Severe to extreme drought persisted over a good portions of central and south central Kansas during the month of May. Welcome rainfall during the beginning of the month and again at the end of the month, improved the drought some over south central Kansas by the end of the month.
Every event with a place to put it; 22 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
Severe to extreme drought persisted over a good portions of central and south central Kansas during the month of May. Welcome rainfall during the beginning of the month and again at the end of the month, improved the drought some over south central Kansas by the end of the month.
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 Apr 30, 11:05 PM CST, 55 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Wichita KS 1205 AM CDT Tue May 1 2018 .SYNOPSIS... Issued at 332 PM CDT Mon Apr 30 2018 The upper level ridge maintains its eastward track with the trough just off to the west. A tightening gradient associated with this system and mixing have resulted in gusty winds today across Kansas with sustained speeds of 30 to 40 mph and gusts to 50 mph. The Wind Advisory remains in effect across the area until 1 AM. && .UPDATE... Issued at 810 PM CDT Mon Apr 30 2018 S winds across SE KS have diminished considerably with a sustained 15-20 mph being reported in these areas. As such the SE KS portion of the Wind Advisory has no doubt been cancelled. && .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Thursday night) Issued at 332 PM CDT Mon Apr 30 2018 Highlights 1) Isolated severe storms on Tuesday 2) Severe storms on Wednesday-Thursday Word to describe forecast: Complicated A ridge continues to exit with a trough stationed over the Rockies essentially extending from Hudson Bay to the Baja. This system tries to move east but relatively keeps this orientation for the upcoming days. The dynamic system maintains its highlight in this forecast period given the lack of severe weather thus far this season. Moisture advection remains on its path to create an impressive influx into the area beginning tonight through the next couple of days. On Tuesday, an isolated severe storm threat is still anticipated. Initial development of storms will likely be west of the area. The triple point (warm front, dry line and cold front) is going to set up in central Kansas. The starting time remains to be in the afternoon, and activity will progress eastward. Both elements for timing are dependent on when the cap will break. It does appear that the greater coverage and more highlighted area for thunderstorms on this day will be along the Kansas/Nebraska border which lines up with the intersection of the boundaries and SPC's current outlook for Day 2 (Tuesday). Across the county warning area, large hail and damaging winds remain the threats. A further eastward progression of the system will bring a greater number of storms for the county warning area on Wednesday. While there is still the question of convergence along the boundary components as mentioned in the previous discussion, all of the other parameters are in place to make this a favorable set-up as anticipated. There are model differences in the placement of the cold front and dry line which dictate major components into the initialization of the storm development. Again there will be the cap that will need to be broken loose; soundings suggest this occurrence is going to be mid to late afternoon but could be sooner further west and closer to the dry line. All severe weather hazards appear to be in play at this point (very large hail, damaging winds as well as a couple tornadoes) with most of the components in place (30-50kts shear and 2-4000 J/kg CAPE). The coverage would adjust the magnification of the hazards. A significant tornado cannot be ruled out in the evening if all the parameters are to match up accordingly given the significant tornado parameters of ~2-4, above 20kts of surface to 1km shear and ~1-2.5 0-1km EHI. Severe thunderstorm activity could persist into the overnight hours. Thursday has continued to show promise in its severe weather potential as this is when the trough is actually making greater forward progress across the Plains. An increase in the jet is going to further enhance conditions. The area of potential impact would be mainly southeast Kansas and eastern Oklahoma. One factor to consider is how far west storms could occur thought which would be impacted by the activity on Wednesday. At this time, it looks like storms will start sooner. There is not a change in the hazards as it will be just a eastward adjustment to the area. As mentioned above, uncertainty remains with model differences driving some essential components that can swing the evolution of the next few days. Therefore it will be important to stay on top of the forecast. Check in with your family and friends to make sure they are staying weather aware. Find a safe storm shelter and have your emergency kit in it or ready to go to it. Make sure your weather radios are working properly, and you have multiple ways to receive weather warnings. .LONG TERM...(Friday through Monday) Issued at 332 PM CDT Mon Apr 30 2018 The actual trough may continue to take its sweet time to exit the Plains as there are still lingering components into the latter part of the day on Friday. A ridge will follow it to make the weekend rather wonderful. Temperatures are going to be comparative to the week after a brief relative cool down on Friday. Highs are forecast in the lower 80s. Another wave may move through on Sunday. There is a hint of precipitation chances with this wave on Sunday evening into Monday. && .AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Tuesday night) Issued at 1205 AM CDT Tue May 1 2018 S winds sustained from 17-30kts with 30-40kt gusts will continue the rest of the night with the stronger winds along & W of I-135. Some diminishment, albeit limited, would lead to low-lvl jet concerns with 45-50 kts likely ~1,500ft in most areas. The strong S winds just off the deck would also spread MVFR cigs across KS ~09Z. The cigs may flirt with IFR status toward daybreak but for now have cigs no lower than 1,200ft at any location. Cigs will slowly lift as Tue morning progresses but would remain in MVFR Country. TSRA are possible as far S as Nrn KS Tue afternoon but confidence isn't sufficient to assign "VCTS" to either KSLN nor KRSL. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 332 PM CDT Mon Apr 30 2018 There are minimal fire weather concerns after today across the forecast area given a splurge of moisture being brought into the area and greening grasses. Barton and Russell counties do show a value of very high on the Grassland Fire Danger Index for Tuesday. Chances for precipitation in the form of thunderstorms exist across the area for Tuesday to Thursday. && .CLIMATE... Issued at 332 PM CDT Mon Apr 30 2018 Record warm low temperatures have been set at Russell and Salina thus far today. It is possible that warm low records for the same sites could be set at the same sites for Tuesday depending on any precipitation that would move across and subsequently drop the temperatures. Warm lows today Russell Observed today: 62 degrees Record: 60 degrees in 2013 Salina Observed today: 65 degrees Record: 64 degrees in 2013 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Wichita-KICT 65 81 68 83 / 10 20 10 50 Hutchinson 65 81 67 82 / 20 20 10 50 Newton 65 80 67 82 / 20 20 10 50 ElDorado 65 80 67 81 / 20 20 20 50 Winfield-KWLD 65 81 67 82 / 20 20 10 40 Russell 65 87 60 81 / 10 30 10 30 Great Bend 64 87 61 82 / 10 20 10 40 Salina 66 83 66 82 / 20 30 20 50 McPherson 65 80 67 81 / 20 20 20 50 Coffeyville 65 79 68 81 / 20 20 10 20 Chanute 65 79 67 80 / 20 20 10 20 Iola 65 80 67 80 / 20 20 10 20 Parsons-KPPF 65 78 68 81 / 20 20 10 20 && .ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Wind Advisory until 1 AM CDT Tuesday for KSZ032-033-047>053- 067>069-082-083-091>093. && UPDATE...EPS SYNOPSIS...VJP SHORT TERM...VJP LONG TERM...VJP AVIATION...EPS FIRE WEATHER...VJP CLIMATE...VJP
