Tornadoes and Hail in Kansas, October 12, 2021

Name: Tornadoes and Hail in Kansas, October 12, 2021
Start: 2021-10-12T18:00
End: 2021-10-12T23:40
Location: Kansas

October 12, 2021 · NWS DDC · 20 events in 11 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $110,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 20

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS DDC wrote it up.

A line of thunderstorms developed along a boundary over eastern Colorado and pushed east northeast into the CWA late evening and lasted through the early morning hours. With ample low level moisture with the southeast wind flow at the surface, instability was very high over 3000 J/kg. Moderate shear and steep mid level lapse rates lead to large hail and damaging winds for the biggest threat with a handful of QLCS short lived tornadoes.

What forecasters said that day

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 Dodge City, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Oct 12, 4:32 PM MST, 1 hour 28 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Oct 12, 4:32 PM MST, 1 hour 28 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
632 PM CDT Tue Oct 12 2021

...UPDATE TO AVIATION...

.SHORT TERM...(This evening through Wednesday)
Issued at 212 PM CDT Tue Oct 12 2021

...Significant Severe Weather Tonight, Including Tornadoes...

Early this afternoon, a major mid-latitude cyclone was maturing out
across western Colorado. A surface low continued to rapidly deepen
just lee of the Colorado Rockies, and the surface winds were
responding nicely with widespread south-southeast winds in the 20 to
25 knot range with higher gusts. Rapid northward transport of 60-65F
surface dewpoints were underway across the eastern Texas Panhandle
into west central Oklahoma.

Everything that was discussed in yesterday afternoon's Short Term
discussion remains valid as of this forecast update. A significant
severe weather event is about to unfold later on this evening. The
only thing that has really changed, and has become increasingly
concerning, is that the low level moisture (62-65F dewpoints) will
be making a run on southwest Kansas a little bit quicker than
previously forecast...and a bit farther west...such that areas along
and event a bit west of Highway 83 now have an increased risk of
significant severe weather, including tornadoes. The 02-05Z (9 PM to
Midnight CDT) time frame is of particular concern, as the latest
HRRR and RAP low level thermodynamic and shear parameters are well
into the tornado category...even significant tornado category...as a
large region will have 0-1km AGL storm-relative helicity in the 300-
400 m2/s2 during the 02-05Z time frame. This is also the best time
frame for discrete supercell mode.

If the storm mode remains primarily supercellular in the critical 02-
05Z time frame, we have to face the possibility of long-track
significant tornadoes covering potentially 10s of miles. This is
extremely unusual for far western Kansas to see tornadic storms
racing northeast at 50+ mph, but this is exactly what we may be
dealing with tonight. This puts much more land at risk, obviously,
with such fast storm motions. This will also present a challenge for
warning forecasters tonight given such fast, forward storm (tornado)
motion. Eventually, the primary severe weather mode will become more
linear in nature as the risk shifts east by/shortly after midnight.
All in all, a dangerous night of severe storms is still on track for
much of the southwest Kansas region.

.LONG TERM...(Wednesday night through Tuesday)
Issued at 346 PM CDT Tue Oct 12 2021

The next storm system slated to impact the region will move across
late Thursday into early Friday, however the surface front is
expected to remain just south of the DDC forecast area, so the
severe weather potential will remain south and east of southwest
Kansas. That said, we will need to watch our far southeast CWA
(mainly Barber County) as a surface wave along the front will be
pretty close to south central Kansas. We will keep some POPs in
Barber county area as a result. Light cold sector precipitation is
still expected across the remainder of our forecast area along the
mid level frontal zone late Thursday Night, but widespread moderate
or heavy rainfall is not expected. Fairly cool air behind the front
will filter in on Friday, and afternoon temperatures will struggle
to get out of the 50s. It still looks like there is the potential
for a frost/freeze across mainly far west central Kansas.
Frost/freeze headlines may be required if these model trends
continue out west. A high pressure ridge in the mid/upper
troposphere will move across western Kansas over the weekend with
much quieter weather forecast.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Wednesday evening)
Issued at 630 PM CDT Tue Oct 12 2021

