Hail in Kansas, May 26, 2016

Name: Hail in Kansas, May 26, 2016
Start: 2016-05-26T15:38
End: 2016-05-26T15:38
Location: Kansas

May 26, 2016 · NWS GID · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Hail up to the size of quarters occurred in Smith County on this Thursday afternoon. Many thunderstorms formed from central Kansas into northeast Kansas in the early- to mid-afternoon hours.

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: 1

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.

Hail up to the size of quarters occurred in Smith County on this Thursday afternoon. Many thunderstorms formed from central Kansas into northeast Kansas in the early- to mid-afternoon hours. Storms predominantly exhibited multicell storm mode. Around 2 p.m. CST, several new storms developed near Interstate 70, between Hayes and Russell. These storms quickly merged into a line and lifted into Osborne and Mitchell Counties shortly thereafter. This line continued lifting north over the following two hours, affecting Smith and Jewell Counties as well. These storms were mostly sub-severe, but one inch hail was reported in extreme northeast Smith County, just before the storms crossed the state line into Nebraska around 4 p.m. CST.

A quasi-stationary front extended from New Mexico across Kansas into Missouri. This front lifted north through the day as a warm front, but was effectively forced back to the south as thunderstorm outflows cooled temperatures over northern Kansas. In the upper levels, a longwave trough was over the western United States, with broad southwest flow from Texas to New England. A subtropical high was over the western Atlantic. During the day, a shortwave trough ejected out of the Desert Southwest into the Southern Plains, aiding in thunderstorm development. Just prior to thunderstorm initiation, temperatures were generally in the upper 70s to near 80, with dewpoints around 70. This surface environment was overlaid with very steep mid-level lapse rates around 9 degrees C/km, resulting in MLCAPE between 3000 and 4000 J/kg. Strong mid-level winds, combined with directional shear in the low-levels, produced effective deep layer shear between 40 and 50 knots.

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 26, 1:37 PM CST, 2 hours 1 minute earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 26, 1:37 PM CST, 2 hours 1 minute before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Hastings NE
237 PM CDT THU MAY 26 2016

.SHORT TERM...(This evening through Friday)
Issued at 233 PM CDT Thu May 26 2016

Abbreviated AFD due to early start to severe weather this afternoon.
Severe storms have begun in full force across the area initial line
going up near the radar and extending east. This is well north of
the main surface boundary that extends from southwest KS to
southeast NE. Storms have also popped along the boundary to our
south in KS.

All ingredients in place with plenty of moisture as low 70 dewpoints
have advected as far north as CNK. Decent forcing with upper wave
now centered over four corners region and slowly churning east.
Current instability ranges from ml-CAPE values of near 4000 J/KG in
the southern CWA to 1000 in the far north.  Mid level lapse rates
impressive south of highway 30 ranging from 8-9 deg C.  Effective
bulk shear values of 40kt south CWA to 60 kt north.  Only thing
lacking at present are 0-1 km bulk shear values which are 10 kt or
less. Still, latest Sig Tor parameter values now in the 3-4 range
in the Tor Watch area so will need close monitoring. Large hail
parameters off the chart with the southern half of the CWA
currently exceeding 30, while northern CWA exceeding 14.

What all of that means is we are looking at a good setup for severe
thunderstorms with the main threat at present being very large to
giant size hail. Tornadoes also possible especially near and
along the boundary. Expect activity to continue into the evening
and overnight as more thunderstorms move in from the southwest.

Precipitation chances continue into Friday and while severe threat
won't be as high as it is today, it will still be possible until
main upper wave gets east of us.

.LONG TERM...(Friday night through Thursday)
Issued at 233 PM CDT Thu May 26 2016

Unsettled weather continues in the long term although we
do see a pattern change. Deep upper southwest U.S. low finally moves
to the east and by 00Z Saturday it should be near northwest KS, and
then move over our CWA on Sat as it opens into a wave. By 00Z Sunday
the upper trough axis should be to our east near the MO River
Valley. So Sat night and early Sun may not be as active although
chances return Sun night as a surface boundary once again hangs up
in the central Plains.

