Damaging Winds in Kansas, June 17 to 18, 2016

Name: Damaging Winds in Kansas, June 17 to 18, 2016
Start: 2016-06-17T23:46
End: 2016-06-18T00:46
Location: Kansas

June 17 to 18, 2016 · NWS ICT · 11 events in 2 counties and zones

Strong storms moved through south central Kansas on the 18th. Wind speeds between 60 and 65 mph were reported.

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: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
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 ICT wrote it up.

Strong storms moved through south central Kansas on the 18th. Wind speeds between 60 and 65 mph were reported.

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 Jun 17, 10:43 PM CST, 1 hour 3 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 17, 10:43 PM CST, 1 hour 3 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Wichita KS
1143 PM CDT FRI JUN 17 2016

.SHORT TERM...(This evening through Monday night)
Issued at 255 PM CDT Fri Jun 17 2016

Isolated storms are anticipated late this afternoon/evening within
another moist/uncapped pbl. H925-H85 morning map analysis suggested
that limited mixing of the afternoon dewpoint will occur leading to
higher mlcapes as well as higher heat indices across central KS and
a heat advisory was issued for Barton and Russell counties. Other
storms developing over northwest KS ahead of a subtle wave lifting
over the Rockies may propagate toward central/south central KS this
evening and tonight....but slow storm motions may keep much of the
activity west of the area. Any storm that can propagate into the
area cold become severe and maintained a mention in the hazardous
weather outlook. H85 ridging over the Ohio Valley area should allow
drier air to advect over the Central Plains states through the
weekend while H7 temperatures are progged to rise resulting in an
increasing cap strength and decreasing chances for precipitation.
The good news is that afternoon humidities will drop keeping heat
indices a bit lower.

Monday...A shortwave trough moving over Manitoba/Ontario will drive
a cold front south over the Northern/Central Plains states late Mon.
The GFS has trended toward the ECMWF slowing the frontal surge on
Monday keeping it stalled near I-80.

.LONG TERM...(Tuesday through Friday)
Issued at 255 PM CDT Fri Jun 17 2016

A diffuse front may arrive Tuesday bringing increasing chances
for showers and storms. The next challenge will be how fast the
mid/upper ridge builds back over the Central Conus. The GFS keeps
the ridge southwest of the area allowing a NW flow regime to
impact the region while the ECMWF is much faster building the
ridge back over the area. Maintained low pops in the Tue-Wed
periods while trending warmer and dry toward the end of the week.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Saturday night)
Issued at 1141 PM CDT Fri Jun 17 2016

A line of showers/thunderstorms will continue to spread slowly
southeast across the region overnight with gusty northwest winds.
The storms will diminish towards daybreak with winds switching
around to the east/southeast during the day on Saturday. Meanwhile
VFR conditions will prevail as the storms dissipate.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Wichita-KICT    74  96  72  97 /  30  10   0   0
Hutchinson      72  97  70  98 /  80  10  10   0
Newton          73  96  69  97 /  30  10   0   0
ElDorado        73  95  69  96 /  20  10   0   0
Winfield-KWLD   72  95  71  95 /  30  10   0   0
Russell         71  98  71 100 /  80  10  10   0
Great Bend      71  98  71  99 /  80  10  10   0
Salina          71  96  70  99 /  40  10  10   0
McPherson       72  96  70  98 /  70  10  10   0
Coffeyville     74  93  69  94 /  10  10   0   0
Chanute         72  93  68  95 /  10  10   0   0
Iola            72  92  68  95 /  10  10   0   0
Parsons-KPPF    73  93  70  95 /  10  10   0   0

&&

.ICT Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
None.
&&

SHORT TERM...MWM
LONG TERM...MWM
AVIATION...CDJ

Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 17, 7:17 PM CST, 4 hours 29 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
817 PM CDT FRI JUN 17 2016

KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-190130-
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-
817 PM CDT FRI JUN 17 2016

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

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT PARTS OF CENTRAL AND SOUTH
CENTRAL KANSAS TONIGHT. SOME OF THESE STORMS MAY BE SEVERE WITH
WINDS TO 65 MPH AND QUARTER SIZED HAIL. HEAVY RAINFALL IS LIKELY
AND COULD CAUSE SOME FLOODING PROBLEMS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY

AFTERNOON HEAT INDICES WILL REMAIN NEAR THE CENTURY MARK ACROSS THE
AREA OVER THE WEEKEND.

A COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH CENTRAL KANSAS ON TUESDAY BRINGING
INCREASING CHANCES FOR STORMS. SOME STRONG OR SEVERE STORMS ARE
POSSIBLE ACROSS THE AREA.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED TONIGHT.

&&

FOR A GRAPHICAL VERSION OF THIS INFORMATION, SEE OUR WEBPAGE AT:
HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/WICHITA/HWO/

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jun 17, 8:07 PM CST, 3 hours 39 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
907 PM CDT FRI JUN 17 2016

KSZ047-180300-
BARTON KS-
907 PM CDT FRI JUN 17 2016

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS ISSUED A

* SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR...
  WESTERN BARTON COUNTY IN CENTRAL KANSAS...

* UNTIL 1000 PM CDT

* AT 905 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE
  TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER TIMKEN...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20
  MPH.

HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF NICKELS...AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 55 MPH WILL BE
POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  GREAT BEND...HOISINGTON...PAWNEE ROCK...ALBERT...OLMITZ...
  GALATIA...SUSANK AND GREAT BEND AIRPORT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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 3870 9903 3870 9875 3826 9877 3826 9903
TIME...MOT...LOC 0205Z 237DEG 16KT 3850 9914

CARUSO

Special weather statement, Jun 17, 9:22 PM CST, 2 hours 24 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
1022 PM CDT FRI JUN 17 2016

KSZ032-033-048-180445-
ELLSWORTH KS-RUSSELL KS-LINCOLN KS-
1022 PM CDT FRI JUN 17 2016

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS ISSUED A

* SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR...
  NORTHWESTERN ELLSWORTH COUNTY IN CENTRAL KANSAS...
  EASTERN RUSSELL COUNTY IN CENTRAL KANSAS...
  WESTERN LINCOLN COUNTY IN CENTRAL KANSAS...

* UNTIL 1145 PM CDT

* AT 1018 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS
  TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WITH LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL NEAR
  LUCAS...OR 11 MILES NORTH OF WILSON...MOVING EAST AT 5 MPH.

HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF DIMES...AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE
POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.  ADDITIONALLY, VERY HEAVY RAINFALL IS
POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.  UP TO 1.5 INCHES OF RAIN CAN OCCUR WITH
THESE STORMS CAUSING LOW LYING AREAS TO FLOOD QUICKLY.  DO NOT
DRIVE ACROSS FLOODED ROADWAYS.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  ELLSWORTH...WILSON...LUCAS...SYLVAN GROVE...LURAY...DORRANCE...
  BUNKER HILL...WALDO...ASH GROVE...WILSON STATE PARK...
  WILSON LAKE AND ELLSWORTH AIRPORT.

LAT...LON 3873 9823 3869 9870 3870 9876 3913 9886
      3913 9849 3918 9849 3922 9818
TIME...MOT...LOC 0318Z 281DEG 6KT 3898 9854

METZGER

Special weather statement, Jun 17, 9:41 PM CST, 2 hours 5 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
1041 PM CDT FRI JUN 17 2016

KSZ047-180415-
BARTON KS-
1041 PM CDT FRI JUN 17 2016

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS ISSUED A

* SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR...
  BARTON COUNTY IN CENTRAL KANSAS...

* UNTIL 1115 PM CDT

* AT 1039 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS
  TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WITH LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL OVER
  ALBERT...OR 6 MILES EAST OF SHAFFER...MOVING SOUTHWEST AT 5 MPH.

WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
ADDDITIONALLY, VERY HEAVY RAIN IS POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.  DO
NOT CROSS WATER COVERED ROADWAYS.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  GREAT BEND...HOISINGTON...ELLINWOOD...CLAFLIN...PAWNEE ROCK...
  ALBERT...OLMITZ...GALATIA...SUSANK...ODIN...
  GREAT BEND AIRPORT AND CHEYENNE BOTTOMS.

LAT...LON 3869 9903 3870 9852 3826 9852 3826 9903
TIME...MOT...LOC 0339Z 54DEG 6KT 3845 9897

METZGER

Special weather statement, Jun 17, 10:10 PM CST, 1 hour 36 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
1110 PM CDT FRI JUN 17 2016

KSZ032-033-047-048-050-180545-
ELLSWORTH KS-RUSSELL KS-BARTON KS-LINCOLN KS-RICE KS-
1110 PM CDT FRI JUN 17 2016

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS ISSUED A

* SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR...
  ELLSWORTH COUNTY IN CENTRAL KANSAS...
  RUSSELL COUNTY IN CENTRAL KANSAS...
  BARTON COUNTY IN CENTRAL KANSAS...
  LINCOLN COUNTY IN CENTRAL KANSAS...
  RICE COUNTY IN CENTRAL KANSAS...

* UNTIL 1245 AM CDT

* AT 1107 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS
  TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WITH LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL OVER
  CLAFLIN...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 10 MPH.

WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.  RAINFALL
WITH THESE STORMS HAS BEEN VERY HEAVY.  LOW LYING AREAS ARE LIKELY
TO FLOOD QUICKLY IN THE HEAVIEST RAINFALL.  DO NOT CROSS FLOODED
ROADWAYS.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  GREAT BEND...RUSSELL...LYONS...ELLSWORTH...HOISINGTON...
  ELLINWOOD...WILSON...CLAFLIN...KANOPOLIS...LINCOLN...
  LITTLE RIVER...CHASE...HOLYROOD...LUCAS...GORHAM...SYLVAN GROVE...
  BUSHTON...GENESEO...PAWNEE ROCK AND DORRANCE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3922 9793 3841 9793 3817 9841 3817 9847
      3826 9847 3826 9903 3894 9904 3913 9850
      3922 9849
TIME...MOT...LOC 0407Z 305DEG 9KT 3851 9849

METZGER

Special weather statement, Jun 17, 10:49 PM CST, 57 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
1149 PM CDT FRI JUN 17 2016

KSZ050-067-180615-
RENO KS-RICE KS-
1149 PM CDT FRI JUN 17 2016

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS ISSUED A

* SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR...
  RENO COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS...
  SOUTHEASTERN RICE COUNTY IN CENTRAL KANSAS...

* UNTIL 115 AM CDT

* AT 1146 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS
  TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WITH LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL 6 MILES
  SOUTH OF ALDEN...OR 8 MILES SOUTHWEST OF STERLING...MOVING
  SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF NICKELS...AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE
POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. VERY HEAVY RAIN IS EXPECTED WITH THIS
STORM WHICH COULD CAUSE LOCALIZED FLOODING IN LOW LYING AREAS.  DO
NOT CROSS FLOODED ROADWAYS.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  HUTCHINSON...SOUTH HUTCHINSON...STERLING...NICKERSON...
  PRETTY PRAIRIE...ARLINGTON...TURON...PARTRIDGE...SYLVIA...PLEVNA...
  ABBYVILLE...WILLOWBROOK...LANGDON AND CHENEY LAKE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3813 9844 3842 9792 3773 9789 3773 9846
      3783 9847
TIME...MOT...LOC 0446Z 331DEG 12KT 3815 9834

METZGER

Special weather statement, Jun 17, 10:59 PM CST, 47 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
1159 PM CDT FRI JUN 17 2016

KSZ051-067-068-083-180600-
SEDGWICK KS-HARVEY KS-MCPHERSON KS-RENO KS-
1159 PM CDT FRI JUN 17 2016

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS ISSUED A

* SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR...
  NORTHWESTERN SEDGWICK COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS...
  HARVEY COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS...
  MCPHERSON COUNTY IN CENTRAL KANSAS...
  EASTERN RENO COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS...

