Tornado and Hail in Kansas, July 2, 2011

Name: Tornado and Hail in Kansas, July 2, 2011
Start: 2011-07-02T15:38
End: 2011-07-02T20:06
Location: Kansas

July 2, 2011 · NWS ICT · 13 events in 5 counties and zones

Scattered strong to severe thunderstorms affected portions of central and south-central Kansas generally west of the Flint Hills during the late afternoon and evening hours on the 2nd, in response to a weak cold front approaching from the north. The more notable reports include golfball to tennis ball size hail in Ellsworth, and winds estimated around 70 mph north of Kanopolis State Park.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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: 2
Property damage: $108,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 13

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 ICT wrote it up.

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 Wichita, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 2, 1:19 PM CST, 2 hours 19 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 2, 1:19 PM CST, 2 hours 19 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
219 PM CDT SAT JUL 2 2011

.DISCUSSION...
THE MAIN FORECAST CONCERNS CONTINUE TO BE THE HEAT FOLLOWED BY
WIDELY SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT AND SUNDAY.

THE SUBTROPICAL RIDGE CONTINUES TO SPRAWL ACROSS THE CENTRAL AND
SOUTHERN CONUS WHILE A DIFFUSE STATIONARY FRONT BISECTS KANSAS.
SOUTH OF THE FRONT...PREPARATIVE PLANS SHOULD BE MADE WITH HEAT
INDICES AT OR ABOVE 100 DEGREES EXPECTED TO PERSIST THROUGH MUCH OF
THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND.

WIDELY SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON AND
TONIGHT MAINLY ALONG AND NORTH OF THE DIFFUSE STATIONARY FRONT
ACROSS PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS. OTHER ISOLATED
DIURNAL THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS SOUTHERN AND SOUTHEAST
KANSAS THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS WITHIN DEEPLY MIXED/WEAKLY CAPPED
AIRMASS. THE STRONGEST STORMS MAY BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING STRONG
DOWNBURST WINDS AND SMALL HAIL BUT GIVEN WEAK VERTICAL SHEAR THE
PROBABILITY FOR MORE ORGANIZED/SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS REMAINS LOW. THE
NAM REMAINS MORE AGGRESSIVE AND FURTHER SOUTH WITH A QPF BOMB ACROSS
CENTRAL KANSAS WHILE THE GFS SUPPORTS A MORE NORTHERN SCENARIO. WILL
KEEP MID POPS ALONG/NORTH OF THE STATIONARY FRONT WITH THE BEST
CHANCES FOR DEEP MOIST CONVECTION EXPECTED ALONG AND NORTH OF I-70.

SUNDAY-TUESDAY...A FEW MORNING SHOWERS MAY BE ONGOING EARLY
SUNDAY WITH ISOLATED/WIDELY SCATTERED DIURNAL SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE SUNDAY AFTERNOON/EARLY EVENING WITHIN DEEPLY
MIXED/WEAKLY CAPPED AIRMASS. THE DIFFUSE FRONT/CONVECTIVE OUTFLOW
MAY PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL FOCUS FOR DEEP MOIST CONVECTION AND
MAINTAINED LOW POPS THROUGH THE DAY. THE H5 RIDGE IS PROGGED TO
BUILD OVER THE CENTRAL ROCKIES/CENTRAL HIGH PLAINS REGION ON MONDAY
BEFORE EXPANDING EASTWARD ACROSS THE SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL PLAINS ON
TUESDAY WITH WEAK/NORTHERLY FLOW ANTICIPATED ACROSS THE FORECAST
AREA. HARD TO RULE OUT AN ISOLATED DIURNALLY DRIVEN THUNDERSTORM AND
WILL MAINTAIN LOW POPS ACROSS MAINLY SOUTHEAST KANSAS ON MONDAY.
ANOTHER COLD FRONT IS PROGGED TO MOVE OVER THE NORTHERN PLAINS ON
TUESDAY BEFORE BECOMING STATIONARY ACROSS NORTHERN KANSAS LATE
TUE/EARLY WED.

WEDNESDAY-SATURDAY...AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PERIOD...A SHORTWAVE
TROUGH MOVING OVER THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY AREA WILL HELP DRIVE
A COLD FRONT SOUTH INTO THE CENTRAL PLAINS STATES. UNCERTAINTY
REMAINS IN HOW FAR SOUTH THE FRONT WILL TRANSLATE...HOWEVER MAINTAINED A
SUBTLE COOLING TREND THROUGH THE LATTER HALF OF THE WEEK AS THE
MID/UPPER RIDGE TEMPORARILY BREAKS DOWN ACROSS THE AREA LEADING TO
MORE SEASONABLE TEMPERATURES AND TYPICAL DIURNAL THUNDERSTORM
ACTIVITY.