Another upper low is progged to move into the Pacific NW region
later on Sunday which should preclude any ridging over the Plains.
The earlier runs of the EC and GFS differed on the timing but they
do both move this system east across southern Canada. The latest run
of the GFS seems to be coming more into line with the EC. Our
thunderstorm chances should continue until that wave axis gets east
of our CWA. This could be as early as Wed but will just have to see
how system progresses.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 18Z KGRI/KEAR TAFS through 18Z Friday afternoon)
Issued at 1213 PM CDT Thu May 26 2016

Main issue will be thunderstorm chances starting later this
afternoon and continuing into tonight. Difficult to determine
exact timing as tstms will be scattered across the area. Did lower
ceilings to IFR after 06Z as latest guidance from several models
showing this.

&&

.GID Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
NE...None.
KS...None.
&&

SHORT TERM...Ewald
LONG TERM...Ewald
AVIATION...Ewald

Hazardous weather outlook, May 26, 12:26 PM CST, 3 hours 12 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
126 PM CDT THU MAY 26 2016

KSZ005>007-017>019-NEZ039>041-046>049-060>064-072>077-082>087-
271830-
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-
126 PM CDT THU MAY 26 2016

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT...

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

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OVER PORTIONS OF
NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS. TO THE NORTH OF THIS AREA...THERE IS AN
ENHANCED RISK THAT EXTENDS UP TO HOLDREGE...KEARNEY...GRAND
ISLAND...AND YORK. NORTH OF THAT AREA THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK.

TIMING...THE MOST LIKELY TIME WILL BE FROM 3 PM UNTIL 11 PM.
HOWEVER...THERE IS A LOW CHANCE SOME STORMS COULD STILL REMAIN
SEVERE AFTER 11 PM.

IMPACTS...WHILE SEVERE STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE ENTIRE
OUTLOOK AREA...THE HIGHEST IMPACT THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOST LIKELY
OVER THE MODERATE RISK AREA...WHERE TORNADOES AND EXTREMELY LARGE
HAIL WILL BE POSSIBLE. HAIL COULD BE AT LEAST THE SIZE OF
BASEBALLS. DAMAGING WINDS AND FLASH FLOODING WILL ALSO BE
POSSIBLE. WITHIN THE ENHANCED AND SLIGHT RISK AREAS...LARGE HAIL
WILL BE THE PRIMARY THREAT. DAMAGING WINDS ARE A LESSER THREAT...
BUT COULD ALSO OCCUR.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

AT LEAST SMALL CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS EXIST EACH DAY AND NIGHT
THROUGH THIS PERIOD. FRIDAY AFTERNOON INTO FRIDAY NIGHT...AT
LEAST A MARGINAL RISK OF SEVERE STORMS EXISTS ACROSS THE OUTLOOK
AREA.

BEYOND FRIDAY...ADDITIONAL CHANCES FOR SEVERE STORMS CANNOT BE
RULED OUT...BUT IT IS TOO EARLY TO CONFIDENTLY ASSESS THE
POTENTIAL AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL ACROSS THE AREA
SHOULD PLAN FOR SEVERE WEATHER OPERATIONS LATER TODAY AND TONIGHT.

&&

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

HALBLAUB

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 26, 1:38 PM CST, 2 hours before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
238 PM CDT THU MAY 26 2016

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

0207 PM     HAIL             5 SW INLAND             40.54N 98.30W
05/26/2016  E1.75 INCH       ADAMS              NE   EMERGENCY MNGR

            GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL REPORTED 4 MILES SOUTH OF THE
            INTERSECTION OF HWY 6 AND 74.

