An anonymously strong upper level system allowed everything to come together at the surface to produced what is perhaps the biggest tornado outbreak to ever occur in the Dodge City CWA! Fifty-five tornadoes were documented during that afternoon and evening!
Every event with a place to put it. 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 episode as NWS DDC wrote it up.
An anonymously strong upper level system allowed everything to come together at the surface to produced what is perhaps the biggest tornado outbreak to ever occur in the Dodge City CWA! Fifty-five tornadoes were documented during that afternoon and evening! Some of the tornadoes were very large and damaging. The character of the supercell thunderstorms that day had similarities to the storms that produced the Greensburg tornado a little over a year after. In fact there was one tornado that was just as large and perhaps could have been just as damaging that was headed towards the small Kiowa county town but fortunately turned and dissipated.
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 22, 1:15 PM CST, 9 hours 45 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY KS 215 PM CDT THU MAY 22 2008 .DISCUSSION... DAYS 1-2... DISCUSSION AND FORECAST GOING OUT EARLY DUE TO ONGOING SEVERE WEATHER. SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS...INCLUDING THE POSSIBILITY OF SIGNIFICANT AND LONG LIVED TORNADOES. 12Z UPPER AIR ANALYSIS WAS RATHER TELLING IN REGARDS TO THE UPCOMING WEATHER. NOSE OF 95KT H25 JET WAS PUNCHING INTO EASTERN COLORADO AS IT ROUNDED THE BASE OF STRONG UPPER ACROSS WESTERN CONUS. ON THE BACK SIDE OF THIS POTENT SYSTEM, 145KT JET STREAK WAS MOVING SOUTH INTO CA. VERY IMPRESSIVE HEIGHT FALLS OF 150 METERS COULD BE SEEN IN ALBUQUERQUE, NM WITH HEIGHT FALLS OF 120 METERS FROM EASTERN NM WEST INTO A LARGE PORTION OF CA. H7 TEMPERATURES NEAR THE UPPER SYSTEM WERE INTO THE SINGLE DIGITS BELOW 0C. H85 TEMPERATURES OF 15C AND ABOVE WERE FOUND ACROSS MUCH OF KS SOUTH WHILE SINGLE DIGITS READINGS WERE SEEN INTO NE. PLUME OF 10C AND ABOVE ABUNDANT GULF MOISTURE ENGULFED THE ENTIRE STATES OF KS, OK AND TX AND NOSING INTO SOUTHERN NE. SURFACE DEWPOINTS HAVE INCREASED TO THE 60S ACROSS A LARGE PORTION OF SOUTHWEST KANSAS. MODELS CONTINUE TO BE PERSISTENT WITH DRYLINE FURTHER WEST FROM SCOTT CITY TO GARDEN CITY TO LIBERAL AND MOVING EAST BY MID AFTERNOON. AS UPPER SYSTEM CONTINUES TO EJECT S/WVS EAST ACROSS THE PLAINS TODAY, UPPER LEVEL JET NOSES INTO WESTERN KANSAS. INCREDIBLE SHEAR (500M2/S2 0-1KM SRH) IS IN PLACE BY LATE AFTERNOON ACROSS MUCH OF SOUTHWEST. THE DRYLINE IS NOT EXPECTED TO MOVE MUCH BY EVENING. CAP REMAINS STRONG ENOUGH THROUGH THE EARLY AFTERNOON TO ALLOW INCREASED CAPE ACROSS THE FA (2000 TO 3000 J/KG). ONCE STORMS DO GO ALONG THE DRYLINE, THEY WILL QUICKLY BECOME SEVERE. NOT ONLY WILL VERY LARGE AND DAMAGING HAIL BE AN ISSUE BUT A FEW TORNADOES ARE LIKELY. IN ADDITION, DAMAGING WINDS AND HEAVY RAINFALL CANNOT BE RULED OUT. PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES WILL BE IN EXCESS OF 1 INCH. STORMS ARE LIKELY TO CONTINUE INTO THE EARLY OVERNIGHT HOURS. DRYLINE WILL MOVE WEST ONLY SLIGHTLY. THUNDERSTORM CHANCES WITH POSSIBLE TORNADOES WILL CONTINUE INTO THE EARLY OVERNIGHT HOURS. ANOTHER ROUND OF SEVERE WEATHER IS EXPECTED FRIDAY. THIS TIME, THE DRYLINE LOOKS TO BE SLIGHTLY FURTHER EAST. BULK OF ACTIVITY WILL BE IN THE VICINITY OF NESS CITY TO DODGE CITY TO ASHLAND AND EAST. SHEAR IS CONSIDERABLY LESS THAN THURSDAY. STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. BY SATURDAY, DRYLINE WILL ONCE AGAIN BE THE FOCUS FOR ADDITION SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LOCATION