A complex of storms developed into a squall line in north-central KS late on 6/3 and progressed through northeast portions of the state into the overnight hours.
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 TOP wrote it up.
A complex of storms developed into a squall line in north-central KS late on 6/3 and progressed through northeast portions of the state into the overnight hours.
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 Topeka, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jun 3, 5:38 PM CST, 4 hours 21 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Topeka KS 638 PM CDT Wed Jun 3 2020 ...Update to aviation forecast discussion... .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Thursday) Issued at 237 PM CDT Wed Jun 3 2020 As of 20Z broad northwesterly midlevel flow was present across the Central Plains with a very subtle shortwave trough bisecting the forecast area. A midlevel cloud deck is helping to identify this subtle feature. At the surface a weak/diffuse surface frontal boundary is also bisecting the area from approximately Council Grove to near St. Joe, MO. Visible satellite imagery reveals two zones of potential thunderstorm develop. The first is along and southeast of I-35, where a cumulus field has developed. Two updrafts have developed in extreme northeast Anderson County. Additional development is possible throughout the afternoon and early evening. The second zone is across far northeast KS into northern MO, where an additional cumulus field has developed. The background environment is conditionally very unstable with steep midlevel lapse rates contributing to MLCAPE values greater than 3000 J/kg. Effective shear values are less than 30 kts and would tend to yield multicell/pulse modes of convection. Furthermore, Pwat values now exceed 1.6", which suggests any storm that does develop will produce very heavy rainfall, possibly resulting in localized flash-flooding. Combining these two features, very moist and weakly sheared environment, increases the potential for microburst. As the aforementioned shortwave trough progresses southeast of the area early this evening, expect the bulk of thunderstorm activity to decrease in coverage. Another round of thunderstorm activity is possible overnight as thunderstorms, which are currently developing across the High Plains of NE/WY/CO, grow upscale and propagate across the forecast area. Damaging winds and brief heavy rainfall will be the primary concerns with this round. Overnight lows should bottom out near 70. By Thursday, the thunderstorm complex that is progged to traverse the area tonight should exit the area by sunrise. Similar to today, a very conditional threat for thunderstorm development exists but confidence is very low. The background environment will be similar today with a damaging wind and locally heavy rainfall potential. Otherwise, another hot and humid day is expected with highs in the 90s. Heat indices will reach the upper 90s to near 100. .LONG TERM...(Thursday night through Wednesday) Issued at 237 PM CDT Wed Jun 3 2020 Transitioning into the extended, the threat for thunderstorms continues through Friday while heat and humidity continues through the weekend. By Thursday night, a shortwave trough is progged to eject across the mid-MO valley region Thursday evening into the overnight hours. This could aid in thunderstorm development generally after 00Z Friday. Primary hazards would likely be large hail, damaging winds, and heavy rainfall. The southwestern US midlevel ridge will amplify and overspread the Plains Friday into Saturday. The persistent frontal boundary will remain near/just north of the forecast area through the day Friday. As a result, another hot and humid day is expected with highs in the mid to upper 90s. Heat indices will range from 100-105; subsequent forecasts will have to reevaluate for the potential for heat advisory headlines. Model solutions continue to have a weak shortwave trough rounding the ridge axis Friday night across the mid-MO valley. Additional thunderstorm develop is possible with its passage. A drier pattern looks to setup over the weekend with the aforementioned ridge axis building into the area. Highs look to remain in the 90s throughout the weekend with heat indicies in the mid to upper 90s. Model guidance continues to suggest the remnants of Tropical Storm Cristobal may approach the forecast area Tuesday into Wednesday. && .AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Thursday evening) Issued at 633 PM CDT Wed Jun 3 2020 A couple of the CAM models forecast a line of strong to severe thunderstorms moving through the terminals after 5Z at KMHK and after 6Z at KTOP and KFOE. There will probably be a brief time of heavy rainfall and potential wind gusts of 40 to 60 MPH. After the line moves through there may be showers with isolated storms lingering for another couple hours. After the early morning storms expect VFR conditions. && .TOP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && SHORT TERM...Baerg LONG TERM...Baerg AVIATION...Gargan
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Topeka KS 711 PM CDT Wed Jun 3 2020 KSZ008>012-020>024-026-034>040-054>056-058-059-050015- Republic-Washington-Marshall-Nemaha-Brown-Cloud-Clay-Riley- Pottawatomie-Jackson-Jefferson-Ottawa-Dickinson-Geary-Morris- Wabaunsee-Shawnee-Douglas-Lyon-Osage-Franklin-Coffey-Anderson- 711 PM CDT Wed Jun 3 2020 This hazardous weather outlook is for east central...north central and northeast Kansas. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Severe thunderstorms are possible later tonight across the entire area. The primary hazard is damaging winds. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Another round of severe thunderstorms is possible Thursday evening with damaging winds and large hail being the main hazards. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed through tonight. && More detailed information can be accessed at... http://www.weather.gov/top/sitrep
The Grand Island radar (KUEX), 74 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 03:59 UTC.
11 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Measured by personal weather station kkscourt5.
Measured by Kansas Mesonet station at Belleville 2W.
Trained spotter observed 60 mph wind gust.
Large hackberry tree split due to thunderstorm wind. Time estimated from radar.
Corrects previous non-tstm wind gust report from 7W Mayetta. Mesonet Station TS790 Potawatomi. Time estimated from radar.
Measured at Kansas Mesonet Station Rossville 2SE.
Power poles down near Nortonville.
Power poles down near Oskaloosa.
Measured at Topeka Forbes asos (kfoe).
Measured at Lawrence asos klwc.
Tree reported down on Michigan Street. Time estimated from radar and asos data.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kansas in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Kansas, June 2020
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: 898782, 898783, 898784, 898862, 898785, 898786, 901248, 901249, 898788, 898789, 901254.