&&

REED

Local storm report, May 26, 1:47 PM CST, 1 hour 51 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
247 PM CDT THU MAY 26 2016

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

0240 PM     HAIL             6 N MILLIGAN            40.59N 97.39W
05/26/2016  E0.50 INCH       FILLMORE           NE   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTS HEAVY RAIN AND DIME SIZE HAIL.

&&

REED

Local storm report, May 26, 1:53 PM CST, 1 hour 45 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
253 PM CDT THU MAY 26 2016

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

0207 PM     HAIL             ONG                     40.40N 97.84W
05/26/2016  E1.75 INCH       CLAY               NE   EMERGENCY MNGR

            LOCATION CORRECTED TO ONG, NE.

&&

REED

Local storm report, May 26, 2:29 PM CST, 1 hour 9 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
329 PM CDT THU MAY 26 2016

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

0240 PM     HAIL             5 SE EXETER             40.59N 97.39W
05/26/2016  E0.50 INCH       FILLMORE           NE   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTS HEAVY RAIN AND DIME
            SIZE HAIL.

0227 PM     HAIL             AYR                     40.44N 98.44W
05/26/2016  E1.50 INCH       ADAMS              NE   EMERGENCY MNGR

0207 PM     HAIL             3 SSE BLUE HILL         40.29N 98.43W
05/26/2016  E1.25 INCH       WEBSTER            NE   TRAINED SPOTTER

0207 PM     HAIL             ONG                     40.40N 97.84W
05/26/2016  E1.75 INCH       CLAY               NE   EMERGENCY MNGR

            LOCATION CORRECTED TO ONG, NE.

0207 PM     HAIL             4 NW GLENVIL            40.54N 98.30W
05/26/2016  E1.75 INCH       ADAMS              NE   EMERGENCY MNGR

            GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL REPORTED 4 MILES SOUTH
            OF THE INTERSECTION OF HWY 6 AND 74.

0206 PM     HAIL             3 S BLUE HILL           40.29N 98.45W
05/26/2016  E1.50 INCH       WEBSTER            NE   NWS EMPLOYEE

0200 PM     HAIL             3 S BLUE HILL           40.29N 98.45W
05/26/2016  E1.00 INCH       WEBSTER            NE   NWS EMPLOYEE

            SOME QUARTER SIZE HAIL AT JUNCTION OF
            HIGHWAY 281 AND HIGHWAY 4.

0157 PM     HAIL             EDGAR                   40.37N 97.97W
05/26/2016  E1.00 INCH       CLAY               NE   PUBLIC

0157 PM     HAIL             3 SSW BLUE HILL         40.29N 98.47W
05/26/2016  E1.00 INCH       WEBSTER            NE   TRAINED SPOTTER

0828 PM     HAIL             FARNAM                  40.71N 100.21W
05/25/2016  M0.50 INCH       DAWSON             NE   TRAINED SPOTTER

            DIME SIZED HAIL WITH WINDS 25 TO 30 MPH.

&&

NWS HASTINGS NE
IRIS SYSTEM

Local storm report, May 26, 3:21 PM CST, 17 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
421 PM CDT THU MAY 26 2016

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

0400 PM     HEAVY RAIN       GENEVA                  40.53N 97.60W
05/26/2016  M2.57 INCH       FILLMORE           NE   MESONET

            2 HR TOTAL THRU 4 PM.

&&

HALBLAUB

Local storm report, May 26, 3:34 PM CST, 4 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
434 PM CDT THU MAY 26 2016

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

0431 PM     HAIL             3 S GILEAD              40.10N 97.42W
05/26/2016  E0.88 INCH       THAYER             NE   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTS HEAVY RAIN AND HAIL UP TO THE
            SIZE OF NICKELS.

&&

REED

The radar

The Grand Island radar (KUEX), 36 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:37 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Smith

When: May 26, 3:38 PM CST
Where: Smith County, 11.48 mi NE of Cora
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 40.000, -98.520

What these are

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 2016 Every state in 2016 This day in weather history Warnings in Kansas, May 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: 627437.