Kansas, 2003

Tornadoes and Flash Flood in Kansas, June 22 to 23, 2003

June 22 to 23, 2003 · NWS GID · 8 events in 3 counties and zones

A torrent of rain was unleashed on the eastern half of Jewell county on June 22. Over 9 inches of rain fell at Lovewell Reservoir.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 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
$1.5 million
Crop damage
$3.0 million
Events
8

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 GID wrote it up.

A torrent of rain was unleashed on the eastern half of Jewell county on June 22. Over 9 inches of rain fell at Lovewell Reservoir. Flash flooding was reported near the campground just downstream on the White Rock Creek. Two men escaped injury despite being stranded by flood waters. The men were attempting to reach a house on fire around 3 am. The men were driving a road grader. The grader was swept off a bridge by the raging flood waters. The two men sat on a wheel of the grader until 6 am before the water receded enough to rescue them safely. No one was home in the house the men were trying to reach, but it was destroyed by the fire. The flooding caused severe county road and bridge damage in eastern Jewell county. The highway in the Formoso area was flooded for a time. Later that night, tornadoes were reported by both law enforcement and the public in Smith and Phillips counties. Given the tornadoes occurred in very rural areas, no damage was reported.

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 Hastings, NE wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jun 22, 1:00 PM CST, 8 hours 30 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 22, 1:00 PM CST, 8 hours 30 minutes before
SOUTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA/NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
200 PM CDT SUN JUN 22 2003

NOT MUCH HAS CHANGED FOR CURRENT FCST BUT TO UP LOWS A BIT OVR NEXT
FEW DAYS AND LOWER HIGHS SOMEWHAT THU...OTHERWISE THINKING PRETTY
MUCH THE SAME.

RIGHT NOW...WATCHING MOISTURE DISCONTINUITY IN FORM OF FINE LINE
MOVE EWD OUT OF LBF TERRITORY. THIS WOULD BE LIKELY FIRST INITIATION
POINT FOR CONVECTION TODAY...OVR NRN CWA IN VALLEY SHERMAN GREELEY
OR HOWARD COUNTIES...POSSIBLY BUILDING SWD SOMEWHAT OVR TIME. LOTS
OF JUICE IN THE FORM OF SFC DPTS UPR 60S TO LOW 70S EAST OF
LINE...AND WITH SUN STARTING TO BREAK THROUGH GENERATING LOADS OF LL
CAPE. SHOULD REACH CONVECTIVE TEMPS ALSO RATHER EASILY...ESPECIALLY
NEAR AND S OF I80 CORRIDOR. LL SHEAR QUITE GOOD...HOWEVER MID TO UPR
LVLS HAVE SOMETHING TO BE DESIRED. OVERALL...BEST CHC FOR TSRA WILL
BE OVR NRN HALF OF CWA ALONG DEV WARM FRONT...WITH BEST CHC FOR
SEVERE N OF I80 AND E OF HIGHWAY 281. STRONG OR ISOLATED SEVERE
CANNOT BE RULED OUT OVR REST OF CWA...HOWEVER MUCH MORE STABLE
CONDITIONS ENCROACHING UPON SWRN PORTION OF CWA. FOR NOW KEEPING
WITH SCATTERED MENTION...40 POPS NE...30S EVERYWHERE ELSE BUT SWRN
CWA WITH 20 POPS.

FOR MON...CONTINUES TO LOOK QUITE HOT AND FAIRLY MOIST...HOWEVER
MUCH TOO CAPPED OVR MOST OF OUR CWA...WITH INSTABILITY AXIS PUSHING
FURTHER TO THE EAST. LEFT SMALL 20 POPS E AND NE CWA FOR AFT/EVE
PERIOD FOR POINTS IN NERN ZONES...ESPECIALLY WITH LEFT OVR
CONVECTIVE BOUNDARY(S) HAVING THE CHANCE TO PUSH INTO THIS AREA.
HOWEVER...NOT MUCH OF CHANCE REALLY.

BEYOND...NO REAL CHANGES EXCEPT ABOVE MENTIONED LOWERING OF TEMPS A
BIT MORE THU BEHIND FRONT AS RELATIVELY COOL DRY AIR MOVES BACK FOR
A DAY OR SO.

.GID...NONE.

