1 lightning, as filed by the National Weather Service.
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.
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 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 May 23, 8:30 PM CST, 6 hours 30 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS 930 PM CDT MON MAY 23 2005 .UPDATE... FORECAST CONCERNS TONIGHT ARE COMPLEXES MOVING OUT OF WESTERN KANSAS AND EASTERN COLORADO. LATEST WATER VAPOR LOOP SHOWING THREE MESOSCALE CONVECTIVE COMPLEXES DEVELOPING DEVELOPING IN THE HIGH PLAINS. THE LATEST RADAR IMAGERY FROM GLD SHOWING THE NORTHERN COMPLEX MOVING THROUGH NORTHWEST KANSAS AND CONTINUING TO PROPAGATE SOUTHEAST. GLD WIND PROFILE IS SHOWING A GOOD SHEAR PROFILE IN PLACE OVER THIS REGION WHICH IS PROBABLY HELPING MAINTAIN THIS COMPLEX. IN ADDITION, I HAVE BEEN NOTICING THE LOW LEVEL FLOW INCREASING OUT OF THE EAST ACCORDING TO THE HILLSBORO AND HAVILAND PROFILERS. THIS IS HELPING FEED THE LOW LEVEL MOISTURE INTO THIS COMPLEX. BASED ON THE CURRENT TRENDS, I WOULD ANTICIPATE THE COMPLEX IN NORTHWEST KANSAS TO MOVE INTO RUSSELL AND GREAT BEND AREAS BETWEEN MIDNIGHT AND 2 AM. THE MAIN QUESTION IS IF THESE STORMS WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL OF STAYING SEVERE ONCE IT APPROACHES OUR REGION. BOTH THE LATEST ETA/RUC ARE SHOWING MIXED LAYER UNSTABLE CAPES AROUND 3000J/KG IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS BETWEEN MIDNIGHT AND 3 AM. DEEP LAYER SHEAR ALSO LOOKS TO BE FAVORABLE ACCORDING TO THE HAVILAND AND HILLSBORO PROFILERS WITH 0-6KM SHEAR OF 35 TO 40 KTS POSSIBLE. THIS COULD YIELD TO SOME MORE LARGE HAIL AND WIND PRODUCERS. WE WILL ALSO HAVE TO WATCH THE PROPAGATION OF THESE STORMS. THE RUC SHOWS THE 850-300MB FLOW MAINTAINING ABOUT 15 TO 20 KTS FROM THE WEST. THIS FLOW COMBINED WITH THE AID OF A SOUTHEAST LOW LEVEL JET AROUND 20KTS WILL CAUSE THESE STORMS TO PROPAGATE MORE IN A SOUTH-SOUTHEAST DIRECTION WHICH WOULD AFFECT MOSTLY SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS. AS A RESULT, WE WILL ALSO HAVE FLOOD POTENTIAL EAST OF THE TURNPIKE. WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE PROFILERS THROUGH THE NIGHT TO SEE HOW THIS MESOSCALE CONVECTIVE SYSTEM PROPAGATES. WE WILL BE BACKING OFF ON POPS SOME IN THE SOUTHEAST CORNER, BUT WE WILL KEEP HIGH POPS GOING IN THE WESTERN PORTION OF OUR FORECAST AREA. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 353 PM CDT MON MAY 23 2005/ .DISCUSSION... FORECAST CONCERNS... CONVECTIVE CHANCES/TRENDS TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT... THE GENESIS OF NEXT CONVECTIVE EPISODE WAS DEVELOPING ACROSS EASTERN COLORADO THIS AFTERNOON. A WEAK MID/UPPER LEVEL SHORTWAVE AND MODEST LOW LEVEL WARM ADVECTION SHOULD AID IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MORE ORGANIZED MCS OVERNIGHT, WITH MAIN CLUSTER TRACKING EAST-SOUTHEAST ALONG/NEAR THE 850MB THETA-E/INSTABILITY AXIS, INTO CENTRAL KANSAS. UNTIL THEN, ISOLATED TO WIDELY SCATTERED CONVECTION MAY ALSO DEVELOP ALONG THE OKLAHOMA BORDER COUNTIES THIS EVENING, WHERE INSTABILITY WILL BE MAXIMIZED IN VICINITY OF BETTER LOW LEVEL CONVERGENCE JUST NORTH OF SURFACE BOUNDARY. CONVECTIVE CLUSTER SHOULD WANE SOMEWHAT AS IT MOVES INTO SOUTHEAST KANSAS BY TUESDAY MORNING, THOUGH CHANCES COULD FESTER INTO THE AFTERNOON ALONG THE OKLAHOMA BORDER. NOT TOO MUCH CHANGE TO GOING TEMPS FOR TUESDAY. THE MODELS ARE SUGGESTIVE OF A REPEAT PERFORMANCE ON TUESDAY NIGHT, THOUGH THE ETA/GFS DIFFER ON PLACEMENT/TRACK OF MAIN QPF BULLSEYE. THEY BOTH DEVELOP AN AREA OF CONVECTION ACROSS NEBRASKA NEAR