Two rounds of severe weather impacted Northwest Kansas as a strong low pressure system moved across the Central High Plains. Initially, two strong supercells moved over the southern halves of Logan and Gove counties producing up to grapefruit sized hail and two EF-Unknown landspout tornadoes.
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 GLD wrote it up.
Two rounds of severe weather impacted Northwest Kansas as a strong low pressure system moved across the Central High Plains. Initially, two strong supercells moved over the southern halves of Logan and Gove counties producing up to grapefruit sized hail and two EF-Unknown landspout tornadoes. The hail and tornadoes primarily occurred in southern Gove County along and east of Highway 25. One of the landspouts developed along the Gove-Lane county line and continued on into northern Lane County. No damage was reported with either tornado. During the evening hours, a linear cluster of storms moved across Northwest Kansas from Colorado producing large hail and wind gusts estimated up to 96 mph. The strongest winds occurred in Eastern Graham County where estimated 90-96 mph straight line winds produced significant damage to two metal buildings.
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 Goodland, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 1, 2:24 PM CST, 3 hours 2 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Goodland KS 224 PM MDT Wed May 1 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - A few thunderstorms may develop in northwest Kansas late this afternoon, south of Interstate 70 and east of Highway 25. An isolated supercell is possible, mainly between 4-8 PM MDT, capable of producing large hail, damaging winds and perhaps a tornado. - More widespread thunderstorms will develop north of I-70 in northwest KS and southwest NE this evening. A few severe storms capable of producing large to very large hail are possible, mainly between 8pm-3am MDT. Storms will rapidly exit the region (into south-central and southeast NE), thereafter. - Scattered thunderstorms are anticipated to develop over portions of northeast CO and northwest KS Friday afternoon. Severe storms capable of producing damaging winds are possible, mainly late Fri aft/eve, when storms may increase in coverage and track SE toward southwestern and south-central KS. && .SHORT TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/... Issued at 200 PM MDT Wed May 1 2024 Most of the area remains cloudy and cool this afternoon, with some clearing noted on satellite across southern and western portions. A warm front was surging northward across southwest Kansas, and at 19z was roughly along a Garden City to Jetmore line. Meanwhile, a cold front was moving out of the Colorado Front Range in response to an upper level shortwave trough. Not much has changed from previous thinking. The warm front to the south has a chance of reaching southern Logan and Gove counties by later this afternoon, which would potentially put them in the warm sector which is very unstable. Latest RAP analysis shows up to 3000 j/kg in that area with bulk shear values of up to 60 kts. In fact, latest runs of the HRRR and RAP show initiation occurring by 21-23z around the Lake Scott area. Any discrete supercell in that location would be capable of producing large hail, damaging winds and perhaps a tornado. Those storms seem to fade by 02-03z, and attention turns to the northwest where more widespread convection will be getting underway in response to the upper dynamics and surface cold front. While storms may initially be surface based, expecting mostly elevated storms this evening across much of northwest Kansas and southwest Nebraska. MUCAPE values will be around 1500-2500 j/kg and shear values around 60 kts. So elevated supercells will certainly be possible, capable of producing large to very large hail and perhaps a few isolated damaging wind gusts. This risk will move east through the late evening hours and spill into the overnight hours in far eastern areas like Norton and Graham counties, finally exiting to the east by 07-09z. There will also be a risk of excessive rainfall in the northeast part of the area, particularly from McCook to Oberlin and Norton, where mean rainfall amounts are around 1 inch and 90th-95th percentile rainfall amounts are in the 1 to 2 inch range. Low temperatures will range from the upper 30s in Colorado to the middle 40s in north central Kansas. Thursday will be breezy in the morning, then diminishing winds, mostly sunny and mild in the afternoon with highs in the 60s. A weak shortwave trough comes out of Colorado in the afternoon and evening hours bringing a chance for scattered showers and perhaps an isolated thunderstorm through the evening and overnight, with best chances in northeast Colorado. Low temperatures will range from the upper 30s to lower 40s. The pattern does not change much on Friday. Another shortwave trough moves out of the Rockies in the afternoon, a bit stronger than the one on Thursday, with increasing chances for showers and thunderstorms with the associated surface cold front. Showers and storms will be likely by Friday night as the front moves through the area. Surface based instability will be rather limited, generally under 1000 j/kg is forecast ahead of the front, but deep layer shear values will be 40-50 kts. Those parameters may be sufficient for a few severe storms capable of producing hail up to quarter size and gust winds. Instability rapidly decreases after about 03z as the front races southeast, probably ending the severe threat. High temperatures will be in the upper 60s to lower 70s and lows Friday night ranging from the lower 30s in northeast Colorado to the middle 40s in north central Kansas. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... Issued at 223 PM MDT Wed May 1 2024 The extended forecast begins with the Tri-State area under southwest flow on Sunday. A close upper low will be over Northern California, and sliding to the southeast through the day. There is a 20-40% chance of a few showers and isolated thunderstorms in the morning across portions of the Tri-State area. Thunderstorm chances (20- 40%) will continue across the area heading into the afternoon and evening hours. Monday, southwest flow persists over the area with a tightening pressure gradient, in advance of the upper trough. Models are bringing the trough through the Tri-State area during the day on Monday, with a closed low taking a sharp turn to the north, into the Dakotas. A warm front will be draped across portions of South Dakota and Nebraska, with warm air coming up into the area. Expected high temperatures will range from the upper 60s over portions of northeastern Colorado, to the mid to upper 70s for areas south of Interstate 70. A few thunderstorms will be possible Monday afternoon, mainly for locations along and north of I-70. Westerly to southwesterly flow sets up over the region Tuesday and Wednesday. Dry conditions are expected through this timeframe. High temperatures each day will range from the upper 60s to mid-70s each day. Lows will range from the upper 30s to low 40s in eastern Colorado, to the mid-40s for the easternmost portions of the CWA. