Damaging Winds in Kansas, May 18, 2022

Name: Damaging Winds in Kansas, May 18, 2022
Start: 2022-05-18T19:15
End: 2022-05-18T22:42
Location: Kansas

May 18, 2022 · NWS DDC · 13 events in 7 counties and zones

A wind event occurred mid to late evening across western portions of the CWA with radiational cooling after sunset. Being in the baroclinic zone of the storm system, high based convection occurred allowing for strong outflows with ample DCAPE values over 1200 J/kg.

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: 13

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.

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 May 18, 6:54 PM CST, 21 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 18, 6:54 PM CST, 21 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
754 PM CDT Wed May 18 2022

...Severe Thunderstorms Possible through midnight...

.MESOSCALE DISCUSSION...
Issued at 749 PM CDT Wed May 18 2022

Key Messages...

Strong to Severe Thunderstorms will move across southwest Kansas
early tonight. Wind gusts as high as 60 to 70 mph still looks
possible from these storms. Hail up to 2 inches will also be
possible west of a Garden City to Liberal line. The area most
favorable for the stronger thunderstorms will be west of a Garden
City to Dodge City line before 10 pm. After 10pm the potential for
strong winds will be possible for locations near the Oklahoma
border from Liberal eastward. Strong winds preceding these
thunderstorms early this evening may also result in reduced
visibilities due to blowing dust.

Technical Discussion...

SPC Meso Analysis showing surface and deep moisture convergence
increasing ahead of an 500mb vort lobe. In this area the
thunderstorms are increasing in coverage across west central
Kansas. 0-6km shear at 00z Thursday in this area was 40 knots with
an area of +8 C/KM mid level lapse rates. Models continue to be
in decent agreement with this area of enhanced forcing ahead of
the 500mb vort lobe moving across southwest through midnight. At
this time it appears that the most favorable track for this
developing cluster of storms still will be along the eastern edge
of the 700mb 10-12C temperature gradient and along the 0-1km
Theta-e ridge axis that is forecast by the RAP to extend from
northwest Oklahoma into west central Kansas. Strong winds as high
as 60 to 70 mph will be possible through the entire time frame
given DCAPE forecast early tonight. Large hail may be focused
early in the event as SPC has cooling mid level lapse rate after
sunset. Strong thunderstorms, some capable of wind gusts of 50 to
near 60 mph, will be possible as far east as highway 283 as these
storms cross western Kansas early tonight.

&&

.SHORT TERM...(This evening through Thursday)
Issued at 147 PM CDT Wed May 18 2022

Scattered thunderstorms are expected to form across eastern
Colorado this afternoon and move into southwest Kansas this
evening. These storms then slide eastward along the KS/OK border
tonight. The atmosphere across southwest Kansas will be unstable
leading to a few of the storms to become severe with large hail
and damaging winds being the main concern. Otherwise expect an
increase in cloudiness overnight. These clouds should dissipate
tomorrow morning with mostly clear skies expected for the
remainder of the day. Winds look to start out form an easterly
direction this afternoon shifting to a southerly direction this
evening. These southerly winds continue through tonight shifting
to the southwest tomorrow with increase in speed. Very dry air is
also expected to be in place across far western Kansas tomorrow.
The combination of strong winds and low RHs will bring critical
fire weather conditions to far western Kansas tomorrow afternoon.
As for temperatures, lows tonight will range form the low 50s
across west central Kansas to low 60s across south central Kansas.
Highs tomorrow will reach into the upper 90s with some places
cracking the 100 degree mark.

.LONG TERM...(Thursday night through Wednesday)
Issued at 147 PM CDT Wed May 18 2022

An upper level low will slide across the US/Canada border as we
start the long term forecast with a long wave trough digging into
the Intermountain west. This will help push a strong cold front
through through western Kansas Thursday night shifting winds to
the north. These northerly winds continue through Saturday night
bringing cooler air to the CWA. Mostly clear skies are expected
Thursday night through Friday with an increase in cloudiness
Friday night. Mostly cloudy skies are expected throughout the day
Saturday. A few showers will be possible Saturday with northern
portions of the CWA having the best chance. Sunday and Monday then
look dry as we will be between systems. The next system looks to
move into the area Monday night into Tuesday as a disturbance
moves out of the Central Rockies and into western Kansas. Most of
the ensemble models hint at least some measurable precipitation
across the entire CWA. But looking at past trends it makes me
think most places will remain dry. As for temperatures, highs will
start out in the 70s Friday with 50s to low 60s on Saturday. We
then slowly warm back up with highs around 70 degrees Sunday and
Monday then in the 70s Tuesday.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Thursday evening)
Issued at 545 PM CDT Wed May 18 2022

Isolated convection over eastern Colorado will continue spreading
east and begin to expand into larger clusters this evening over
southwest Kansas. The strongest storms may bring relatively lower
ceilings to Liberal and Garden City between about 2 and 4z, but most
of the activity will be rather high based with a severe wind and
golf ball hail risk. Risk at HYS is virtually nil, and not likely
at DDC either, however the trend will be monitored for TAF
updates with respect to timing/threats at all sites.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 200 AM CDT Wed May 18 2022

