Tornadoes and Hail in Kansas, May 27, 2013

Name: Tornadoes and Hail in Kansas, May 27, 2013
Start: 2013-05-27T17:04
End: 2013-05-27T19:40
Location: Kansas

May 27, 2013 · NWS GID · 11 events in 3 counties and zones

This event occurred on a Monday, which was also Memorial Day. The first and most intense thunderstorm of the day developed over northern Phillips county just after 4:30 pm CDT.

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: $2.4 million
Crop damage: $7.5 million
Events: 11

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 GID wrote it up.

This event occurred on a Monday, which was also Memorial Day. The first and most intense thunderstorm of the day developed over northern Phillips county just after 4:30 pm CDT. This was the southern storm in a line segment of supercell storms, which exhibited multicell characteristics. This line extended northeast across the border into southern Nebraska. During the following four hours, this storm tracked east across Phillips, Smith and Jewell counties. Numerous storm chasers followed this storm. The initial storm report came from the rear flank of the storm, over Phillips county. It was here that the RFD produced winds estimated around 60 mph. As the storm moved east, two weak, brief tornadoes were spotted just northwest and northeast of Smith Center. A rain-wrapped EF-3 tornado, described as a wedge, then followed, tracking just north of Lebanon and Esbon. The tornado track was roughly 6 miles long and at its widest point, was nearly one mile wide. Even though this tornado was over rural areas, it still managed to produce damage. The worst damage was to a home that lost its roof and part of its second story.

On radar, the hook echo was short and stubby. Because of this, there was substantial rain within the mesocyclone, which made it difficult to see the tornado except in its immediate vicinity. The Tornado Intercept Vehicle endured a direct hit from the tornado, with video confirmation. As this storm continued into Jewell County, no more reports of wind damage or tornadoes were received. However, the hail dramatically increased with multiple reports of hail to the size of tennis balls. The largest hail was yet to occur. Near Montrose, hail a little large than grapefruit size was reported (5 and 1/4 inches). After 7:00 pm CDT, other multicell storms developed, mainly affecting Mitchell county. These storms only produced a single report of 1 inch hail northwest of Beloit.

With the 8 am CDT Severe Weather Outlook, the Storm Prediction Center upgraded North Central Kansas to a moderate risk for severe thunderstorms. A weak short-wave trough was approaching the region, embedded within a broad upper-level trough, over the western United States. A quasi-stationary front, oriented in an east-west fashion, extended across Nebraska. During the early morning hours, a mesoscale convective system tracked through eastern Nebraska southeastward into Missouri. This MCS laid down an outflow boundary that extended across northern Kansas, to a lee-side low. It was to the north of this outflow boundary that storms initiated. At the time of initial thunderstorm development, temperatures were in the lower to middle 80s to near 90, with dewpoints in the middle 60s. This resulted in an extremely unstable atmosphere, with MLCAPE between 3000 and 4000 J/kg. Deep layer shear was 40 to 50 knots, which was more that strong enough for supercell storm structures.

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 Hastings, NE wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 27, 3:19 PM CST, 1 hour 45 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 27, 3:19 PM CST, 1 hour 45 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
419 PM CDT MON MAY 27 2013

.SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH TUESDAY)
ISSUED AT 415 PM CDT MON MAY 27 2013

CLEARLY THE MAIN FOCUS IS ON SEVERE THUNDERSTORM POTENTIAL DURING
THE NEXT 8-10 HOURS OR SO...WITH ALL MODES OF SEVERE WEATHER
POSSIBLE ESPECIALLY WITHIN THE SPC MODERATE RISK. SECONDARY
CONCERNS INCLUDE ANOTHER POTENTIAL ROUND OF STORMS ON TUESDAY
AFTERNOON...ALTHOUGH CURRENT INDICATIONS ARE THAT THIS THREAT
WOULD MAINLY...IF NOT COMPLETELY...HOLD OFF UNTIL TUESDAY
EVENING/NIGHT...AS COVERED IN LONG TERM SECTION BELOW. TAKING A
BACK SEAT TO SEVERE WEATHER POTENTIAL IS POSSIBLE FOG DEVELOPMENT
TONIGHT...ALTHOUGH NOT THINKING WIDESPREAD DENSE ISSUES AT THIS
TIME.