MWM

&&

.AVIATION...18Z TAFS KRSL/KSLN/KHUT/KICT/KCNU

MAIN ISSUE WILL BE LOCATION/TIMING/COVERAGE OF THUNDERSTORMS THIS
AFTERNOON/EVENING. CANNOT COMPLETELY RULE OUT A CHANCE OF
THUNDERSTORMS AT EVERY SITE...BUT BOUNDARY/DYNAMICS CERTAINLY
FAVOR THE I-70 CORRIDOR VERY LATE THIS AFTERNOON/EVENING. BELIEVE
CHANCES ARE LOW ENOUGH TO NOT MENTION AT KCNU/KICT/KHUT AT ALL.
GIVEN UNCERTAINTY...WILL JUST GO VCTS DURING THE MOST FAVORABLE
TIMES AT KRSL/KSLN. OBVIOUSLY LOWER CEILINGS/VISIBILITIES WILL
OCCUR IF STORMS DEVELOP AND TRACK DIRECTLY OVER FORCAST SITE AND
PLAN TO AMEND AS NECESSARY WHEN CHANCES INCREASE. BOUNDARY
LOCATION BY DAYBREAK SUN WILL BE HEAVILY INFLUENCED BY AMOUNT OF
CONVECTION DURING THE NIGHT. BEST ESTIMATE AT THIS TIME IS FOR
BOUNDARY TO STILL BE LURKING IN THE VICINITY OF I-70 SUN MORNING.
-HOWERTON

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
WICHITA-KICT    73  99  74 100 /  20  20  10  10
HUTCHINSON      72  98  73 101 /  30  30  10  10
NEWTON          73  97  73 100 /  30  30  10  10
ELDORADO        73  96  73  99 /  20  30  10  10
WINFIELD-KWLD   75  98  75 100 /  20  20  10  20
RUSSELL         69  97  71 100 /  40  20  10   0
GREAT BEND      71  98  72 101 /  30  20  10   0
SALINA          70  97  72 100 /  40  40  10  10
MCPHERSON       72  97  73 101 /  30  30  10  10
COFFEYVILLE     75  98  76  98 /  20  30  20  20
CHANUTE         74  95  73  96 /  20  40  20  20
IOLA            74  95  73  96 /  20  40  20  20
PARSONS-KPPF    75  96  75  97 /  20  30  20  20

&&

.ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR
KSZ069>072-093>096-098>100.

HEAT ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR KSZ052-053.

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 2, 2:18 PM CST, 1 hour 20 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
318 PM CDT SAT JUL 2 2011

KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-032030-
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-
318 PM CDT SAT JUL 2 2011

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL KANSAS...
SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS AND SOUTHEAST KANSAS.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE 100 TO 105 DEGREE RANGE WILL ALLOW HEAT
INDICES TO APPROACH 105 DEGREES THROUGH EARLY EVENING ACROSS
PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST KANSAS. PLEASE REFER TO
THE EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING AND HEAT ADVISORY WHICH REMAIN IN
EFFECT THROUGH 8 PM.

WIDELY SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE INTO THE EVENING
HOURS. THE STRONGEST STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING STRONG
WINDS TO 55 MPH AND SMALL HAIL.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

HEAT INDICES WILL CONTINUE TO BE AROUND 100 DEGREES ACROSS SOUTH
CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST KANSAS SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY AND THEN
AGAIN NEXT WEEKEND.

ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE SUNDAY OVER CENTRAL AND
EASTERN KANSAS POSSIBLY LINGERING INTO MONDAY ACROSS SOUTHEAST
KANSAS. ADDITIONAL CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS WILL RETURN TO THE AREA
WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY.

.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

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 2, 1:52 PM CST, 1 hour 46 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
252 PM CDT SAT JUL 2 2011

KSZ083-022015-
SEDGWICK-
252 PM CDT SAT JUL 2 2011

...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTH CENTRAL SEDGWICK COUNTY...

AT 251 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE TRACKING
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR CLEARWATER...OR 14 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
DOWNTOWN WICHITA. THIS STORM WAS NEARLY STATIONARY.

WINDS TO 50 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

THE STORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED TO BECOME SEVERE.

HOWERTON

Special weather statement, Jul 2, 2:05 PM CST, 1 hour 33 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
305 PM CDT SAT JUL 2 2011

KSZ052-022030-
MARION-
305 PM CDT SAT JUL 2 2011

...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY FOR MARION COUNTY...

AT 301 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE TRACKING
A CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS NEAR DURHAM...OR 13 MILES
NORTHWEST OF MARION...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 5 MPH.

WINDS TO 50 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.

THE STORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED TO BECOME SEVERE.

HOWERTON

Special weather statement, Jul 2, 2:36 PM CST, 1 hour 2 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
336 PM CDT SAT JUL 2 2011

KSZ052-022100-
MARION-
336 PM CDT SAT JUL 2 2011

...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY FOR MARION COUNTY...

AT 333 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE TRACKING
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 5 MILES EAST OF TAMPA...OR 12 MILES NORTH OF
MARION...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 5 MPH.

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. THESE STORMS MAY PRODUCE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS.
LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS OR POSSIBLE FLOODING WARNINGS...SHOULD
THE RISK FOR MINOR LOW-LAND FLOODING BECOME MORE IMMINENT.

