Thunderstorms redeveloped after severe storms that occurred the previous day, before an upper low began to lift to the northeast. A warm front associated with the low across eastern zones created enough lift/rotation to spark several tornadoes in Barber and Pratt counties despite weak shear/CAPE.
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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 DDC wrote it up.
Thunderstorms redeveloped after severe storms that occurred the previous day, before an upper low began to lift to the northeast. A warm front associated with the low across eastern zones created enough lift/rotation to spark several tornadoes in Barber and Pratt counties despite weak shear/CAPE.
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 19, 12:29 PM CST, 2 hours 8 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Dodge City KS 129 PM CDT Fri May 19 2017 ...Updated Short term and Long term discussions... .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Saturday) Issued at 123 PM CDT Fri May 19 2017 Radar this morning indicated one area of more widespread steadier and heavier rain showers and thunderstorms were across northwest Kansas. This appears to relate well to the left exit region of an upper level jet which at 12z Friday extended from southwest Kansas to eastern New Mexico. Another area of scattered thunderstorms was associated with where the better low level forcing, better instability, and 900mb to 850mb warm air advection that was located earlier this morning across northwest Oklahoma and south central Kansas. For the remainder of the afternoon this surface boundary, low level forcing, and instability will remain nearly in place across south central Kansas as the upper level dynamics improve. Showers and thunderstorms will briefly increase in coverage mid afternoon across all of western Kansas as an upper jet and associated upper level trough crosses into southwest Kansas. Main hazards early today will be small hail and periods of heavy rainfall. Given the saturated grounds from the previous rains this rainfall may cause some minor water issues, especially in poor drainage areas, ditches and low lying areas. By late day the area more favorable for widespread showers and thunderstorms is expected east/southeast of the Dodge City area with the potential for a few of these storms being capable of producing hail up to around the size of a quarter along with some wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph. If these strong to marginally severe thunderstorms do develop through the remainder of the afternoon the better time for south central Kansas will be until 7 pm. Heavy rainfall again will be a concern along which could result in ponding of water on roadways. These storms will then move east early this evening as the upper jet lifts northeast and an upper level trough crosses western Kansas. Behind this upper level trough skies will clear as a surface ridge axis begins to build into western Kansas. Lows tonight under some clearing skies early Saturday morning will be mainly in the 40s. Some upper 30s possible west and north of Garden City. Highs Saturday will be mainly in the 60s. .LONG TERM...(Saturday night through Friday) Issued at 123 PM CDT Fri May 19 2017 A northwesterly flow will develop early this weekend across the Rockies and the central Plains as an upper low moves northeast into the Western Great Lakes region, and an upper level ridge axis builds into the Pacific Northwest. An upper level trough embedded in this developing northwest flow will begin to approach the Western High Plains late this weekend as a surface ridge axis slowly crosses western Kansas. A gradual warming trend over the weekend will bring afternoon highs back to more seasonal readings by Sunday with mainly dry conditions expected. There will be an increase in precipitation chances late Sunday through Monday night as the upper level trough crosses the Central Rockies and moves out into the Western Central High Plains. Precipitation chances will taper off on Tuesday another cool dome of high pressure will be building across western Kansas early next week which result in highs mainly in the 60s on Tuesday. After this brief cool down on Tuesday a warming trend along with dry conditions can then be expected through the remainder of the work week as the upper level ridge builds east towards the Rockies. Highs rebounding back into the 80s look likely by late week. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Saturday afternoon) Issued at 1232 PM CDT Fri May 19 2017 Low clouds, some patchy fog along, with areas of drizzle and even a few thunderstorms can be expected through the remainder of the day as a northeast wind continues at 15 to 20 knots gradually shift to the north by 00z Saturday. These gusty north winds will then fall back into the 10 to 15 knot range overnight as a surface ridge axis begins to build into western Kansas. After 00z Saturday precipitation will erode from the west during the overnight period as the upper level trough crosses western Kansas and the surface ridge axis begins to build into western Kansas. IFR/LIFR ceilings will also slowly give way into the MVFR category early tonight. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... DDC 59 44 63 44 / 70 60 0 0 GCK 57 42 63 43 / 70 80 0 0 EHA 53 40 66 45 / 60 30 0 0 LBL 59 43 66 45 / 50 30 0 0 HYS 57 43 57 41 / 90 80 10 0 P28 66 49 64 46 / 80 50 0 0 && .DDC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && SHORT TERM...Burgert LONG TERM...Burgert AVIATION...Burgert
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Dodge City KS 334 AM CDT Fri May 19 2017 KSZ030-031-043>046-061>066-074>081-084>090-200845- 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- 334 AM CDT Fri May 19 2017 /234 AM MDT Fri May 19 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 ---------------- Scattered thunderstorms will be possible this afternoon into tonight, mainly across central and south central Kansas. In addition, a few strong to marginally severe storms will be possible across south central Kansas this evening. Day 1 Hazards ------------- * Hail: Elevated risk * Thunderstorm wind damage: Elevated risk * Flooding: Elevated risk * Lightning: Significant risk .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Days 2-7 Discussion ------------------- A chance of thunderstorms will be possible Sunday night through Monday. These storms do not look to be severe at this time. Days 2-7 Hazards ---------------- * Saturday No hazards. * Sunday - Lightning: Limited risk * Monday - Lightning: Limited risk * Tuesday No hazards. * Wednesday No hazards. * Thursday No hazards. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed through tonight. && For more details visit our webpage http://weather.gov/ddc/ehwo
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Dodge City KS 1246 PM CDT FRI MAY 19 2017 KSZ077-078-087-191815- Gray KS-Meade KS-Ford KS- 1246 PM CDT FRI MAY 19 2017 ...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT... At 1246 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Meade, moving north at 35 mph. Half inch hail will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Meade, Fowler and Missler. LAT...LON 3716 10030 3726 10048 3756 10032 3755 10007 TIME...MOT...LOC 1746Z 199DEG 31KT 3732 10035 TATRO
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
1247 PM CDT FRI MAY 19 2017
KSZ077-086-087-191815-
Seward KS-Gray KS-Meade KS-
1247 PM CDT FRI MAY 19 2017
...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...