20Z OBJECTIVE SURFACE ANALYSIS HIGHLIGHTS A FAIRLY BROAD 1000
MILLIBAR LOW CENTERED OVER WEST CENTRAL KS A FEW COUNTIES
SOUTHWEST OF THE CWA...WHILE FARTHER WEST...A MORE SUBTLE LOW OVER
NORTHEAST COLORADO HAS AN INVERTED TROUGH AXIS EXTENDING NORTH-
NORTHEAST ACROSS WESTERN NEBRASKA. HIGH TEMPS THIS AFTERNOON ARE
WORKING OUT REASONABLY WELL...WITH MOST AREAS AT LEAST REACHING
THE UPPER 70S TO LOWER 80S...AND AT LEAST LOW 90S IN THE EXTREME
SOUTHWEST AROUND ROOKS COUNTY KS. SOME OF OUR WESTERN-MOST NEB
ZONES HAVE STRUGGLED TO REACH MID 70S THANKS TO LOWER CLOUDS
PERSISTING THE LONGEST. AN EXTENSIVE OUTFLOW BOUNDARY SURGED
SOUTHWARD ACROSS THE CWA LAST NIGHT/EARLIER TODAY...PROMOTING
FAIRLY STIFF EASTERLY BREEZES SUSTAINED 15-25 MPH AND LOCALLY
HIGHER...GUSTING 20-30 MPH AND LOCALLY HIGHER...WITH SOME SPOTS AT
LEAST BRIEFLY HITTING 30 MPH SUSTAINED ADVISORY CRITERIA. WITH
AFTERNOON HEATING...THIS OUTFLOW BOUNDARY HAS STARTED TO WASH OUT
A BIT AND LIFT BACK NORTH AS AN EFFECTIVE EAST-WEST WARM FRONT
ACROSS OUR KS ZONES...JUST NORTH OF THE SURFACE LOW...AND SOUTH OF
A MORE EXPANSIVE LOW-MID LEVEL CLOUD DECK THAT COVERS THE MAJORITY
OF NEBRASKA ZONES. IT CAN BE ARGUED THAT THE TRUE SYNOPTIC WARM
FRONT EXTENDS NORTHWEST-SOUTHEAST ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL TO EAST
CENTRAL-NEBRASKA...WITH THE SOUTHERN FRONT MORE MESOSCALE IN
NATURE. VISIBLE SATELLITE IMAGERY INDICATES AN INCREASINGLY
AGITATED CUMULUS FIELD GETTING GOING WITHIN THE SOUTHWEST
CWA...ALTHOUGH ALL ESTABLISHED THUNDERSTORMS SO FAR ARE STILL
50-100 MILES WEST OF THE CWA WHICH DEVELOPED IN AN UPSLOPE LOW
LEVEL FLOW REGIME...AND IN RESPONSE TO A LOW AMPLITUDE SHORTWAVE
TROUGH CURRENTLY CENTERED NEAR THE NEB/CO/KS BORDER AND DRIFTING
NORTHEAST...PER MODEL DATA AND WATER VAPOR IMAGERY.

LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO THIS EVENING...WE ARE AWAITING THE
LIKELIHOOD OF AT LEAST ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPMENT BY
AROUND 5 PM...WITH MORE EXTENSIVE COVERAGE RAMPING UP BY AROUND
7PM. CERTAINLY THERE ARE SEVERAL INGREDIENTS IN PLACE FOR
SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER...INCLUDING VERY LARGE HAIL TO BASEBALL
SIZE OR LARGER...AND A FEW TORNADOES. LATEST HOURLY SPC MESOSCALE
ANALYSIS INDICATES 2000-3500 J/KG 0-1KM MIXED-LAYER CAPE ACROSS
THE CWA...HIGHEST IN THE SOUTHWEST IN CLOSEST PROXIMITY TO THE
SOUTHERN WARM FRONT. OF GREATER CONCERN THAN THE PAST FEW DAYS IS
STRONGER DEEP LAYER-SHEAR WITHIN THE LEFT EXIT REGION OF AN UPPER
LEVEL JET STREAK...WITH 40+ KNOTS OF DEEP LAYER SHEAR ALREADY IN
PLACE ACROSS THE SOUTHERN CWA AND SHOULD INCREASE WITH TIME. ALTHOUGH
LOW LEVEL HELICITY IS NOT EYE-POPPING YET...THERE IS AT LEAST
10-15KT OF 0-1KM SHEAR NEAR THE SOUTHERN BOUNDARY...SO ANY STORM
THAT BECOMES A SUSTAINED SUPERCELL AT LEAST HAS AT LEAST BRIEF
TORNADO POTENTIAL...ESPECIALLY NEAR/SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 6 IN NEBRASKA
DOWN INTO KS ZONES. IF A WELL-ESTABLISHED RIGHT-MOVING SUPERCELL
CAN ANCHOR ON THE BOUNDARY...CANNOT RULE OUT A STRONG TORNADO AS
SUPPORTED BY THE SPC HATCHED TORNADO PROBS. AT LEAST
INITIALLY...WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED TO SEE ACTIVITY GET OFF TO A
BIT OF A SLOW START GIVEN STILL-DECENT CAPPING/CINH AS INFERRED
BY 700MB TEMPS UP INTO THE 11-12C RANGE...SO FIRST FEW ATTEMPTS AT
CONVECTIVE INITIATION ON RADAR MAY FIZZLE. ALTHOUGH THE EXACT
STORM-SCALE EVOLUTION IS UNCERTAIN OF COURSE...CONSENSUS OF
VARIOUS SHORT TERM MODELS SUCH AS THE RAP/HRRR INITIATES THE FIRST
STORMS DEVELOPING WITHIN KS ZONES...OR NEB ZONES SOUTH OF I-80
AND WEST OF HWY 281. MEAN STORM MOTION WOULD BE EAST-NORTHEAST
AROUND 20 MPH INITIALLY. THEN AS THE EVENING WEARS
ON...CONVERGENCE INCREASES A BIT FARTHER NORTH AS THE SOUTHERLY
LOW LEVEL JET AT 850MB RAMPS UP TO 45-55KT IN CENTRAL/EASTERN
KS...AND THIS MAY RESULT IN MORE OF A FOCUS NORTH OF THE NEB/KS
BORDER WITH A TENDENCY TOWARD UPSCALE GROWTH INTO
LINES/CLUSTERS...POSSIBLE MERGING WITH OTHER ACTIVITY MOVING IN
FROM THE WEST...THAT WOULD TRACK EAST-NORTHEAST ACROSS MUCH OF THE
CWA WITH MAINLY A WIND/HAIL HEAVY RAIN THREAT. ALTHOUGH NOT
ANTICIPATING MAJOR FLOODING ISSUES...PARTS OF MAINLY THE NORTHERN
1/3 OF THE CWA HAVE SEEN UP TO A FEW INCHES OF RAIN DURING THE
PAST 24 HOURS...AND IT MAY NOT TAKE MORE THAN ANOTHER 1-2 INCHES
TO CAUSE AT LEAST MINOR ISSUES. GETTING LATER INTO THE
EVENING...THERE ARE INCREASING SUGGESTIONS THAT A GOOD CHUNK OF
THE CWA SHOULD BE STORM-FREE BY MIDNIGHT OR SO AS THE LOW LEVEL JET
STARTS TO VEER MORE SOUTHWESTERLY AND DRIVE ACTIVITY OFF TO THE
NORTH-EAST...WITH POST-MIDNIGHT ACTIVITY MOST FAVORED ACROSS OUR
NORTHEAST QUADRANT AND WITH A DIMINISHING SEVERE THREAT. ALTHOUGH
WE COULD BECOME ENTIRELY STORM-FREE AT SOME POINT
TONIGHT...LINGERED AT LEAST LOW POPS EVEN PAST 09Z IN EASTERN
ZONES. ALSO TONIGHT...INTRODUCED A MENTION OF PATCHY FOG POST
08Z...AS COMBINATION OF DECREASING NORTHERLY BREEZES AND WET
GROUND IN SOME AREAS SHOULD PROMOTE AT LEAST LIGHT FOG
DEVELOPMENT...ALONG WITH RENEWED DEVELOPMENT OF FAIRLY WIDESPREAD
LOW STRATUS. NOT EXPECTING DENSE FOG ISSUES AT THIS TIME...BUT
THIS WILL NEED WATCHED. LOW TEMPS TONIGHT WERE LOWERED ONLY
SLIGHTLY SOME AREAS...RANGING FROM MID-UPPER 50S FAR NORTHWEST TO
MID-60S SOUTHEAST.

