A powerful storm system produced widespread severe weather across portions of central, south-central and southeast Kansas during the evening hours on the 28th. A handful of relatively weak, short-lived tornadoes affected portions of Reno and McPherson counties, producing some light to modest damage.
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 powerful storm system produced widespread severe weather across portions of central, south-central and southeast Kansas during the evening hours on the 28th. A handful of relatively weak, short-lived tornadoes affected portions of Reno and McPherson counties, producing some light to modest damage. Other portions of the area received locally very intense straight-line winds and large hail, with isolated locations receiving wind speeds ranging from 90 to 110 mph, and hail as large as baseballs. Especially hard hit was the community of Cherryvale in Montgomery county, as well as a large portion of Labette county. A handful of injuries occurred across the area.
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 Feb 28, 5:57 PM CST, 46 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS 557 PM CST TUE FEB 28 2012 .AVIATION...00Z TAFS KRSL/KSLN/KHUT/KICT/KCNU MAIN HAZARDS: THUNDERSTORMS THIS EVE...AND GUSTY WINDS. NORTH TO SOUTH ORIENTED DRYLINE WILL GRADUALLY PUSH EASTWARD ACROSS CENTRAL/SOUTH CENTRAL KS THROUGH MID EVENING...AND SHOULD PUSH OUT OF SOUTHEAST KS SHORTLY AFTER 06Z. CONVECTION SHOULD CONTINUE TO DEVELOP SOUTHWARD ALONG DRYLINE THIS EVENING WITH MID- LEVEL COLD AIR ADVECTION SPREADING IN FROM THE WEST. CARRYING VCTS AT SLN/HUT/ICT TIL 04Z...AND AT CNU FROM 04Z-06Z...BUT MAY NEED TO UPGRADE TO TEMPO TS IF RADAR TRENDS DICTATE SUCH. DAMAGING WINDS WILL BE THE MAIN THREATS FROM ANY STORMS AT THE AIRPORT TERMINALS. CLEARING EXPECTED BEHIND DRYLINE PASSAGE. SW-WRLY WINDS WILL GUST TO 30-35KT THIS EVENING BEFORE RELAXING SOME LATER TONIGHT. DIURNAL HEATING/MIXING WEDNESDAY WILL ALLOW W-NWRLY WINDS TO AGAIN GUST TO AROUND 30 KT AREA WIDE. JMC && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 329 PM CST TUE FEB 28 2012/ DISCUSSION... FORECAST CONCERNS FOCUS AROUND SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CHANCES LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH THIS EVENING. TONIGHT: SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE ATTEMPTING TO INITIATE CURRENTLY ALONG THE DRYLINE OVER WESTERN KS...WITH THE MOST ROBUST CONVECTION OVER FAR NORTHWEST/NORTHERN KS AND SOUTHWEST/SOUTHERN NE...WHERE MAIN MID/UPPER DYNAMIC FORCING IS FOCUSING AHEAD OF APPROACHING SHORTWAVE. HOWEVER FURTHER SOUTH ACROSS WESTERN KS...CONVECTION IS STRUGGLING TO GET GOING...AND WILL LIKELY CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE THROUGH THE AFTERNOON DUE TO WEAKER MID/UPPER FORCING AND ASSOCIATED WEAKER MID-LEVEL COOLING. PER MODEL SOUNDINGS...THIS ALONG WITH PERSISTENT LOW CLOUDS IS CONTRIBUTING TO POOR LOW TO MID-LEVEL LAPSE RATES. HOWEVER...AS SOUTHERN FRINGE OF SHORTWAVE FORCING AND ASSOCIATED MID-LEVEL COOLING OVERSPREAD THE AREA...IN CONCERT WITH CONTINUED LOW-LEVEL MOISTURE ADVECTION AND INCREASING INSTABILITY AHEAD OF A SHARPENING DRYLINE...COULD SEE A FEW ISOLATED STORMS GET GOING BY EARLY THIS EVENING ALONG/JUST AHEAD OF THE DRYLINE...MAINLY WEST OF THE I-135/HIGHWAY 14 CORRIDORS. STORMS WILL BE SLOW TO STRENGTHEN GIVEN WEAKLY MODEST INSTABILITY AND POOR LAPSE RATES. HOWEVER...STRENGTH OF LOW AND DEEP LAYER SHEAR COULD FAVOR A FEW LOW-TOPPED SUPERCELLS AND/OR SMALL LINE SEGMENTS...WITH THE MAIN RISKS BEING ISOLATED STRAIGHT-LINE DAMAGING WINDS AND QUARTER SIZE HAIL. CANNOT COMPLETELY RULE OUT A BRIEF TORNADO GIVEN THE STRONGLY SHEARED ENVIRONMENT...BUT POOR