A few clusters of strong to severe thunderstorms moved northeast across south-central Kansas during the late evening hours on the 3rd, producing numerous reports of damaging winds. Winds of 70 mph produced widespread wind damage across Wichita.
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 ICT wrote it up.
A few clusters of strong to severe thunderstorms moved northeast across south-central Kansas during the late evening hours on the 3rd, producing numerous reports of damaging winds. Winds of 70 mph produced widespread wind damage across Wichita.
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 Aug 3, 5:53 PM CST, 27 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS 653 PM CDT WED AUG 3 2011 .AVIATION...00Z TAFS KRSL/KSLN/KHUT/KICT/KCNU FOCUS IS ON PIN-POINTING LOCATIONS OF TSRA THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT AS A MOIST VERY UNSTABLE AIRMASS REMAINS ENTRENCHED OVER THE GREAT PLAINS. THRU 04/06Z THE BETTER CHANCES FOR TSRA SHOULD CONTINUE TO OCCUR OVER SC & SE KS WHERE CLOSER TO A POORLY-DEFINED W-E ORIENTED STATIONARY FRONT SITUATED ACROSS NRN OK. THESE CELLS ARE LIKELY TO PRODUCE 60-70 MPH GUSTS IN THESE AREAS THROUGHOUT THE EVENING. ONLY TERMINAL FOR WHICH "TEMPO TSRA" HAS BEEN ASSIGNED IS KHUT 00Z-02Z WHERE A NE-MOVG CELL ~20KTS IS APPROACHING THE TERMINAL...OTHERWISE "VCTS" HAS BEEN ASSIGNED TO REMAINING TERMINALS DUE TO SPORADIC PRIMARILY DIURNALLY CONVECTION. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 304 PM CDT WED AUG 3 2011/ DISCUSSION... THE FORECAST AREA REMAINS ON THE NORTHERN PERIPHERY OF THE SUBTROPICAL RIDGE WHICH REMAINED CONFINED TO THE SOUTHERN PLAINS STATES. A STATIONARY FRONT WAS DRAPED ACROSS THE AREA FROM NEAR KCFV IN SOUTHEAST KANSAS TO KBVO TO JUST SOUTH OF KPNC IN NORTH CENTRAL OKLAHOMA. ALONG AND NORTH OF THE FRONT...DEWPOINTS WERE HOLDING IN THE 70S RESULTING IN SBCAPES EXCEEDING 5000 J/KG. ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE ANTICIPATED ALONG AND NORTH OF THE FRONT LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING WITH MORE WIDELY SCATTERED ACTIVITY EXPECTED TO DEVELOP TONIGHT ALONG NOSE OF MODEST H7 WAA ACROSS MAINLY CENTRAL KANSAS. THIS SCENARIO WAS HANDLED WELL IN THE PREVIOUS FORECAST WITH ONLY MINOR ADJUSTMENTS MADE. THU-SAT...A VERY SIMILAR SETUP IS ANTICIPATED ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA THU-FRI AS THE STATIONARY FRONT CONTINUES TO MEANDER NEAR THE OKLAHOMA STATE LINE LEADING TO NEAR NORMAL TEMPERATURES ACROSS PORTIONS OF CENTRAL KANSAS. FURTHER SOUTH ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST KANSAS...TEMPERATURES IN THE UPPER 90S/AROUND 100 WILL COMBINE WITH DEWPOINTS IN THE 70S LEADING TO MORE OPPRESSIVE HEAT INDICES AND A CONTINUATION OF HEAT HEADLINES THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING. WIDELY SCATTERED AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED ONCE AGAIN WITHIN A POST-FRONTAL UPSLOPE REGIME WITH MLCAPES EXCEEDING 2500 J/KG/0-6KM AND BULK SHEAR OF 30-40 KTS POSSIBLY SUPPORTING A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ALONG/IMMEDIATELY NORTH OF THE STATIONARY FRONT. WILL MAINTAIN MID POPS THU NIGHT AS WEAK SOUTHERLY LLJ NOSES TOWARD THE OK STATE LINE. THE STATIONARY FRONT IS PROGGED TO LIFT NORTH ON SAT RESULTING IN RISING TEMPERATURES AS THE WARM SECTOR EXPANDS NORTHWARD ONCE AGAIN. SUNDAY-WEDNESDAY...A SERIES OF CLIPPER-LIKE SYSTEMS WILL DIG OVER THE GREAT LAKES AREA EARLY IN THE WEEK HELPING TO BREAK DOWN THE PERSISTENT MID/UPPER LEVEL RIDGE WHILE DRIVING A COLD FRONT SOUTH ACROSS THE GREAT PLAINS. THIS FRONT IS EXPECTED TO ARRIVE TUE-WED BRINGING RELIEF FROM THE HEAT WITH CONTINUED CHANCES FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS AND HIGHS IN THE 80S ACROSS CENTRAL KANSAS. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... WICHITA-KICT 78 100 77 100 / 30 40 40 20 HUTCHINSON 76 98 76 98 / 30 40 40 20 NEWTON 76 97 77 98 / 30 30 40 30 ELDORADO 77 98 77 99 / 20 30 30 20 WINFIELD-KWLD 78 102 78 103 / 30 40 30 20 RUSSELL 71 91 70 90 / 50 40 50 30 GREAT BEND 72 93 72 94 / 40 40 50 30 SALINA 74 93 74 92 / 40 40 40 30 MCPHERSON 75 96 75 96 / 30 40 40 30 COFFEYVILLE 80 104 79 103 / 30 30 20 20 CHANUTE 78 99 78 99 / 20 20 20 30 IOLA 78 97 78 97 / 20 30 20 30 PARSONS-KPPF 79 102 79 101 / 30 30 20 20 && .ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING UNTIL 9 PM CDT THURSDAY FOR KSZ067>070. EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING UNTIL 8 PM CDT SATURDAY FOR KSZ071-072- 082-083-091>096-098>100. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS 720 PM CDT WED AUG 3 2011 KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-050030- 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- 720 PM CDT WED AUG 3 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL...SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST KANSAS. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL PERSIST THROUGHOUT THE EVENING...SOME OF WHICH MAY BE SEVERE WITH DAMAGING 60-70 MPH WINDS AND 1-INCH DIAMETER HAIL. MOVING EAST AROUND 15 MPH THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL PRODUCE LOCALLY VERY HEAVY RAINS. FURTHER THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT IS POSSIBLE LATER TONIGHT...SOME OF WHICH MAY PRODUCE GUSTS AROUND 50 MPH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY DANGEROUS HEAT INDICES WILL CONTINUE TO IMPACT SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST KANSAS DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING HOURS THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. PLEASE REFER TO THE EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING FOR DETAILS. THE HIGH HEAT INDICES COULD PERSIST ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST KANSAS THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK WITH ADDITIONAL HEAT HEADLINES POSSIBLE. PERIODIC CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS WILL OCCUR FROM THURSDAY THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK. A FEW STRONG STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE PERIOD. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED TONIGHT. && FOR A GRAPHICAL VERSION OF THIS INFORMATION...SEE OUR WEBPAGE AT (LOWERCASE) HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/WICHITA/HWO/HWO.PHP ES/MWM
