Hail, Sherman
- When
- May 9, 5:00 PM MST
- Where
- Sherman County, 9.31 mi ENE of Kanorado Arpt
- Measured
- 1.25 in hail
- Reported by
- CoCoRaHS
- Coordinates
- 39.473, -101.873
Estimated time of the report from radar.
Hail and Damaging Wind in Kansas, May 9, 2017
Strong to severe thunderstorms moved north across Northwest Kansas in the evening. The largest hail size reported was golf ball north of Ruleton.
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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 5
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 GLD wrote it up.
Strong to severe thunderstorms moved north across Northwest Kansas in the evening. The largest hail size reported was golf ball north of Ruleton. Near McDonald there was so much hail on Highway 36 a vehicle slid into the ditch. The strongest wind gust that occurred with the storms was 65 MPH at the Oberlin airport.
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 Goodland, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 9, 4:16 PM MST, 44 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 9, 4:16 PM MST, 44 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Goodland KS 516 PM MDT Tue May 9 2017 .SHORT TERM...(This afternoon through Wednesday) Issued at 240 PM MDT Tue May 9 2017 Closed upper low is still centered near the Arizona/Mexico border with diffluent southwest flow over the Southern Plains extending into the Central Rockies and Central High Plains. A stalled front is beginning to lift north as a warm front wind is now orientated just south of Interstate 70. This afternoon-Tonight: Shortwave trough currently rotating around eastern periphery of closed low will continue to move over eastern Colorado with large scale ascent and deep plume of moisture spreading towards our CWA. Thunderstorm activity should initially be in eastern Colorado, though I can't rule out isolated activity along frontal zone (hinted at by some short range guidance). Models continue to favor increasing coverage from the west, with propagating eastward along frontal zone (likely dependent on cold pool development). Deep shear is already in place with effective shear values shown by RAP in the 40kt+ range. Instability is still building and this may be the biggest question mark for most of our CWA due to impacts of cloud cover. Models are showing max CAPE values in excess of 1500 J/KG by 6 PM MDT which is adequate, but trends haven't matched up yet. Another consideration is potential for enhanced low level shear along frontal zone that could support tornado development (particularly in our west), but this still seems conditional on more discreet cells in this region (current trend is towards clusters. Early in the event (over eastern Colorado) we may see thunderstorms training and this could support a better chance for flash flooding. Storm motions are generally going to be 30kt or higher, so flood threat will be more localized and limited to early part of the event tonight. Wednesday: Models show a region of subsidence/dry slot shifting over our CWA during the morning hours before large scale ascent overspreads our CWA during the afternoon. Expect shower and thunderstorm coverage to increase across the area through the afternoon. Front will push back south shifting main axis of instability with it, but we may still see a limited severe threat with lingering elevated instability. A greater concern will be the slow storm motions and potential for back building of thunderstorms that could create a better threat for flash flooding than today. .LONG TERM...(Wednesday night through Tuesday) Issued at 220 PM MDT Tue May 9 2017 Thunderstorms and rain will start off the extended period due to a closed low pressure system continuing its way northeast towards the CWA. Wednesday night will likely be the ideal time for storms to develop as instability is the best. But, as the overnight hours progress the instability factors start to diminish and most of the precipitation turns to rain (with isolated lightning possible). Thursday, the closed low shifts east before moving over the CWA and skirts to the south of the area. This will keep most of the instability to the south and continue rain chances over the area (will not rule out isolated non-severe storms though). The rain is expected to diminish through the afternoon from northwest to southeast as the low moves southeast. By the end of the day, a ridge is expected to move into the region from the west. Friday through the weekend will primarily be dry due to the ridge sitting over the CWA. By the end of the weekend southwest flow will start to push into the region and bring moisture into the area. This is due to a