OF THE DRYLINE BUT PRESENT INDICATIONS PLACE THE EXTREME EASTERN FA IN THE BEST CHANCE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. DAYS 3-7... AN UPPER LEVEL RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL BE SET UP IN THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY REGION TO BEGIN THE PERIOD AT 00Z SUNDAY. MEANWHILE, A STRONG UPPER LEVEL TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE WILL BE IN THE WESTERN CONUS BRINGING A SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW ALOFT ACROSS WESTERN KANSAS. MEDIUM RANGE MODELS ARE IN GENERAL AGREEMENT INDICATING AN EVER SO SLIGHT RETROGRADING OF THE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH TO THE WEST BY EARLY MONDAY. THIS WILL COINCIDE WITH THE UPPER LEVEL RIDGE TO OUR EAST BEGINNING TO BREAK DOWN IN AMPLIFICATION BUT EXPANDING SOMEWHAT TO THE WEST INTO THE SOUTHERN PLAINS OF OKLAHOMA AND TEXAS. REGARDLESS, A GENERAL SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW ALOFT WILL REMAIN ACROSS WESTERN KANSAS THROUGH MID WEEK. A SERIES OF UPPER LEVEL S/WAVE TROUGHS WILL CONTINUE TO CYCLE THROUGH THE PATTERN WHICH WILL ALLOW FOR THE POSSIBILITY FOR THUNDERSTORMS EACH DAY THROUGH THE EARLY PART OF NEXT WEEK. SOME OF THESE STORMS COULD BE SEVERE. AT THE SURFACE, A GENERAL LOW LEVEL SOUTHERLY FLOW WILL BE SET UP ACROSS WESTERN KANSAS THROUGH MONDAY AS A RESULT OF A LOW PRESSURE CENTER PERSISTING NEAR AND ALONG THE KANSAS AND COLORADO BORDER. AGAIN, THIS WILL PROVIDE AMPLE MOISTURE RETURN TO SOUTH CENTRAL AND PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST KANSAS WITH DEWPOINTS AT H85 REACHING WELL UP INTO THE TEENS(C). A FAIRLY PRONOUNCED DRYLINE WILL REMAIN SET UP IN OUR CWA SATURDAY NIGHT. THE GFS AND ECMWF(HIRES) THEN POINT TO THE DRYLINE RETREATING ACROSS THE CWA BY SUNDAY EVENING OPENING UP MORE OF A MOISTURE RETURN TO THE FORECAST AREA. A COLD FRONT WILL THEN PUSH THROUGH WESTERN KANSAS LATE TUESDAY/EARLY WEDNESDAY TIME FRAME WHICH AGAIN WILL BRING A CHANCE OF PRECIP TO THE FORECAST AREA. WILL STAY WITH CURRENT POPS DUE TO THE UNCERTAINTY OF DETAILS THIS FAR OUT. AS FOR TEMPERATURES, EXPECT WARM DAYS SUNDAY AND MONDAY WITH TEMPERATURES AT H85 RANGING FROM THE MID 20S(C) EAST TO THE UPPER 20S(C) WEST. THIS WILL ALLOW SURFACE HIGHS TO REACH WELL UP INTO THE 80S(F) TO THE LOWER 90S(F) ACROSS MUCH OF THE CWA. THE COLD FRONT PUSHING THROUGH SHOULD HELP COOL TEMPERATURES A BIT BY MID WEEK. PLAN ON SLIGHT ADJUSTMENTS TO TEMPERATURES RIGHT NOW. && .AVIATION... A SURFACE LOW WILL PERSIST ALONG THE KANSAS AND COLORADO BORDER TODAY WHILE A DRYLINE SLOWLY ADVANCES FROM NEAR THE COLORADO BORDER EAST ACROSS SOUTHWESTERN KANSAS. THUNDERSTORMS CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG AND AHEAD OF THE DRYLINE THIS EVENING AND INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. EXPECT MVFR/IFR CONDITIONS IN AND AROUND ANY CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY...MAINLY EAST OF A LINE FROM SYRACUSE TO LIBERAL. OTHERWISE, VFR CONDITIONS WILL PERSIST. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... DDC 65 89 68 91 / 60 40 50 30 GCK 63 89 64 89 / 30 20 30 30 EHA 58 91 58 89 / 10 20 20 20 LBL 64 92 62 91 / 30 20 30 20 HYS 65 86 68 89 / 60 50 50 40 P28 69 89 70 92 / 40 50 50 50 && .DDC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 9 PM CDT /8 PM MDT/ THIS EVENING FOR KSZ061-062-074-075-084-085. FIRE WEATHER WATCH FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING FOR KSZ061-062-074-075-084-085. WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM CDT /6 PM MDT/ THIS EVENING FOR KSZ043- 044-061>064-074>078-084>088. && FN30/32/32