Low level stratus in central and south central Kansas will continue
to develop slowly northwestward into portions of southwest and west
central Kansas within a prevailing southeasterly upslope flow,
resulting in MVFR cigs in vicinity of KDDC, KHYS, and potentially
KGCK through mid/late evening. IFR cigs cannot be ruled out at KDDC.
Strong to severe thunderstorms are expected to develop along and
ahead of a strong frontal boundary edging into extreme southwest
Kansas generally after 01Z, then spread eastward across the remainder
of southwest Kansas into central/south central Kansas through 07Z,
affecting all TAF sites. The main impacts will be damaging winds,
large hail, and isolated tornadoes. Prevailing southeasterly winds
15 to 30kt will continue ahead of the aformentioned approaching
frontal boundary, then turn west-southwesterly around 10-20kt
behind the boundary as it pushes eastward overnight.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
DDC  44  67  42  67 /  80   0   0  10
GCK  40  65  38  63 /  80   0   0   0
EHA  42  70  39  66 /  30   0   0   0
LBL  41  69  38  68 /  50   0   0   0
HYS  46  65  40  62 /  90   0   0  10
P28  53  70  48  73 /  90  10   0  20

&&

.DDC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NONE.
&&

SHORT TERM...Umscheid
LONG TERM...Umscheid
AVIATION...JJohnson

Hazardous weather outlook, Oct 12, 12:00 AM MST, 18 hours before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
200 AM CDT Tue Oct 12 2021

KSZ030-031-043>046-061>066-074>081-084>090-130700-
Trego-Ellis-Scott-Lane-Ness-Rush-Hamilton-Kearny-Finney-Hodgeman-
Pawnee-Stafford-Stanton-Grant-Haskell-Gray-Ford-Edwards-Kiowa-
Pratt-Morton-Stevens-Seward-Meade-Clark-Comanche-Barber-
200 AM CDT Tue Oct 12 2021 /100 AM MDT Tue Oct 12 2021/

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of central...south
central...southwest and west central Kansas.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Day 1 Discussion
----------------

Storm development likely late Tuesday afternoon with initial
threats of large hail over 2 inches in diameter along with a few
possible tornadoes. As storms move northeast and expand into more
of a line, damaging winds will become the main threat with quarter
sized hail possible into the evening hours through midnight before
pushing off to the east and northeast. Gusty southeast winds
expected through the day Tuesday with 20-30 mph gusts in the
morning increasing to 40-45 mph by the afternoon. A cold front
will drop through southwest Kansas later in the evening turning
winds out of the north and diminishing into the overnight hours
and Wednesday morning.

Day 1 Hazards
-------------
* Tornado: Limited risk
* Hail: Limited risk
* Thunderstorm wind damage: Elevated risk
* Lightning: Significant risk
* Non-thunderstorm wind: Elevated risk

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday.

Days 2-7 Discussion
-------------------

Below freezing temperatures are looking more likely for areas
along and west of the Hwy 83 corridor and to the Colorado state
line for Saturday morning. Another cold front will drop through
the high plains Thursday with high pressure building in behind it
on Friday. Clear skies and light winds overnight Friday into
Saturday morning, will allow for a strong radiational cooldown
seeing 30s for the entire viewing area in addition to the
aforementioned below freezing areas of concern. No other hazards
are expected for the remainder of the long term outlook.

Days 2-7 Hazards
----------------
* Wednesday
  - No hazards

* Thursday
  - No hazards

* Friday
  - No hazards

* Saturday
  - Freeze: Limited risk

* Sunday
  - No hazards

* Monday
  - No hazards

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed after 5PM CDT along and east of
the Hwy 83 corridor.

&&

For more details visit our webpage
https://weather.gov/erh/ghwo?wfo=ddc

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Oct 12, 12:14 PM MST, 5 hours 46 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
214 PM CDT Tue Oct 12 2021

KSZ090-121945-
Barber KS-
214 PM CDT Tue Oct 12 2021

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southeastern Barber
County through 245 PM CDT...

At 213 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Burlington, or near Kiowa, moving northeast at 55 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and penny size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

This strong thunderstorm will be near...
  Hazelton around 225 PM CDT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3700 9850 3734 9835 3700 9835
TIME...MOT...LOC 1913Z 204DEG 55KT 3696 9841

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

TATRO

Special weather statement, Oct 12, 5:09 PM MST, 51 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
609 PM MDT Tue Oct 12 2021

KSZ061-130045-
Hamilton KS-
609 PM MDT Tue Oct 12 2021

...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of northwestern Hamilton
County through 645 PM MDT...