TURNING TO TUESDAY DAYTIME...AN OVERALL LACK OF FORCING SHOULD
DOMINATE THE CWA IN THE WAKE OF THE MID LEVEL SHORTWAVE TROUGH AND
ASSOCIATED UPPER JET STREAK PASSING THROUGH TONIGHT. AS A
RESULT...SEVERAL DETERMINISTIC AND HIGH-RES MODELS INDICATE LITTLE
IF ANY RISK OF DAYTIME CONVECTION ACROSS THE CWA...WHICH IS
PLAUSIBLE GIVEN ONLY WEAK EAST-NORTHEAST FLOW AT 850MB AS
WELL...ALONG WITH PLENTY OF CINH ON FORECAST SOUNDINGS. THE
PREVIOUS FORECAST WAS ALREADY PRECIP-FREE IN THE MORNING...AND
THIS WAS MAINTAINED INTO MID-AFTERNOON...ALTHOUGH LATER FORECASTS
MAY AT LEAST WANT TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT SOME NON-MEASURABLE
SPRINKLES OR EVEN PATCHY DRIZZLE POTENTIAL UNDER A LINGERING
MORNING STRATUS DECK. IN THE LATER AFTERNOON...LEFT ONLY 20-30
POPS ACROSS ROUGHLY THE EASTERN 3/4 OF THE CWA AFTER 3 PM...BUT
EVEN THIS MAY BE ON SHAKY GROUND WITH GREATER FOCUS COMING
OVERNIGHT. IF AN AFTERNOON STORM WOULD HAPPEN TO POP...AGAIN
SEVERE WEATHER IS POSSIBLE...BUT AGAIN...THE SITUATION DOES NOT
APPEAR NEARLY AS VOLATILE AS LATE THIS AFTERNOON/EVENING...AT
LEAST ON PAPER. TEMP- WISE...NUDGED HIGHS SLIGHTLY DOWNWARD MOST
SPOTS...AIMING FOR A FAIRLY UNIFORM FIELD RANGING FROM MID 80S
NORTH TO UPPER 80S SOUTH. BREEZES WILL START OFF FAIRLY LIGHT AND
NORTHERLY...BEFORE PICKING UP FROM THE EAST-SOUTHEAST IN THE
AFTERNOON AT SUSTAINED SPEEDS OF 15-20 MPH...IN RESPONSE TO
PRESSURE FALLS TO THE WEST.

.LONG TERM...(TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY)
ISSUED AT 415 PM CDT MON MAY 27 2013