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY KS 1210 PM CDT THU MAY 22 2008 KSZ030-031-043>046-063>066-076>081-086>090-231000- TREGO-ELLIS-SCOTT-LANE-NESS-RUSH-FINNEY-HODGEMAN-PAWNEE-STAFFORD- HASKELL-GRAY-FORD-EDWARDS-KIOWA-PRATT-SEWARD-MEADE-CLARK-COMANCHE- BARBER- 1210 PM CDT THU MAY 22 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL KANSAS...SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS...SOUTHWEST KANSAS AND WEST CENTRAL KANSAS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT A DRYLINE WILL BECOME THE FOCUS FOR THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT AFTER 3 PM. THIS DRYLINE BY 3 PM WILL EXTEND FROM NEAR SCOTT CITY TO NEAR LIBERAL. EAST OF THIS BOUNDARY THERE WILL BE A THREAT OF SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING VERY DAMAGING HAIL ALONG WITH THE THREAT OF TORNADOES IN THE STRONGEST OF SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORMS. CONDITIONS WILL BE SUFFICIENT THAT ANY TORNADO THAT MIGHT DEVELOP COULD BECOME SIGNIFICANT AND LONG LIVED. ALL PERSONS LIVING EAST OF SCOTT CITY TO NEAR LIBERAL ARE URGED TO MONITOR THE LATEST UPDATES AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS. SHOULD A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OR TORNADO WARNING BE ISSUED FOR THE AREA...IMMEDIATE ACTION TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY SHOULD BE TAKEN. THE THREAT FOR STORMS AND SEVERE HAIL WILL SHIFT WEST AFTER DARK. A FEW TORNADOES CANNOT BE RULED OUT THROUGH MIDNIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY ADDITIONAL SEVERE WEATHER IS EXPECTED FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND INTO THE FIRST OF NEXT WEEK. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS WILL BE NEEDED AFTER 3 PM...INITIALLY FROM NEAR SCOTT CITY TO NEAR LIBERAL AND THEN INTO THE PRATT, LARNED AND HAYS AREA BY EVENING. SPOTTERS MAY BE NEEDED LATE THIS EVENING FARTHER WEST. ADDITIONAL ACTIVATION WILL BE NEEDED ON FRIDAY. && FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT OUR WEBPAGE AT HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/DDC KSZ061-062-074-075-084-085-231000- HAMILTON-KEARNY-STANTON-GRANT-MORTON-STEVENS- 457 AM CDT THU MAY 22 2008 /357 AM MDT THU MAY 22 2008/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST KANSAS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT BOTH A WIND ADVISORY AND A RED FLAG WARNING WILL BE IN EFFECT TODAY. GUSTY SOUTH WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS TO NEAR 55 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE LATE THIS MORNING AND CONTINUING INTO THIS EVENING. IN ADDITION, RELATIVE HUMIDITIES WILL FALL TO LESS THAN 15 PERCENT AS TEMPERATURES CLIMB TO AROUND 90. THIS WILL RESULT IN A HIGH FIRE DANGER. THERE IS A CHANCE FOR A THUNDERSTORM OR TWO IN EASTERN KEARNY...GRANT...AND STEVENS COUNTIES BY EARLY AFTERNOON. ANY STORM THAT DOES FROM WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO QUICKLY GO SEVERE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY THERE WILL BE A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS FRIDAY NIGHT WITH A BETTER CHANCE SATURDAY NIGHT. SOME OF THESE COULD BECOME SEVERE. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION COULD BE NECESSARY ACROSS EASTERN KEARNY...GRANT AND STEVENS COUNTIES. && FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT OUR WEBPAGE AT HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/DDC 07/30
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY KS
832 PM CDT THU MAY 22 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0545 PM HAIL 1 SW PENDENNIS 38.64N 100.34W
05/22/2008 E2.00 INCH LANE KS PUBLIC
HAIL COVERED THE GROUND AND SHREDDED VEGETATION.
