Hail and Damaging Winds in Kansas, March 23, 2018

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in Kansas, March 23, 2018
Start: 2018-03-23T19:15
End: 2018-03-23T20:41
Location: Kansas

March 23, 2018 · NWS GID · 6 events in 2 counties and zones

The first severe thunderstorms of the season occurred over Phillips and Smith counties on this Friday evening. A large area of showers evolved over southwest Nebraska.

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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $50,000
Crop damage: $100,000
Events: 6

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 GID wrote it up.

The first severe thunderstorms of the season occurred over Phillips and Smith counties on this Friday evening. A large area of showers evolved over southwest Nebraska. Around 6 PM CST, a thunderstorm formed at the southern edge of these showers along the Nebraska-Kansas state line, south of McCook. Over the next two hours, a small cyclonic-shaped arc of thunderstorms formed straddling the state line. The southernmost part of this arc moved east across Phillips and Smith counties between 7 and 9 PM CST. Severe hail occurred along most of the storms path from Logan to just south of Phillipsburg to Smith Center and Lebanon. Most of the hail reported was around 1 inch in diameter, but hail the size of ping pong balls was reported in Smith Center and golf ball size hail was reported near Glade. This storm produced lots of hail. One observer reported the ground was nearly covered in Smith Center. Severe winds also occurred over parts of Phillips county where winds were measured as high as 66 mph in Logan.

Cyclogenesis was occurring over eastern Colorado during the morning hours. As the low moved into western Kansas in the afternoon, a front that had been stationary from northwest to southeast across Kansas began moving north. By the time the storms formed, the front had moved to the Nebraska-Kansas border. These storms developed at the apex of the warm sector, near surface low, where temperatures were in the upper 70s and dewpoints were near 50. The cyclonic arc shape was to due the storms forming within a ribbon of mid-level frontogenesis. An elevated mixed layer had overspread the area, but the meager surface dewpoints resulted in weak instability with surface-based CAPE near 1000 J/kg. Deep layer shear was around 60 kt.

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 Hastings, NE wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 23, 5:35 PM CST, 1 hour 40 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 23, 5:35 PM CST, 1 hour 40 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Hastings NE
635 PM CDT Fri Mar 23 2018

.SHORT TERM...(This evening through Saturday)
Issued at 223 PM CDT Fri Mar 23 2018

A weak frontal boundary near the NE/KS state line this afternoon
will become the focus for thunderstorm formation this evening.
Expect convection starting to initiate across the high plains the
past hour to spread east through the late afternoon and evening
hours. With some modest elevated instability and decent 0-6 KM
shear values present...could see a few of these storms reach
severe criteria...with large hail being the primary focus. Not
surprisingly...most of the short term guidance is hinting at some
thunderstorm development near and on the cool side of this
boundary this evening. As a result...expect to see some strong to
marginally severe storms ride this boundary similar to
HRRR/RAP/NAM...and blended this guidance to come up with shower
and thunderstorm coverage for this evening.

With the fairly progressive nature of these showers and
thunderstorms tonight...expect precipitation to come to an end
before daybreak Saturday...with cooler air filtering in across
the local area tomorrow. While there could be some clearing across
the southwestern half of the area tomorrow...clouds will likely
linger east of highway 281...with a cloudy and cool afternoon
anticipated as clouds wrap around the departing surface low.

.LONG TERM...(Saturday night through Friday)
Issued at 223 PM CDT Fri Mar 23 2018

A fairly active and seasonably cool start to the extended periods
is anticipated as troughiness across the west...followed by a
progressive northwestelry flow...will impact the local weather
through the end of next week.

While overall...not a lot of precipitation is anticipated with
a weak disturbance Saturday night...overnight low temperatures
came down a couple of degrees and these cooler lows justified the
continued mention of some light mixed precipitation across the
region. Evenso...qpf values will not amount to much...so do not
think this will be a large concern for the time being.

Thereafter...additional chances for precipitation are anticipated
periodically through the end of the week...as multiple weak
disturbances make their way across the local area. While no
particular day appears too threatening...could see a few isolated
thunderstorms in spots anywhere from late Sunday night through
Tuesday morning...although at this point they do not appear that
they will approach severe limits. Thereafter...the temperatures
will fluctuate around seasonal norms through the end of next
week...with some additional small chances of precip.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 00Z KGRI/KEAR TAFS through 00Z Saturday)
Issued at 635 PM CDT Fri Mar 23 2018

The main aviation forecast concern is in the first 6 hours with
the chance of thunderstorms, then a continued chance for IFR
ceilings to persist into the morning hours. Showers and
thunderstorms have developed and will impact both the KEAR/KGRI
terminals in the first 3 to 6 hours, with the best chance in the
first 3 hours. Have VCTS at this juncture, but will likely amend
for prevailing Thunderstorms. After the thunderstorms exit, low
clouds are expected with MVFR to IFR ceilings persisting into the
morning hours. Winds will become northerly.

&&

.GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NE...None.
KS...None.
&&

SHORT TERM...Rossi
LONG TERM...Rossi
AVIATION...Billings Wright

Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 23, 1:40 PM CST, 5 hours 35 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook...CORRECTED
National Weather Service Hastings NE
240 PM CDT Fri Mar 23 2018

KSZ005>007-017>019-NEZ039>041-046>049-060>064-072>077-082>087-
241945-
Phillips-Smith-Jewell-Rooks-Osborne-Mitchell-Valley-Greeley-Nance-
Sherman-Howard-Merrick-Polk-Dawson-Buffalo-Hall-Hamilton-York-
Gosper-Phelps-Kearney-Adams-Clay-Fillmore-Furnas-Harlan-Franklin-
Webster-Nuckolls-Thayer-
240 PM CDT Fri Mar 23 2018

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for south central Nebraska and
portions of north central Kansas.

