Severe thunderstorms broke out across Barton & Lincoln Counties in the evening. Then, as evening progressed, the severe thunderstorms spread across most of the remainder of Central Kansas, then across South-Central Kansas overnight, before finally weakening as they approached Greenwood County early in the morning on the 27th.
Every event with a place to put it. 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 thunderstorms broke out across Barton & Lincoln Counties in the evening. Then, as evening progressed, the severe thunderstorms spread across most of the remainder of Central Kansas, then across South-Central Kansas overnight, before finally weakening as they approached Greenwood County early in the morning on the 27th. The severe thunderstorms started as hail-producers, then as they surged across Central & South-Central Kansas, became prolific damaging wind-producers with speeds that reached around 61 knots/70 mph. There were also areas of flash flooding, though not nearly as widespread as had been the case for most 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 May 26, 11:50 AM CST, 1 hour 36 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Wichita KS 1250 PM CDT Sun May 26 2019 .SHORT TERM...(Today through Monday night) Issued at 331 AM CDT Sun May 26 2019 This morning...Expecting another round of scattered to numerous thunderstorms across the forecast area through mid- late this morning, in response to increasing 850-700mb warm advection and moisture transport. Already beginning to see this next round develop on regional radar and satellite. Ample elevated instability and effective deep layer shear may support a handful of storms with large hail. Additionally, more locally heavy rainfall is likely, with a continued localized flash flood threat. Consequently, extended the flash flood watch through noon today. For late this afternoon through tonight, another round of scattered to numerous thunderstorms is expected to move northeast off the High Plains, as a rather substantial shortwave approaches from the southwest. Thinking the higher-end severe threat in the form of very large hail and tornadoes will remain across generally the western half of Kansas this afternoon and evening. Thinking by the time storms reach Wichita's forecast area, the primary threat will transition toward damaging winds with isolated large hail, as the overall storm mode becomes predominately linear. Overall severe threat should drop off generally along/east of the Flint Hills. The other aspect of late today-tonight's storms will be additional heavy rainfall, posing a continued localized flash flood threat. Even through the highest rainfall amounts should be across central and north-central KS, will issue a new flash flood watch all the way east through roughly the Flint Hills through tonight, as it won't take much more rain to produce more flooding. Monday...another rather significant shortwave ejects northeast across the Central Rockies and High Plains, giving the Kansas region more of a glancing blow of large-scale ascent. Additionally, western KS dryline convergence is not overly spectacular. All these factors come together for more of a conditional thunderstorm threat Monday late afternoon-evening. However, if a storm or two can manage to develop, strong instability coupled with favorable shear magnitude and orientation w/respect to the dryline would favor supercells capable of all severe hazards, generally well west of I-135. Kleinsasser .LONG TERM...(Tuesday through Saturday) Issued at 331 AM CDT Sun May 26 2019 Tuesday...the last of a series of significant shortwaves ejects northeast across Mid-America. Continued strong instability east of the dryline along with strengthening deep layer shear should support one last severe thunderstorm threat Tuesday afternoon- evening, generally along/east of I-135. Given the possibility for weaker forcing and slow dryline progression across Wichita's forecast area, in concert with long/straight hodographs, splitting supercells capable of all severe hazards look possible. A quieter weather pattern looks to overspread the region Wed-Fri, with a possible return to periodic thunderstorm chances by the weekend. Kleinsasser && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Monday afternoon) Issued at 1238 PM CDT Sun May 26 2019 Main aviation concern will once again be storm trends. A few storms are expected to linger this afternoon, over mainly eastern KS as 850-700mb moisture transport continues to focus along a mid level baroclinic zone. This activity should push out of the forecast area by around 20-21z. Main focus for robust surface convection will be well west of the forecast area this afternoon, mainly along the KS/CO border. This is where dryline will be situated with a pronounced shortwave lifting out of NM. Just like last night this activity is expected to congeal into an MCS and roll east/northeast. This area of convection is not expected to start impacting our forecast area until generally around or after 03z and with stronger mid/upper winds than last few days, should be fairly progressive. Feel that damaging winds will be the main threats with highest confidence along and west of I-135. && .HYDROLOGY... Issued at 331 AM CDT Sun May 26 2019 Another round of storms is expected late this afternoon through tonight, especially west of the Flint Hills, with locally heavy rainfall and severe weather likely. Widespread 1-3 inches across central and north-central Kansas looks like a good bet, with locally higher amounts. Rainfall amounts should gradually drop off with eastward extent toward the Flint Hills and eastern Kansas. Any additional rainfall will only aggravate ongoing flooding concerns. Many rivers, streams and reservoirs are at or exceeding their capacity. Significant river flooding is ongoing or expected at numerous locations. Please heed all evacuation orders, and please do not drive around barricades or through flooded roads. Kleinsasser && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Wichita-KICT 82 66 85 68 / 60 80 10 10 Hutchinson 80 65 85 67 / 60 90 10 10 Newton 80 64 84 68 / 60 80 10 10 ElDorado 81 66 84 68 / 60 70 10 10 Winfield-KWLD 83 68 85 69 / 50 60 10 10 Russell 77 64 86 64 / 50 90 10 20 Great Bend 77 63 85 64 / 50 90 10 20 Salina 80 66 86 68 / 60 90 20 10 McPherson 80 65 85 67 / 60 90 10 10 Coffeyville 84 70 86 70 / 50 30 10 10 Chanute 83 69 85 69 / 60 40 20 10 Iola 82 69 85 69 / 60 50 30 10 Parsons-KPPF 83 69 85 70 / 60 30 10 10 && .ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Flash Flood Watch until 6 PM CDT this evening for KSZ072-094>096- 098>100. Flash Flood Watch through Monday morning for KSZ032-033-047>053- 067>071-082-083-091>093. && SHORT TERM...ADK LONG TERM...ADK AVIATION...RBL HYDROLOGY...ADK