0815 PM HAIL 1 SW PENDENNIS 38.64N 100.34W
05/22/2008 E0.88 INCH LANE KS PUBLIC
0824 PM HAIL 11 E COLDWATER 37.26N 99.14W
05/22/2008 E1.00 INCH COMANCHE KS LAW ENFORCEMENT
0825 PM HAIL 4 SSE WILMORE 37.28N 99.18W
05/22/2008 E2.50 INCH COMANCHE KS NWS EMPLOYEE
&&
GERARDPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY KS
856 PM CDT THU MAY 22 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0847 PM TORNADO 7 S TREGO CENTER 38.78N 99.90W
05/22/2008 TREGO KS STORM CHASER
0850 PM TORNADO 3 SW TREGO CENTER 38.85N 99.94W
05/22/2008 TREGO KS BROADCAST MEDIA
THE TORNADO WAS REPORTED BY KAKE TELEVISION SPOTTER.
&&
GERARDPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY KS
859 PM CDT THU MAY 22 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0851 PM TORNADO 5 S WAKEENEY 38.95N 99.88W
05/22/2008 TREGO KS OTHER FEDERAL
THE TORNADO WAS REPORTED BY A SPC STUDENT EMPLOYEE.
0847 PM TORNADO 9 S TREGO CENTER 38.75N 99.90W
05/22/2008 TREGO KS STORM CHASER
&&
GERARDPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY KS
919 PM CDT THU MAY 22 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0857 PM TORNADO 2 SSW WAKEENEY 38.99N 99.89W
05/22/2008 TREGO KS STORM CHASER
REPORT RELAYED FROM WFO GOODLAND.
&&
GERARDPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY KS
952 PM CDT THU MAY 22 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0930 PM HAIL WAKEENEY 39.02N 99.88W
05/22/2008 E1.00 INCH TREGO KS STORM CHASER
CHASER REPORT RELAYED BY WFO CHARLESTON.
&&
GERARDPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY KS
1151 PM CDT THU MAY 22 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0220 PM HAIL GARDEN CITY 37.98N 100.86W
05/22/2008 E0.75 INCH FINNEY KS PUBLIC
0224 PM HAIL NNE GARDEN CITY 37.98N 100.86W
05/22/2008 E1.00 INCH FINNEY KS TRAINED SPOTTER
0242 PM HAIL 10 N GARDEN CITY 38.12N 100.86W
05/22/2008 E1.25 INCH FINNEY KS PUBLIC
0243 PM HAIL 10 N GARDEN CITY 38.12N 100.86W
05/22/2008 E1.25 INCH FINNEY KS PUBLIC
0254 PM HAIL 10 SE SCOTT CITY 38.38N 100.78W
05/22/2008 E0.88 INCH SCOTT KS TRAINED SPOTTER
0254 PM HAIL 5 SSW GRIGSTON 38.40N 100.75W
05/22/2008 E0.88 INCH SCOTT KS TRAINED SPOTTER
0300 PM HAIL 6 SSW GRIGSTON 38.39N 100.77W
05/22/2008 E1.00 INCH SCOTT KS PUBLIC
0321 PM HAIL 3 E PLYMELL 37.81N 100.82W
05/22/2008 E1.00 INCH FINNEY KS PUBLIC
0330 PM HAIL 13 NNE SCOTT CITY 38.65N 100.82W
05/22/2008 E1.00 INCH SCOTT KS PUBLIC
0340 PM HAIL 9 NNW TICE 37.63N 100.76W
05/22/2008 E1.75 INCH HASKELL KS TRAINED SPOTTER
0342 PM HAIL 7 WSW FRIEND 38.22N 101.04W
05/22/2008 E1.75 INCH FINNEY KS PUBLIC