SYNOPTIC COLD FRONT, WITH THE ETA BLOWING UP A MCS ACROSS WEST CENTRAL/SOUTHWEST KANSAS. THOUGH DETAILS DIFFER, THE CONSENSUS IS FOR POTENTIAL MCS AGAIN ALONG ELEVATED/LOW LEVEL THETA-E/INSTABILITY AXIS, WHICH WOULD PLACE CENTRAL KANSAS AGAIN IN AREA OF AT LEAST MODEST CHANCE POPS, WITH LESSER CHANCE INTO SOUTHEAST KANSAS LATE TUESDAY NIGHT. WILL TRANSITION INTO A COOLER/DRIER PATTERN BY THURSDAY AND FRIDAY, WITH ONLY SLIGHT TWEAKS TO FORECAST THERE. THOUGH STARTING OUT DRY, THE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND COULD END UP STORMY, ESPECIALLY IF THE GFS IS CLOSE TO CORRECT. LOW LEVEL MOISTURE BANKED UP ACROSS THE HIGH PLAINS MAY FUEL POTENTIAL MCS DEVELOPMENT BY SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY NIGHT, WITH MID AND UPPER LEVEL STEARING FLOW TAKING CONVECTION AT LEAST INTO CENTRAL PORTIONS OF THE STATE. DARMOFAL && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... WICHITA-KICT 67 84 64 77 / 50 50 40 50 HUTCHINSON 66 84 63 75 / 60 40 50 50 NEWTON 66 84 63 76 / 50 50 40 50 ELDORADO 67 83 64 77 / 50 50 40 50 WINFIELD-KWLD 68 85 65 79 / 50 50 40 50 RUSSELL 65 85 61 74 / 60 30 50 40 GREAT BEND 65 84 62 74 / 60 30 50 50 SALINA 67 85 63 75 / 50 40 40 40 MCPHERSON 66 84 63 75 / 50 50 40 50 COFFEYVILLE 65 81 63 77 / 40 50 30 50 CHANUTE 64 81 61 76 / 40 40 30 50 IOLA 63 82 61 76 / 30 40 20 50 && .ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE. && COX/DARMOFAL
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS 950 PM CDT MON MAY 23 2005 KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-241200- RUSSELL-LINCOLN-BARTON-ELLSWORTH-SALINE-RICE-MCPHERSON-MARION-CHASE- RENO-HARVEY-BUTLER-GREENWOOD-WOODSON-ALLEN-KINGMAN-SEDGWICK-HARPER- SUMNER-COWLEY-ELK-WILSON-NEOSHO-CHAUTAUQUA-MONTGOMERY-LABETTE- 950 PM CDT MON MAY 23 2005 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST KANSAS. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS IN NORTHWEST KANSAS ARE EXPECTED TO TRACK SOUTHEAST ACROSS CENTRAL AND INTO PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST KANSAS AFTER MIDNIGHT. A FEW SEVERE STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE, WITH HAIL UP TO QUARTER SIZE AND WINDS TO 60 MPH. THE POTENTIAL FOR HEAVY RAIN WILL ALSO INCREASE, THOUGH THE HEAVIEST RAINS SHOULD FALL MAINLY WEST OF THE KANSAS TURNPIKE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE STORMS TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT, ACROSS MOST OF THE AREA. THE MAIN RISK WILL AGAIN BE LARGE HAIL AND LOCALLY DAMAGING WINDS. THE CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE INTO WEDNESDAY, BEFORE DIMINISHING AND ENDING BY THURSDAY EVENING. ORGANIZED OR WIDESPREAD SEVERE WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED. AFTER A PERIOD OF DRY WEATHER TO START THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND, THERE WILL BE A SLIGHT CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS AGAIN FROM SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH MEMORIAL DAY. LOOK FOR LATER FORECASTS AND OUTLOOKS ON THE POTENTIAL FOR ANY SEVERE WEATHER. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS POSSIBLE OVERNIGHT, MAINLY WEST OF THE KANSAS TURNPIKE. && FOR A GRAPHICAL VERSION OF THIS INFORMATION, SEE OUR WEBPAGE AT (LOWERCASE) HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/WICHITA/HWO/HWOICT.HTM KED/COX