THE ACTIVE WEATHER WILL CONTINUE TO START THE LONG TERM FORECAST
PERIOD WITH GUIDANCE FROM THE NAM...OPERATIONAL GFS AND EC ALL
SUGGESTING A NEGATIVELY-TILTED...MID LEVEL SHORT WAVE WILL APPROACH
THE CENTRAL PLAINS FROM THE SOUTHWEST DURING THE DAY WEDNESDAY. DPVA
AND MID LEVEL OMEGA AHEAD OF THE MID LEVEL TROUGH AXIS SHOULD
PROVIDE SUFFICIENT OMEGA FOR PRECIPITATION PRODUCTION ACROSS THE
AREA BY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON...A SOLUTION SUPPORTED BY QPF FIELDS
FROM THE NAM...OPERATIONAL GFS AND EC. IN ADDITION TO THE SYNOPTIC
SCALE LIFT...PLENTY OF LOW LEVEL MOISTURE...WORKING IN CONCERT WITH
INCREASING MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES AS THE MID LEVEL TROUGH AXIS
APPROACHES...SHOULD HELP PROMOTE DEEP LAYER MUCAPE VALUES OF AROUND
3000J/KG ACROSS MUCH OF OUR AREA. GIVEN ALL THIS...POPS REMAIN
INTACT FOR WEDNESDAY AND SEVERE WEATHER WORDING WILL BE CONTINUED IN
THE HWO.

FOR THURSDAY...IT APPEARS THE MID LEVEL SHORT WAVE WILL HAVE
ADVANCED NORTHEAST OF OUR AREA...HOWEVER A LINGERING MID LEVEL LOW
OVER THE NORTHERN PLAINS MAY PROMOTE STEEP ENOUGH MID LEVEL LAPS
RATES FOR ADDITIONAL CONVECTIVE DEVELOPMENT DURING THE AFTERNOON.
DESPITE THE INCREASED MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES...IT APPEARS THE PRIMARY
AXIS OF LOWER TROPOSPHERIC MOISTURE WILL PUSH EAST OF OUR AREA
BEGINNING THURSDAY...THUS RESULTING IN DECREASING POTENTIAL
INSTABILITY ACROSS MUCH OF OUR AREA. GUIDANCE DOES SUGGEST DEEP
LAYER MUCAPE VALUES COULD HOVER AROUND 1000J/KG ACROSS OUR
EAST/SOUTHEAST...CLOSER TO THE BETTER LOW LEVEL MOISTURE. MUCH OF
THE SAME CAN BE SAID FOR FRIDAY AS WELL. GIVEN ALL THIS...AM NOT
OVERLY IMPRESSED WITH THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT ACROSS OUR AREA FOR
THURSDAY AND FRIDAY.

THE MID LEVEL LOW OVER THE NORTHERN PLAINS IS EXPECTED TO FINALLY
DEPART THE REGION TO THE EAST STARTING SATURDAY AND WITH DECREASING
KINEMATIC FORCING ACROSS THE AREA...DRY CONDITIONS ARE FORECAST
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.

OUTSIDE OF THUNDERSTORM CHANCES...THE ONLY OTHER POTENTIALLY HIGH
IMPACT WEATHER WILL BE THE POTENTIAL FOR A STRONG SOUTHERLY WIND
DURING THE DAY WEDNESDAY. SURFACE CYCLOGENESIS OVER THE CENTRAL HIGH
PLAINS...IN RESPONSE TO THE APPROACHING MID LEVEL SHORT WAVE...WILL
LIKELY PROMOTE A STRONG LOW LEVEL PRESSURE GRADIENT ACROSS THE AREA.
GUIDANCE FROM THE NAM...OPERATIONAL GFS...AND EC ALL SUGGEST WE MAY
REACH WIND ADVISORY CRITERIA...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE SOUTHERN HALF
OF OUR CWA...BY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. NOT READY YET TO GO WITH SUCH A
STRONG WIND IN THE FORECAST...BUT WILL MENTION THE POTENTIAL FOR AN
INCREASED WIND IN THE HWO.