0346 PM HAIL 16 SSW SCOTT CITY 38.27N 101.02W
05/22/2008 E1.50 INCH SCOTT KS PUBLIC
0347 PM HAIL 10 NNW TICE 37.65N 100.76W
05/22/2008 E1.00 INCH HASKELL KS PUBLIC
0348 PM HAIL 15 SSW SCOTT CITY 38.28N 101.01W
05/22/2008 E1.75 INCH SCOTT KS PUBLIC
0405 PM HAIL 11 ESE SHALLOW WATER 38.31N 100.72W
05/22/2008 E0.88 INCH SCOTT KS TRAINED SPOTTER
0410 PM HAIL 13 NNE GARDEN CITY 38.15N 100.77W
05/22/2008 E1.00 INCH FINNEY KS PUBLIC
0433 PM HAIL 2 WSW HEALY 38.59N 100.65W
05/22/2008 E0.88 INCH LANE KS PUBLIC
0520 PM HAIL 2 S DIGHTON 38.45N 100.47W
05/22/2008 E1.00 INCH LANE KS PUBLIC
0532 PM TORNADO 4 WNW ALAMOTA 38.46N 100.37W
05/22/2008 LANE KS STORM CHASER
0532 PM TSTM WND GST 6 NE DIGHTON 38.54N 100.39W
05/22/2008 E60.00 MPH LANE KS TRAINED SPOTTER
0533 PM HAIL 2 E DIGHTON 38.48N 100.42W
05/22/2008 E1.25 INCH LANE KS PUBLIC
0538 PM TORNADO 7 NNW ALAMOTA 38.53N 100.35W
05/22/2008 LANE KS STORM CHASER
0545 PM HAIL 1 SW PENDENNIS 38.64N 100.34W
05/22/2008 E2.00 INCH LANE KS PUBLIC
HAIL COVERED THE GROUND AND SHREDDED VEGETATION.
0555 PM HAIL 2 NNE AMY 38.49N 100.59W
05/22/2008 E0.88 INCH LANE KS PUBLIC
0555 PM HAIL 2 S AMY 38.43N 100.60W
05/22/2008 E1.00 INCH LANE KS TRAINED SPOTTER
0626 PM TORNADO 5 S COLLYER 38.97N 100.12W
05/22/2008 TREGO KS LAW ENFORCEMENT
0631 PM HAIL 1 SE SHIELDS 38.61N 100.44W
05/22/2008 E1.00 INCH LANE KS PUBLIC
0634 PM TORNADO 2 S COLLYER 39.01N 100.12W
05/22/2008 TREGO KS LAW ENFORCEMENT
0635 PM HAIL COLLYER 39.04N 100.12W
05/22/2008 E1.75 INCH TREGO KS PUBLIC
0642 PM TORNADO 2 E COLLYER 39.04N 100.08W
05/22/2008 TREGO KS STORM CHASER
0643 PM HAIL 7 NNW INGALLS 37.92N 100.50W
05/22/2008 E1.00 INCH GRAY KS PUBLIC
0730 PM HAIL 9 WSW BUTTERMILK 37.04N 99.48W
05/22/2008 E1.00 INCH COMANCHE KS PUBLIC
0804 PM HAIL 5 S COLDWATER 37.19N 99.34W
05/22/2008 E1.00 INCH COMANCHE KS LAW ENFORCEMENT
0805 PM TORNADO 8 SSE PENDENNIS 38.55N 100.26W
05/22/2008 LANE KS STORM CHASER
0805 PM TORNADO 8 SSE PENDENNIS 38.54N 100.27W
05/22/2008 LANE KS TRAINED SPOTTER
0815 PM HAIL 1 SW PENDENNIS 38.64N 100.34W
05/22/2008 E0.88 INCH LANE KS PUBLIC
0824 PM HAIL 11 E COLDWATER 37.26N 99.14W
05/22/2008 E1.00 INCH COMANCHE KS LAW ENFORCEMENT
0825 PM HAIL 4 SSE WILMORE 37.28N 99.18W
05/22/2008 E2.50 INCH COMANCHE KS NWS EMPLOYEE
0847 PM TORNADO 9 S TREGO CENTER 38.75N 99.90W
05/22/2008 TREGO KS STORM CHASER
0847 PM TORNADO 7 S TREGO CENTER 38.78N 99.90W
05/22/2008 TREGO KS STORM CHASER
0850 PM TORNADO 3 SW TREGO CENTER 38.85N 99.94W
05/22/2008 TREGO KS BROADCAST MEDIA
THE TORNADO WAS REPORTED BY KAKE TELEVISION SPOTTER.
