Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Kansas, April 25 to 30, 2009

Hail ranged from quarter to ping pong ball sized.

A tornado touched down in an open field.

Golfball to hen egg size hail occurred.

Quarter to half-dollar size hail occurred.

A tornado briefly touched down in an open field and caused no damage.

A tornado was on the ground for 5 minutes and produced several power flashes. One home and some outbuildings sustained damage.

Strong wind gusts in wake of an area of thunderstorms moving east across eastern Kansas blew over a semi-truck about 12 miles west of Eureka.

Strong wind gusts in wake of an area of thunderstorms moving east across eastern Kansas affected portions of Cowley county during the late evening hours on the 25th. A 66 mph wind gust was recorded by ASOS equipment at Strother Field Airport near Winfield. A semi-truck blew over on Highway 166 a few miles west of Arkansas City. A large sign was also blown over on the west side of the Arkansas River bridge. The roof of a small barn was blown off in rural Winfield, and a small shed blew into utility poles in Udall. A few other sheds across the county were damaged as well. The Arkansas City Traveler and Winfield Courier contributed to this report.

Strong wind gusts in wake of an area of thunderstorms moving east across eastern Kansas affected portions of Butler county during the early morning hours on the 26th. A 63 mph wind gust was recorded by KSN WeatherLab equipment in Andover.

Strong winds ripped off half the roof from a 150 foot by 80 foot metal building. Just down the road the strong winds ripped off the roof from a small horse shed.

Dime sized hail occurred with the wind. Report courtesy of KAKE TV storm chaser.

Pea to dime size hail along with 70 mph winds was reported in Benton by a KAKE TV storm chaser.

Pea to marble sized hail occurred with the wind.

Strong winds downed 4 power poles 1 mile west and one-quarter mile south of Benton.

The tornado touched down briefly in an open field and then downed a few trees.

Strong winds downed 2-3 inch diameter tree limbs.

Strong winds inflicted some damage to a barn roof.

Strong winds inflicted roof damage to both a residence and the Morton building. Some structural damage occurred to outbuildings, and some farm equipment was moved around.

A Channel 10 viewer reported a brief tornado touchdown in an open field.

A garage picked up and fell on a car. A barn was blown down which inflicted minor damage to a residence. A second residence was also damaged in the area.

Heavy rainfall from numerous thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening hours of the 26th produced widespread flooding across much of Rice county, with the exception of far northwest portions of the county. Numerous primarily rural roads remained submerged through early on the 28th. Some street flooding also occurred in Sterling on the 26th, and likely also occurred for other communities across the county. Unfortunately, property and crop damage estimates are unavailable.

Heavy rainfall from numerous thunderstorms during the afternoon, evening and overnight hours on the 26th produced widespread urban and rural flooding across the county. Many locations received 3 to 5 inches of rainfall. Several roads were closed due to high water. Several minor water rescues were performed across the Wichita area. A home in the Haysville area suffered some water damage when its basement was flooded. Property damage amounts are conservative rough estimates.

The tornado moved southwest to northeast across the Lake Afton area, inflicting moderate damage to a residence. Two people were injured when their camper rolled at Lake Afton.

Occurred near the intersection of 21st and 167th.

A shed was damaged near the intersection of 117th and 183rd.

Measured near 21st and Trails End Road by a KAKE TV storm chaser.

Winds were estimated at 60 to 70 mph.

Straight line winds caused sporadic damage across Newton. Power poles were downed near the outlet mall south of Newton, as well as across other portions of the city. Some structural damage was noted throughout the city as well, most of which was relatively minor, and some trees and tree limbs were downed. The Newton Kansas contributed to this report.

Straight-line winds blew over a grain bin east of Moundridge, and also damaged some farm equipment. The Moundridge Ledger contributed to this report.

Strong winds damaged a sheriff's patrol car and also blew windows out of a residence.

