A strong shortwave trough over the southwestern states moved east northeastward toward the central and southern Plains as another low pressure system dropped into the Pacific Northwest. A dryline set up and high dewpoints were in the area by mid-afternoon, resulting in even stronger CAPE.
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 DDC wrote it up.
A strong shortwave trough over the southwestern states moved east northeastward toward the central and southern Plains as another low pressure system dropped into the Pacific Northwest. A dryline set up and high dewpoints were in the area by mid-afternoon, resulting in even stronger CAPE. This created severe hail and wind across the counties mentioned above, as well as tornadoes in Clark, Ford, and Pawnee counties.
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 Dodge City, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 15, 11:15 PM CST, 1 hour 15 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Dodge City KS 1215 AM CDT Tue May 16 2017 ...Updated aviation discussion... .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Tuesday) Issued at 333 PM CDT Mon May 15 2017 Short term concern is convection along the dryline late this afternoon and into the evening. Have the pops starting out west and then propagating eastward with a slow decay. The storms should not make it that far east, as this activity will be diurnally driven and also due to the fact that mid level winds are fairly weak. Observations early this afternoon show large temperature/dewpoint depressions. Think the main hazard is 60-75 mph outflows. Large hail up to 2" could also be possible early in the convective regime. This is only true if supercells develop. Both shear magnitude and the shear vector relative to the dryline are marginal for supercells. The main area that could see severe weather is west of Highway 23. .LONG TERM...(Tuesday night through Monday) Issued at 333 PM CDT Mon May 15 2017 A more significant chance of severe weather exists tomorrow afternoon and evening. Bulk shear will increase to around 50 kt, which supports supercells. Speaking of storm type, it is not exactly clear how this will evolve at this point. The ARW and NAM suggests upscale growth. The HRRRX and NMMB show more discrete activity. The 12Z EC has some sig tor south of Dodge City and Highway 50. Bulk shear vectors and sfc boundaries are more orthogonal in this model, which could favor longevity in supercellular archetypes. Another fly in the ointment is mid level winds. Some of the forecast skew-t/log-p's show backing of winds around 500-hPa. This could favor supercellular HPs. This would cut down on hail size potential via beneficial competition. Tornado threat also could be reduced if this activity is less discrete and forms into more or less lines. Not going to throw the baby out with the bathwater as some of the models do show supercells with UH tracks. Think the main threat tomorrow could be a few tornadoes, particularly across the southern and eastern zones, 2-3" hail, damaging outflows, and heavy rain. Again, this assumes more discrete action. Otherwise, the threats will be lower if storms interact with one another. The best chance of severe weather will generally be from Liberal to Dodge City to Hays and points to the SE and E. Beyond this, there might be another chance of svr on Thursday. Question this time is if the warm sector can make it this far north.The best shear/instability parameters are across the southeastern zones, per the 12Z EC. North of the the warm front, heavy rain is a concern with deep isentropic lift forecast from the EC model. A few inches of rain is possible depending on the location of the best WAA and isentropic lift. Drier air and high pressure will work in towards the weekend with calm conditions prevailing.There is only a slight chance of storms. && .AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Tuesday night) Issued at 1214 AM CDT Tue May 16 2017 Thunderstorms in the vicinity of Dodge City will continue to diminish as they move east through the early morning hours. Surface winds in the wake of the storms especially at Dodge City and Liberal will be variable before becoming southerly again overnight. LLWS will impact the terminals early this morning as a low level jet develops over the area. Thunderstorms are expected to develop along a dryline in the vicinity of Garden City and Liberal by 20z with storms gradually spreading east and northeast through the evening hours. Severe weather could impact the terminals while storms are in the vicinity. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... DDC 63 84 54 81 / 40 50 40 0 GCK 60 85 53 81 / 40 20 20 10 EHA 56 85 52 80 / 20 20 10 0 LBL 59 88 53 82 / 40 40 20 0 HYS 64 86 57 80 / 30 40 40 10 P28 66 83 59 84 / 20 40 60 0 && .DDC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && SHORT TERM...Sugden LONG TERM...Sugden AVIATION...Gerard
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Dodge City KS 449 AM CDT Mon May 15 2017 KSZ030-031-043>046-061>066-074>081-084>090-161000- Trego-Ellis-Scott-Lane-Ness-Rush-Hamilton-Kearny-Finney-Hodgeman- Pawnee-Stafford-Stanton-Grant-Haskell-Gray-Ford-Edwards-Kiowa- Pratt-Morton-Stevens-Seward-Meade-Clark-Comanche-Barber- 449 AM CDT Mon May 15 2017 /349 AM MDT Mon May 15 2017/ This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of central...south central...southwest and west central Kansas. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Day 1 Discussion ---------------- Thunderstorms are expected to develop across far western Kansas by mid to late afternoon and then move east. Hail as large as golf balls and wind gusts in excess of 60 mph are expected. Day 1 Hazards ------------- * Hail: Elevated risk * Thunderstorm wind damage: Elevated risk * Lightning: Limited risk * Non-thunderstorm wind: Limited risk .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. Days 2-7 Discussion ------------------- Severe thunderstorms are possible across central and western Kansas Tuesday afternoon and evening. The main threats will be hail as large as baseballs, wind gusts in excess of 70 mph and tornadoes. The best chance of storms is along and east of a line from Liberal to Dighton. Days 2-7 Hazards ---------------- * Tuesday - Flooding: Limited risk - Lightning: Elevated risk - Severe thunderstorm: Elevated risk - Non thunderstorm wind: Limited risk * Wednesday - Lightning: Limited risk - Non thunderstorm wind: Limited risk * Thursday - Lightning: Elevated risk - Severe thunderstorm: Elevated risk * Friday - Lightning: Limited risk * Saturday - Lightning: Limited risk * Sunday - Lightning: Limited risk .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed after 3 pm. && For more details visit our webpage http://weather.gov/ddc/ehwo
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY KS
1036 PM CDT MON MAY 15 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1035 PM HAIL HAYNE 37.10N 100.80W
05/15/2017 E1.00 INCH SEWARD KS TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
GTPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY KS
1039 PM CDT MON MAY 15 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1008 PM HAIL 4 SW LIBERAL 37.00N 100.99W
05/15/2017 E1.50 INCH SEWARD KS PUBLIC
VIA SOCIAL MEDIA.