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS 611 PM CDT WED AUG 3 2011 KSZ067-032345- RENO- 611 PM CDT WED AUG 3 2011 ...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR RENO COUNTY... AT 610 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 9 MILES NORTH OF SYLVIA...OR 27 MILES SOUTHEAST OF GREAT BEND...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 MPH. DIME SIZE HAIL...AND WINDS TO 50 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. BE PREPARED TO TAKE SHELTER IN THE EVENT THE STORMS INTENSIFY AND BECOME SEVERE, OR A WARNING IS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. LAWSON
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS 633 PM CDT WED AUG 3 2011 KSZ067-040000- RENO- 633 PM CDT WED AUG 3 2011 ...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR RENO COUNTY... AT 632 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 9 MILES SOUTH OF ALDEN...OR 23 MILES WEST OF HUTCHINSON...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 MPH. DIME SIZE HAIL...AND WINDS TO 50 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. BE PREPARED TO TAKE SHELTER IN THE EVENT THE STORMS INTENSIFY AND BECOME SEVERE, OR A WARNING IS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. LAWSON
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS 656 PM CDT WED AUG 3 2011 KSZ067-082-040030- KINGMAN-RENO- 656 PM CDT WED AUG 3 2011 ...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR KINGMAN AND RENO COUNTIES... AT 654 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 6 MILES WEST OF CUNNINGHAM...OR 11 MILES EAST OF PRATT...AND MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH. DIME SIZE HAIL...AND WINDS TO 50 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. BE PREPARED TO TAKE SHELTER IN THE EVENT THE STORMS INTENSIFY AND BECOME SEVERE, OR A WARNING IS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. LAWSON
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS 705 PM CDT WED AUG 3 2011 KSZ091-040030- HARPER- 705 PM CDT WED AUG 3 2011 ...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR HARPER COUNTY... AT 702 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR BLUFF CITY...OR 13 MILES SOUTHEAST OF ANTHONY...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 MPH. PENNY TO NICKEL SIZE HAIL...AND WINDS TO 50 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. BE PREPARED TO TAKE SHELTER IN THE EVENT THE STORMS INTENSIFY AND BECOME SEVERE, OR A WARNING IS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. LAWSON
The Wichita radar (KICT), 78 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:20 UTC.
11 thunderstorm wind, 3 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Winds estimated around 70 mph blew a large camping trailer into an adjacent lake just south of Nickerson. Additionally, some trees and tree limbs were downed in the Nickerson area. Property damage amounts are rough estimates. The Sterling Bulletin was the sole contributor to this report.
Small limbs were downed from strong wind gusts. Power was also reported out.
One-inch diameter tree limbs were downed.
Signs were blown over. Other unspecified damage was reported. Damage amounts are rough estimates.
Were were estimated at least 60 mph.
Some power poles and trees were downed in the Conway Springs area, one of which damaged a residence's back deck. Power outages were reported across the southern one-third of Sumner County. Property damage amounts are rough estimates. The Conway Springs Star-Argosy contributed to this report.
Winds were estimated around 60 mph.
Winds of 60 to 80 mph produced widespread damage from southwest to northeast across the Wichita Area, including: widespread tree damage, several downed power lines and damaged transformers, siding ripped off an apartment building near Pawnee and Broadway, roof and fence damage near Central and West, and railroad crossing gates blown over near K-15 and MacArthur. Property damage amounts are rough estimates. Additionally, roughly 14,000 Westar customers in the Wichita area were without power. The Wichita Eagle and Salina Journal contributed to this report.
Six-inch diameter tree limbs were downed. Relayed by KAKE-TV.
Window damage was reported in the Geuda Springs area.
Winds were estimated around 60 mph.
A 10-inch diameter tree limb was downed.
Winds estimated between 60 and 70 mph effected the Newton area, to about 6 miles southeast of Newton. Several tree limbs were downed across the area, and a shed lost part of its roof 5 miles southeast of Newton. Property damage amounts are rough estimates.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kansas in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in Kansas, August 2011
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: 340218, 340219, 340221, 340220, 340222, 340223, 340224, 340225, 340226, 340227, 340228, 340229, 340230, 340231.