Heavy rainfall from numerous thunderstorms during the afternoon, evening and overnight hours on the 26th produced widespread flooding across much of McPherson county. Southeast portions of the county likely received the highest rainfall amounts. Numerous roads remained submerged and consequently closed through early on the 27th from the high water. Some street flooding occurred in McPherson and likely other communities as well. During the evening hours of the 26th, an injury accident occurred on Interstate 135 about 9 miles north of Highway 56 due to blinding heavy rainfall. Unfortunately, property and crop damage estimates are unavailable. The Hutchinson News contributed to this report.

Several buildings in and around the community of Walton were damaged, some worse than others. Additionally, some railroad crossings were downed or damaged, along with some power poles, power lines and road signs. The Newton Kansas Contributed to this report.

The strong winds moved a house off its foundation near the intersection of 140th and Mustang. Several residences sustained roof damage across the area, and there was some barn and outbuilding damage in the Aulne area. It is estimated that 3 homes and 30 outbuildings were damaged across the county. Additionally, a dozen or two power poles were downed, and some automobiles and farm equipment was damaged due to collapsed roofs. Countywide total property damage was likely around $300,000 to $400,000. The Marion County Record contributed to this report, as well as Marion County Emergency Management.

Strong winds moved a shed and concrete slab about 300 yards.

Heavy rainfall from numerous thunderstorms during the afternoon, evening and overnight hours on the 26th produced widespread flooding across much of Harper county. Rainfall amounts across the county ranged from 3 to 6 inches. Numerous roads were closed countywide. It is estimated that around 100 homes were flooded or received some form of water damage in the Anthony area, along with several other homes and businesses across the county. Portions of the elementary school and hospital in Harper were flooded. Three water rescues took place, one of which produced an injury near Third Lake Road when a vehicle attempted to cross a flooded roadway. Crop damage estimates are unknown, and property damage values are rough estimates. The Wichita Eagle, Harper Advocate, Anthony Republican and the Hutchinson News contributed to this report.

Very heavy rainfall from numerous thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening hours on the 26th produced flooding across mainly southeast portions of Kingman county. K-42 Highway near Norwich was down to one lane for a time on the evening of the 26th due to high water, and various other rural roads were closed. Unfortunately, property and crop damage estimates are unavailable.

Very heavy rainfall from numerous thunderstorms during the afternoon, evening and overnight hours on the 26th produced widespread flooding across much of Marion county. Rainfall rates on the evening of the 26th approached 2 inches per hour at Hillsboro. Numerous rural roads and some city streets remained submerged and consequently closed through early on the 28th. Unfortunately, property and crop damage estimates are unavailable.

Occurred near the intersection of 90th Avenue and Sumner Road.

Heavy rainfall from numerous thunderstorms during the afternoon, evening and overnight hours on the 26th produced widespread flooding across mainly northwest portions of Sumner county. Rainfall amounts exceeded 4 inches around Conway Springs. Numerous road closures likely took place due to high water, including K-49 Highway north of Conway Springs. Unfortunately, property and crop damage estimates are unavailable.

Heavy rainfall from numerous thunderstorms during the afternoon, evening and overnight hours on the 26th produced widespread urban and rural flooding across the county. Many locations received 3 to 5 inches of rainfall, with areas around Benton and Andover receiving over 6 inches of rainfall. Several rural and city roads were closed countywide due to high water. Nearly two dozen evacuations took place along Dry Creek near Santa Fe Lake about 3 miles northwest of Augusta, and also across portions of El Dorado. Several of those homes sustained flood damage, some of which was major, and several businesses in downtown El Dorado sustained water damage. The Wichita Eagle and Andover Journal-Advocate contributed to this report.

Heavy rainfall from numerous thunderstorms during the afternoon, evening and overnight hours on the 26th produced widespread flooding across much of Greenwood county. Numerous roads remained submerged and consequently closed through early on the 28th from the high water. Sadly, a 20 year old Yates Center man died around 11 pm on the 27th when the vehicle he was riding in drove into a flooded section of road caused by the swollen Verdigris River near DD and 200th Road west of Quincy. Unfortunately, property and crop damage estimates are unavailable. The Yates Center News contributed to this report.

