Tornado and Flood in Kansas, May 9, 2016

Name: Tornado and Flood in Kansas, May 9, 2016
Start: 2016-05-09T15:58
End: 2016-05-09T22:15
Location: Kansas

May 9, 2016 · NWS TOP · 22 events in 7 counties and zones

Scattered severe thunderstorms developed during the afternoon across central Kansas. One weak tornado was reported in Clay County.

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: 22

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 TOP wrote it up.

Scattered severe thunderstorms developed during the afternoon across central Kansas. One weak tornado was reported in Clay County. These storms then pushed eastward before weakening and merging into a line of thunderstorms.

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 Topeka, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 9, 2:19 PM CST, 1 hour 39 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 9, 2:19 PM CST, 1 hour 39 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
National Weather Service Topeka KS
319 PM CDT MON MAY 9 2016

.SHORT TERM...(This Evening through Tuesday)
Issued at 319 PM CDT MON MAY 9 2016

Focus on next several hours of convection then on brief break Tues.

Severe storms will develop over the next few hours and impact much
of the area with MLCAPE of 1500-2000 J/KG with shear increasing from
NW to SE across our area from 25kts to around 45kts.  Expect mixed
modes of storms with all hazards in play.  Tornado risk appears
marginal but as usual non-zero given SE sfc flow.  Flooding and
heavy rains in local areas could actually end up being larger issue
is storms repeatedly move across same areas.

Although precip should exit by midnight the sfc low never does track
NE but instead re-develops across eastern CO as the next upper wave
approaches so look for continued SE sfc winds along with dewpoints
in the upper 50s to lower 60s through Tues but dry weather expected
at least for 24 hours.

.LONG TERM...(Tuesday Night through Monday)
Issued at 319 PM CDT MON MAY 9 2016

Upper trough moving across the Northern Plains Tuesday night and
Wednesday will bring a cold front into eastern Kansas with the
models differing slightly with the speed. Showers and thunderstorms
look to develop and move into north central Kansas late Tuesday
evening and may hold off until after midnight. The upper trough axis
will move through eastern Kansas Wednesday night and will keep a
chance of showers and thunderstorms with elevated instability and
cooler temps aloft with the upper trough. Northwest flow is expected
in the wake of the upper trough and continues through the weekend.
There are a number of waves that will move southeast out of Canada
across the area bringing a chance of showers and a few storms to the
area beginning Friday and off and on through next Monday. Best
chances for storms will be Friday then again on Sunday and Monday
where shear and instability will be favorable. Highs mainly in the
70s through Friday. A cold front moving through Friday night will
usher in cooler air for the weekend with highs in the 60s and lows
in the 40s.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Tuesday Afternoon)
Issued at 1213 PM CDT MON MAY 9 2016

Greatest challenge is timing of convection and impacts on TAFS.
For now will trend upward on CIGS with a tempo group late
afternoon and early evening to try and time thunderstorms.
T-storms should be out of the area by 4Z however confidence is low
on potential CIGS or VIS conds thereafter due to humid airmass and
light winds as low pressure remains stationary across KS. For now
have gone MVFR on CIGS and VIS conds with some risk for IFR.

&&

.TOP Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
NONE.
&&

SHORT TERM...Omitt
LONG TERM...53
AVIATION...Omitt

Hazardous weather outlook, May 9, 10:54 AM CST, 5 hours 4 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
1154 AM CDT MON MAY 9 2016

KSZ008>012-020>024-026-034>040-054>056-058-059-101700-
REPUBLIC-WASHINGTON-MARSHALL-NEMAHA-BROWN-CLOUD-CLAY-RILEY-
POTTAWATOMIE-JACKSON-JEFFERSON-OTTAWA-DICKINSON-GEARY-MORRIS-
WABAUNSEE-SHAWNEE-DOUGLAS-LYON-OSAGE-FRANKLIN-COFFEY-ANDERSON-
1154 AM CDT MON MAY 9 2016

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL...NORTH
CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST KANSAS.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON MAINLY BETWEEN 2
AND 4PM. THE STORMS WILL MOVE EAST NORTHEAST ACROSS THE AREA
THROUGH THIS EVENING BRINGING THE RISK FOR LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING
WINDS AND A TORNADO OR TWO. THE RISK FOR SEVERE STORMS WILL BE
GREATEST BETWEEN 4PM AND 10PM TONIGHT.

IN ADDITION...HEAVY RAINS COULD PRODUCE FLASH FLOODING ESPECIALLY
ACROSS THOSE AREAS THAT HAVE RECEIVED HEAVY RAINS IN THE PAST 24
HOURS.

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

THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE LATE TUESDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY
WEDNESDAY MORNING ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS. STRONG TO SEVERE
STORMS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS EAST CENTRAL KANSAS WEDNESDAY
AFTERNOON
AND EVENING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED BETWEEN 4PM AND 10 PM.