&&
GTPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY KS
1041 PM CDT MON MAY 15 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1014 PM HAIL LIBERAL 37.05N 100.94W
05/15/2017 E1.00 INCH SEWARD KS PUBLIC
VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. NUMEROUS REPORTS OF
QUARTER SIZED HAIL.
&&
GTSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
1052 PM CDT MON MAY 15 2017
KSZ063>065-077>080-087>089-160445-
Gray KS-Finney KS-Hodgeman KS-Meade KS-Pawnee KS-Clark KS-Kiowa KS-
Edwards KS-Comanche KS-Ford KS-
1052 PM CDT MON MAY 15 2017
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR FORD...KIOWA...SOUTH CENTRAL
FINNEY...HODGEMAN...EAST CENTRAL MEADE...COMANCHE...CENTRAL PAWNEE...
GRAY...EDWARDS...NORTHEASTERN HASKELL AND CLARK COUNTIES UNTIL 1145
PM CDT...
At 1051 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking numerous dying showers in
these areas.
Brief wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with this showers.
Locations impacted include...
Dodge City, Larned, Cimarron, Kinsley, Montezuma, Jetmore, Ashland,
Coldwater, Greensburg, Protection, Spearville, Bucklin, Minneola,
Haviland, Lewis, Ingalls, Copeland, Mullinville, Burdett and Ford.
LAT...LON 3701 10009 3748 10010 3749 10065 3800 10067
3800 10023 3826 10021 3825 9904 3701 9902
TIME...MOT...LOC 0351Z 241DEG 87KT 3812 9918
TATROSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
1103 PM CDT MON MAY 15 2017
KSZ063-075-076-160445-
Finney KS-Grant KS-Haskell KS-
1103 PM CDT MON MAY 15 2017
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN FINNEY...EAST
CENTRAL GRANT AND HASKELL COUNTIES UNTIL 1145 PM CDT...
At 1102 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 1
mile north of Sublette, moving northeast at 30 mph.
Half inch hail and wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Plymell, Tice and Garden City Regional Airport.
LAT...LON 3753 10118 3785 10104 3794 10068 3768 10066
3750 10066 3743 10082
TIME...MOT...LOC 0402Z 217DEG 42KT 3746 10090
TATROSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Dodge City KS 1153 PM CDT MON MAY 15 2017 KSZ078-080-087-088-160600- Meade KS-Clark KS-Kiowa KS-Ford KS- 1153 PM CDT MON MAY 15 2017 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN FORD...WEST CENTRAL KIOWA...NORTHEASTERN MEADE AND NORTHWESTERN CLARK COUNTIES UNTIL 100 AM CDT... At 1153 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 6 miles east of Fowler, or 14 miles east of Meade, moving northeast at 35 mph. Half inch hail and wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Dodge City, Bucklin, Minneola, Fowler, Ford, Fort Dodge, Bloom, Kingsdown, Willroads Garden and Dodge City Regional Airport. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle. && LAT...LON 3740 10025 3780 10003 3756 9944 3728 10004 TIME...MOT...LOC 0453Z 231DEG 30KT 3736 10008 TURNER
The Dodge City radar (KDDC), 118 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 06:29 UTC.
35 hail, 4 funnel cloud, 3 thunderstorm wind, 2 flash flood, 2 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Large tree limbs were blown down. The high wind was most likely due to a heat burst event from a dissipating thunderstorm.
Rain water was curb-to-curb.
There was a brief cone funnel.
The tornado did damage to vehicles, power lines and a small outbuildings.
There were reports of broken windows from the hail.
Water was across both highway 183 and highway 50.
A funnel cloud was halfway to the ground.
There was a wall cloud with a possible rain wrapped tornado but no confirmation.
The tornado did EF1 damage in Pawnee county but became stronger as it moved into Pawnee Rock in Barton County.
There was tree and road sign damage.
Power poles were blown down.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kansas in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Kansas, 2017Warnings in Kansas, May 2017
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: 705197, 705163, 705164, 705165, 705166, 705167, 705168, 705169, 705170, 705171, 705172, 705173, 705174, 705175, 705176, 705177, 705178, 705179, 705180, 705181, 705157, 705182, 705159, 705183, 705184, 705185, 705201, 705186, 705187, 704416, 705188, 705189, 705190, 705191, 705158, 705160, 705161, 705192, 705193, 705162, and more.