An embedded supercell within a line of severe thunderstorms produced two more tornadoes. Two touching down in Barton County, Kansas and one other in Saline county, Kansas.
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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 ICT wrote it up.
An embedded supercell within a line of severe thunderstorms produced two more tornadoes. Two touching down in Barton County, Kansas and one other in Saline county, Kansas. No damage was noted as they were weak tornadoes and occurred over open country.
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 May 18, 12:15 PM CST, 3 hours 15 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Wichita KS 115 PM CDT Thu May 18 2017 .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Friday night) Issued at 106 PM CDT Thu May 18 2017 Forecast highlights focus around severe weather and heavy rain/flooding potential this afternoon- evening, and again Friday afternoon-evening. All signs continue to point toward the potential for higher-end severe weather this afternoon and evening, mainly south of I-70 and along/west of the Flint Hills, as a powerful shortwave approaching from the southwest interacts with a strongly unstable airmass. A dryline is sharpening west/southwest of the forecast area, with a warm front sharpening central into eastern KS. All facets of severe weather appear possible, including very large/giant hail, damaging straight-line winds locally heavy rain/flooding and a few strong/violent tornadoes. However, as this morning's update forecaster alluded too, there are some caveats that may throw a "fly in the ointment" regarding higher-end severe potential. Strong lift as evident on water vapor imagery is already overspreading western Oklahoma. Consequently, given the very moist/unstable and weakly capped airmass, thinking thunderstorms could initiate much earlier than expected, possibly as early as 2-3pm. This scenario is strongly supported by most of the short-range hi-res models. If this occurs, thunderstorms will be firing well before the strongest low-level shear can become established, which would likely lessen the tornado threat. In addition, given the strong meridional flow and strong forcing, storm mergers and mixed mode storm type is likely, also lessening the higher-end severe weather risk. However, given these caveats, do not want to minimize the risk across the Plains this afternoon- evening. Severe weather is going to occur, but there remains some questions on magnitude and extent of the higher-end severe potential. One or more thunderstorm complexes should eventually materialize this evening/overnight, spreading into eastern KS with a threat for large hail and damaging winds, although higher-end risk should remain generally along/west of the Flint Hills. Attention then turns to Friday's severe weather potential, as another powerful shortwave approaches from the southwest and overspreads a continued moist/unstable airmass. Tonight's convection will likely generate a fairly massive cold pool across the eastern half of KS, effectively stabilizing the airmass. However, the strong shortwave approaching from the southwest should allow the airmass to recover due to strengthening south/southeast flow to allow for scattered to numerous strong- severe storms by early to mid- afternoon. Given questions regarding magnitude of tonight's cold pool, there remains some uncertainty regarding the exact placement and magnitude of Friday's severe weather. However, given strong instability and even stronger deep layer shear than today, could be looking at higher-end severe weather once again. Activity should then consolidate into one or more big complexes and spread into eastern Kansas during the overnight. Another aspect the next few days is the potential for very heavy rainfall and associated flooding, including big rises on area rivers/streams. Taking into account the expected rainfall, River Forecast Center ensembles indicate many rivers/streams exceeding minor-moderate flood stage, with some rivers/streams possibly exceeding major flood stage across south-central and southeast Kansas. Consequently, will issue a flash flood watch through Friday night. .LONG TERM...(Saturday through Thursday) Issued at 106 PM CDT Thu May 18 2017 Weather quiets down and cools off for the weekend through next week, with little to no severe weather chances on the horizon. Could be looking at off-and-on shower/thunderstorm chances Sunday night through Tuesday, but widespread severe weather or heavy rain appears unlikely. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Friday afternoon) Issued at 114 PM CDT Thu May 18 2017 Warm frontal boundary continues to bisect the forecast area, currently located along highway 59. Areas north of the front, have MVFR cigs and easterly flow. In the warm sector, MVFR cigs have slowly mixed out, as winds have come around to the south. Still expecting convection to develop across South Central KS, with storms expected to move into KICT/KHUT and KGBD. So will go with VCTS/SHRA with gusty winds to 45kts after 22z. Will see storms further to the north-northeast after 00z. Expect the convection to evolve into an eastward/forward propagating complex through the overnight hours into early Fri morning. After the complex moved east, expect MVFR to IFR cigs for most locations with easterly upslope flow. Ketcham && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Wichita-KICT 79 62 76 52 / 50 70 80 70 Hutchinson 75 59 72 49 / 60 80 70 70 Newton 77 60 73 50 / 40 80 80 70 ElDorado 80 62 75 53 / 20 80 80 80 Winfield-KWLD 82 63 77 54 / 30 80 80 80 Russell 66 56 64 44 / 70 80 60 60 Great Bend 71 56 66 45 / 70 80 60 60 Salina 73 59 69 49 / 50 80 70 80 McPherson 75 59 70 49 / 60 80 70 70 Coffeyville 84 65 79 61 / 10 70 60 80 Chanute 84 64 78 60 / 10 80 60 80 Iola 84 63 77 59 / 10 80 60 80 Parsons-KPPF 84 65 79 60 / 10 80 60 80 && .ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Flash Flood Watch through Saturday morning for KSZ032-033- 047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100. && SHORT TERM...ADK LONG TERM...ADK AVIATION...BDK
