An isolated severe thunderstorm that struck Southwest Kingman County just after mid-night from the 30th to the 31st packed a nasty punch when a location 2 miles southeast of Zenda was hit by an estimated 70 mph gust. The powerful winds knocked down several large branches of unknown diameters.
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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 ICT wrote it up.
An isolated severe thunderstorm that struck Southwest Kingman County just after mid-night from the 30th to the 31st packed a nasty punch when a location 2 miles southeast of Zenda was hit by an estimated 70 mph gust. The powerful winds knocked down several large branches of unknown diameters.
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 May 31, 11:30 AM CST, 46 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Wichita KS 1230 PM CDT Thu May 31 2018 .UPDATE... Issued at 1055 AM CDT Thu May 31 2018 Still seeing some light showers over portions of north central KS. This is located just ahead of a weak impulse moving across srn Neb at this time. Could see this area of showers linger over NE KS into the afternoon hours, as this impulse continues to track east. Across our forecast area, most areas east of I-135 ahead of this impulse got worked over pretty hard last night, with the late night convective complex. The question is, whether portions of SE KS can recover enough for the afternoon hours, for an isolated chance of storms this afternoon as the shortwave pushes east. Hi-rez models do show instability recovering for the afternoon hours to around 2000-2500 j/kg of SBCAPE. But most of the energy from the impulse will stay north of this area, so chances of widespread diurnally driven convection seems small. Latest Nam/WRF does show a lingering precipitable water axis of 150 percent of normal over extreme SE KS, so this area of weakness may be enough for an isolated afternoon storm. So will keep a low pop going for this chance. Ketcham && .SHORT TERM...(Today through Sunday) Issued at 330 AM CDT Thu May 31 2018 Progressive MCS will continue to move eastward across southeast Kansas early this morning with trailing stratiform rain/thunder into portions of central/south central Kansas. Some convection could fester or redevelop across southeast Kansas during the day, though would suspect subsidence in the systems wake should keep chances fairly isolated after this morning. Otherwise the main concern is with the intense heat and humidity combo for Friday as sultry dew points (70-75F) advect north with the warm front across eastern Kansas under ridging aloft. The added evapotranspiration contribution from the ongoing and recent rainfall/moist top soil conditions will likely exacerbate the humid feel. A heat advisory is looking more likely for portions of the area, probably along the I-135 corridor and east into southeast Kansas. Plan to continue to highlight in the hazardous weather outlook and let next shift or two refine the area of concern and issue the needed advisory. A stronger upper trof is still progged to move across the northern Plains and Upper Midwest Saturday with the associated surface cold front dropping south across Kansas. The frontal passage looks to stay capped/dry across the area with cooler (less hot) conditions by Sunday. Darmofal .LONG TERM...(Sunday night through Wednesday) Issued at 330 AM CDT Thu May 31 2018 The medium range models show more intense heat under a building upper ridge from the southern Rockies across the central Plains and Upper Midwest by the middle of next week. A migratory upper shortwave will precede this event on Sunday night/Monday for slight precip/convective chances across the area. KED && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Friday afternoon) Issued at 1230 PM CDT Thu May 31 2018 VFR conditions are expected for most taf sites for the next 24 hours. The only exception will be over SE KS for late this afternoon into early this evening. Could see some MVFR cigs from diurnally driven cumulus, from remnant moisture from last night complex of storms. May also see a few storms try to develop late this afternoon, so will include a VCTS mention for the KCNU taf site until 01z. Ketcham && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Wichita-KICT 90 68 96 73 / 10 0 0 0 Hutchinson 90 67 97 71 / 10 0 0 0 Newton 89 67 95 71 / 10 0 0 10 ElDorado 88 67 94 72 / 10 0 0 0 Winfield-KWLD 90 69 95 73 / 10 10 0 0 Russell 91 67 97 67 / 20 0 0 10 Great Bend 90 67 96 68 / 10 0 0 10 Salina 92 67 98 71 / 10 0 0 10 McPherson 90 67 97 70 / 10 0 0 10 Coffeyville 87 68 94 74 / 20 10 0 10 Chanute 86 66 93 73 / 30 10 0 10 Iola 86 65 92 73 / 30 10 0 10 Parsons-KPPF 87 67 93 73 / 30 10 0 10 && .ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && UPDATE...Ketcham SHORT TERM...KED LONG TERM...KED AVIATION...Ketcham
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Wichita KS 1103 AM CDT Thu May 31 2018 KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-011615- 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- 1103 AM CDT Thu May 31 2018 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of Central Kansas, South Central Kansas and Southeast Kansas. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight There are chances for a few storms across southeast Kansas for the afternoon and early evening hours. Severe storms are not expected, though a few strong storms with gusty winds, small hail and heavy rainfall will be possible. The Saline River near Russell will remain in flood until this afternoon. Please refer to the latest flood warning statement for details. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday Dangerous heat indices in the 100 to 106 degree range are expected on Friday afternoon. A heat advisory may be needed for parts of central, south central and southeast Kansas. Listen to later forecasts and statements. There is a slight chance for thunderstorms Friday night across areas of central Kansas north of I-70. Slight chances for storms may also occur periodically next week across the area. The risk for organized severe storms appears low at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated this afternoon or tonight. && For a graphical version of this information, see our webpage at: http://weather.gov/wichita/hwo/ KED/Ketcham
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Wichita KS 805 AM CDT THU MAY 31 2018 KSZ032-311330- Russell KS- 805 AM CDT THU MAY 31 2018 The National Weather Service in Wichita has issued a * Significant Weather Advisory for... Northern Russell County in central Kansas... * Until 830 AM CDT * At 800 AM CDT...National Weather Service Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm with locally heavy rainfall 8 miles northeast of Emmeram...moving east at 10 mph. * Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm. * Locations impacted include... Fairport, Luray, Paradise and Waldo. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Torrential rainfall is falling on already saturated and flooded land. This additional heavy rain will likely cause rapid changes to current flood levels. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways and do not drive around barricades. && LAT...LON 3913 9904 3913 9862 3900 9858 3894 9904 TIME...MOT...LOC 1301Z 252DEG 7KT 3906 9903 METZGER
The Wichita radar (KICT), 76 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:13 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The estimated 70 mph winds knocked down several large branches of unknown diameters.
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: 757081.