LOW-LEVEL LAPSE RATES AND INSTABILITY ARE FACTORS AGAINST TORNADO POTENTIAL. LATER THIS EVENING AS BETTER MID-LEVEL COOLING OVERSPREADS SOMEWHAT BETTER MOISTURE/INSTABILITY IN CONJUNCTION WITH A STRENGTHENING LOW-LEVEL JET...THINKING THUNDERSTORM COVERAGE AND INTENSITY WILL INCREASE GENERALLY EAST OF THE I-135/35 CORRIDORS. THINKING MAIN STORM MODE WILL BE BROKEN LINE SEGMENTS WITH EMBEDDED SUPERCELL STRUCTURES...CAPABLE OF ISOLATED SEVERE WIND GUSTS AND MARGINALLY LARGE HAIL. DESPITE COOLING BOUNDARY LAYER...INCREASING MOISTURE AND LOW-LEVEL SHEAR/HELICITY MAY PROMOTE A CONTINUED SLIGHT TORNADO POTENTIAL. ACTIVITY SHOULD QUICKLY EXIT EASTERN KS BY AROUND MIDNIGHT. WED-THU: FAIRLY MILD AND DRY WEATHER IS ANTICIPATED WED-THU AHEAD OF THE NEXT SYSTEM APPROACHING OVER THE WESTERN STATES...WITH HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE 60S WED AND 60S-70S THU. FRI: NEXT CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION SHOULD ARRIVE FOR FRIDAY...MAINLY OVER THE NORTHWEST HALF OF KS...ALONG A MID-LEVEL FRONTAL ZONE ASSOCIATED WITH SHORTWAVE ENERGY APPROACHING FROM THE WEST. PRECIPITATION COULD MIX WITH SNOW FRIDAY MORNING. ALL-IN- ALL...WIDESPREAD AND/OR HEAVY PRECIPITATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED WITH THIS FEATURE. SAT-TUE: PER MODEL CONSENSUS...COOLER WEATHER IS ANTICIPATED FRIDAY THROUGH THE WEEKEND...AS EASTERN CONUS TROUGHING DEEPENS...ALLOWING COOLER CANADIAN AIR TO SPILL SOUTH...WITH HIGHS IN THE 40S-50S. WARMER WEATHER SHOULD RETURN BY EARLY NEXT WEEK THOUGH...AS MORE TROUGHING APPROACHES OVER THE WESTERN STATES...AND RIDGING INCREASES OVER THE EAST. KLEINSASSER FIRE WEATHER... STOUT/GUSTY WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS IN CONCERT WITH ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES WILL RESULT IN VERY HIGH TO MARGINALLY EXTREME GRASSLAND FIRE DANGER WEDNESDAY...HIGHEST OVER CENTRAL KANSAS. FIRE DANGER SHOULD REMAIN SOMEWHAT ELEVATED ON THURSDAY...BUT WILL NOT BE AS HIGH AS WEDNESDAY DUE TO SLACKENING WINDS. KLEINSASSER && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... WICHITA-KICT 36 62 35 68 / 50 0 0 0 HUTCHINSON 36 60 33 67 / 40 0 0 10 NEWTON 37 60 36 67 / 50 0 0 0 ELDORADO 38 61 36 68 / 60 0 0 0 WINFIELD-KWLD 38 64 38 70 / 60 0 0 0 RUSSELL 32 60 30 63 / 10 0 0 10 GREAT BEND 32 60 31 64 / 10 0 0 10 SALINA 37 60 32 65 / 50 0 0 10 MCPHERSON 36 60 33 66 / 50 0 0 10 COFFEYVILLE 45 65 37 74 / 80 0 0 0 CHANUTE 42 62 36 72 / 80 0 0 0 IOLA 42 61 36 71 / 80 0 0 0 PARSONS-KPPF 41 64 37 73 / 80 0 0 0 && .ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 9 PM CST THIS EVENING FOR KSZ032-033-047>051- 067-068-082-083-091-092. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS 417 PM CST TUE FEB 28 2012 KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-292230- 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- 417 PM CST TUE FEB 28 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL KANSAS... SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS AND SOUTHEAST KANSAS. .DAY ONE...THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT ISOLATED TO WIDELY SCATTERED STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE INTO THE EVENING HOURS...GENERALLY WEST OF A LINE EXTENDING FROM SALINA TO WICHITA. THE STRONGEST ACTIVITY WILL BE CAPABLE OF 60 TO 70 MPH WINDS...QUARTER SIZE HAIL...AND PERHAPS AN ISOLATED BRIEF TORNADO. AFTER 8 OR 9 PM...THUNDERSTORM COVERAGE SHOULD INCREASE...GENERALLY EAST OF A LINE EXTENDING FROM SALINA TO WICHITA. THE MAIN THREATS WILL CONTINUE TO BE 60 TO 70 MPH WINDS...QUARTER SIZE HAIL AND PERHAPS AN ISOLATED TORNADO. THUNDERSTORMS WILL EXIT EASTERN KANSAS BY AROUND MIDNIGHT. WHERE THE GROUND IS DRY...VERY HIGH GRASSLAND