Rich low level moisture rapidly lifted north across the Plains on Saturday May 25th with storms initially developing along a developing dryline across western Oklahoma. One particular storm gained strength as it tracked north of the Oklahoma/Kansas border.
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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.
Rich low level moisture rapidly lifted north across the Plains on Saturday May 25th with storms initially developing along a developing dryline across western Oklahoma. One particular storm gained strength as it tracked north of the Oklahoma/Kansas border. This supercell thunderstorm produced a brief tornado in Barber County before tracking east and producing an EF-2 tornado west of Anthony. What made this tornado unique was that it did not form from the main mesocyclone associated with the supercell, but rather from the supercells interaction with one of the storms lifting due north out of Oklahoma.
The tornado threat was short-lived though as storms lifting north out of northern Oklahoma merged with the supercell which transitioned the threat to damaging winds. This cluster of storms produced 60 to 75 mph winds as it tracked across Wichita which caused widespread tree damage and widespread power outages.
Around midnight additional storms developed over southern Cowley County and rapidly starting rotating which required a tornado warning as it tracked toward the Kansas/Oklahoma border. This storm went on to produce just shy of baseball size hail in Tyro and 80 mph winds in Caney.
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 25, 4:41 PM CST, 1 hour 42 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Wichita KS 541 PM CDT Sat May 25 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - Severe thunderstorms this evening and overnight - Drying out Sunday and into Monday - Next chance for showers and thunderstorm will be mid to late next week && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 233 PM CDT Sat May 25 2024 This afternoon and evening forecast is heavily dependent on when quality moisture (Tds >65F) arrives in the region and when the cap breaks. Currently, the moisture is to the south in Eastern OK and into Arkansas. This moisture is currently moving further west into OK as of late morning and is expected to move north into Kansas. This is expected to continue through afternoon today and will serving to help destabilize the atmosphere in CWA. How fast this moisture advection occurs this afternoon is still in question and creates a significant amount of uncertainty for the possibility of thunderstorms this afternoon. To add to this uncertainty, most of the BUFKIT soundings show a decent cap in place over much of South Central and Southeast Kansas this afternoon through sunset. By sunset, the dryline is expected to encroach on the CWA from the west and provide the needed push to kick off the thunderstorm activity. Due to the late arrival of the quality moisture, this dry line will be rather diffuse so the initiation point/location of this thunderstorm activity is difficult to identify. Given this uncertainty and the presence of a decent cap over much of the CWA, it is looking like thunderstorm activity will not start until closer to sunset rather than this afternoon. That said, if an updraft is able to break through, the mid level cap this afternoon, it will grow up scale quickly as the mid and upper level dynamics are very supportive of severe thunderstorms. This will make this a low chance but high impact possibility for this afternoon. As sunset approaches, this will change dramatically with a much higher likelyhood of severe thunderstorm activity. Thunderstorms are expected to develop to the west of the CWA and enter the CWA around sunset. By this time, the moisture will be in place and will create conducive environment for severe thunderstorm activity. Large, damaging hail, damaging winds and with a few strong tornadoes are possible during the evening. This activity will move across the CWA with this thunderstorm activity likely coming together into a more linear or squall line mode as it moves into the I-135 corridor. Once this occurs, high winds (65+ mph) are expected but large hail and an isolated tornado can't be ruled out. This thunderstorm activity is expected to push through the CWA during the overnight with Southeast Kansas likely to see some residual thunderstorm activity Sunday morning but this will be pushing out of the region. Sunday the main area of showers and thunderstorms will push to the east and north. This activity may linger in these areas for much of the afternoon but do not expect severe weather to linger and is expected to push off to the east. Monday high pressure will dominate and keep the shower and thunderstorm activity out of the forecast. Temperatures are expected to remain near normal for this time and through the end of the week. Rain chances increase by mid week and into end of the week. At this time, the best chance for rain look to be toward the end of the week with smaller chances on Wednesday. && .AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 24Z SUNDAY/... Issued at 541 PM CDT Sat May 25 2024 60+ dew points arrived at the southern terminals late this afternoon and cu popped up as a result of the lower level moisture, diabtic heating and colder and drier air aloft. An upper wave moving through from the southwest, dry line advancing from the west, deep shear of 50+ knots and moderate to strong instability will all combine for the potential for scattered to widespread strong to severe thunderstorms from near issuance time at KRSL and KGDB to 06z at KCNU. Gusts to 50+, hail greater than an inch and tornadoes are all possible along with MVFR and brief IFR flying conditions. Best chances of thunderstorms looks to be at KICT, KHUT and KNU, closer to the higher dew points, so will put Tempo thunderstorm groups in there. In fact, radar was showing two supercells, that were just southeast of Dodge City, moving northeast toward Hutchinson and Wichita and set to be nearby shortly after 01z. As the complex low pressure system moves away Sunday morning, flying conditions will improve and winds will shift to the southwest and later northwest. Winds away from convection will be mostly from the south and southeast with gusts to around 25 knots over the eastern terminals and 30+ knots over western ones. && .ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && DISCUSSION...ELM AVIATION...MK