10
Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 22, 1:55 PM CST, 7 hours 35 minutes before
KSZ005>007-017>019-NEZ039>041-046>049-060>064-072>077-082>087-231200-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
255 PM CDT SUN JUN 22 2003

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA AND
PARTS OF NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

THERE IS A MODERATE RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS LATE THIS AFTERNOON
AND INTO THE EVENING OVER PARTS OF SOUTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA AND NORTH
CENTRAL KANSAS. IT APPEARS THE MOST LIKELY AREA FOR SEVERE STORMS
WILL BE MAINLY NORTH AND EAST OF A GOTHENBURG TO RED CLOUD TO MANKATO
KANSAS LINE. THIS WOULD INCLUDE THE TRI CITIES AREA.

THE ATMOSPHERE HAS BECOME MORE UNSTABLE THIS AFTERNOON AS MORNING
CLOUDS GAVE WAY TO INCREASED SUNSHINE. STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS
CONTINUE TO TRANSPORT AMPLE LOW LEVEL MOISTURE INTO THE REGION. IN
ADDITION...A COLD FRONT THAT WAS LOCATED FROM JUST EAST OF AINSWORTH
TO NEAR GOTHENBURG AND THEN SOUTH THROUGH MCCOOK SHOULD PUSH SLOWLY
EASTWARD. OTHER BOUNDARIES THAT WERE PRODUCED FROM THUNDERSTORMS LAST
NIGHT AND THIS MORNING WILL ALSO HELP TO INITIATE THUNDERSTORM
DEVELOPMENT. ONE BOUNDARY WAS LOCATED NORTH OF FULLERTON AND ORD...
WHILE ANOTHER WAS JUST WEST OF YORK AND EXTENDED SOUTH TO CONCORDIA
KANSAS. IN ADDITION...WIND SHEAR PARAMETERS REMAIN FAVORABLE FOR
GENERATING SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE REGION. THE COMBINATION
OF ALL THESE FACTORS POINT TO THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT WITH SOME
STORMS PRODUCING LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS AND TORNADOES.

EMERGENCY MANAGERS SHOULD CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS SITUATION
THROUGHOUT THE AFTERNOON.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

EXTREMELY UNSTABLE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO REDEVELOP LATE MONDAY
AFTERNOON AND EVENING OVER PARTS OF SOUTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA...WITH
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE...MAINLY ALONG AND NORTH OF
INTERSTATE 80.  LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND ARE POSSIBLE...AS ARE
ISOLATED TORNADOES.

THUNDERSTORM CHANCES FOR PARTS OF THE AREA WILL CONTINUE THROUGH MID
WEEK WITH ADDITIONAL SEVERE WEATHER POSSIBLE BY TUESDAY AFTERNOON OR
EVENING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED BY LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO
THE EVENING.

EWALD

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jun 22, 8:49 PM CST, 41 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
949 PM CDT SUN JUN 22 2003

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

0830 PM    3 N BRADSHAW              NE   TORNADO
06/22/03   YORK                           REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.
Local storm report, Jun 22, 8:50 PM CST, 40 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
950 PM CDT SUN JUN 22 2003

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

0935 PM    1/2 S FULLERTON           NE   TORNADO
06/22/03   NANCE                          REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.
Local storm report, Jun 22, 8:59 PM CST, 31 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
959 PM CDT SUN JUN 22 2003

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

0830 PM    HEBRON                    NE   70+ MPH TSTM GUST
06/22/03   THAYER                         REPORTED BY FIRE AND
                                          RESCUE.  100 YEAR OLD
                                          TREES DOWN IN DESHLER.
Local storm report, Jun 22, 9:01 PM CST, 29 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
1001 PM CDT SUN JUN 22 2003

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

0821 PM    4 N ST PAUL               NE   .75 INCH HAIL
06/22/03   HOWARD                         REPORTED BY STORM
                                          SPOTTER.
Local storm report, Jun 22, 9:05 PM CST, 25 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
1005 PM CDT SUN JUN 22 2003

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

0955 PM    8 SW STOCKTON             KS   .75 INCH HAIL
06/22/03   ROOKS                          REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.
Local storm report, Jun 22, 9:09 PM CST, 21 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
1009 PM CDT SUN JUN 22 2003

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

0600 PM    GRAND IS                  NE   1 INCH HAIL
06/22/03   HALL                           ONE INCH HAIL OVER
                                          FONNER VIEW GOLFCOURSE.
                                          REPORTED BY STORM
                                          SPOTTER.

0602 PM    1 E GRAND IS              NE   1 INCH HAIL
06/22/03   HALL                           REPORTED BY STORM
                                          SPOTTER.

