Severe winds, flooding, and a brief tornado occurred from multiple periods of thunderstorms from late afternoon on this Sunday evening into the nighttime hours. From 5 to 6 PM CST, thunderstorms moving from northwest Kansas into south central Nebraska clipped northern Phillips county.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 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 GID wrote it up.
Severe winds, flooding, and a brief tornado occurred from multiple periods of thunderstorms from late afternoon on this Sunday evening into the nighttime hours. From 5 to 6 PM CST, thunderstorms moving from northwest Kansas into south central Nebraska clipped northern Phillips county. Anvil rain from thunderstorms over central Kansas began spreading into Rooks, Osborne, and Mitchell counties around 5 PM CST as well. This rain overspread all of north central Kansas over the following couple hours. Around 7 PM CST, the back edge of this rain began progressing across Rooks and Osborne counties. As this occurred, a wake low developed producing damaging winds in some locations. Numerous trees limbs were snapped in Plainville and these damaging winds extended all the way to Osborne where trees were damaged there as well. An unofficial home weather station measured a wind gust of 70 MPH in eastern Rooks county. As this rain exited north central Kansas, more scattered thunderstorms developed near Interstate 70 and moved northeast into the area. Just after midnight, a brief EF-0 tornado touched down near Tipton and damaged a residence and some nearby trees and power poles. Shortly thereafter, the same narrow line of storms produced a wind gust of 59 mph at an unofficial station over south central Mitchell county. Meanwhile, a mesoscale convective system had developed over southwest Kansas. The northern portion of this MCS crossed north central Kansas between 11 PM and 2 AM. While no severe storms occurred, more heavy rain fell over northern Phillips county, where heavy rain had occurred from earlier thunderstorms. Repeated episodes of heavy rain resulted in a swath of 2.5 to nearly 5 inches from northwest Kansas into south central Nebraska. This swath of rain clipped northern Phillips county and fell directly along the basin of Prairie Dog Creek. 4.90 inches of rain fell in 12 hours at Long Island.
At sunrise, a stationary front extended from the lower Great Lakes across northern Kansas to low pressure near Pueblo, Colorado. During the afternoon, this front moved into Nebraska as a warm front. The upper-level flow was highly-amplified with a deep trough over the Western U.S., and a subtropical high over Florida. Kansas was just west of a ridge that extended from Arkansas to Montana. Before rain began falling, temperatures were in the 70s with dewpoints in the 60s. Mid-level lapse rates were 7.0-7.5 C/km, resulting in MLCAPE around 2000 J/kg. Deep layer shear was initially 30-35 kt, but increased to 60 kt by midnight. MUCAPE was still around 1500 J/kg.
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 May 26, 5:38 PM CST, 1 hour 22 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Hastings NE 638 PM CDT Sun May 26 2019 .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Monday) Issued at 400 PM CDT Sun May 26 2019 Tonight: The concern for today continues to be the chance for strong to severe thunderstorms this evening and overnight across the area. Thunderstorms have already begun in eastern Colorado and western Kansas and this activity is expected to expand northward and move through the area this evening and overnight...possibly in a couple of waves. The latest HRRR runs 18/19z and the 18z NAMnest all hint at an earlier start time than we have been thinking for some time. Over the past day and throughout this morning, the main show looked to begin near to just after 00z. The latest high-res runs show development in the 22-23z time frame in western sections of the area from Dawson County south. Time will tell, but this certainly is a possibility is a change from earlier thinking. Believe that hail and wind is the primary threat from the first activity, but feel that storms will develop into a line downstream of western KS which will cause wind to be the primary threat later this evening and overnight. A secondary line of storms may develop and move across the area during the overnight hours behind the first wave. Uncertainty in this due to model disagreement, but is possible. A tornado cannot be ruled out, but should be confined to areas south of the NE/KS border. The main threat will be strong winds and hail. In addition to those concerns heavy rainfall and with the main line of storms and any additional overnight storms could cause flooding across the area. The most likely area to see flooding is the saturated south and southeastern sections of the area. Kept the Flash Flood Watch and added Webster, Nuckolls, Thayer and Fillmore counties to it. Those areas showed the most saturated antecedent conditions for the month of May and especially in the last 7 days. The Watch goes through 12z. Monday: Preciptiation should exit the area by sunrise as the upper disturbance driving tonights activity moves off to the northeast. The main trough and upper disturbance will continue to round the base of the trough and move towards the central Plains for Monday. As this disturbance approaches lee cyclogenesis will increase and the surface low will develop in eastern Colorado. There are a couple of questions with how this will evolve though...especially the location/placement of the dryline and warm front. Will the warm front be draped across central NE or near the SD border. All questions to be answered and they will impact how Monday will pan out. Am slightly concerned that something could develop off the dryline west of Hwy 183 and track northeast across the area. This could be more discrete activity, but it could also not occur at all. Monday is expected to be dry through the early afternoon and then it is conditional for the remainder of the day/night. Stay tuned. .LONG TERM...