Hail and Damaging Wind in Kansas, July 6, 2022

Name: Hail and Damaging Wind in Kansas, July 6, 2022
Start: 2022-07-06T15:30
End: 2022-07-06T17:59
Location: Kansas

July 6, 2022 · NWS DDC · 4 events in 3 counties and zones

A surface boundary from Dodge City to Hays helped to initiate a few thunderstorms that had up to golf ball size hail. Shear was average but ample CAPE over 2500 J/kg existed.

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: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 4

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 surface boundary from Dodge City to Hays helped to initiate a few thunderstorms that had up to golf ball size hail. Shear was average but ample CAPE over 2500 J/kg existed. More storms moved out of NW Oklahoma.

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 Jul 6, 1:37 PM CST, 1 hour 53 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 6, 1:37 PM CST, 1 hour 53 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
237 PM CDT Wed Jul 6 2022

...UPDATE TO LONG TERM...

.SHORT TERM...(This evening through Thursday)
Issued at 1203 PM CDT Wed Jul 6 2022

Strong to marginally severe thunderstorms will be possible late this
afternoon into this evening as a series of weak perturbations eject
northeast out of the Southern Rockies into the high plains of eastern
Colorado/ Western Kansas, interacting with a stalled surface trough
axis bisecting southwest Kansas into central Kansas. Despite a
relatively weak flow aloft and weaker deep layer shear in general,
ample instability (SBCAPE values in excess of 1500-2000 J/kg) and
steepening lapse rates will set the stage for potential thunderstorm
development in vicinity of a low level convergence axis associated
with the stalled surface trough. Outside of an ongoing festering
band of showers/embedded thunderstorms in extreme southwest
Kansas, any initiation closer to the surface trough axis based on
CAMs looks to be generally after 21Z as capping erodes, mainly
north of highway 50. Additionally, thunderstorms developing in
eastern Colorado late this afternoon may eventually spread east-
northeastward into portions of extreme western Kansas later in the
evening. With PW values in excess of 1.5 inches, localized flooding
cannot be ruled out with the strongest storms.

Slightly cooler temperatures are likely tonight as a weak cold front
pushes southeast into western Kansas. Lows are expected down into
the 60s(F) in west central and portions of southwest Kansas with the
lower 70s(F) still possible in south central Kansas. Temperatures
will not be quite as hot for much of the area Thursday as a weak
cold front pushes southeast across much of southwest Kansas late
tonight before stalling out Thursday morning. Should see highs
holding to the 90s(F) in west central and southwest Kansas with
100F still possible in south central Kansas.

.LONG TERM...(Thursday night through Wednesday)
Issued at 235 PM CDT Wed Jul 6 2022

Thunderstorm chances linger into Thursday night/Friday, but the
focus shifts a little southward as an approaching cold front is
projected to stall out closer to the Oklahoma border by Thursday
morning. Ample instability and diurnal heating resulting in
steepening lapse rates will be the order of the day once again,
increasing the potential for thunderstorms in vicinity of the
boundary toward late afternoon/evening as another in a series of
small upper level shortwaves ejected out of the Colorado Rockies
into the high plains. The pattern is then expected to dry out a bit
into the weekend as medium range models indicate upper level ridging
building in across the Intermountain West, then shifting eastward
into the Western High Plains. A few storms cannot be ruled out in
extreme southwest Kansas Friday evening as a southeasterly upslope
flow sets up north of a near stationary frontal boundary projected
to curve up generally from the Texas Panhandle into southeast
Colorado.

Fairly seasonal temperatures are likely Friday as surface high
pressure moves through the Northern Plains, reinforcing a slightly
cooler air mass across western Kansas within east-northeasterly
upslope flow. Widespread highs in the 90s(F) can be expected with
temperatures once again pushing 100F Sunday as ridging aloft moves
out of the Colorado Rockies into the Western High Plains.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Thursday afternoon)
Issued at 1102 AM CDT Wed Jul 6 2022

Isolated to widely scattered thunderstorms will be possible late
this afternoon through the early overnight period, potentially
affecting the vicinity of all TAF sites. Otherwise, mainly VFR
conditions will continue through early Thursday. Variable winds
around 5 to 15kt are likely to persist across much of the area
through this evening as a surface low remains anchored in
southwest Kansas.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
DDC  72  93  68  95 /  50  20  30  10
GCK  69  91  67  93 /  50  20  30  10
EHA  69  92  66  93 /  40  20  40  10
LBL  70  95  68  95 /  40  20  30  10
HYS  70  92  68  92 /  50  10  30   0
P28  75 100  72  96 /  30  10  30  10

&&

.DDC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Heat Advisory until 8 PM CDT this evening for KSZ031-046-065-066-
081-090.

&&

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

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 6, 3:46 AM CST, 11 hours 44 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
446 AM CDT Wed Jul 6 2022

KSZ030-031-043>046-061>066-074>081-084>090-071000-
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-
446 AM CDT Wed Jul 6 2022 /346 AM MDT Wed Jul 6 2022/

...A heat advisory is in effect for today for parts of
southwestern Kansas...

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

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight.

Temperatures this afternoon from 100 to 105, along with dewpoint
values in the lower 60s, will lead to dangerous heat indices of
105 or higher. See the latest statement (TOPNPWDDC) for details.