0851 PM TORNADO 5 S WAKEENEY 38.95N 99.88W
05/22/2008 TREGO KS OTHER FEDERAL
THE TORNADO WAS REPORTED BY A SPC STUDENT EMPLOYEE.
0857 PM TORNADO 2 SSW WAKEENEY 38.99N 99.89W
05/22/2008 TREGO KS STORM CHASER
REPORT RELAYED FROM WFO GOODLAND.
0930 PM HAIL WAKEENEY 39.02N 99.88W
05/22/2008 E1.00 INCH TREGO KS STORM CHASER
CHASER REPORT RELAYED BY WFO CHARLESTON.
&&
BURGERTThe Dodge City radar (KDDC), 109 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 04:58 UTC.
72 tornado, 29 hail, 7 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Power lines were reported down on the east side of Pratt on Highway 54.
Minor tree damage was done by this small tornado.
Some of the hail stones weighed 5 ounces.
This tornado produced EF1 damage to two pivot irrigation sprinklers and to power poles.
This was a satellite tornado that moved northwest along the eastern edge of the larger parent tornado. It produced EF1 damage to a pivot irrigation sprinkler.
Minor tree damage was noticed.
This tornado moved over farmland and did not strike anything.
There was a brief spin-up making contact with the ground that lasted about 45 seconds to a minute.
EF1 damage was done to trees.
Damage was not observed in this area as there was little to be hit.
Power poles were blown down by the high wind. A nearby wall cloud had rapid rotation.
This small tornado moved into Hodgeman county at 18:29 CDT.
This tornado moved out of Finney county and then began to turn north. It moved into Ness county at 18:32 CDT.
This tornado moved out of Hodgeman county and made a sharp turn to the west/northwest and moved into southeast Lane county at 18:35.
This tornado moved out of Hodgeman county and moved northwest before dissipating. This area is predominately grass land.
This tornado did minor tree damage and was witnessed by several storm spotters.
This tornado passed over open country.
This tornado was video taped and moved over sparsely populated land.
This tornado was making contact over open range land. It was witnessed by storm spotters and the Emergency Manager.
This was a large tornado that produced EF2 damage. It turned northwest towards the end of its life cycle but dissipated before reaching Arnold. Damage was done to trees, large power poles, a large tank, a barn and hay bales.
This extremely large tornado (1.8 miles wide) moved east and then turned northeast towards Kiowa county. Many power poles were taken down by the tornado. It also caused EF3 damage to trees, two old houses, barns and it carried an oil tank battery 1.8 miles depositing it in trees. There was at least 20 head of cattle killed by the tornado. There was minor injuries received by a 20 year old male as he took refuge in his truck that was parked next to a baler inside a barn. The barn was completely swept away leaving the young man with cuts from broken glass. The baler that was left standing probably protected him and his truck from going airborne, if not rolling. Also, there was serious injury to a male in a semi on highway 34 in the vicinity of 37.3327 N, 99.6344 W probably by the RFD. Two other semis parked at this location rolled over but no injuries were sustained by the drivers. This extremely large tornado moved into Kiowa county. The radar signature was eerily similar to the Greensburg tornado that occurred on May 4, 2007.
This was a satellite tornado that moved south on the west side of its large parent tornado. EF2 damage was done to trees (uprooted).