&&

.AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z KGRI TAF THROUGH 18Z TUESDAY AFTERNOON)
ISSUED AT 103 PM CDT MON MAY 27 2013

ANOTHER TRICKY 24 HOURS IS IN STORE...WITH A DECENT POTENTIAL FOR
REDEVELOPMENT OF AT LEAST LOW-END MVFR CEILINGS...THE POSSIBILITY
OF AT LEAST MVFR VISIBILITY...AND ALSO A RISK FOR SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS AT LEAST WITHIN THE GENERAL AREA OF KGRI. HAVE KEPT
THE THEME OF PREVIOUS FORECAST...HOLDING OFF A VICINITY
THUNDERSTORM MENTION UNTIL VERY LATE AFTERNOON/EARLY EVENING AND
THEN CARRYING THIS MENTION THROUGH 06Z. ALTHOUGH A ROUND OF
HAIL/STRONG WINDS CANNOT BE RULED OUT...WILL DEFER TO POTENTIAL
UPCOMING TEMPO GROUPS TO REFINE TIMING/IMPACT OF STORMS TO KGRI.
OVERNIGHT...AS WINDS TURN NORTHERLY AND DECREASE
SOMEWHAT...ANTICIPATE LOW CEILINGS TO SETTLE BACK IN ALONG WITH
MAYBE SOME FOG...AND HAVE PREVAILING MVFR FROM 09Z-16Z...AND THEN
WILL AIM FOR A SCATTERING/LIFTING OF CEILING INTO AT LEAST LOW-END
VFR RANGE BY LATE TUESDAY MORNING BUT TIMING CONFIDENCE IS RATHER
LOW THIS FAR OUT. CERTAINLY CANNOT RULE OUT IFR CONDITIONS
DEVELOPING LATE TONIGHT INTO TUESDAY MORNING...ALTHOUGH WILL NOT
GO THIS PESSIMISTIC YET. SURFACE WINDS WILL GRADUALLY TRANSITION
FROM SOUTHEASTERLY THIS AFTERNOON TO MORE NORTHEASTERLY THIS
EVENING/OVERNIGHT. OUTSIDE OF ANY THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY...THE
STRONGEST GUST POTENTIAL DURING THE PERIOD...TO AT LEAST
21KT...SHOULD FOCUS THIS AFTERNOON.

&&

.GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NE...NONE.
KS...NONE.
&&

SHORT TERM...PFANNKUCH
LONG TERM...BRYANT
AVIATION...PFANNKUCH

Hazardous weather outlook, May 27, 1:30 PM CST, 3 hours 34 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
230 PM CDT MON MAY 27 2013

KSZ005>007-017>019-NEZ039>041-046>049-060>064-072>077-082>087-
281200-
PHILLIPS-SMITH-JEWELL-ROOKS-OSBORNE-MITCHELL-VALLEY-GREELEY-NANCE-
SHERMAN-HOWARD-MERRICK-POLK-DAWSON-BUFFALO-HALL-HAMILTON-YORK-
GOSPER-PHELPS-KEARNEY-ADAMS-CLAY-FILLMORE-FURNAS-HARLAN-FRANKLIN-
WEBSTER-NUCKOLLS-THAYER-
230 PM CDT MON MAY 27 2013

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

.DAY ONE...LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

AT LEAST ISOLATED THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT IS EXPECTED BY LATE
AFTERNOON...WITH STORM COVERAGE THEN INCREASING DURING THE EVENING
HOURS. SEVERE STORMS ARE POSSIBLE ANYWHERE IN THE OUTLOOK
AREA...BUT THE OVERALL GREATEST THREAT APPEARS TO FOCUS SOUTH OF
INTERSTATE 80...INCLUDING NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS...IN CLOSEST
PROXIMITY TO A WARM FRONT. SOME OF THE SEVERE STORMS MAY DEVELOP
DIRECTLY OVER THE AREA...WHILE OTHERS MOVE IN FROM THE WEST. ANY
SEVERE STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING VERY LARGE HAIL UP TO
AROUND BASEBALL SIZE...DAMAGING WINDS TO AROUND 70 MPH...AND HEAVY
RAINFALL IN EXCESS OF ONE OR TWO INCHES...WHICH COULD RESULT IN
LOCALIZED FLOODING. IN ADDITION...A FEW TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE IN
THE VICINITY OF FRONTAL BOUNDARIES...MAINLY IN NORTH CENTRAL
KANSAS...AND SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 80 IN NEBRASKA. THE LIKELIHOOD OF
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD GRADUALLY DIMINISH BY MIDNIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY.