Strong northerly winds gusting around 40 mph are expected
throughout the day Thursday behind a cold front. In addition, dry
air will envelop far western Kansas by the afternoon with relative
humidity dipping into the teens and single digits. The combination
of these two features will increase fire danger across far western
Kansas. A Fire Weather Watch has been issued to account for this.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
DDC  58  99  52  75 /  50   0   0   0
GCK  55  99  50  73 /  60   0   0   0
EHA  54 101  50  76 /  80   0   0   0
LBL  55 101  52  77 /  70   0   0   0
HYS  58  98  52  72 /  10   0   0   0
P28  62 100  62  80 /  30   0   0   0

&&

.DDC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Red Flag Warning from noon CDT /11 AM MDT/ to 9 PM CDT /8 PM
MDT/ Thursday for KSZ043-061>063-074>076-084>086.

&&

MESOSCALE...Burgert
SHORT TERM...Hovorka_42
LONG TERM...Hovorka_42
AVIATION...Russell
FIRE WEATHER...Hovorka_42

Hazardous weather outlook, May 18, 1:41 AM CST, 17 hours 34 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
241 AM CDT Wed May 18 2022

KSZ030-031-043>046-061>066-074>081-084>090-190745-
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-
241 AM CDT Wed May 18 2022 /141 AM MDT Wed May 18 2022/

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

.DAY ONE...Wednesday.

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

Another complex of thunderstorms is expected to arrive from
Colorado Wednesday evening, impacting the western zones.
Marginally severe hail and wind gusts are expected. This risk is
expected to remain west of US 283.

Day 1 Hazards
--------------
* Severe thunderstorm wind/hail: Elevated risk

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Monday.

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

Unseasonably hot temperatures and strong southwest winds are
expected to create critical fire danger Thursday afternoon, along
and west of US 83. A fire weather watch remains in effect. A
strong cold front will follow Thursday night.

Areas of frost are possible Sunday morning.

Days 2-7 Hazards
----------------
* Thursday
  - Fire weather: Significant risk

* Friday
  - Fire weather: Elevated risk

* Saturday
  No hazards.

* Sunday
  - Excessive cold/frost: Limited risk

* Monday
  - Severe thunderstorm wind/hail: Limited risk

* Tuesday
  No hazards.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed west of US 283 tonight.

&&

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

Turner

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 18, 5:52 PM CST, 1 hour 23 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
552 PM MDT Wed May 18 2022

KSZ061-190015-
Hamilton KS-
552 PM MDT Wed May 18 2022

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northwestern
Hamilton County through 615 PM MDT...

At 552 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Holly, or near Coolidge, moving east at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and half inch 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...
  Coolidge around 605 PM MDT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM MDT for
southwestern Kansas.

&&

LAT...LON 3814 10204 3820 10172 3793 10168 3794 10204
TIME...MOT...LOC 2352Z 263DEG 16KT 3804 10208

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH

SPRINGER

Special weather statement, May 18, 5:59 PM CST, 1 hour 16 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
659 PM CDT Wed May 18 2022

KSZ061-062-190030-
Kearny KS-Hamilton KS-
659 PM CDT Wed May 18 2022

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southeastern
Hamilton and southwestern Kearny Counties through 730 PM CDT/630 PM
MDT/...

At 659 PM CDT/559 PM MDT/, Doppler radar was tracking a strong
thunderstorm near Kendall, moving east at 10 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and half inch 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...
  Kendall.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until midnight CDT/1100
PM MDT/ for southwestern Kansas.

&&

LAT...LON 3781 10174 3801 10172 3806 10141 3775 10143
TIME...MOT...LOC 2359Z 273DEG 10KT 3790 10165

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH

SPRINGER

Special weather statement, May 18, 6:16 PM CST, 59 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
616 PM MDT Wed May 18 2022

KSZ061-190045-
Hamilton KS-
616 PM MDT Wed May 18 2022

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northern Hamilton
County through 645 PM MDT...

At 616 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7
miles northeast of Coolidge, moving northeast at 25 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and half inch 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 storm will remain over mainly rural areas of .

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM MDT for
southwestern Kansas.

&&

LAT...LON 3826 10189 3826 10160 3820 10154 3815 10154
      3801 10193 3815 10205 3816 10204
TIME...MOT...LOC 0016Z 237DEG 22KT 3813 10191

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH

SPRINGER

Special weather statement, May 18, 6:29 PM CST, 46 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
729 PM CDT Wed May 18 2022

KSZ061-062-074-075-190100-
Stanton KS-Kearny KS-Hamilton KS-Grant KS-
729 PM CDT Wed May 18 2022

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southeastern
Hamilton, southwestern Kearny, northwestern Grant and northeastern
Stanton Counties through 800 PM CDT/700 PM MDT/...