0615 PM    3 S GILTNER               NE   1 INCH HAIL
06/22/03   HAMILTON                       REPORTED BY STORM
                                          SPOTTER.

0628 PM    DESHLER                   NE   2.75 INCH HAIL
06/22/03   THAYER                         REPORTED BY STORM
                                          SPOTTER.

0640 PM    1 W DESHLER               NE   TORNADO
06/22/03   THAYER                         REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.

0644 PM    1 W AURORA                NE   1.25 INCH HAIL
06/22/03   HAMILTON

0654 PM    8 SW DESHLER              NE   TORNADO
06/22/03   THAYER                         REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.

0700 PM    AURORA                    NE   2.75 INCH HAIL
06/22/03   HAMILTON                       REPORTED BY EMERGENCY
                                          MANAGEMENT.

0705 PM    AURORA                    NE   4.5 INCH HAIL
06/22/03   HAMILTON                       REPORTED BY STORM
                                          SPOTTER.

0720 PM    DESHLER                   NE   TORNADO
06/22/03   THAYER                         REPORTED BY STORM
                                          SPOTTER.

0725 PM    BRADSHAW                  NE   1.75 INCH HAIL
06/22/03   YORK

0729 PM    DESHLER                   NE   TORNADO
06/22/03   THAYER                         CONSIDERABLE STRUCTURAL
                                          DAMAGE. TREES DOWN AND
                                          ELECTRICITY OUT. DEBRIS
                                          IN THE AIR. INJURIES
                                          REPORTED.

0800 PM    5 SW BENEDICT             NE   1 INCH HAIL
06/22/03   YORK                           REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.

0810 PM    7 NW HEBRON               NE   .75 INCH HAIL
06/22/03   THAYER                         REPORTED BY STORM
                                          SPOTTER.

0815 PM    SHICKLEY                  NE   .88 INCH HAIL
06/22/03   FILLMORE                       REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.

0845 PM    1 S SHICKLEY              NE   60 MPH TSTM GUST
06/22/03   FILLMORE                       POWER LINES DOWN.

0900 PM    SPALDING                  NE   1 INCH HAIL
06/22/03   GREELEY                        REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.

0906 PM    7 W FULLERTON             NE   1 INCH HAIL
06/22/03   NANCE                          WALL CLOUD 7 MILES WEST
                                          OF FULLERTON.

0906 PM    STRANG                    NE   FLOOD
06/22/03   FILLMORE                       DEEP WATER ON HIGHWAY
                                          THROUGH STANG.

The radar

The Grand Island radar (KUEX), 69 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 03:28 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 hail, 3 tornado, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Jewell

When
June 22, 9:30 PM CST
Where
Jewell County, 4 mi NW of Lovewell
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
39.983, -99.117

Hail, Jewell

When
June 22, 9:45 PM CST
Where
Jewell County, Lovewell Res
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
39.900, -98.950

Flash Flood, Jewell

When
June 22, 10:55 PM CST to June 23, 5:00 AM CST
Where
Jewell County, Countywide
Property damage
$1.5 million
Crop damage
$3.0 million
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
39.983, -98.933

Hail, Jewell

When
June 22, 11:13 PM CST
Where
Jewell County, Mankato
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
39.783, -98.000

Tornado, Phillips

When
June 23, 12:07 AM CST
Where
Phillips County, 15 mi N of Agra
Rating
F0
Path length
0.2 mi
Path width
30 yd
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
39.900, -98.033

A brief tornado was observed in northeast Phillips county. The tornado was seen by law enforcement personel.

Hail, Jewell

When
June 23, 12:33 AM CST
Where
Jewell County, Formoso
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
39.783, -98.217

Tornado, Smith

When
June 23, 12:45 AM CST
Where
Smith County, 12 mi NW of Smith Center
Rating
F0
Path length
0.2 mi
Path width
20 yd
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
39.883, -98.067

A brief tornado observed by a law enforcement officer and did no damage.

Tornado, Smith

When
June 23, 12:50 AM CST
Where
Smith County, 5 mi NW of Reamsville
Rating
F0
Path length
0.2 mi
Path width
20 yd
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
39.785, -98.785 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The same law enforcement officer saw another brief tornado along Highway 8 northwest of Reamsville. Again, no damage was reported.

What these are

Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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.
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.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Kansas in 2003Every state in 2003This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Kansas, 2003Warnings in Kansas, June 2003

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: 5366339, 5366340, 5366341, 5366342, 5366632, 5366635, 5366633, 5366634.