AFTER 3 PM TUESDAY AFTERNOON...THERE IS AT LEAST A LOW PROBABILITY
OF THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT WITHIN NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS...AND ALSO
EAST OF A LINE FROM ALMA...TO KEARNEY...TO ORD IN NEBRASKA. SHOULD
AFTERNOON STORMS DEVELOP...THEY COULD BECOME SEVERE WITH LARGE
HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS THE PRIMARY THREATS.

FROM TUESDAY EVENING THROUGH FRIDAY...THERE ARE SEVERAL CHANCES
FOR THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE OUTLOOK AREA. THE BEST POTENTIAL FOR
SEVERE STORMS WILL BE DURING THE EVENING AND OVERNIGHT HOURS ON
TUESDAY...AS WELL AS WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND NIGHT. HAIL TO THE
SIZE OF QUARTERS AND LARGER...WIND GUSTS OF AT LEAST 60 MPH...AND
LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL IN EXCESS OF 2 INCHES WILL BE POSSIBLE.

WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR MULTIPLE THUNDERSTORM EPISODES THE NEXT
SEVERAL DAYS...LOWLAND FLOODING MAY BECOME A PROBLEM IF HEAVY
RAINS FALL OVER THE SAME AREAS.

IN ADDITION TO THUNDERSTORM-RELATED HAZARDS...ON WEDNESDAY...A
SUSTAINED SOUTHERLY WIND OF AROUND 30 MPH...ACCOMPANIED BY GUSTS
TO AROUND 40 MPH WILL LIKELY BE OBSERVED ACROSS MUCH OF THE
OUTLOOK AREA.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS LIKELY ACROSS PARTS OF THE OUTLOOK
AREA...ESPECIALLY BETWEEN 5 PM AND MIDNIGHT.

&&

MORE INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED AT THE FOLLOWING WEB PAGE:
   HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/HASTINGS  (ALL LOWERCASE)

PFANNKUCH/BRYANT

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 27, 4:37 PM CST, 27 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
537 PM CDT MON MAY 27 2013

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0537 PM     HAIL             5 S ODESSA              40.63N 99.26W
05/27/2013  M1.75 INCH       PHELPS             NE   EMERGENCY MNGR

&&

SROSSI

Local storm report, May 27, 4:40 PM CST, 24 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
540 PM CDT MON MAY 27 2013

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0526 PM     HAIL             6 NW FUNK               40.52N 99.33W
05/27/2013  E1.50 INCH       PHELPS             NE   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

PFANNKUCH

Local storm report, May 27, 4:47 PM CST, 17 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
547 PM CDT MON MAY 27 2013

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0542 PM     HAIL             NAPONEE                 40.07N 99.14W
05/27/2013  E0.75 INCH       FRANKLIN           NE   TRAINED SPOTTER

            DIME SIZE HAIL

&&

PFANNKUCH

Local storm report, May 27, 4:48 PM CST, 16 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
548 PM CDT MON MAY 27 2013

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0548 PM     HAIL             KEARNEY                 40.70N 99.08W
05/27/2013  E0.88 INCH       BUFFALO            NE   PUBLIC

&&

SROSSI

Local storm report, May 27, 4:55 PM CST, 9 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
555 PM CDT MON MAY 27 2013

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0547 PM     HAIL             2 W ODESSA              40.70N 99.29W
05/27/2013  E1.00 INCH       BUFFALO            NE   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HAIL UP TO QUARTER SIZE...MOST SMALLER

&&

PFANNKUCH

Local storm report, May 27, 4:56 PM CST, 8 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
556 PM CDT MON MAY 27 2013

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0555 PM     HAIL             5 WNW KEARNEY           40.73N 99.17W
05/27/2013  E1.00 INCH       BUFFALO            NE   PUBLIC

            ONGOING.

