Around 2:30pm on Sunday May 19th, a high precipitation supercell developed near Hays along a warm front. This storm tracked east along I-70 producing a few brief tornadoes across Russell and northern Ellsworth county.
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.
Around 2:30pm on Sunday May 19th, a high precipitation supercell developed near Hays along a warm front. This storm tracked east along I-70 producing a few brief tornadoes across Russell and northern Ellsworth county. As it progressed east, the wind and hail threat ramp-up as it moved into Saline County. The Salina Airport measured a 100 mph wind gust! There was also numerous reports of golf ball size hail across Salina.
A rapidly moving line of storms called a derecho then moved out of western Kansas and into Reno and Kingman counties shortly after 7 pm. This intense line of storms produced widespread 70 to 90 mph winds as it raced off to the northeast at 70 to 80 mph. Hardest hit were the communities of Hutchinson Haven, Burrton, Halstead and Newton where widespread tree damage and power outages were reported. Damage was also reported across southern Marion and northern Butler counties with tornado damage was documented near Burns. The destructive line of storms continued to produce damaging winds as it tracked toward Kansas City late Sunday night.
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 19, 12:54 PM CST, 1 hour 38 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Wichita KS 154 PM CDT Sun May 19 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - Severe storms likely on this afternoon and evening - Another round of severe storms looks to impact the region on Tuesday - Additional rounds of storms will continue for Thursday into next weekend && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 149 PM CDT Sun May 19 2024 Current satellite water vapor imagery shows upper jet energy/associated upper level wave quickly approaching southwest Kansas. There is a warm front boundary which extends from western Kansas into central Kansas. Storms are and should begin developing over western Kansas and along this warm front boundary. If a storm can stay latched on this boundary it would have potential to produce higher end severe weather and even a tornado. Additonal storms will develop over southwest Kansas and these storms will be in a higher based environment with cold outflows expected and lower tornado potential. The cold pool interaction should cause the storms to congeal quickly and form a line of storms. The line of storms will grow upscale and intensify, especially with the environment of high DCAPE and orthogonal 0-3km bulk shear vector/magnitude supporting good potential for balance on the leading edge of the line storms. This balance could result in very destructive wind gusts over 80mph, especially for any segment of the line that takes on a bowing structure. In addition, increasing low-level SRH and orthogonal 0- 3km bulk shear vector/magnitude supports a few QLCS tornadoes on leading edge when the line of storms encounters better low level moisture. This activity will continue eastward tonight and could have a trailing/lingering line of storms near the KS/OK border past midnight. The atmosphere looks more capped during the day on Monday and with no upper level wave expected if anything can go it would be more isolated and generally northwest/north of central Kansas. Model signals continue to suggest another round of severe weather could affect locations mainly east of the Kansas Turnpike for Tuesday afternoon/evening. Stronger than normal upper jet winds and alignment being more orthogonal to the dry line boundary supports some discrete supercell potential along the dry line where all severe weather hazards are in play(a few higher end severe storms are possible in southeast Kansas). Meanwhile the cold front looks to race southeast and quickly overtake the dry line which should cause a line of storms to quickly zipper from northeast Kansas southward into southern Kansas by Tuesday evening. Wednesday looks to be the one quiet day of the week as surface high pressure builds over Kansas, and drier air spreads southward in the wake of Tuesday's system. The quiet conditions looks to be short- lived as the atmosphere tries to reload and become more active across the region for Thursday into next weekend. Models continue to show upper level flow regime remaining in a southwest-westerly pattern with decent flow aloft, and a couple of upper waves moving across the central plains. The combination of decent wind flow aloft and ample moisture/instability nearby supports more opportunities for severe weather to affect the region. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z MONDAY/... Issued at 1229 PM CDT Sun May 19 2024 Gusty southeast winds will prevail across much of the region this afternoon. Meanwhile storms are expected to develop over central Kansas later this afternoon and parts of western Kansas. The storms are expected to develop into a line of severe storms with damaging winds likely. This line will develop around 6pm to 7pm over central/south central Kansas and race eastward during the night time hours. Low clouds in the MVFR category look to develop late tonight over south central Kansas in the wake of this activity. && .ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && DISCUSSION...CDJ AVIATION...CDJ
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Wichita KS 436 AM CDT Sun May 19 2024 KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-200945- 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- 436 AM CDT Sun May 19 2024 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of Central Kansas, South Central Kansas and Southeast Kansas. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Scattered severe thunderstorms are expected to impact the region this afternoon and evening. The most intense storms will be capable of producing very large hail up to tennis ball size, destructive winds greater than 80 mph, and perhaps a few tornadoes. The greatest severe weather threat will be generally along and west of the Flint Hills between about 3 PM and midnight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday Thunderstorm development appears unlikely Monday afternoon and evening across much of the region. However, if a storm or two is able to form, the environment will support severe weather. Additional chances for severe storms exist over eastern Kansas Tuesday afternoon and evening. Large hail, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes are possible. Stay tuned for later outlooks. Periodic thunderstorm chances remain in the forecast Thursday through early next week. Stay tuned as we continue to refine the potential for severe weather. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is likely this afternoon and evening, mainly along and west of the Flint Hills. && For a graphical version of this information, see our webpage at: https://www.weather.gov/erh/ghwo?wfo=ict
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wichita KS
331 PM CDT Sun May 19 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0327 PM Tornado 4 ESE Gorham 38.87N 98.96W
05/19/2024 Russell KS Broadcast Media
Broadcast media reports tornado west of
Russell.