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Wichita KS 201 PM CDT Thu May 18 2017 KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-191915- 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- 201 PM CDT Thu May 18 2017 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of Central Kansas, South Central Kansas and Southeast Kansas. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight Severe thunderstorms with very large hail and damaging winds are expected. A few potentially strong to violent tornadoes are also possible. The highest threat is mainly south of I-70 and west of the Flint Hills between 3 PM and 10 PM. Storms will consolidate into one or more complexes overnight, with a continued damaging wind threat over eastern Kansas. Heavy rain and localized flash flooding is also possible through tonight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday Strong to severe thunderstorms are possible once again Friday afternoon and evening, mainly over the eastern half of Kansas. While some uncertainty exists, higher-end severe weather is possible once again, with very large hail, damaging winds, heavy rain, pockets of flash flooding and a few tornadoes. One or more thunderstorm complexes will then materialize across eastern Kansas during the evening and overnight hours, with a continued damaging wind, heavy rain and flash flooding threat. Due to the expected heavy rain through Friday night, several rivers and streams are expected to reach or exceed flood stage late Friday through the weekend, and possibly into next week, especially over the eastern half of Kansas. Moderate to major river flooding is possible. Stay tuned for any river flood warning statements. Thunderstorms are possible from Sunday Night through Tuesday, but widespread severe weather or heavy rain appears unlikely. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will be needed this afternoon and evening across much of the region, and again Friday afternoon and evening over mainly the eastern half of Kansas. && For a graphical version of this information, see our webpage at: http://weather.gov/wichita/hwo/
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Wichita KS 338 PM CDT THU MAY 18 2017 KSZ052-053-182130- Marion KS-Chase KS- 338 PM CDT THU MAY 18 2017 The National Weather Service in Wichita has issued a * Significant Weather Advisory for... Southeastern Marion County in central Kansas... Western Chase County in east central Kansas... * Until 430 PM CDT * At 336 PM CDT...National Weather Service meteorologists were tracking a strong thunderstorm over Florence...moving north at 30 mph. hail up to the size of nickels...and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm. * Locations impacted include... Florence, Elmdale, Cedar Point and Hymer. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Be prepared to take shelter in the event the storms intensify and become severe...or a warning is issues by the National Weather Service. && A tornado watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for central and east central Kansas. LAT...LON 3816 9673 3818 9701 3852 9692 3852 9659 TIME...MOT...LOC 2037Z 190DEG 25KT 3825 9689 CARUSO
The Dodge City radar (KDDC), 120 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:30 UTC.
15 thunderstorm wind, 12 hail, 4 tornado, 2 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Brief touchdown over open country.
Hail was covering the ground.
Wide spread nuisance flooding was reported across all on the county. Many roads had water crossing them, however, no threat to life or property was reported.
Brief touchdown over open country.
Rope tornado reported over open country.
A power pole was blown down.
Reported by the Emergency Manager.
A semi truck was blown over on Highway 56.
Reported at mile post 250 on Interstate 70.
An official observation.
Damage to small sheds were reported on the south side of Newton. Multiple power lines are down as are several branches up to 2 inches in diameter.
Reported by a trained spotter.
Reported by a trained spotter.
Reported by an NWS coop observer.
Rain wrapped tornado that briefly touched down over open country.
Tremendous tree damage with a 2 foot diameter tree uprooted. Shingles were blown off of a house and several power poles were down across the road.
At mile marker 253 on Interstate 70.
Reported at Webb and 119th streets.
Relayed by the Emergency Manager.
Nuisance street flooding in Salina was noted.
Reported by a trained spotter.
Power lines are down with some minor tree damage. Power outages were noted city wide.
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: 688520, 692981, 692982, 692983, 692984, 692985, 692986, 692987, 692988, 692979, 692989, 688521, 692990, 692991, 688522, 692992, 692994, 692993, 692995, 692996, 692998, 693000, 692997, 693006, 693007, 688523, 693004, 692999, 693001, 693002, 692980, 693003, 693005.