
37.283, -99.900

Hail, Meade

When
May 11, 7:00 PM CST
Where
Meade County, 6 mi ESE of Meade
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
37.250, -100.233

Hail, Clark

When
May 11, 7:01 PM CST
Where
Clark County, 10 mi NW of Ashland
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
37.283, -99.900

Hail, Barber

When
May 11, 7:05 PM CST
Where
Barber County, 6 mi N of Sun City
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
37.467, -98.917

Hail, Comanche

When
May 11, 7:05 PM CST
Where
Comanche County, Coldwater
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
37.267, -99.333

Hail, Comanche

When
May 11, 7:05 PM CST
Where
Comanche County, Coldwater
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
37.267, -99.333

Tornado, Comanche

When
May 11, 7:10 PM CST to 7:14 PM CST
Where
Comanche County, 6 mi ENE of Buttermilk
Rating
F0
Path length
2.2 mi
Path width
100 yd
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
37.133, -99.233

This tornado did not hit anything to give it a rating other than zero.

Thunderstorm Wind, Comanche

When
May 11, 7:20 PM CST
Where
Comanche County, 9 mi ESE of Coldwater
Measured
78 kt (90 mph)
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
37.217, -99.183

Six inch diameter tree limbs blown down.

Hail, Comanche

When
May 11, 7:30 PM CST
Where
Comanche County, Protection
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
37.200, -99.483

Hail, Meade

When
May 11, 7:30 PM CST
Where
Meade County, 6 mi ESE of Meade
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
37.250, -100.233

Hail, Pratt

When
May 11, 7:30 PM CST
Where
Pratt County, Sawyer
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
37.500, -98.683

Hail, Comanche

When
May 11, 7:35 PM CST
Where
Comanche County, Coldwater
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
37.267, -99.333

Hail, Comanche

When
May 11, 7:39 PM CST
Where
Comanche County, Protection
Measured
2.75 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
37.200, -99.483

Hail, Comanche

When
May 11, 7:40 PM CST
Where
Comanche County, 5 mi S of Coldwater
Measured
2.5 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
37.200, -99.333

Hail covered the ground and windows were broken out. Many cars slid off the road in the vicinity due to the hail covering the highway.

Hail, Seward

When
May 11, 7:45 PM CST
Where
Seward County, 6 mi SE of Hayne
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
37.033, -100.717

Hail covered the ground.

Hail, Meade

When
May 11, 7:45 PM CST
Where
Meade County, 10 mi E of Meade
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
37.283, -100.150

Hail, Meade

When
May 11, 7:45 PM CST
Where
Meade County, 4 mi SSE of Plains
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
37.217, -100.567

Hail, Comanche

When
May 11, 7:45 PM CST
Where
Comanche County, 6 mi S of Coldwater
Measured
2 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
37.183, -99.333

Hail, Meade

When
May 11, 8:00 PM CST
Where
Meade County, 14 mi S of Plains
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
37.067, -100.600

Thunderstorm Wind, Barber

When
May 11, 8:25 PM CST
Where
Barber County, 12 mi SSW of Medicine Lodge Arpt
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
37.100, -98.633

Hail, Comanche

When
May 11, 8:30 PM CST
Where
Comanche County, 11 mi ENE of Buttermilk
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
37.167, -99.150

Hail, Clark

When
May 11, 9:00 PM CST
Where
Clark County, 9 mi NW of Englewood
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
37.133, -100.100

Hail, Meade

When
May 11, 9:00 PM CST
Where
Meade County, 17 mi SSW of Fowler
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
37.150, -100.317

Hail, Clark

When
May 11, 9:02 PM CST
Where
Clark County, 9 mi NW of Englewood
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
37.133, -100.100

Hail, Barber

When
May 11, 10:03 PM CST
Where
Barber County, Medicine Lodge
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
37.283, -98.583

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.
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

More

Every storm in Kansas in 2002Every state in 2002This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Kansas, 2002Warnings in Kansas, May 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: 5298627, 5298628, 5298629, 5298630, 5298865, 5298631, 5298725, 5298726, 5298727, 5298728, 5298729, 5298730, 5298731, 5298732, 5298733, 5298734, 5298735, 5298736, 5298737, 5298738, 5298871, 5298739, 5298866, 5298867, 5298868, 5298740, 5298741, 5298742, 5298743, 5298744, 5298869, 5298745, 5298746, 5298747, 5298748, 5298749, 5298750, 5298751, 5298752, 5298753, and more.