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Wichita KS 1129 AM CDT Sun May 26 2019 KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-271630- 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- 1129 AM CDT Sun May 26 2019 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of Central Kansas, South Central Kansas and Southeast Kansas. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight Scattered thunderstorms will continue to impact areas along and east of the I-135 corridor through early afternoon. The primary threat with these storms will be very heavy rain with a continued threat of flooding. Another round of thunderstorms will impact the region mainly late this afternoon through tonight, with the greatest chances generally along and west of the Flint Hills corridor. The greatest potential for severe weather will be across central, north-central and south- central Kansas. Large hail and damaging winds will be the main threats, although an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out. Additional heavy rainfall and localized flash flooding is likely. Widespread river flooding, some of which is significant, will continue for several days. Additional rainfall will only aggravate the current situation. Please see the latest River Flood Warnings for the latest information. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday There is a conditional threat for a few severe thunderstorms Monday evening west of I-135. If a storm or two can manage to develop, all severe weather hazards will be possible. Another round of scattered to numerous thunderstorms is expected Tuesday afternoon and night, generally along and east of I-135. All severe hazards are once again possible, along with heavy rainfall and localized flash flooding. Significant and high-impact river flooding will continue well into next week. Please see the latest River Flood Warnings for the latest information. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is possible this morning, and likely late this afternoon through the evening. Rainfall and flooding reports are always appreciated. && For a graphical version of this information, see our webpage at: http://weather.gov/wichita/hwo/
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
1037 AM CDT SUN MAY 26 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1036 AM FLASH FLOOD 1 NE INDEPENDENCE 37.24N 95.69W
05/26/2019 MONTGOMERY KS LAW ENFORCEMENT
FEW ROADS CLOSED ACROSS EASTERN PORTION OF
INDEPENDENCE DUE TO FLOODING.
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
1040 AM CDT SUN MAY 26 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1039 AM FLASH FLOOD WELLINGTON 37.27N 97.40W
05/26/2019 SUMNER KS LAW ENFORCEMENT
WATER OVER FLOOD PRONE AREAS ACROSS
WELLINGTON.
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
1057 AM CDT SUN MAY 26 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1025 AM FLASH FLOOD 3 SW BELLE PLAINE 37.37N 97.32W
05/26/2019 SUMNER KS PUBLIC
MPING REPORT OF FLOODED ROADS.
&&
MARTINPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
1058 AM CDT SUN MAY 26 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1057 AM FLASH FLOOD 3 SSW WINFIELD 37.24N 96.99W
05/26/2019 COWLEY KS LAW ENFORCEMENT
FLOOD PRONE AREAS ACROSS WINFIELD HAVE WATER
OVER THEM FROM RAIN OVER THE LAST HOUR.
&&The Wichita radar (KICT), 20 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:24 UTC.
28 thunderstorm wind, 4 hail, 4 flash flood, 2 flood, 1 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.
A young teenager was swept into the fast-moving Chisholm Creek Branch that runs through the park at 6800 N. Hydraulic. He was eventually rescued by another teenager. Many details regarding the incident remain unknown.
Highway 400 was still closed just west of Neodesha due to flooding from the Fall River.
Copious amounts of quarter-sized hail occurred in Great Bend.
The golf ball-sized hail occurred along Highway K14.
The CO-OP observer estimated gusts that ranged from 60-70 mph.
The CO-OP observer estimated gusts that ranged from 60-70 mph.
The public reported the gust.
A shed was blown around 100 yards & doors were blown off a barn. Tree damage also occurred at this location.
Law enforcement reported the gust.
No damage was reported.
A delayed report was received of a 2-foot diameter, well-established cedar tree that was snapped near the base.
A delayed report was received of vehicles that were blown over at a truck repair business. Power poles were also broken at this location.
A large tree was uprooted and landed across a road.
The town of Sylvia lost power.
No damage was reported.
No damage was reported.
A couple power poles were downed.
In Nickerson, 4 to 5 inch diameter limbs were downed and the town lost power.
No damage was reported.
No damage was reported.
The gust was measured by the McPherson Airport ASOS.
The gust was measured by the McPherson Airport ASOS.
Uprooted trees & downed power lines blocked several streets across the city. The 66-knot gust was estimated based on a 66-knot gust that was measured by the Salina Airport ASOS at 0032 CST.
No damage was reported.
Very close to the time this gust occurred, streets across Salina were blocked by downed power lines & trees that were uprooted.
No damage was reported.
No damage was reported.
Limbs 3 to 4 inches in diameter were downed.
A picture was received, via social media, of a large limb downed in East Wichita.
The gust was measured by the Jabara Airport ASOS.
No damage was reported.
Multiple streets were overflowing to curb-level.
The speeds ranged greatly from 39-56 knots/45 TO 65 MPH.
A delayed report was received of some street flooding occurring in Wellington. Fair Street was closed.
Water was flowing across Highway 47 just west of St. Paul.
Flash flooding closed Highway 39 just east of Chanute.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kansas in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Kansas, May 2019
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: 826305, 826309, 826310, 826311, 826577, 826313, 826315, 826587, 826590, 826591, 826317, 826593, 826594, 826318, 826578, 826579, 826595, 826596, 826597, 826580, 826581, 826599, 826600, 826601, 826602, 826582, 826603, 826604, 826605, 826606, 826584, 826586, 826607, 826608, 826297, 826609, 826298, 826300, 826303.