A supercell t-storm that developed west of Wichita tracked northeast during the early evening of May 19th and produced 2 brief tornadoes in open country. No damage was reported with the tornadoes as they both occurred in the desolate country of the Flint Hills in Morris and far northwest Lyon county.
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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 TOP wrote it up.
A supercell t-storm that developed west of Wichita tracked northeast during the early evening of May 19th and produced 2 brief tornadoes in open country. No damage was reported with the tornadoes as they both occurred in the desolate country of the Flint Hills in Morris and far northwest Lyon county.
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 19, 6:05 PM CST, 10 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Topeka KS 705 PM CDT Fri May 19 2017 ...Update to aviation forecast discussion... .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Saturday) Issued at 258 PM CDT Fri May 19 2017 Late this morning a cluster of thunderstorms was moving along the stationary boundary bisecting northeast Kansas from northeast to southwest. Early in the afternoon, a line of storms moving in from the southeast moved into the forecast area. These storms look to stay elevated as they move across the area, although it is possible some strong winds could mix down producing localized strong/damaging winds. If any storms can get rooted at the surface, they will have between 30-40 knots of effective shear to work with which would indicate supercellular convection. The main limiting factor to these storms is the low CAPE due to previous convection from the night before. If any storms do become severe, with hail and damaging winds being the main threats, the best chance is southeast of an Emporia to Lawrence line. Hi-res guidance suggests that after this initial line of storms pushes through there will be a brief break in precipitation before more showers and thunderstorms form as the upper level trough continues to push east into the central plains. The main hazard of today may actually be heavy rainfall leading to flash flooding. With the break now forecast between this leading afternoon line and storms later in the evening, did go ahead and lower QPF values slightly across the area. Even so, an additional half inch to 2.5 inches will be possible across the area tonight, mainly in very eastern Kansas. With the recent rain across northeast Kansas causing river and stream flooding, have opted to continue the flash flood watch throughout the entire area until 7am tomorrow morning. The surface low clears northeast Kansas tomorrow morning bringing precipitation chances to an end. Much cooler temperatures are expected this evening, dipping down into the upper 40s in north central Kansas overnight. Winds shift from the northwest to west during the day tomorrow and high temperatures range from the upper 50s in north central Kansas to the upper 60s in east central Kansas. .LONG TERM...(Saturday night through Friday) Issued at 258 PM CDT Fri May 19 2017 The upper level low center will lift across central Nebraska on Saturday. Northwest winds and cool advection will ease off during the evening as surface high pressure builds into the local area. This should be a good scenario for a very cool Sunday morning with lows in the upper 30s north central to mid 40s east central KS. Can't rule out development of a bit of shallow fog too given recent rains. A new short wave trough vort max moves overhead early on Monday within the west northwest flow pattern and should provide substantial lift to support an area of showers and non-severe thunderstorms. A stronger kicker wave will then quickly drop in from the north with another round of rain and thunderstorms Monday night. These again are most likely to be non-severe given limited instability. After that point much of the week will be dry and pleasant with a gradual warming trend. Upper flow will eventually transition to a more zonal pattern and may become more active in terms of thunderstorm chances by next weekend if low level moisture can advect north into the forecast area by that time. && .AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Saturday evening) Issued at 653 PM CDT Fri May 19 2017 Expect MVFR CIG/VIS to transition to IFR CIGS at all terminals in the next couple hours. Have VCTS in all TAFs as the trend is for storms to begin to decay as they make further progression from the west and southwest into the terminals. Still concerned enough with mid level instability that have kept VCTS until around the 08-09Z time frame. IFR conditions lift back to MVFR around the 12Z time frame and then as the low passes through, expect winds to shift to a westerly component behind the low but still likely to hold onto MVFR through most of the forecast period. && .TOP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Flash Flood Watch through Saturday morning for KSZ008>012- 020>024-026-034>040-054>056-058-059. && SHORT TERM...Heller LONG TERM...Barjenbruch AVIATION...Drake
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Topeka KS 343 PM CDT Fri May 19 2017 KSZ008>012-020>024-026-034>040-054>056-058-059-202045- Republic-Washington-Marshall-Nemaha-Brown-Cloud-Clay-Riley- Pottawatomie-Jackson-Jefferson-Ottawa-Dickinson-Geary-Morris- Wabaunsee-Shawnee-Douglas-Lyon-Osage-Franklin-Coffey-Anderson- 343 PM CDT Fri May 19 2017 This hazardous weather outlook is for east central...north central and northeast Kansas. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and tonight. Another round of thunderstorms will move through the area late this afternoon into the evening hours. Periods of heavy rain can be expected with these storms, and may cause flash flooding especially where multiple storms train over the same area. There is a chance for a few of these storms to become severe...mainly south of a Council Grove to Topeka to Oskaloosa line. Hail and damaging wind will be the primary hazards with the strongest storms, although a tornado can not be completely ruled out. The potential for severe weather should end by midnight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... There is a small chance for spotter activation between 4 PM and midnight...mainly south of a Council Grove to Topeka to Oskaloosa line. && More detailed information can be accessed at... http://www.weather.gov/top/sitrep
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
119 PM CDT FRI MAY 19 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0725 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 NW CHAPMAN 38.98N 97.03W
05/18/2017 DICKINSON KS PUBLIC
DELAYED REPORT OF A TREE DOWN.
&&
BBSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Topeka KS 652 PM CDT FRI MAY 19 2017 KSZ021-035-200015- Clay-Dickinson- 652 PM CDT FRI MAY 19 2017 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTH CENTRAL DICKINSON AND SOUTHERN CLAY COUNTIES UNTIL 715 PM CDT... At 651 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 6 miles east of Manchester, moving northeast at 35 mph. Half inch hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Wakefield. 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. && LAT...LON 3936 9696 3909 9696 3906 9721 3926 9729 TIME...MOT...LOC 2351Z 237DEG 32KT 3912 9721
The Topeka radar (KTWX), 71 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:14 UTC.
3 tornado, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Storm chaser provided a photo and description of a small brief tornado that touched down north of Wakefield. The tornado was brief lasting less than 2 mins and did minor damage to scrub trees in open country.
A chaser reported a rope tornado that lasted 1-2 mins in open country approximately 5 miles west of Dunlap in southeast Morris County. No damage was reported.
Local fire and volunteer spotter reported a brief tornado touchdown approximately 1 NW of Bushong in northwest Lyon County. No damage was reported with this brief small tornado.
Dunlap Road was closed due to water across the road.
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: 688738, 688165, 688175, 703185.