&&

MORE DETAILED INFORMATION CAN BE ACCESSED AT...
HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/TOP/SITREP

The radar

The Topeka radar (KTWX), 56 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:55 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

19 hail, 1 tornado, 1 thunderstorm wind, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Pottawatomie

When: May 9, 3:58 PM CST to 3:59 PM CST
Where: Pottawatomie County, Wheaton
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 39.500, -96.320

Hail, Ottawa

When: May 9, 4:20 PM CST to 4:21 PM CST
Where: Ottawa County, 0.69 mi S of Tescott
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.010, -97.880

Mostly dime sized hail.

Hail, Ottawa

When: May 9, 4:30 PM CST to 4:31 PM CST
Where: Ottawa County, 3.83 mi ESE of Ada
Measured: 2.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 39.120, -97.840

Baseball size hail decreased to dollar coin size by 533 PM.

Hail, Riley

When: May 9, 4:40 PM CST to 4:41 PM CST
Where: Riley County, 2.67 mi W of Randolph
Measured: 2 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.430, -96.820

Hail, Ottawa

When: May 9, 4:50 PM CST to 4:51 PM CST
Where: Ottawa County, 0.53 mi E of Delphos
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 39.280, -97.760

Hail, Riley

When: May 9, 4:50 PM CST to 4:51 PM CST
Where: Riley County, 2.62 mi NE of Leonardville
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 39.400, -96.840

Hail, Cloud

When: May 9, 4:53 PM CST to 4:54 PM CST
Where: Cloud County, 7.97 mi ESE of Glasco
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.330, -97.710

Hail, Cloud

When: May 9, 5:10 PM CST to 5:11 PM CST
Where: Cloud County, 2.14 mi SSW of Macyville
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.450, -97.830

Hail, Washington

When: May 9, 5:10 PM CST to 5:11 PM CST
Where: Washington County, 0.69 mi N of Hanover
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.890, -96.880

Hail, Cloud

When: May 9, 5:15 PM CST to 5:16 PM CST
Where: Cloud County, 2.14 mi SSW of Macyville
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.450, -97.830

Nickel to quarter size hail.

Hail, Washington

When: May 9, 5:33 PM CST to 5:34 PM CST
Where: Washington County, 1.06 mi E of Kimeo
Measured: 2.5 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 39.600, -96.980

Hail size ranged from golf ball to tennis ball size.

Hail, Clay

When: May 9, 5:34 PM CST to 5:35 PM CST
Where: Clay County, 1.48 mi SSE of Fact
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.530, -97.020

Hail, Washington

When: May 9, 5:36 PM CST to 5:37 PM CST
Where: Washington County, 3 mi ESE of Kimeo
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.580, -96.950

Hail was covering much of the ground.

Tornado, Clay

When: May 9, 5:40 PM CST to 5:42 PM CST
Where: Clay County, 3.81 mi SSE of Fact
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.02 mi
Path width: 25 yd
Reported by: Storm Chaser
Coordinates: 39.500, -97.000

Storm chaser provided a picture of what appeared to be a funnel condensed to near ground level. Account provided said that the tornado circulation was on the ground for 1 to 2 minutes in an open field and did no damage.

Hail, Washington

When: May 9, 5:41 PM CST to 5:42 PM CST
Where: Washington County, 2.54 mi WNW of Linn
Measured: 2.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.700, -97.120

Hail, Republic

When: May 9, 5:45 PM CST to 5:46 PM CST
Where: Republic County, Belleville
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 39.820, -97.630

Hail size determined via social media photo.

Hail, Republic

When: May 9, 5:47 PM CST to 5:48 PM CST
Where: Republic County, 2.12 mi E of Belleville
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Reported by: Storm Chaser
Coordinates: 39.820, -97.590

Thunderstorm Wind, Washington

When: May 9, 5:52 PM CST to 5:53 PM CST
Where: Washington County, 1.74 mi ENE of Enosdale
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.780, -97.140

Gust estimated between 50 and 60 mph.

Hail, Republic

When: May 9, 5:54 PM CST to 5:55 PM CST
Where: Republic County, Belleville
Measured: 2 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 39.820, -97.630

Hail report via social media.

Hail, Washington

When: May 9, 6:00 PM CST to 6:01 PM CST
Where: Washington County, Washington
Measured: 2.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 39.820, -97.050

Hail report via social media. Time estimated from radar.

Hail, Riley

When: May 9, 6:38 PM CST to 6:39 PM CST
Where: Riley County, 6 mi N of Randolph
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.517, -96.770

Winds estimated to be 50 mph as well.

Flood, Washington

When: May 9, 8:45 PM CST to 10:15 PM CST
Where: Washington County, 1.6 mi E of Palmer to 1.84 mi NNE of Palmer
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 39.630, -97.100

Heavy rain this evening has caused low water crossings in the area to close. Rainfall estimated to be near 4 inches.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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.
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.
Flood: Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

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 The tornado archive for Kansas, 2016 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: 630723, 630724, 630725, 630773, 630774, 630775, 630776, 630777, 630778, 630779, 630780, 630781, 630782, 631049, 630783, 630784, 630785, 630786, 630787, 630788, 630789, 630790.