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Wichita KS 319 PM CDT Sat May 25 2024 KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-262030- 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- 319 PM CDT Sat May 25 2024 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of Central Kansas, South Central Kansas and Southeast Kansas. .DAY ONE...Tonight Storms are expected to develop over Western Oklahoma and Western Kansas late this afternoon or early evening, affecting the area generally after 6 pm. Very large hail up to baseball size and damaging winds to 75 mph will be possible with any storm that is able to develop this evening. The highest tornado potential looks to be generally along and south of Highway 400 between 6 pm and 10 pm. Additionally, very heavy rain is likely with these storms which may cause localized flooding. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday Scattered storms are expected to return to return to the forecast for Tuesday night through Friday with at least some strong storms possible. .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
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wichita KS
624 PM CDT Sat May 25 2024
KSZ047-260015-
Barton KS-
624 PM CDT Sat May 25 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT WESTERN BARTON COUNTY THROUGH
715 PM CDT...
At 624 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Pawnee Rock, or 7 miles northeast of Larned, moving northeast at 40
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 hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Great Bend, Hoisington, Pawnee Rock, Albert, Olmitz, Galatia, Susank,
and Great Bend Airport.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 100 AM CDT for central
Kansas.
&&
LAT...LON 3868 9903 3863 9864 3826 9884 3826 9903
TIME...MOT...LOC 2324Z 210DEG 35KT 3825 9900
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH
DARMOFALThe Wichita radar (KICT), 74 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:23 UTC.
17 thunderstorm wind, 8 hail, 1 tornado, 1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A measured gust of 58 mph winds was reported by emergency management. Trees and powerlines were later relayed as down in Arkansas City as well.
Hail ranging from half dollar sized to two inches in diameter fell between Waldron and Attica.
The tornado tracked northwest and damaged a farmstead west of Anthony. What made this tornado unique was that it did not form from the main mesocyclone associated with the supercell, but rather from the supercell's interaction with one of the storms lifting due north out of Oklahoma. EF-2 damage was found at a farm about 8 miles west of Anthony where large sections of a roof structure were removed. A couple tree trunks were snapped with another one uprooted. One outbuilding was totally destroyed.
Hail was the size of a quarter.
Strother Field Airport measured wind gusts of 60 to 74 mph.
Winds were estimated to be 70 to 75 mph winds with six to ten inch diameter tree limbs down.
Off duty NWS employee's home weather station measured a wind gust to 78 mph. The ASOS at Wichita Eisenhower National Airport measured an estimated gust to 72 mph. Near the airport there was an eight inch diameter tree snapped onto vehicles and powerlines were reported down as well.
Cooperative observer estimated winds at 60 to 70 mph.
Trees and powerlines were down in the city.
Powerlines were reported down along with some tree damage in the city of Halstead.
Newton City County Airport measured wind gusts to 69 mph. Tree damage and powerlines were reported down in the city via emergency management and law enforcement.
A public report via social media of an estimated 70 mph wind gust in Udall.
Public relayed via social media of winds estimated to be 50 to 60 mph.
Law enforcement reported multiple trees and powerlines down throughout town. There was damage to a public works facility outbuilding and garage as well which was relayed via pictures sent by emergency management.
Off duty NWS employee measured nickel sized hail in McPherson.
A trained spotter estimated wind speeds of 50-60 mph and had penny sized hail as well.
Trees and powerlines were knocked down.
Strother Field Airport measured a gust to 58 mph.
Hail reports were shared via broadcast media and law enforcement which ranged from quarter to golf ball size near Caney. Wind gusts estimated to 80 mph were reported as well.
Caney Police Department estimated 80 mph winds and had quarter sized hail.
Tennis ball sized hail was reported.
An mPing report was sent in of golf ball sized hail.
There was hail reported between Edna and Bartlett ranging from a quarter to ping pong ball 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: 1188995, 1181798, 1183103, 1181799, 1181805, 1181806, 1181807, 1184833, 1184836, 1184850, 1184851, 1184852, 1184855, 1184857, 1184882, 1184860, 1188998, 1184861, 1184862, 1184867, 1184868, 1181800, 1184871, 1184872, 1181802, 1181803, 1181804.