trough developing over the Pacific Northwest. Monday will be a day to keep an eye on due to an upper level shortwave trough looking to move through the trough and over the region. This could potentially bring thunderstorm chances to portions of the area (current guidance is showing along and north of Interstate 70). Tuesday looks to dry out again with that shortwave moving northeast of the region. Temperatures during the period will be in the 50s/60s on Thursday due to the region being on the back side of that trough. Friday will increase into to the 70s. The weekend through Tuesday will be in the 80s, with Tuesday seeing some decreasing temperatures along the northwest portion of the region. && .AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Wednesday evening) Issued at 454 PM MDT Tue May 9 2017 Main issue will be the expected storms spreading east across the forecast area this evening and overnight behind the advancing cold front. There maybe enough elevated instability for the severe threat to continue past 6z. KGLD would have the most prolonged window for severe storms. && .GLD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... KS...NONE. CO...NONE. NE...NONE. && SHORT TERM...DR LONG TERM...CLT AVIATION...JTL
Hazardous weather outlook, May 9, 5:00 PM MST, 0 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Goodland KS 600 PM MDT Tue May 9 2017 COZ090>092-KSZ001>004-013>016-027>029-041-042-NEZ079>081-110000- Yuma County-Kit Carson County-Cheyenne County-Cheyenne-Rawlins- Decatur-Norton-Sherman-Thomas-Sheridan-Graham-Wallace-Logan-Gove- Greeley-Wichita-Dundy-Hitchcock-Red Willow- 600 PM MDT Tue May 9 2017 /700 PM CDT Tue May 9 2017/ This hazardous weather outlook is for east central Colorado... extreme southwest Nebraska and northwest Kansas. .DAY ONE...TODAY... SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT THROUGH 1AM MDT/2AM CDT. Thunderstorm activity will continue this evening in Colorado and Kansas, and spread northeast and increase in coverage. The severe threat will begin to decrease from the west to the east after before midnight. Large hail and damaging winds will be the main threats across the area. Tornadoes will be possible mainly west of the Colorado state line this afternoon and early this evening. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH TUESDAY... Severe thunderstorms will be possible once again Wednesday afternoon and evening across the area, with the best chance for severe weather south of Interstate 70. Large hail and damaging winds will be the main threats. Locally heavy rainfall from slow moving thunderstorms over already saturated soils may lead to flash flooding Wednesday and Wednesday night. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be required.
In the hours before
Special weather statement, May 9, 2:00 PM MST, 3 hours before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Goodland KS
300 PM MDT TUE MAY 9 2017
COZ092-092115-
Cheyenne County CO-
300 PM MDT TUE MAY 9 2017
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN CHEYENNE COUNTY IN
EAST CENTRAL COLORADO UNTIL 315 PM MDT...
At 300 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 10
miles northwest of Eads, or 36 miles southwest of Cheyenne Wells,
moving north at 25 mph.
Dime size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this
storm.
This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of southwestern
Cheyenne County in east central Colorado.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
LAT...LON 3876 10302 3869 10269 3861 10275 3862 10276
3861 10305 3862 10306
TIME...MOT...LOC 2100Z 201DEG 22KT 3858 10294
HustedSpecial weather statement, May 9, 2:15 PM MST, 2 hours 45 minutes before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Goodland KS 315 PM MDT TUE MAY 9 2017 COZ092-092145- Cheyenne County CO- 315 PM MDT TUE MAY 9 2017 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN CHEYENNE COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL COLORADO UNTIL 345 PM MDT... At 315 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 10 miles southwest of Kit Carson, or 32 miles southwest of Cheyenne Wells, moving north at 25 mph. Dime size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Kit Carson and Wild Horse. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service. && LAT...LON 3887 10300 3878 10263 3861 10274 3862 10304 TIME...MOT...LOC 2115Z 201DEG 21KT 3863 10290 Husted