At 609 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 15 miles southwest of Horace to near Coolidge.
Movement was northeast at 50 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

These storms will remain over mainly rural areas of .

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM MDT for southwestern
Kansas.

&&

LAT...LON 3826 10204 3826 10165 3804 10204
TIME...MOT...LOC 0009Z 233DEG 62KT 3828 10192 3811 10204

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH

SPRINGER

Special weather statement, Oct 12, 5:16 PM MST, 44 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
716 PM CDT Tue Oct 12 2021

KSZ074-084-085-130045-
Stanton KS-Stevens KS-Morton KS-
716 PM CDT Tue Oct 12 2021

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of Morton, southern
Stanton and western Stevens Counties through 745 PM CDT...

At 716 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Elkhart, moving northeast at 50 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects.

This strong thunderstorm will be near...
  Richfield around 730 PM CDT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for southwestern
Kansas.

&&

LAT...LON 3753 10204 3751 10153 3700 10152 3699 10204
TIME...MOT...LOC 0016Z 212DEG 71KT 3704 10199

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

TATRO

Special weather statement, Oct 12, 5:21 PM MST, 39 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
721 PM CDT Tue Oct 12 2021

KSZ061-062-074-130100-
Stanton KS-Kearny KS-Hamilton KS-
721 PM CDT Tue Oct 12 2021

...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of Hamilton, west
central Kearny and Stanton Counties through 800 PM CDT/700 PM MDT/...

At 721 PM CDT/621 PM MDT/, Doppler radar was tracking strong
thunderstorms along a line extending from 8 miles southeast of Towner
to 17 miles south of Coolidge. Movement was northeast at 50 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects.

Strong thunderstorms will be near...
  Coolidge around 630 PM MDT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT/1000 PM MDT/ for
southwestern Kansas.

&&

LAT...LON 3804 10204 3827 10165 3826 10154 3750 10153
      3752 10204
TIME...MOT...LOC 0021Z 193DEG 100KT 3837 10200 3779 10205

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH

SPRINGER

Special weather statement, Oct 12, 5:43 PM MST, 17 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
743 PM CDT Tue Oct 12 2021

KSZ074-075-084-085-130115-
Stanton KS-Stevens KS-Grant KS-Morton KS-
743 PM CDT Tue Oct 12 2021

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of Morton, southwestern
Grant, southeastern Stanton and western Stevens Counties through 815
PM CDT...

At 743 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Rolla, moving northeast at 55 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
  Big Bow and Ulysses.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for southwestern
Kansas.

&&

LAT...LON 3700 10194 3749 10190 3765 10130 3700 10140
TIME...MOT...LOC 0043Z 211DEG 57KT 3715 10171

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH

TATRO

The radar

The Dodge City radar (KDDC), 173 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:58 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

11 tornado, 6 thunderstorm wind, 3 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Hamilton

When: October 12, 6:00 PM MST
Where: Hamilton County, 18.97 mi SSW of Syracuse
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 37.750, -101.940

Thunderstorm Wind, Stanton

When: October 12, 7:18 PM CST
Where: Stanton County, 11.86 mi S of Big Bow
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 37.400, -101.540

Hail, Stevens

When: October 12, 7:40 PM CST
Where: Stevens County, 2.14 mi SSE of Hugoton Muni Arpt
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 37.140, -101.360

Thunderstorm Wind, Finney

When: October 12, 7:40 PM CST
Where: Finney County, 1.77 mi ENE of Garden City
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 37.980, -100.840

Tornado, Haskell

When: October 12, 8:23 PM CST to 8:37 PM CST
Where: Haskell County, 5.85 mi SSE of Sublette Arpt to 3.94 mi ENE of Tice
Rating: EF1
Path length: 12.89 mi
Path width: 150 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 37.398, -100.802

This was a qlcs tornado.

Thunderstorm Wind, Finney

When: October 12, 8:35 PM CST
Where: Finney County, 0.88 mi SE of (Gck)garden City Arpt
Measured: 57 kt (66 mph) measured gust
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 37.920, -100.720

Thunderstorm Wind, Gray

When: October 12, 8:55 PM CST
Where: Gray County, 3.5 mi N of Montezuma
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Storm Chaser
Coordinates: 37.650, -100.440

Winds were estimated to be gusting to at least 70 MPH.