FIRE DANGER IS LIKELY THROUGH THE EVENING ACROSS PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND SOUTH- CENTRAL KANSAS. STRONG AND GUSTY SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE EVENING...STRONGEST WEST OF INTERSTATE 135. PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST WIND ADVISORY STATEMENT FOR FURTHER DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY VERY HIGH TO MARGINALLY EXTREME GRASSLAND FIRE DANGER LEVELS ARE LIKELY ON WEDNESDAY OVER MOST OF THE AREA...HIGHEST OVER CENTRAL AND EAST-CENTRAL KANSAS. VERY HIGH FIRE DANGER WILL BE POSSIBLE THURSDAY OVER SOUTHEAST KANSAS...AND NEXT MONDAY OVER THE ENTIRE AREA. FURTHERMORE...A LIGHT MIX OF RAIN AND SNOW WILL BE POSSIBLE OVER CENTRAL KANSAS LATE THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING. NO ACCUMULATION IS ANTICIPATED. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... STORM SPOTTERS MAY BE NEEDED FROM LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH THE EVENING. && FOR A GRAPHICAL VERSION OF THIS INFORMATION...SEE OUR WEBPAGE AT (LOWERCASE) HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/WICHITA/HWO/HWO.PHP PJH/RBL/ADK
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS 328 PM CST TUE FEB 28 2012 KSZ032-282200- RUSSELL- 328 PM CST TUE FEB 28 2012 ...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR RUSSELL COUNTY... AT 326 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 8 MILES SOUTHWEST OF VICTORIA...OR 22 MILES SOUTHWEST OF RUSSELL...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 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. && LAT...LON 3913 9904 3913 9858 3878 9885 3876 9904 TIME...MOT...LOC 2129Z 215DEG 44KT 3877 9918
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS 402 PM CST TUE FEB 28 2012 KSZ032-282230- RUSSELL- 402 PM CST TUE FEB 28 2012 ...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR RUSSELL COUNTY... AT 401 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 5 MILES SOUTHWEST OF LURAY...OR 14 MILES NORTH OF RUSSELL...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 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. && LAT...LON 3913 9850 3899 9877 3909 9892 3914 9884 TIME...MOT...LOC 2203Z 225DEG 47KT 3910 9875 LAWSON
The Wichita radar (KICT), 59 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:43 UTC.
31 thunderstorm wind, 6 hail, 3 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
The tornado extensively damaged an old barn, flipped over a pickup and a stock trailer, and produced damage to the home's porch. Some tree damage was also noted. The Hutchinson News contributed to this report.
The tornado briefly touched down again causing minimal damage.
Several power lines were downed south of Moundridge. As the storm moved to the northeast, it completely twisted highway signs at exit 48 on Interstate 135.
Around two-dozen utility poles were downed along Old Highway 81 a few miles northwest of Moundridge. Information courtesy of the Wichita Eagle.
Center pivot irrigation system was overturned.
Winds estimated around 75 mph blew over a semi tractor-trailer on Interstate 135, just east of Moundridge. The driver, a 40-year-old woman, was injured (direct). Information courtesy of the McPherson Sentinel.
Tree limbs measuring two to four inches in diameter were downed.
The hail occurred with winds estimated at 70 mph along Highway 15 north-northwest of Hillsboro.
The winds occurred with golfball size hail.
Winds estimated around 80 mph damaged a handful of farmsteads just west of Hillsboro. Outbuildings were heavily damaged or destroyed, windows were broken, trees were uprooted and limbs snapped. Information courtesy of the Peabody Gazette-Bulletin.