&&
SGSThe Dodge City radar (KDDC), 157 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:32 UTC.
42 thunderstorm wind, 15 hail, 5 flood, 4 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
The majority of the damage was to numerous power poles that were either broken or bent. Some stacked old power poles were tossed in various directions.
There were several reports in Russell of half-dollar to tennis ball sized hail. During the NWS Storm Survey the next day, there was noted hail damage to various structures in town including the upper windows at the Russell Municipal Airport. The damage was likely worsened by the measured 82 mph winds.
The measured wind gust at Russell Municipal Airport was 82 mph. It was estimated to be around 70 mph in town prior to the recorded measurement.
Wind gusts were estimated to be around 70 mph.
A pivot system was flipped to the north on the south side of I-70 and to the south on the north side of I-70. A KDOT sign was also twisted.
Wind gusts were estimated to be around 60 mph.
Wind gusts were estimated to be around 60 mph with torrential rainfall.
Nickel to quarter sized hail fell in Ellsworth.
Picture sent on social media of estimated golf ball sized hail.
Water over the roadway at Kansas Highway 14 and Avenue D.
Water was over the roadway at Interstate 70 and 6th Road.
Multiple sources reported ping pong ball to golf ball sized hail.
A 100-mph wind gust was measured at the Salina Regional Airport. While wind gusts may not have been quite as strong in Salina proper, they were still capable of knocking down some trees and powerline across the city.
KWCH shared a picture from the public showing hail about the size of ping pong balls.
Flooding was occurring on Crawford Street from Front to 3rd Steet.
Tornado is documented from a video on social media. Location and time are estimated via radar. No tornadic damage was found in the area. Nearby damage to a farmstead indicated straight line wind damage.
Wind gust measured at Great Bend Municipal Airport.
Wind gusts were estimated to be around 60 mph.
Wind gusts were estimated to be around 60 mph.
Power lines were knocked down.
Wind gusts were estimated to be around 70 mph.
Wind gust was measured at 70 mph. At least four inch diameter tree limbs were downed.
Measured wind gust from the Kansas Mesonet.
Wind gusts were estimated to be around 60 mph. Powerlines were also reported to have been knocked down.
Wind gusts estimated to be around 80 mph. Lots of trees limbs were laying across roads, and power was out in parts of Kingman.
An 86-mph wind gust was measured at Hutchinson Municipal Airport. There were also reports of structural damage to buildings and powerlines down across Hutchison and South Hutchinson.
Roofs were blown off of homes.
There was extensive damage across the city of Burrton specifically to many trees and some outbuildings. One storage garage was lifted and tossed into the alley behind it.
Wind gusts were estimated to be around 80 mph. Power lines were also reported to be downed in Bentley.
Winds five miles northwest of Halstead were initially estimated to be around 60 mph by a trained spotter. Stronger winds were estimated in town with extensive straight line wind damage including several trees downed, parts of roofs and outbuildings damaged based on a storm survey. The most severe damage was on the west side of town to an outbuilding which had collapsed doors ultimately leading to some damage to the roof and wall of the structure.
A David weather station near N 34th Street and Ridge Road measured a wind gust at 59 mph.
Wind gusts were estimated to be around 65 mph.
Several power lines reported down in northwest Wichita.
A lot of street flooding reported in town.
A roof was blown off of a metal outbuilding.
There was extensive tree and structural damage in and around Newton with multiple roads blocked. Per a storm survey, the damage was caused by straight line winds, and wind gusts were estimated to be up to 90 mph. This included damage to buildings at the Newton City County Airport which only measured a wind gust to 64 mph.
Off duty NWS employee had a personal weather station measure a 72 mph wind gust.
Whitewater Fire Department estimated wind gusts around 70 to 80 mph. A storm survey the following day indicated similar wind speeds with tree limbs snapped and damage to an outbuilding's roof and siding which was tossed into the nearby field. There was a home just to the north which had siding ripped off along with damage to a silo. This damage suggested stronger winds closer to 90 mph.
Measured wind gust at Wichita Jabara Airport.
Measured wind gust at 13th and Webb. This was relayed by KAKE.
Six to twelve-inch diameter tree limbs were reported down.
Damage occurred to a few farm outbuildings along with trees. During the survey, swirls were observed in the brome and tree damage. There was debris collected in the trees too.
Winds were estimated to be around 60 mph.
Sporadic tree limbs were down across Towanda. All limbs appeared to be less than five inches in diameter.
Winds were estimated to be around 70 mph.
Wind gusts were estimated to be around 60 mph.
Wind gusts estimated to be around 60 mph. There was also a six inch diameter tree limb down near Augusta.
One to two inch diameter tree limbs knocked down.
Measured wind gust at El Dorado Captain Jack Thomas Airport.
A cedar tree was blown over.
Measured wind gust at Eureka Lt. William M. Milliken Airport.
Street flooding reported through a social media video at the intersection of Hillside and Waterman.
Wind gusts estimated to be around 60 mph.
Wind gusts estimated to be around 60 mph.
Trees limbs around four inches in diameter were downed in Humboldt.
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: 1181788, 1181727, 1181730, 1181731, 1181732, 1181787, 1181733, 1181734, 1181736, 1181737, 1181738, 1181739, 1181740, 1181741, 1187442, 1187443, 1181742, 1181743, 1181744, 1181745, 1187445, 1188671, 1181747, 1181748, 1181749, 1186980, 1181750, 1181751, 1181752, 1181753, 1181754, 1181755, 1181757, 1186993, 1188940, 1181758, 1181759, 1181760, 1181761, 1181762, and more.