At 1247 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 5
miles north of Plains, moving northeast at 35 mph.
Half inch hail will be possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Plains and The Hobart Elevator.
LAT...LON 3731 10073 3739 10068 3739 10065 3743 10065
3760 10054 3752 10032 3722 10054
TIME...MOT...LOC 1747Z 211DEG 32KT 3734 10059
TATROSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
113 PM CDT FRI MAY 19 2017
KSZ045-046-064-065-191915-
Hodgeman KS-Rush KS-Pawnee KS-Ness KS-
113 PM CDT FRI MAY 19 2017
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EASTERN NESS...NORTHEASTERN
HODGEMAN...NORTHWESTERN PAWNEE AND WESTERN RUSH COUNTIES UNTIL 215 PM
CDT...
At 113 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 11
miles northwest of Gray, or 13 miles southeast of Ness City, moving
northeast at 30 mph.
Nickel size hail and winds in excess of 30 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Ness City, Bazine, McCracken, Alexander and Nekoma.
LAT...LON 3817 9973 3825 9993 3863 9987 3865 9948
3831 9939
TIME...MOT...LOC 1813Z 208DEG 27KT 3829 9979Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
116 PM CDT FRI MAY 19 2017
KSZ077-078-087-088-191915-
Gray KS-Meade KS-Clark KS-Ford KS-
116 PM CDT FRI MAY 19 2017
...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...
At 116 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 9
miles southeast of Montezuma, moving northeast at 30 mph.
Half inch hail and winds in excess of 30 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Dodge City, Cimarron, Montezuma, Minneola, Fowler, Copeland, Ford,
Ensign, Fort Dodge, Wright, Howell, Willroads Garden, Rolling Hill
Estates, Dodge City Regional Airport, Boot Hill Casino, The Haggard
Elevator and Ford State Lake.
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 3730 10006 3753 10063 3791 10037 3790 9998
3766 9971
TIME...MOT...LOC 1816Z 208DEG 27KT 3749 10032PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY KS
129 PM CDT FRI MAY 19 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0827 PM FLOOD 6 S FT. DODGE 37.65N 99.91W
05/18/2017 FORD KS NWS EMPLOYEE
&&Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
159 PM CDT FRI MAY 19 2017
KSZ064-065-077>080-192000-
Gray KS-Hodgeman KS-Pawnee KS-Kiowa KS-Edwards KS-Ford KS-
159 PM CDT FRI MAY 19 2017
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR FORD...NORTHWESTERN KIOWA...
HODGEMAN...SOUTHWESTERN PAWNEE...EAST CENTRAL GRAY AND WESTERN
EDWARDS COUNTIES UNTIL 300 PM CDT...
At 159 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Wright, or 5 miles northeast of Dodge City, moving northeast at 40
mph.
Dime size hail and winds in excess of 30 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Dodge City, Kinsley, Jetmore, Spearville, Bucklin, Mullinville,
Burdett, Ford, Hanston, Offerle, Fort Dodge, Wright, Rozel, Howell,
Bellefont, Kingsdown, Gray, Sanford, Windhorst and HorseThief
Reservoir.
LAT...LON 3750 9980 3782 10027 3825 9997 3818 9928
3762 9936
TIME...MOT...LOC 1859Z 233DEG 34KT 3780 9994The Vance AFB radar (KVNX), 74 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:35 UTC.
5 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
There may have been some minor tree damage but was unable to locate due to road options.
The tornado appeared to be stronger visually but no damage was found. There could have been some tree damage but there were not road options to observe any.
No damage was observed.
This tornado moved into Pratt County at 1515 CST.
This weak tornado moved into Pratt County at 1515 CST. Damage was not observed.
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: 706863, 704418, 706864, 706866, 706867.