(Tuesday through Sunday) Issued at 400 PM CDT Sun May 26 2019 Tuesday: The upper low/trough has continued to slow its exit from the area. The main disturbance is slower to eject out to the north...thus slowing the departure of surface low and associated fronts. The dry line looks to set up somewhere near Hwy 281 and this could be the right scenario for thunderstorms with discrete propagation, thus promoting supercells and potentially tornadoes. This is a day to watch. Think this will be an earlier show as the initiation will begin in the forecast area before exiting to eastern Nebraska and eastern Kansas. Wednesday - Sunday: A period of drier and cooler weather is expected Wednesday behind the cold front Tuesday night. Highs will be in the 60s before rising back in to the 70s and 80s for the weekend. Brief northwesterly flow will become zonal-ish as numerous ripples/weak disturbances move across the heart of the country. Thunderstorm potential returns Friday through Sunday. There are discrepancies with the details of these ripples, so difficult to discern much more than that. && .AVIATION...(For the 00Z KGRI/KEAR TAFS through 00Z Monday) Issued at 638 PM CDT Sun May 26 2019 The first 12 hours of this forecast is fairly messy. A line of convection is ongoing and is expected to impact both terminals within the next few hours. Ceilings are expected to become MVFR with the precipitation and during the thunderstorm winds could gust to near 40kts. There could be a couple rounds of thunderstorms and thus have prevailing thunderstorms or VCTS through most of the next 12 hours. By 12z, precipitation should end and be off to the east/northeast. Ceilings may drop back down to MVFR, but have kept VFR for now. Winds are expected to become more southerly during the day tomorrow. && .GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NE...Flash Flood Watch through Monday morning for NEZ077-085>087. KS...Flash Flood Watch through Monday morning for KSZ005>007-017>019. && SHORT TERM...Billings Wright LONG TERM...Billings Wright AVIATION...Billings Wright
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Hastings NE 313 PM CDT Sun May 26 2019 KSZ005>007-017>019-NEZ039>041-046>049-060>064-072>077-082>087- 272015- 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- 313 PM CDT Sun May 26 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for south central Nebraska and portions of north central Kansas. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight. The chance for widespread thunderstorms will increase with thunderstorms expected to arrive late this afternoon into tonight, and there is a good chance that some will be severe. The entire outlook area is under at least a Slight Risk of severe weather, with much of the southwest half of the area under an Enhanced Risk. The main threats with severe storms will be hail to around 2 inches in diameter, damaging winds to around 70 MPH, and perhaps a few tornadoes, especially within the Enhanced Risk area. Locally heavy rainfall is also likely, with areas particularly near and south of the Nebraska-Kansas border most favored to receive generally 1 to 2 inches. A Flash Flood Watch continues through tonight for north central Kansas and Webster, Nuckolls, Thayer and Fillmore counties in Nebraska. Finally, a Flood Advisory remains in effect today for northeastern Greeley County, due to possible flooding along the Cedar River. River Flood warnings are also in effect for the South Fork of the Solomon at Osborne, KS and along the Solomon at Beloit, KS for expected flooding over the next 24 to 48 hours. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. A very active weather pattern will keep several thunderstorm chances in the forecast Monday through Tuesday night, and then again Friday through Saturday. There is a decent chance that some storms will be severe, especially Monday evening, and then again Tuesday afternoon and evening. On Monday evening, the highest chances for severe storms currently appears to favor Nebraska portions of the area. On Tuesday afternoon and evening, the most favored area for possible severe storms should focus near and especially east of the Highway 281 corridor. On both Monday and Tuesday, large hail and damaging winds will be the main severe weather threats, but especially Tuesday afternoon and evening will need monitored for the possibility of a few tornadoes as well. River Flood warnings are also in effect for the South Fork of the Solomon at Osborne, KS and along the Solomon at Beloit, KS for expected flooding into Monday and Tuesday from heavy rainfall. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is likely late this afternoon into tonight in various parts of the outlook area, and any reports of severe weather and possible flooding are always appreciated. && More information may be obtained at the following web page: https://www.weather.gov/hastings Billings Wright
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Hastings NE
627 PM CDT Sun May 26 2019
KSZ005-NEZ082-083-270000-
Phillips KS-Harlan NE-Furnas NE-
627 PM CDT Sun May 26 2019
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN PHILLIPS...SOUTHEASTERN
FURNAS AND SOUTHERN HARLAN COUNTIES UNTIL 700 PM CDT...