Special weather statement, May 9, 2:46 PM MST, 2 hours 14 minutes before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Goodland KS 346 PM MDT TUE MAY 9 2017 COZ092-092215- Cheyenne County CO- 346 PM MDT TUE MAY 9 2017 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL CHEYENNE COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL COLORADO UNTIL 415 PM MDT... At 346 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Kit Carson, or 21 miles west of Cheyenne Wells, moving north at 15 mph. Dime size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Kit Carson. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service. && LAT...LON 3864 10270 3868 10291 3895 10286 3891 10254 TIME...MOT...LOC 2146Z 192DEG 12KT 3876 10275 Husted
Special weather statement, May 9, 3:18 PM MST, 1 hour 42 minutes before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Goodland KS 418 PM MDT TUE MAY 9 2017 COZ091-092-092245- Kit Carson County CO-Cheyenne County CO- 418 PM MDT TUE MAY 9 2017 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTH CENTRAL CHEYENNE AND SOUTHEASTERN KIT CARSON COUNTIES IN EAST CENTRAL COLORADO UNTIL 445 PM MDT... At 418 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 14 miles northwest of Cheyenne Wells, moving north at 35 mph. Dime size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm. This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of north central Cheyenne and southeastern Kit Carson Counties in east central Colorado. This includes Highway 385 between mile markers 180 and 182. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service. && LAT...LON 3888 10246 3895 10266 3928 10262 3923 10225 TIME...MOT...LOC 2218Z 194DEG 30KT 3898 10253 Husted
Special weather statement, May 9, 4:57 PM MST, 3 minutes before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Goodland KS 557 PM MDT TUE MAY 9 2017 COZ092-100015- Cheyenne County CO- 557 PM MDT TUE MAY 9 2017 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTH CENTRAL CHEYENNE COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL COLORADO UNTIL 615 PM MDT... At 556 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8 miles northeast of Eads, or 24 miles southwest of Cheyenne Wells, moving north at 25 mph. Nickel size hail and wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with this storm. This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of south central Cheyenne County in east central Colorado. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... 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. This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service. && A severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect until 100 AM MDT for east central Colorado. LAT...LON 3878 10277 3871 10244 3861 10249 3861 10274 TIME...MOT...LOC 2356Z 194DEG 21KT 3857 10267 Husted
The radar
The Goodland radar (KGLD), 19 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:02 UTC.
Event by event
4 hail, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Hail, Sherman
- When
- May 9, 5:02 PM MST
- Where
- Sherman County, 7.5 mi ENE of Kanorado Arpt
- Measured
- 1.75 in hail
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 39.447, -101.893
Estimated time of report from radar.
Hail, Rawlins
- When
- May 9, 7:37 PM CST
- Where
- Rawlins County, 1.14 mi W of Mc Donald
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- Emergency Manager
- Coordinates
- 39.779, -101.391
Emergency manager and local fire department reported mainly dimes and nickels with a few quarters mixed in. A vehicle slid off due to fog and hail covering the road at the Rawlins/Cheyenne county line.
Hail, Rawlins
- When
- May 9, 7:47 PM CST
- Where
- Rawlins County, 0.39 mi N of Mc Donald
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 39.786, -101.370
Dime size hail was reported in McDonald.
Thunderstorm Wind, Decatur
- When
- May 9, 10:41 PM CST
- Where
- Decatur County, 0.52 mi WNW of Oberlin Muni Arpt
- Measured
- 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- AWOS
- Coordinates
- 39.833, -100.539
What these are
- Hail
- Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
- 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.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Tornadoes and Hail in New Mexico, May 9, 2017
- Lightning Strikes in Texas, May 9, 2017
- Tornadoes and Flash Flood in Texas, May 9, 2017
- Tornadoes and Hail in Texas, May 9 to 10, 2017
- Frost and Freeze in West Virginia, May 9, 2017
- Frost and Freeze in Virginia, May 9, 2017
- Hail in New Mexico, May 9, 2017
- Hail and Heavy Rain in Nebraska, May 9 to 10, 2017
- Tornado and Hail in Colorado, May 9, 2017
- Flood and Heavy Rain in Puerto Rico, May 9, 2017
- Hail in Colorado, May 9, 2017
- Frost and Freeze in Maryland, May 9, 2017
More
Every storm in Kansas in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Kansas, May 2017
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: 693952, 693951, 693955, 693956, 693957.