&&

SROSSI

The radar

The Grand Island radar (KUEX), 71 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:06 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 hail, 4 tornado, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Smith

When: May 27, 5:04 PM CST
Where: Smith County, 7.67 mi N of Kensington
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 39.880, -99.050

Wind gusts estimated near 60 MPH.

Tornado, Smith

When: May 27, 5:32 PM CST to 5:36 PM CST
Where: Smith County, 3.72 mi NW of Smith Center to 3.41 mi NW of Smith Center
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.38 mi
Path width: 15 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 39.817, -98.831

This tornado touched down in open land northwest of Smith Center and was only on the ground for a few minutes. The maximum wind speed was estimated to be near 75 mph, but this tornado caused no damage.

Tornado, Smith

When: May 27, 5:45 PM CST to 5:46 PM CST
Where: Smith County, 4.76 mi S of Cora
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.01 mi
Path width: 10 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 39.812, -98.684

This tornado briefly touched down north of Bellaire. The maximum wind speed was estimated to be near 75 MPH, but this tornado caused no damage.

Hail, Smith

When: May 27, 5:46 PM CST
Where: Smith County, 3 mi NE of Smith Center
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 39.811, -98.740

Tornado, Smith

When: May 27, 6:04 PM CST to 6:10 PM CST
Where: Smith County, 2.58 mi N of Lebanon to 3.07 mi NE of Lebanon
Rating: EF3
Path length: 2.18 mi
Path width: 1,580 yd
Continued into: Jewell, Ks (GID)
Injuries: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $1.4 million
Crop damage: $3.0 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 39.857, -98.543

This tornado affected two counties in north central Kansas, touching down north of Lebanon in Smith County and lifting north of Esbon in Jewell County. The maximum wind speed was estimated to be near 140 MPH, with a maximum path width of 1580 yards. Along its path, this tornado caused minor to major tree damage, overturned irrigation pivots, snapped power poles and damaged or destroyed grain bins and outbuildings. Four homesteads suffered damage, with the hardest hit locations approximately 3 miles northeast of Lebanon in Smith County. Two homes in this area were heavily damaged or destroyed, with one losing its entire second level. This location also completely lost grain bins, a large outbuilding and newly constructed garage. One person suffered minor injuries and was treated and released from an area hospital.

Tornado, Jewell

When: May 27, 6:10 PM CST to 6:20 PM CST
Where: Jewell County, 2.61 mi SSW of Salem to 1.31 mi NNW of Esbon
Rating: EF3
Path length: 3.56 mi
Path width: 1,580 yd
Injuries: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $400,000
Crop damage: $500,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 39.847, -98.504

Hail, Mitchell

When: May 27, 6:32 PM CST
Where: Mitchell County, 4 mi WNW of Beloit
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 39.492, -98.189

Hail, Jewell

When: May 27, 6:48 PM CST
Where: Jewell County, 6 mi N of Esbon
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.907, -98.430

Hail, Jewell

When: May 27, 7:02 PM CST to 7:10 PM CST
Where: Jewell County, Burr Oak
Measured: 2 in hail
Property damage: $150,000
Crop damage: $1.0 million
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 39.870, -98.300

Ping pong ball to hen egg size hail was reported.

Hail, Jewell

When: May 27, 7:10 PM CST to 7:40 PM CST
Where: Jewell County, Mankato to 4 mi E of Mankato
Measured: 2.5 in hail
Property damage: $150,000
Crop damage: $2.0 million
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 39.780, -98.220

Hail up to the size of tennis balls was reported.

Hail, Jewell

When: May 27, 7:35 PM CST
Where: Jewell County, 2 mi NW of Montrose
Measured: 5.25 in hail
Property damage: $250,000
Crop damage: $1.0 million
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.800, -98.107

Numerous tennis ball to softball size hail stones reported, with the largest measuring 5.25 inches.

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 2013 Every state in 2013 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Kansas, 2013 Warnings in Kansas, May 2013

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: 450319, 450324, 450325, 450306, 450326, 450327, 450307, 450308, 450309, 450310, 450314.