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY/... Issued at 1118 AM MDT Wed May 1 2024 MVFR ceilings likely to prevail at both KGLD and KMCK through the afternoon, though a brief improvement to VFR possible at KGLD in mid afternoon. Tonight, scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms will develop with an upper level disturbance. Both terminals likely to be impacted by lower ceilings and rain. There is also a slight risk for hail with any stronger thunderstorm. Convection expected to end around 06-07z, but low ceilings persisting through the overnight. A return to VFR expected at both terminals early Thursday morning. && .GLD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... KS...None. CO...None. NE...None. && SHORT TERM...BV LONG TERM...Wekesser AVIATION...BV
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Goodland KS 409 PM MDT Wed May 1 2024 COZ090>092-KSZ001>004-013>016-027-041-NEZ079>081-022215- Yuma-Kit Carson-Cheyenne-Rawlins-Decatur-Norton-Sherman-Thomas- Sheridan-Graham-Wallace-Greeley-Dundy-Hitchcock-Red Willow- 409 PM MDT Wed May 1 2024 /509 PM CDT Wed May 1 2024/ This hazardous weather outlook is for extreme southwest Nebraska... northwest Kansas and east central Colorado. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT... More widespread thunderstorms will develop north of I-70 in northwest Kansas and southwest Nebraska this evening. A few severe storms capable of producing large to very large hail are possible, mainly between 8pm-3am MDT. Locally heavy rainfall will also be possible in those areas. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY... Scattered thunderstorms are anticipated to develop over portions of northeast Colorado and northwest Kansas Friday afternoon. Severe storms capable of producing damaging winds are possible, mainly late Friday afternoon and Friday evening, as storms increase in coverage and track southeast toward southwestern and south-central Kansas. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be required. KSZ028-029-042-022215- Logan-Gove-Wichita- 509 PM CDT Wed May 1 2024 This hazardous weather outlook is for northwest Kansas. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT... A few thunderstorms may develop in northwest Kansas late this afternoon south of Interstate 70 and east of Highway 25. A Tornado Watch is in effect for Logan, Gove, and Wichita counties until Midnight CDT. An isolated supercell is possible, mainly between 4-8 PM MDT, capable of producing large hail, damaging winds, and perhaps a tornado. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY... Scattered thunderstorms are anticipated to develop over portions of northeast Colorado and northwest Kansas Friday afternoon. Severe storms capable of producing damaging winds are possible, mainly late Friday afternoon and Friday evening, as storms increase in coverage and track southeast toward southwestern and south-central Kansas. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be required.
The Dodge City radar (KDDC), 118 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:23 UTC.
19 hail, 8 thunderstorm wind, 2 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Multiple storm chasers reported an EF-U landspout tornado in a field east of Highway 23. Location is an approximate and it did not appear to move far from where it developed over it's brief life. No damage was observed or reported.
Multiple baseball sized hail stones observed at the location.
Multiple baseball sized hailstones found on the property.
Quarter to half dollar sized hail stone reported.
Spotter reported golf ball sized hail around intersection of CR I and KS 23.
Quarter to baseball sized hail reported.
Hail was observed to range in size from an apple to grapefruit on Highway 23.
Multiple storm chasers reported softball sized hail on County Road 50.
Multiple reports from media and storm chasers of a landspout EF-U tornado in a field near the Gove/Lane county line. No damage was reported. Tornado was in Gove County for one minute before continuing for another five minutes in Lane County.
Tennis ball sized hail caused an unknown amount of damage at a house along the Gove/Lane county line.
Accumulating pea to penny sized hail with a depth of one inch on Highway 27.
Cheyenne County Dispatch relayed report of quarter sized hail near intersection of County Road D and Highway 27.
Hail the size of quarters fell for a duration of 5 minutes.
Measured via weather underground site KKSHOXIE16.
Dime to nickel sized hail observed.
Weather Underground site KKSHOXIE18 reported gusts of 59 to 74 mph over a duration of four minutes.
Reported via Weather Underground mesonet site KKSPARK1.
Reported via Kansas mesonet at 10 meter height above ground.
Reported via Weather Underground mesonet site KKSLENOR7.
Reported via Weather Underground mesonet site KKSLENOR20.
Pea to penny sized hail reported in Hill City.
Exceptional damage to a 60'x100' metal building with 15' side walls that was built in 2019. East wall was blown in, roof blown away, and substructure partially collapsed with metal siding peeled away. Several 2x4 planks of wood were stuck in the ground about 70' from the building near a broken telephone pole. Property owners found debris scattered about two miles to the southeast.
Metal garage had overhead doors blown out and folded with portions of the side wall torn away.
Hail ranged from pea to penny in size.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kansas in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Kansas, 2024Warnings in Kansas, May 2024
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: 1176393, 1176404, 1176411, 1179358, 1176405, 1176413, 1179359, 1176418, 1176420, 1176470, 1176472, 1176488, 1176512, 1176522, 1176523, 1176526, 1176527, 1176528, 1176529, 1176530, 1176531, 1176532, 1176533, 1176534, 1176535, 1176536, 1176537, 1176538, 1177059.