Extensive damage was inflicted on a storage unit in Anthony.
Winds estimated around 70 mph broke numerous home windows on the west side of Hillsboro. Information courtesy of the Peabody Gazette-Bulletin.
Power lines were downed.
A barn was blown onto the road over southwest Sumner county. Exact location is unknown.
Winds measured at 62 mph was reported 2 miles west of Benton.
Several power poles were downed.
Localized winds estimated between 90 and 100 mph extensively damaged a home north of Geuda Springs. The house lost two-thirds of its roof, a wall was bowed out two feet, a large tree was uprooted and a concrete block garage was destroyed. Several power poles were downed across the area as well.
Six power poles were downed along Highway 160 three to five miles west of Winfield.
Tree limbs measuring eight to ten inches in diameter were snapped off.
A farmstead was badly damaged southwest of Strother Field. Winds estimated around 85 mph destroyed a wood-frame garage, raised the home's roof six inches, and damaged the kitchen cabinets. The winds also tore off the roof of a metal hay barn and a horse pen. Information courtesy of the Arkansas City Traveler.
Three utility poles were downed along Highway 160 east of Winfield. Information courtesy of the Arkansas City Traveler.
Measured at Winfield Strother Field Airport. Extensive damage occurred to the terminal building, peeling off large sections of the roof. Additionally, a large 100-foot tall sign received some damaged. Information courtesy of the Arkansas City Traveler.
Winds were estimated around 65 mph on the west side of El Dorado.
Winds estimated around 90 mph produced extensive damage to a farmstead 7 miles east of Leon. A barn was destroyed, half of the home's roof was blown off, and extensive tree damage occurred. Additionally, several power poles were downed. Property damage amounts are rough estimates.
Winds were estimated around 65 mph in Dexter, downing two utility poles two miles north of town. The Arkansas City Traveler and the Winfield Daily Courier contributed to this report.
Winds estimated around 80 mph produced some damage across Cedar Vale. Power lines were downed, tree limbs 10 inches in diameter were downed, and the announcer's box roof at the ball field blew off. Additionally, ping pong ball size hail accompanied these severe winds.
Winds estimated around 80 mph accompanied the large hail.
Winds estimated around 90 mph destroyed a home a few miles northeast of Neodesha. One injury (direct) was reported. The Independence Daily Reporter contributed to this report.
Winds estimated around 65 mph affected Independence. Damage was sporadic in town, with a large tree reported on a house, and a destroyed shed. Ping pong ball size hail accompanied the severe winds. The Independence Daily Reporter contributed to this report.
Winds estimated around 65 mph accompanied the hail.
Winds estimated around 70 mph in conjunction with hail up to baseball size produced damage across Cherryvale. Reported damage included: a power pole snapped, 5-inch diameter tree limbs snapped off, and several windows blown out due to the wind-driven hail. Additionally, various degrees of roof damage and car body damage likely occurred across town. Property damage amounts are rough estimates.
Winds estimated around 70 mph in conjunction with hail ranging from golfball to baseball size produced extensive damage across Cherryvale. The wind-driven hail produced widespread roof, siding, car and window damage across town. City and county officials indicated hundreds of structures sustained some type of damage across town, with property damage estimates between $4 million and $5 million dollars. The Montgomery County Chronicle contributed to this report.
Winds estimated between 90 and 110 mph produced widespread damage across Labette county, including damage to sheds, mobile homes, trees and power lines. The most extensive damage occurred in a three-mile-wide swath roughly 5 to 8 miles south of Parsons, including an overturned and completely destroyed mobile home. County officials estimated that roughly 15 to 18 homes were damaged countywide. Westar reported 25 utility poles downed countywide, resulting in nearly 80 percent of the county without power. Three injuries (direct) were reported across the county, one of which was critical. Property damage amounts are rough estimates. The Wichita Eagle and Parsons Sun contributed to this report.
Winds were estimated around 70 mph.
Winds were estimated around 70 mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kansas in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Kansas, 2012Warnings in Kansas, February 2012
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: 359047, 359048, 359049, 366715, 366591, 366886, 366592, 366593, 366876, 366884, 366594, 366885, 366596, 366597, 366598, 366595, 366599, 366600, 366604, 366601, 366602, 366722, 366726, 366603, 366606, 366605, 366607, 366608, 366609, 366610, 366611, 366612, 366613, 366614, 366615, 366616, 366617, 366618, 366619, 366620.