This tornado caused EF3 damage to trees and an old stone home. A farm implement was carried 1/2 mile south of it's original starting point. EF3 damage was also done to trees. Another home sustained EF1 damage. There were numerous power poles taken down and at least 5 head of cattle perished in the tornado. The tornado moved into Trego county at 19:42 CDT.
This tornado was witnessed by residents of the area and surveyed by the NWS. It occurred shortly after an extremely large tornado from a separate supercell passed by to the north. EF1 damage was done to trees, outbuildings and pivot sprinklers.
This tornado moved out of Ness county at 19:42 CDT. EF2 damage was done to trees and fences. Otherwise, this is a sparely populated area (farms and vegetation).
This was a satellite tornado that produced EF1 damage to trees as it moved southwest, south then southeast as it was on the west side of the 1.8 mile wide parent tornado.
This large tornado moved out of Clark county where it had done EF3 damage. In Kiowa county, EF2 damage was done to a concrete walled house. Trees also received EF2 damage. A power pole with transmission wire attached was deposited from an unknown location. The tornado turned sharply west towards the end of it's life.
This 1/2 mile wide tornado passed over mainly open range land. It did EF1 damage to trees, power poles and picked up and carried a horse trailer about 50 feet. It made a hard left had movement (west) and then south at it's end of it's life cycle, dissipating at the Cedar Bluff Reservoir dam.
This 1.0 mile wide tornado moved over a sparsely populated area (including vegetation) but did EF2 damage to trees, power poles and a house. A large outbuilding was completely destroyed. Oil tanks ruptured and there were several head of cattle killed. Also a combine was rolled. Since this tornado moved north along a road, there was 2.4 miles of power poles taken down.
There was minor tree damage done by the tornado.
This tornado moved over a sparsely populated area but did EF2 damage to trees. It moved northwest towards the end of it's life cycle.
This was a second separate tornado in the same general vicinity but it did not strike anything.
This tornado produced EF1 damage to outbuildings, a storage tank, power poles and houses in Ellis. A female was injured when she went out to get her horse and was hit by flying debris from the tornado.
This brief tornado was video taped but apparently did not do any damage.
This was a small tornado that passed over farmland.
This tornado moved north and then northwest. No damage was reported.
Power poles and trees were damaged by this tornado. It moved into Ellis county at 20:47 CDT.
This tornado moved out of Trego county at 20:47 CDT. It was in it's dissipating stage as it moved into the town of Ellis. Damage was done to outbuildings, power poles, shingles on quite a few homes and minor roof damage to a few other homes.
This tornado apparently did not strike anything.
This tornado moved out of Oklahoma and into the county. It did minor tree damage. It turned north as it was dissipating.
This tornado did EF1 damage to outbuildings, a grain silo, an oil tank and trees. The tornado moved into Ellis county at 20:10 CDT.
This 1/2 mile wide tornado moved out of Oklahoma. EF3+ damaged was based on trees that appeared to be sand blasted. Also, there were trees uprooted, several antique cars that have yet to be found as of late July, 2008 (probably dropped in ravines in the area). An oil tank was carried 2 miles. Several head of cattle were killed. The tornado turned west (left) as it began to dissipate.
This tornado moved into Rooks county. It produced EF1 damage to trees and power lines on the Rooks/Ellis county line.
This tornado moved over grassland and then into Edwards county at 21:11 CDT.
This tornado moved out of Trego county and did EF1 damage to trees.
This tornado moved over mainly farmland and passed into Pratt county at 21:13 CDT.
This tornado moved out of Edwards county and passed over mainly farmland.
This large tornado did EF2 damage to trees, pivot irrigation sprinklers, power poles and grain bins. EF1 damage was done to one home and EF2 damage was done to another. The center of the tornado moved to the intersection of Edwards, Pratt and Stafford counties. At that point, because of it's width, it was covering all those counties at once. Technically the tornado moved into Pratt county (see that entry).
This was a brief tornado.
This tornado moved over open range country and turned north as it dissipated.
This large tornado moved out of Edwards county and did EF2 damage to a house, a pivot irrigation sprinkler and to trees. It then moved into Stafford county at 925 PM CDT.