At 626 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Almena, or 13 miles northeast of Norton, moving east at 45 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Phillipsburg, Alma, Orleans, Republican City, Long Island, Prairie
View, Harlan County Dam and Woodruff.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Persons in campgrounds should consider seeking sturdy shelter until
this storm passes.
&&
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until midnight CDT for
north central Kansas...and south central Nebraska.
LAT...LON 4019 9918 4001 9918 4000 9919 3999 9918
3976 9917 3973 9963 4000 9963 4000 9977
4009 9980
TIME...MOT...LOC 2326Z 256DEG 41KT 3991 9966
ThiesSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Hastings NE
643 PM CDT Sun May 26 2019
NEZ073-074-083-084-270015-
Franklin NE-Phelps NE-Kearney NE-Harlan NE-
643 PM CDT Sun May 26 2019
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN FRANKLIN...EASTERN
PHELPS...WESTERN KEARNEY AND NORTHEASTERN HARLAN COUNTIES UNTIL 715
PM CDT...
At 643 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 7 miles northeast of Loomis to near Alma.
Movement was east at 35 mph.
Half inch hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with
these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Holdrege, Axtell, Orleans, Hildreth, Wilcox, Funk, Atlanta, Huntley
and Ragan.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until midnight CDT for
south central Nebraska.
LAT...LON 4059 9948 4066 9920 4065 9912 4066 9907
4065 9901 4019 9901 4012 9948
TIME...MOT...LOC 2343Z 256DEG 30KT 4056 9940 4013 9940
ThiesSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Hastings NE
758 PM CDT Sun May 26 2019
NEZ062-063-074>076-270145-
Adams NE-Hamilton NE-Hall NE-Clay NE-Kearney NE-
758 PM CDT Sun May 26 2019
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN CLAY...NORTHERN
ADAMS...NORTHEASTERN KEARNEY...SOUTHWESTERN HAMILTON AND SOUTHERN
HALL COUNTIES UNTIL 845 PM CDT...
At 757 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Heartwell to near Holstein to Roseland.
Movement was northeast at 35 mph.
Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Hastings, Harvard, Kenesaw, Doniphan, Juniata, Giltner, Trumbull,
Inland, Prosser, Saronville and Hansen.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
These storms 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 midnight CDT for
south central Nebraska.
LAT...LON 4060 9794 4048 9859 4055 9867 4063 9884
4068 9877 4069 9872 4071 9872 4087 9828
4081 9806
TIME...MOT...LOC 0057Z 237DEG 30KT 4060 9875 4054 9863 4045 9855
ThiesThe Grand Island radar (KUEX), 132 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 06:14 UTC.
2 high wind, 1 tornado, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A wind gusts of 70 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located 8 miles north-northeast of Codell. To the southwest, in Plainville, numerous tree limbs were downed around town. A carport was also damaged on the south side of town.
Spotter reported gusty winds from 7:45 PM through 8:20 PM CDT, peaking with an estimated 60 MPH gusts around 8:10 PM CDT.
One home was damaged by this very brief tornado. A small portion of the roof was peeled off and attic insulation was plastered onto the home and a pickup truck parked outside. Siding was damaged, a small piece of shingle was wedged into a piece of farm equipment and a piece of straw was wedged between a sliding window. Two small trailers were turned.
A wind gust of 59 MPH was recorded by a mesonet station located 9 miles northeast of Victor.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kansas in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Kansas, 2019Warnings 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: 826111, 826115, 824051, 826109.