There is a chance of thunderstorms this afternoon and evening.
These storms could contain winds of 50 to 60 mph and small hail.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.

Temperatures Thursday afternoon over south central Kansas from
100 to 105, along with dewpoint values in the lower 60s, will
lead to dangerous heat indices of 105 or higher.

There is a chance of strong to marginally severe thunderstorms
Thursday afternoon and evening, especially south and east of Dodge
City. These storms could contain winds of 50 to 60 mph and small
hail.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will not be needed through tonight.

&&

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

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 6, 2:02 PM CST, 1 hour 28 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
302 PM CDT Wed Jul 6 2022

KSZ030-031-045-046-062030-
Rush KS-Trego KS-Ellis KS-Ness KS-
302 PM CDT Wed Jul 6 2022

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northeastern Ness,
southeastern Trego, northwestern Rush and southwestern Ellis Counties
through 330 PM CDT...

At 301 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Brownell, moving north at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and nickel 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...
  Brownell around 320 PM CDT.

Other locations in the path of this storm include Cedar Bluff.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3846 9962 3850 9986 3881 9983 3877 9949
TIME...MOT...LOC 2001Z 191DEG 18KT 3856 9975

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH

SPRINGER

Special weather statement, Jul 6, 2:03 PM CST, 1 hour 27 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
303 PM CDT Wed Jul 6 2022

KSZ030-062030-
Trego KS-
303 PM CDT Wed Jul 6 2022

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of western Trego County
through 330 PM CDT...

At 303 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7
miles southwest of Trego Center, moving north at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and nickel 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...
  Trego Center around 320 PM CDT.

Other locations in the path of this storm include Voda.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3872 9991 3875 10014 3911 10010 3908 9977
TIME...MOT...LOC 2003Z 191DEG 17KT 3882 10001

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH

SPRINGER

Special weather statement, Jul 6, 2:30 PM CST, 1 hour before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
330 PM CDT Wed Jul 6 2022

KSZ030-031-045-046-062100-
Rush KS-Trego KS-Ellis KS-Ness KS-
330 PM CDT Wed Jul 6 2022

...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of northeastern Ness,
southeastern Trego, northwestern Rush and southern Ellis Counties
through 400 PM CDT...

At 330 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Cedar Bluff to near Hargrave. Movement was
north at 20 mph.

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

Strong thunderstorms will be near...
  Liebenthal and Cedar Bluff around 345 PM CDT.

Other locations in the path of these storms include Schoenchen and
Antonino.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3900 9985 3878 9914 3848 9938 3865 9989
TIME...MOT...LOC 2030Z 197DEG 16KT 3873 9980 3860 9944

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH

SPRINGER

Special weather statement, Jul 6, 3:00 PM CST, 30 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
400 PM CDT Wed Jul 6 2022

KSZ030-031-045-046-062230-
Rush KS-Trego KS-Ellis KS-Ness KS-
400 PM CDT Wed Jul 6 2022

...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of northeastern Ness,
eastern Trego, northern Rush and Ellis Counties through 530 PM CDT...

At 400 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Trego Center to near Liebenthal. Movement
was north at 20 mph.

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

Strong thunderstorms will be near...
  Pfeifer around 420 PM CDT.

Other locations in the path of these storms include Ogallah,
Antonino, Munjor, Hays, Toulon, Victoria, Catherine and Emmeram.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3872 9904 3845 9929 3869 9989 3913 9984
      3913 9904
TIME...MOT...LOC 2100Z 190DEG 17KT 3886 9984 3864 9930

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH

SPRINGER

Special weather statement, Jul 6, 3:21 PM CST, 9 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
421 PM CDT Wed Jul 6 2022

KSZ064-077-078-062145-
Gray KS-Hodgeman KS-Ford KS-
421 PM CDT Wed Jul 6 2022

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northwestern Ford,
southwestern Hodgeman and northeastern Gray Counties through 445 PM
CDT...

At 421 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7
miles northeast of Cimarron, moving southeast at 15 mph.

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

Locations impacted include...
  Howell.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3786 10041 3800 10031 3800 10024 3792 9997
      3769 10015
TIME...MOT...LOC 2121Z 300DEG 12KT 3791 10028

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH

SPRINGER

The radar

The Dodge City radar (KDDC), 104 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:28 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 hail, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Rush

When: July 6, 3:30 PM CST
Where: Rush County, 0.88 mi NE of La Crosse Hoover Arp
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 38.540, -99.310

Hail, Rush

When: July 6, 3:33 PM CST
Where: Rush County, 0.88 mi NE of La Crosse Hoover Arp
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 38.540, -99.310

Hail, Hodgeman

When: July 6, 4:24 PM CST
Where: Hodgeman County, 1.29 mi WNW of Jetmore Muni Arpt
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 37.990, -99.900

Thunderstorm Wind, Stafford

When: July 6, 5:59 PM CST
Where: Stafford County, 10.69 mi ENE of Hudson
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 38.140, -98.480

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.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Kansas in 2022 Every state in 2022 This day in weather history Warnings in Kansas, July 2022

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: 1044829, 1044831, 1044832, 1044833.