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Wichita KS 830 PM CDT Mon Apr 30 2018 KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-020130- 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- 830 PM CDT Mon Apr 30 2018 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of Central, South Central and Southeast Kansas. .DAY ONE...Tonight Strong south winds will continue to affect most of Central and South Central Kansas throughout the evening. For further details, check the latest Wind Advisory that remains in effect for all of Central and South-Central Kansas until 1 AM CDT. A few thunderstorms are possible late this evening southwest of a line from Kingman to Wellington. Widely scattered thunderstorms are possible over much of South Central and Southeast Kansas after midnight. None of these storms are expected to be strong or severe. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday Very high grassland fire danger is forecast for Barton and Russell counties on Tuesday. Isolated severe thunderstorms are possible Tuesday afternoon and evening roughly west of a line from Salina to Hutchinson to Harper. The main threats will be golf ball sized hail and damaging winds of 60-70 mph. Severe thunderstorms are more likely and should be more numerous on Wednesday and Wednesday night. The main threats will be golf ball to tennis ball sized hail, 60-70 mph winds and even a few tornadoes. Another round of severe thunderstorms is possible Thursday afternoon for locations east of the turnpike. However, the area and threat is less certain than on Wednesday. The evolution of the thunderstorms Wednesday night will have a major role in where storms develop and how strong they will be on Thursday. At this point, the main threats appear to be both large hail and damaging winds. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated tonight. && For a graphical version of this information, see our webpage at: http://weather.gov/wichita/hwo/
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
22 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
Extreme drought conditions persisted over the southern half of the county. But welcome rainfall during the beginning and end of the month actually improved the drought to severe for northern portions of the county by the end of the month.
Extreme drought conditions persisted over the eastern half of the county. But welcome rainfall during the beginning and end of the month actually improved the drought to severe for western and southern portions of the county by the end of the month.
Extreme drought conditions persisted over the northeast half of the county. But welcome rainfall during the beginning and end of the month actually improved the drought to severe for the rest of the county by the end of the month.
Extreme drought conditions persisted over the northwest portions of county. But welcome rainfall during the beginning and end of the month actually improved the drought to severe for southeast portions of the county by the end of the month.
Extreme drought conditions persisted over the entire county for the month of May.
Extreme drought conditions persisted over the entire county for the month of May.
Extreme drought conditions persisted over the entire county for the month of May.
Severe drought conditions persisted over the entire county for the early portions of May. But welcome rainfall during the beginning and end of the month improved drought conditions considerably by the end of the month.
Severe drought conditions persisted over the entire county for the early portions of May. But welcome rainfall during the beginning and end of the month improved drought conditions considerably by the end of the month.
Severe drought conditions persisted over the entire county for the early portions of May. But welcome rainfall during the beginning and end of the month improved drought conditions considerably by the end of the month.
Severe drought conditions persisted over the entire county for the month of May.
Severe drought conditions persisted over the entire county for the month of May.
Severe drought conditions persisted over the entire county for the month of May.
Severe drought conditions persisted over the entire county for the month of May.
Severe drought conditions persisted over the entire county for the month of May.
Severe drought conditions were over the entire county for early portion of the month, but welcome rainfall during the beginning and end of the month improved the drought conditions considerably by the end of the month.
Severe drought conditions were over the entire county for early portion of the month, but welcome rainfall during the beginning and end of the month improved the drought conditions considerably by the end of the month.
Severe drought conditions were over the entire county for early portion of the month, but welcome rainfall during the beginning and end of the month improved the drought conditions considerably by the end of the month.
Severe drought conditions were over the entire county for early portion of the month, but welcome rainfall during the beginning and end of the month improved the drought conditions considerably by the end of the month.
Severe drought conditions were over the entire county for early portion of the month, but welcome rainfall during the beginning and end of the month improved the drought conditions considerably by the end of the month.
Severe drought conditions were over the entire county for early portion of the month, but welcome rainfall during the beginning and end of the month improved the drought conditions considerably by the end of the month.
Extreme drought conditions were over the entire county for early portion of the month, but welcome rainfall during the beginning and end of the month improved the drought conditions considerably by the end of the month.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kansas in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Kansas, May 2018
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: 755456, 755457, 755458, 755459, 755461, 755462, 755466, 755469, 755470, 755473, 755477, 755480, 755485, 755488, 755491, 755498, 755503, 755508, 755510, 755515, 755517, 755526.