HOWERTON

Special weather statement, Jul 2, 3:14 PM CST, 24 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
414 PM CDT SAT JUL 2 2011

KSZ092-093-022145-
COWLEY-SUMNER-
414 PM CDT SAT JUL 2 2011

...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY FOR COWLEY AND SUMNER COUNTIES...

AT 410 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE TRACKING
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS SCATTERED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM THE
WINFIELD AREA TO 7 MILES NORTHWEST OF SOUTH HAVEN...AND DRIFTING
NORTHEAST AT 5 MPH. ANOTHER STRONG STORM WAS LOCATED 7 MILES
NORTHEAST OF CONWAY SPRINGS.

OUTFLOW WIND GUSTS OF 45 TO 55 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.

DARMOFAL

Special weather statement, Jul 2, 3:32 PM CST, 6 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
432 PM CDT SAT JUL 2 2011

KSZ053-022200-
CHASE-
432 PM CDT SAT JUL 2 2011

...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEAST CHASE COUNTY...

AT 429 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE TRACKING
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR SAFFORDVILLE...OR 7 MILES EAST OF
COTTONWOOD FALLS...AND DRIFTING NORTHEAST AT 5 MPH.

OUTFLOW WIND GUSTS OF 45 TO 55 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
THIS STORM WILL IMPACT TRAVELERS ALONG HIGHWAY 50.

DARMOFAL

The radar

The Wichita radar (KICT), 66 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:38 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 hail, 5 thunderstorm wind, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Sumner

When: July 2, 3:38 PM CST
Where: Sumner County, 0.69 mi S of Geuda Spgs
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 37.110, -97.150

Winds were estimated around 65 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cowley

When: July 2, 4:25 PM CST to 4:30 PM CST
Where: Cowley County, 0.55 mi E of Arkansas City
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 37.070, -97.040

Winds measured at 60 mph inflicted some minor damage across Arkansas City. A power pole was downed just west of downtown, and a large tree was downed just east of downtown.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cowley

When: July 2, 4:30 PM CST to 4:35 PM CST
Where: Cowley County, 4.53 mi S of Arkansas City
Measured: 43 kt (49 mph) estimated gust
Injuries: 2 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 37.005, -97.046

A fireworks tent was blown over on the state line south of Arkansas City, injuring two tent workers (direct).

Tornado, McPherson

When: July 2, 6:03 PM CST to 6:07 PM CST
Where: McPherson County, 1.8 mi SSW of Moundridge to 1.27 mi SSW of Moundridge
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.57 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 38.177, -97.536

A very thin rope like tornado touched down briefly. The tornado may also be considered a landspout. This can be attributed to the length of time the tornado was on the ground versus the distance it traveled.

Hail, Barton

When: July 2, 6:39 PM CST
Where: Barton County, 2.34 mi SSW of Dundee
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 38.290, -98.900

Thunderstorm Wind, Barton

When: July 2, 6:55 PM CST
Where: Barton County, Great Bend Arpt
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) measured gust
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 38.350, -98.850

Measured at the Great Bend Airport.

Hail, Ellsworth

When: July 2, 6:58 PM CST to 7:03 PM CST
Where: Ellsworth County, 2.76 mi S of Ellsworth
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 38.690, -98.230

Hail, Ellsworth

When: July 2, 7:00 PM CST to 7:05 PM CST
Where: Ellsworth County, 5.12 mi NE of Lorraine
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 38.620, -98.250

Hail, Ellsworth

When: July 2, 7:09 PM CST to 7:14 PM CST
Where: Ellsworth County, 2.97 mi SSW of Kanopolis
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 38.680, -98.170

Hail, Ellsworth

When: July 2, 7:15 PM CST to 7:20 PM CST
Where: Ellsworth County, 0.69 mi N of Ellsworth
Measured: 2.5 in hail
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 38.740, -98.230

Golfball to tennis ball size hail affected Ellsworth. The only reported damage included windows broken out near the Ellsworth golf course. However, other hail damage not reported likely occurred, especially to area roofs and vehicles. Therefore, property damage amounts are rough estimates.

Hail, McPherson

When: July 2, 7:20 PM CST
Where: McPherson County, 4.87 mi S of Marquette
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 38.480, -97.820

The hail occurred with 50 mph winds.

Hail, Ellsworth

When: July 2, 7:58 PM CST
Where: Ellsworth County, 4.94 mi NNE of Kanopolis
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 38.780, -98.100

Thunderstorm Wind, Ellsworth

When: July 2, 8:06 PM CST
Where: Ellsworth County, 7.6 mi N of Carneiro
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 38.840, -98.030

Winds were estimated around 70 mph.

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
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.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Kansas in 2011 Every state in 2011 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Kansas, 2011 Warnings in Kansas, July 2011

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: 335164, 335165, 335166, 307278, 335167, 335168, 335169, 335170, 335171, 335175, 335180, 335182, 335183.