At 729 PM CDT/629 PM MDT/, Doppler radar was tracking a strong
thunderstorm near Kendall, 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.

This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of .

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

This storm 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/1100
PM MDT/ for southwestern Kansas.

&&

LAT...LON 3788 10176 3801 10159 3782 10127 3762 10154
TIME...MOT...LOC 0029Z 316DEG 11KT 3785 10159

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

SPRINGER

Special weather statement, May 18, 6:38 PM CST, 37 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
738 PM CDT Wed May 18 2022

KSZ043-061>063-190130-
Finney KS-Kearny KS-Hamilton KS-Scott KS-
738 PM CDT Wed May 18 2022

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northeastern
Hamilton, northern Kearny, northwestern Finney and southwestern Scott
Counties through 830 PM CDT/730 PM MDT/...

At 738 PM CDT/638 PM MDT/, Doppler radar was tracking a strong
thunderstorm 13 miles south of Tribune, moving southeast at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and half inch 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 storm will remain over mainly rural areas of .

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until midnight CDT/1100
PM MDT/ for southwestern Kansas.

&&

LAT...LON 3826 10113 3838 10113 3833 10097 3787 10142
      3826 10182
TIME...MOT...LOC 0038Z 316DEG 28KT 3828 10169

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH

SPRINGER

Special weather statement, May 18, 7:00 PM CST, 15 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
800 PM CDT Wed May 18 2022

KSZ061-062-190130-
Kearny KS-Hamilton KS-
800 PM CDT Wed May 18 2022

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southeastern
Hamilton and southwestern Kearny Counties through 830 PM CDT/730 PM
MDT/...

At 759 PM CDT/659 PM MDT/, Doppler radar was tracking a strong
thunderstorm near Kendall, moving east at 10 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 storm will remain over mainly rural areas of .

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until midnight CDT/1100
PM MDT/ for southwestern Kansas.

&&

LAT...LON 3777 10166 3794 10169 3805 10138 3775 10134
TIME...MOT...LOC 0059Z 251DEG 7KT 3788 10152

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

SPRINGER

The radar

The Dodge City radar (KDDC), 126 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:12 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

13 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Kearny

When: May 18, 7:15 PM CST
Where: Kearny County, 18.36 mi NNW of Lake Mc Kinney
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 38.240, -101.270

Winds were estimated to be 60 MPH.

Thunderstorm Wind, Kearny

When: May 18, 7:25 PM CST
Where: Kearny County, 18.36 mi NNW of Lake Mc Kinney
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 38.240, -101.270

Winds were estimated to be 60 MPH.

Thunderstorm Wind, Kearny

When: May 18, 7:43 PM CST
Where: Kearny County, 7.6 mi N of Deerfield
Measured: 70 kt (81 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 38.090, -101.130

Irrigation pivot sprinklers were blown over by the high wind.

Thunderstorm Wind, Morton

When: May 18, 7:50 PM CST
Where: Morton County, 0.88 mi SW of Richfield
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 37.260, -101.790

Thunderstorm Wind, Kearny

When: May 18, 7:50 PM CST
Where: Kearny County, 4.29 mi SSE of Lakin
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 37.890, -101.230

Observed in Lakin.

Thunderstorm Wind, Finney

When: May 18, 7:58 PM CST
Where: Finney County, 4.33 mi WSW of Tennis
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 38.140, -100.990

Winds were estimated to be 70 MPH.

Thunderstorm Wind, Seward

When: May 18, 8:56 PM CST
Where: Seward County, 0.88 mi SE of (Lbl)liberal Arpt
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 37.040, -100.960

Thunderstorm Wind, Finney

When: May 18, 8:58 PM CST
Where: Finney County, 0.88 mi SE of (Gck)garden City Arpt
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 37.920, -100.720

Thunderstorm Wind, Ford

When: May 18, 9:42 PM CST
Where: Ford County, 0.69 mi S of (Ddc)dodge City Arpt
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 37.760, -99.970

Thunderstorm Wind, Ford

When: May 18, 9:52 PM CST
Where: Ford County, (Ddc)dodge City Arpt
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 37.770, -99.970

Thunderstorm Wind, Meade

When: May 18, 10:13 PM CST
Where: Meade County, 5.31 mi NNE of Meade
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 37.350, -100.290

Recorded at mile marker 49.

Thunderstorm Wind, Clark

When: May 18, 10:30 PM CST
Where: Clark County, 7.68 mi S of Ashland Krier Arpt
Measured: 51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 37.060, -99.750

Mesonet station 8S of Ashland.

Thunderstorm Wind, Clark

When: May 18, 10:42 PM CST
Where: Clark County, 2.59 mi WNW of Minneola
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 37.450, -100.010

Winds were estimated to be 60 MPH.

What these are

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, May 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: 1032910, 1032908, 1032909, 1032911, 1032920, 1032912, 1032914, 1032913, 1032915, 1032917, 1032916, 1032921, 1032918.