* UNTIL 100 AM CDT

* AT 1154 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE
  TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 5 MILES
  SOUTHWEST OF MARQUETTE TO 6 MILES NORTH OF PARTRIDGE...AND MOVING
  SOUTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

WIND GUSTS 40 TO 55 MPH AND HEAVY RAINFALL WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THESE STORMS.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  HUTCHINSON...NEWTON...MCPHERSON...HESSTON...LINDSBORG...HALSTEAD...
  MOUNDRIDGE...SEDGWICK...INMAN...BUHLER...HAVEN...BURRTON...GALVA...
  MOUNT HOPE...CANTON...MARQUETTE...BENTLEY...WINDOM...
  YODER AND MCPHERSON AIRPORT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3861 9740 3792 9736 3773 9787 3773 9790
      3835 9793 3861 9793
TIME...MOT...LOC 0454Z 320DEG 25KT 3849 9788 3805 9814

JAKUB

The radar

The Wichita radar (KICT), 53 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 05:46 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

11 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Reno

When: June 17, 11:46 PM CST
Where: Reno County, 4.05 mi ESE of South Hutchinson
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 38.010, -97.850

Report received via social media.

Thunderstorm Wind, Reno

When: June 17, 11:49 PM CST
Where: Reno County, (Hut)hutchinson Muni
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 38.070, -97.870

Official measurement by NWS observing equipment.

Thunderstorm Wind, Sedgwick

When: June 18, 12:01 AM CST
Where: Sedgwick County, 2.76 mi S of Maize
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.730, -97.470

An off duty NWS employee made the report near 29th street and 119th West.

Thunderstorm Wind, Sedgwick

When: June 18, 12:12 AM CST
Where: Sedgwick County, 3.21 mi NNW of (Ict)wichita Arpt
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.690, -97.460

The wind speeds were estimated.

Thunderstorm Wind, Sedgwick

When: June 18, 12:15 AM CST
Where: Sedgwick County, 2.76 mi S of Maize
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 37.730, -97.470

Two and four inch tree limbs were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Sedgwick

When: June 18, 12:15 AM CST
Where: Sedgwick County, 3.5 mi S of Maize
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 37.720, -97.460

Two inch tree limbs were also blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Sedgwick

When: June 18, 12:25 AM CST
Where: Sedgwick County, (Iab) McConnell Arpt
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 37.620, -97.270

This was a delayed report.

Thunderstorm Wind, Sedgwick

When: June 18, 12:26 AM CST
Where: Sedgwick County, 3.21 mi NNW of (Ict)wichita Arpt
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.690, -97.460

Measured reading near Central and Zoo.

Thunderstorm Wind, Sedgwick

When: June 18, 12:28 AM CST
Where: Sedgwick County, 3.5 mi S of Maize
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.720, -97.480

An off duty employee reported this near 21st and 119th street.

Thunderstorm Wind, Sedgwick

When: June 18, 12:39 AM CST
Where: Sedgwick County, 3.21 mi NNW of (Ict)wichita Arpt
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.690, -97.460

This was an estimated report.

Thunderstorm Wind, Sedgwick

When: June 18, 12:46 AM CST
Where: Sedgwick County, 0.69 mi N of Clearwater
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 37.510, -97.500

Power lines were blown down in the Clearwater area. This was received via social by KFDI.

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.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Kansas in 2016 Every state in 2016 This day in weather history Warnings in Kansas, June 2016

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: 647139, 647141, 647142, 647144, 647158, 647159, 647157, 647152, 647154, 647155, 647156.