A cluster of supercells developed across portions of Harper and Cowley counties during the afternoon of May 15th and quickly began producing large hail and damaging winds. This cluster of storms expanded north and eastward continuing to produce quarter to two inch sized hail across south central and southeast Kansas.
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 ICT wrote it up.
A cluster of supercells developed across portions of Harper and Cowley counties during the afternoon of May 15th and quickly began producing large hail and damaging winds. This cluster of storms expanded north and eastward continuing to produce quarter to two inch sized hail across south central and southeast Kansas. Meanwhile, a second cluster of storms developed across northwest Oklahoma and progressed into southern Kansas during the nighttime hours. While more sporadic, this cluster produced wind gusts to 60 mph and quarter to golf ball sized hail as it moved across south central and southeast Kansas early on the morning of May 16. A prolonged period of heavy rainfall caused some flooding across portions of Elk County as well.
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 Wichita, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 15, 4:25 PM CST, 1 hour 9 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Wichita KS 525 PM CDT Wed May 15 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - Severe thunderstorms possible this evening; mainly across southern KS - Additional shower/storm chances (20-40%) Thursday and Friday across southeast KS - Mainly quiet over the weekend with rain/storm chances returning next week&& .DISCUSSION... Issued at 330 PM CDT Wed May 15 2024 As of 3 PM Wednesday afternoon, a complex weather setup was evolving across portions of central KS into OK. A prolonged period of elevated showers and storms moved across southern and southeast KS leaving an outflow boundary in its wake from east central OK into south central KS. Based on the latest surface analysis this outflow boundary intersects the synoptic front in southern Stafford County or northern Pratt County. This boundary is likely to be the focal point for storm development. MLCAPE up to 2000 J/kg and a long, veering hodograph will support supercell structures with large hail up to golf ball size and damaging winds. As the evening progresses, a relatively dry boundary layer should foster cold pool/RFD mergers and a gradual upscale growth into more linear structures. Transitioning into the overnight, storms are likely to become elevated with a heavy rain threat across mainly southeast KS. The effective boundary is likely to progress southeast of the forecast area on Thursday. That being said, additional shower and storms are possible north of the boundary across southeast KS. Effective shear values less than 20 kt should limit the potential for severe storms. As we transition Friday into the weekend, a northern stream, midlevel trough will slide across the northern Plains. Limited moisture should keep things mostly dry Friday and Saturday. A more- active midlevel pattern will emerge early next week as a southwestern US trough develops. This will increase the potential for storms, including severe storms. && .AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z FRIDAY/... Issued at 525 PM CDT Wed May 15 2024 Scattered to numerous thunderstorms are most likely to develop or move into south central Kansas later this evening. Some could be severe. A complex of storms may form and move eastward across south central and southeast Kansas overnight. Thunderstorms may also affect parts of central Kansas early tonight. MVFR/IFR stratus cigs are expected to develop behind a front toward dawn in parts of central and south central Kansas. && .ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...None. && DISCUSSION...BMB AVIATION...KED
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Wichita KS 331 PM CDT Wed May 15 2024 KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-162045- Russell-Lincoln-Barton-Ellsworth-Saline-Rice-McPherson-Marion-Chase- Reno-Harvey-Butler-Greenwood-Woodson-Allen-Kingman-Sedgwick-Harper- Sumner-Cowley-Elk-Wilson-Neosho-Chautauqua-Montgomery-Labette- 331 PM CDT Wed May 15 2024 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of Central Kansas, South Central Kansas and Southeast Kansas. .DAY ONE...Tonight Thunderstorm chances will increase late this afternoon and evening across central, south central, and southeast Kansas. The strongest activity will be capable of golf sized hail, 60 to 70 mph winds, and a tornado can't be ruled out. In addition, pockets of very heavy rainfall and localized flooding is possible. The greatest severe weather threat will be across mainly southern Kansas. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday Periodic chances for thunderstorms will remain in the forecast for Thursday, Friday, and Sunday through Tuesday. A few storms could be strong to severe Thursday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated tonight. && For a graphical version of this information, see our webpage at: https://www.weather.gov/erh/ghwo?wfo=ict
The Vance AFB radar (KVNX), 60 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:33 UTC.
11 hail, 2 thunderstorm wind, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
There were reports of quarter sized hail in Calwell up to golfball and two inches in diameter north and northeast town by a few miles.
Quarter to golf ball sized hail was reported.
Portions of US Highway 160 flooded between the town of Elk Falls and Dove Road, east of Moline.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kansas in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings 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: 1180860, 1180861, 1180862, 1180863, 1180865, 1180866, 1180868, 1180869, 1180870, 1180874, 1180875, 1180872, 1180873, 1180843.