This large tornado moved out of Pratt county and did EF3 damage before moving into Edwards county. EF3 damage was done to trees and a pivot sprinkler. Other pivot sprinklers received EF1-2 damage along with EF2 damage done to a house and grain bins.
Minor tree damage was done by the tornado as it moved into Comanche county.
EF1 damage was done to two pivot irrigation sprinklers and a grain bin.
Moderate tree damage was reported in a wind break.
EF1 damage was done in the town of Protection and high end EF1 damage was done to trees just norhteast of town.
This tornado moved out of Clark county and did minor tree damage.
The officer reported that his care was nearly blown off the road by the high winds.
This tornado turned north as it was dissipating. It produced minor tree damage.
This tornado moved out of Stafford county and did EF2 damage to a house and barn just west of the Stafford/Edwards county line. A Female received a serious injury when she was blown down the stairs. Pivot sprinklers and trees received EF1-2 damage. The tornado started in the southeast part of Edwards county, moved into Pratt and Stafford and then turned northwest before ending in the extreme northeast part of the county.
This tornado was observed by many persons including storm chasers, storm spotters and the Emergency Manager. However it did not pass over anything but mainly pasture grass and crops.
This tornado did minor tree damage.
This tornado moved north into Kiowa county and caused EF1 damage to trees, pivot sprinklers and a house.
This tornado moved out of Comanche county and did EF2 damage to trees and power poles. It crossed the path of the tornado that occurred on May 4, 2007.
This tornado was observed by a storm chaser. He noted power lines down as the tornado cross the road 4 miles north of Hudson.
This tornado produced EF2 damage to trees and turned sharply northwest as it dissipated.
This tornado produced minor tree damage and tin from an unknown source was wrapped in a fence.
This tornado did EF1 damage to trees and power poles.
This tornado produced EF2 damage to trees and pivot irrigation systems. It caused EF1 damage to a house and grain bin. It took down several power poles and power lines. The tornado moved into Edwards county at 22:19 CDT.
This tornado did minor tree damage and then moved into Pratt county at 1019 PM CDT.
This tornado did minor tree damage and crossed into Pratt county at 1021 PM CDT.
This tornado moved out of Barber county at 1019 PM and caused EF1 damage to trees.
This tornado moved out of Ford county at 22:19 CDT. It took down power poles, overturned pivot irrigation sprinklers and produced low end EF2 damage to outbuildings and a house.
This tornado caused minor tree damage as it crossed into the county from Barber county. It lasted 1 minute in Pratt county.
This 3/4 mile wide tornado produced EF3 damage and unfortunately claimed two lives. A husband and wife were parked on highway 54 approximately 2 1/4 miles east of Cairo. The tornado picked up their car and carried it approximately 1700 feet NNE into a wheat field (they were not discovered until the next morning at about 9 AM). The female occupant was ejected and was found 30 feet southwest of the wreckage. The male was still strapped in his seat. The car was nearly unrecognizable.
A second vehicle (3/4 ton truck) was parked 20 yards behind the aforementioned car. It also went airborne briefly but got lodged on the north side ditch. The two male occupants received numerous cuts and bruises but were otherwise unhurt. They both claimed it was extremely cold immediately after crawling out of their vehicle with heavy vapor breath noticed.
This tornado destroyed a home about a mile north and the collapsed east wall trapped a male in the bathtub where he had taken cover. Help was needed in lifting the wall off of him but he claimed he was not hurt. Other homes in the tornadoes path received minor to moderate damage.
EF2 damage was done to trees and a barn and two pivot sprinklers received EF1 damage.
This tornado was tracked by storm spotters and the Emergency Manager. It passed over a sparely vegetated area and damage was not observed.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado, Pratt | 2008-05-23 | 33 | Male | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Direct |
| Tornado, Pratt | 2008-05-23 | 28 | Female | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kansas in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Kansas, 2008Warnings in Kansas, May 2008
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: 109606, 109595, 109597, 109599, 109596, 109608, 109862, 109588, 109589, 109598, 109590, 109591, 109879, 109581, 109582, 109881, 109882, 109585, 109884, 109870, 109609, 109885, 109886, 109594, 109600, 109592, 110668, 110669, 110670, 110672, 109761, 109601, 109887, 109576, 109888, 109603, 109762, 109893, 109776, 109894, and more.