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS 1056 PM CDT MON MAY 23 2005 KSZ032>033-047>051-067>068-082>083-091>092-241000- BARTON KS-ELLSWORTH KS-HARPER KS-HARVEY KS-KINGMAN KS- LINCOLN KS-MCPHERSON KS-RENO KS-RICE KS-RUSSELL KS- SALINE KS-SEDGWICK KS-SUMNER KS- THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 318 UNTIL 500 AM CDT TUESDAY MORNING FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS IN CENTRAL KANSAS THIS WATCH INCLUDES 7 COUNTIES BARTON ELLSWORTH LINCOLN MCPHERSON RICE RUSSELL SALINE IN SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS THIS WATCH INCLUDES 6 COUNTIES HARPER HARVEY KINGMAN RENO SEDGWICK SUMNER INCLUDING THE CITIES OF ANTHONY...DOWNTOWN WICHITA...ELLSWORTH... GREAT BEND...HUTCHINSON...KINGMAN...LINCOLN...MCPHERSON...NEWTON... RUSSELL...SALINA AND WELLINGTON. COX
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS 1242 AM CDT TUE MAY 24 2005 KSZ047-240630- BARTON- 1242 AM CDT TUE MAY 24 2005 ...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR BARTON COUNTY... AT 1237 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR PAWNEE ROCK...OR 8 MILES SOUTHWEST OF GREAT BEND...AND MOVING EAST AT 5 MPH. DIME SIZE HAIL...AND WINDS TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. /COX
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS 228 AM CDT TUE MAY 24 2005 KSZ067-082-240800- KINGMAN-RENO- 228 AM CDT TUE MAY 24 2005 ...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR KINGMAN AND RENO COUNTIES... AT 222 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM STAFFORD TO SAWYER...AND MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH. DAMAGING WINDS OF 60 TO 75 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. PEOPLE IN KINGMAN AND SOUTHERN RENO COUNTIES...SHOULD MONITOR THE WEATHER SITUATION CLOSELY. A WARNING MAY BE NEEDED IF THE STORMS MOVE INTO THE AREA. BE READY TO SEEK SHELTER IF SEVERE WEATHER THREATENS. COX
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS 235 AM CDT TUE MAY 24 2005 KSZ069>070-093>096-098>100-241500- BUTLER KS-CHAUTAUQUA KS-COWLEY KS-ELK KS-GREENWOOD KS- LABETTE KS-MONTGOMERY KS-NEOSHO KS-WILSON KS- THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 319 UNTIL 1000 AM CDT TUESDAY MORNING FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS IN SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS THIS WATCH INCLUDES 2 COUNTIES BUTLER COWLEY IN SOUTHEAST KANSAS THIS WATCH INCLUDES 7 COUNTIES CHAUTAUQUA ELK GREENWOOD LABETTE MONTGOMERY NEOSHO WILSON INCLUDING THE CITIES OF CHANUTE...COFFEYVILLE...EL DORADO...EUREKA... PARSONS...SEDAN AND WINFIELD. LAWSON
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS 344 AM CDT TUE MAY 24 2005 KSZ068-083-092-240930- HARVEY-SEDGWICK-SUMNER- 344 AM CDT TUE MAY 24 2005 ...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR HARVEY...SEDGWICK AND SUMNER COUNTIES... AT 341 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM BUHLER TO 5 MILES NORTHEAST OF CHENEY TO BLUFF CITY...AND MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH. WINDS TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. BE PREPARED TO TAKE SHELTER IN THE EVENT THESE STORMS INTENSIFY AND BECOME SEVERE, OR A WARNING IS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. /COX
The Wichita radar (KICT), 43 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 09:02 UTC.
1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Home struck, with the resulting electrical surge causing a small fire in the bathroom fan. Time of occurrence is an approximation. (Narrative courtesy of Newton Kansan.)
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kansas in 2005Every state in 2005This day in weather historyWarnings in Kansas, May 2005
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: 5456006.