Hail, Gray

When: October 12, 8:57 PM CST
Where: Gray County, 4.07 mi ENE of Montezuma
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 37.620, -100.380

Tornado, Gray

When: October 12, 9:02 PM CST to 9:05 PM CST
Where: Gray County, 6.23 mi NNW of Haggard to 5.15 mi SSE of Cimarron
Rating: EF1
Path length: 1.94 mi
Path width: 75 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 37.707, -100.328

This was a qlcs tornado.

Tornado, Ford

When: October 12, 9:12 PM CST to 9:22 PM CST
Where: Ford County, 2.69 mi S of Howell to 5.08 mi NE of Howell
Rating: EF1
Path length: 7.14 mi
Path width: 75 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 37.741, -100.181

This was a qlcs tornado.

Tornado, Ford

When: October 12, 9:39 PM CST to 9:42 PM CST
Where: Ford County, 3.11 mi NNW of Spearville to 4.47 mi NNW of Spearville
Rating: EF0
Path length: 1.84 mi
Path width: 75 yd
Continued into: Hodgeman, Ks (DDC)
Property damage: $110,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 37.888, -99.781

This QLCS tornado moved into Hodgeman County at 21:42 CST.

Tornado, Hodgeman

When: October 12, 9:42 PM CST to 9:51 PM CST
Where: Hodgeman County, 7.62 mi SE of Jetmore Muni Arpt to 6.04 mi S of Hanston
Rating: EF1
Path length: 8.88 mi
Path width: 75 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 37.913, -99.769

This was a qlcs tornado that moved out of Ford County.

Tornado, Ford

When: October 12, 10:22 PM CST to 10:24 PM CST
Where: Ford County, 3.89 mi E of Ford to 5.42 mi ENE of Ford
Rating: EF1
Path length: 2.05 mi
Path width: 75 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 37.630, -99.679

This was a qlcs tornado.

Tornado, Ford

When: October 12, 10:38 PM CST to 10:39 PM CST
Where: Ford County, 3.92 mi NE of Bucklin to 4.72 mi NE of Bucklin
Rating: EF1
Path length: 0.89 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 37.584, -99.573

This was a qlcs tornado.

Tornado, Kiowa

When: October 12, 10:48 PM CST to 10:54 PM CST
Where: Kiowa County, 3.6 mi NE of Joy to 7.42 mi NNW of Greensburg
Rating: EFU
Path length: 4.59 mi
Path width: 75 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 37.640, -99.358

This was a qlcs tornado.

Tornado, Kiowa

When: October 12, 10:49 PM CST to 10:54 PM CST
Where: Kiowa County, 4.28 mi N of Joy to 7.66 mi NNE of Joy
Rating: EF1
Path length: 3.48 mi
Path width: 75 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 37.661, -99.387

This was a qlcs tornado.

Tornado, Edwards

When: October 12, 10:59 PM CST to 11:08 PM CST
Where: Edwards County, 4.01 mi S of Centerview to 2.29 mi NW of Fellsburg
Rating: EF1
Path length: 6.32 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 37.763, -99.256

This was a qlcs tornado.

Thunderstorm Wind, Kiowa

When: October 12, 11:03 PM CST
Where: Kiowa County, 0.69 mi N of Greensburg Arpt
Measured: 65 kt (75 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 37.610, -99.270

Winds were estimated to be 70-80 MPH wind gusts.

Tornado, Edwards

When: October 12, 11:05 PM CST to 11:12 PM CST
Where: Edwards County, 4.8 mi SSW of Trousdale to 1.79 mi N of Trousdale
Rating: EF1
Path length: 6.58 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 37.754, -99.107

This was a qlcs tornado.

Thunderstorm Wind, Pratt

When: October 12, 11:40 PM CST
Where: Pratt County, 0.69 mi N of Natrona
Measured: 65 kt (75 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 37.730, -98.670

Winds were estimated to be 70 to 80 MPH.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Kansas in 2021 Every state in 2021 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Kansas, 2021 Warnings in Kansas, October 2021

Sources

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: 991599, 991602, 991600, 991603, 991606, 991604, 991605, 991601, 991607, 991608, 993777, 991609, 991610, 991611, 991613, 991612, 991614, 991630, 991615, 991631.