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight.

Scattered thunderstorms are expected to develop during the late
afternoon through evening hours. There is a slight risk that some
of these storms could produce hail to the size of quarters and
wind gusts to 60 mph...especially near the Nebraska and Kansas
state lines.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday.

A wintry mix of freezing rain...sleet...and snow could occur
across portions of south central Nebraska late Saturday night
into Sunday morning. Precipitation amounts will be very light.

In addition...a few non-severe thunderstorms are possible across
portions of the outlook area late Sunday night through Monday
evening.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters...please relay any reports of hail or strong thunderstorm
wind gusts to the National Weather Service late this afternoon
and evening.

&&

More information may be obtained at the following web page:
   https://www.weather.gov/hastings

Rossi

In the hours before

Local storm report, Mar 23, 6:45 PM CST, 30 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
745 PM CDT FRI MAR 23 2018

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0737 PM     HAIL             5 NW HUNTLEY            40.26N 99.36W
03/23/2018  U0.75 INCH       HARLAN             NE   STORM CHASER

            45 MPH WINDS.

&&

THIES

Local storm report, Mar 23, 6:50 PM CST, 25 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
750 PM CDT FRI MAR 23 2018

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0740 PM     HAIL             WILSONVILLE             40.11N 100.10W
03/23/2018  E0.50 INCH       FURNAS             NE   CO-OP OBSERVER

            COVERING THE GROUND.

&&

THIES

Local storm report, Mar 23, 7:03 PM CST, 12 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
803 PM CDT FRI MAR 23 2018

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0755 PM     HAIL             EDISON                  40.28N 99.78W
03/23/2018  E1.00 INCH       FURNAS             NE   TRAINED SPOTTER

            MOSTLY NICKEL SIZE HAIL, A FEW UP TO THE
            SIZE OF QUARTERS.

&&

THIES

Special weather statement, Mar 23, 7:03 PM CST, 12 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Hastings NE
803 PM CDT FRI MAR 23 2018

NEZ073-082-083-240130-
Phelps NE-Harlan NE-Furnas NE-
803 PM CDT FRI MAR 23 2018

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN PHELPS...NORTHEASTERN
FURNAS AND NORTHERN HARLAN COUNTIES UNTIL 830 PM CDT...

At 803 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Loomis to near Edison. Movement was east
at 50 mph.

Nickel size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with
these storms.

Locations impacted include...
Holdrege, Oxford, Loomis, Funk, Edison, Atlanta, Huntley and Ragan.

LAT...LON 4035 9971 4035 9964 4044 9964 4051 9958
      4054 9918 4019 9918 4018 9985
TIME...MOT...LOC 0103Z 269DEG 42KT 4046 9955 4023 9973

Billings Wright

Special weather statement, Mar 23, 7:04 PM CST, 11 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Hastings NE
804 PM CDT FRI MAR 23 2018

NEZ074-084-240130-
Franklin NE-Kearney NE-
804 PM CDT FRI MAR 23 2018

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN FRANKLIN AND
SOUTHEASTERN KEARNEY COUNTIES UNTIL 830 PM CDT...

At 804 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Hildreth, or 19 miles southeast of Holdrege, moving northeast at 35
mph.

Nickel size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with
this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Hildreth, Upland, Heartwell and Norman.

LAT...LON 4061 9873 4060 9872 4031 9873 4019 9906
      4034 9918
TIME...MOT...LOC 0104Z 239DEG 32KT 4031 9904

Billings Wright

Local storm report, Mar 23, 7:13 PM CST, 2 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
813 PM CDT FRI MAR 23 2018

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0802 PM     HAIL             3 SSE BEAVER CITY       40.10N 99.80W
03/23/2018  E0.88 INCH       FURNAS             NE   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

THIES

The radar

The Grand Island radar (KUEX), 122 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:13 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 thunderstorm wind, 3 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Phillips

When: March 23, 7:15 PM CST
Where: Phillips County, 1 mi W of Logan
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 39.670, -99.589

Hail, Phillips

When: March 23, 7:15 PM CST to 7:44 PM CST
Where: Phillips County, Logan to 5.7 mi E of Phillipsburg
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $25,000
Crop damage: $50,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.670, -99.570

Hail ranging in size from pennies to golf balls was reported along this path.

Thunderstorm Wind, Phillips

When: March 23, 7:23 PM CST
Where: Phillips County, 1 mi W of Logan
Measured: 57 kt (66 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 39.670, -99.589

Thunderstorm Wind, Phillips

When: March 23, 7:40 PM CST
Where: Phillips County, 1 mi N of Glade
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Storm Chaser
Coordinates: 39.694, -99.320

Wind gusts were estimated to be near 60 MPH.

Hail, Smith

When: March 23, 8:09 PM CST
Where: Smith County, Kensington
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Storm Chaser
Coordinates: 39.770, -99.030

Hail, Smith

When: March 23, 8:09 PM CST to 8:41 PM CST
Where: Smith County, 3 mi W of Athol to Lebanon
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Property damage: $25,000
Crop damage: $50,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 39.770, -98.977

Hail ranging in size from quarters to ping pong balls was reported along this path.

What these are

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.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Kansas in 2018 Every state in 2018 This day in weather history Warnings in Kansas, March 2018

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: 737602, 737608, 737603, 737605, 737611, 737613.