Continued runoff from very heavy rainfall during the afternoon, evening and overnight hours on the 26th prolonged flooding across the greater Wichita area into the afternoon hours on the 28th, including areas along the swollen Cowskin Creek. Several rural and urban roads in and around the Wichita area were closed due to high water. Unfortunately, property and crop damage estimates are unknown.

Continued runoff from very heavy rainfall during the afternoon, evening and overnight hours on the 26th prolonged flooding across Sumner county into the morning hours on the 29th, partly due to flooding along swollen rivers and creeks, including the Arkansas, Chikaskia, Ninnescah, and Slate, and their associated tributaries. Several rural and some city roads around the county were closed due to high water, including Highways 81 and 55 near the Ninnescah. A few homes were flooded south of 120th Avenue 2 miles west of Highway 81. Some water rescues were needed across the county. Property damage amounts are rough estimates. The Wellington Daily News contributed to this report.

Continued runoff from very heavy rainfall during the afternoon, evening and overnight hours on the 26th prolonged flooding across the county into the early morning hours on the 29th, partly due to the moderate to major flooding along the swollen Walnut and Whitewater rivers and their associated tributaries. Several rural and some city roads around the county were closed due to high water. Unfortunately, property and crop damage estimates are unknown.

Continued runoff from a couple heavy rainfall episodes from the 26th through the 30th produced river flooding along the Neosho River, and its associated tributaries across Neosho county. Several rural and some city roads were closed due to high water. The river flooding along the Neosho extended into the early mornings hours of May 2nd. Property damage amounts are rough estimates. The Chanute Tribune contributed to this report.

Continued runoff from very heavy rainfall during the afternoon, evening and overnight hours on the 26th produced river flooding from the early afternoon hours on the 27th into the morning hours on the 29th along the Arkansas and Walnut Rivers, and their associated tributaries. Several rural and some city roads were closed due to high water. The Cowley county fairgrounds in Winfield were inundated by portions of the swollen Walnut River, including some buildings on the grounds. Property damage amounts are rough estimates, and crop damage estimates are unknown. The Winfield Courier contributed to this report.

Numerous slow moving thunderstorms produced torrential rainfall during the afternoon and early evening hours on the 27th across much of Montgomery county. Widespread 3 to 5 inch rainfall amounts likely occurred per radar estimates, producing several rural and some city road closures due to high water. Unfortunately, property and crop damage estimates are unknown.

Numerous slow moving thunderstorms produced torrential rainfall during the afternoon hours of the 27th across mainly southern portions of Wilson county. Widespread 3 to 5 inch rainfall amounts likely occurred per radar estimates, producing both rural and city road closures due to high water. Unfortunately, property and crop damage estimates are unknown.

Numerous slow moving thunderstorms produced torrential rainfall during the afternoon and early evening hours on the 27th across much of Neosho county. Widespread 3 to 5 inch rainfall amounts likely occurred per radar estimates, producing several rural and city road closures due to high water. Thayer measured 4 inches of rainfall, with quite a bit of street flooding. Unfortunately, property and crop damage estimates are unknown.

Continued runoff from a couple heavy rainfall episodes from the 26th through the 30th produced areal flooding across portions of Labette county, as well as river flooding along the Neosho River, and its associated tributaries. Several rural and some city roads were closed due to high water. Trailer homes along the Neosho River on Highway 400 near Parsons were partially submerged. Flooding extended into the evening hours of May 4th. Sadly, two people were killed sometime during the overnight hours of the 27th or the early morning hours of the 28th, after attempting to traverse a flooded low water bridge crossing in their vehicle due to the swollen Pumpkin Creek just east of Mound Valley on 15000 Road. The strong current swept their vehicle 200 feet downstream, likely trapping the two victims. The vehicle was found overturned and submerged in about 10 feet of water. Unfortunately, total property and crop damage estimates are unknown. The Independence Daily Reporter, Parsons Sun, and Coffeyville Journal, contributed to this report.