A compact upper-level shortwave ejected into the southern Great Plains. Southeasterly flow amplified the moisture available to the developing storms in addition to CAPE values in excess of 2000 J/kg.
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 DDC wrote it up.
A compact upper-level shortwave ejected into the southern Great Plains. Southeasterly flow amplified the moisture available to the developing storms in addition to CAPE values in excess of 2000 J/kg. 0-6 km shear values were around 30 kts with hodograph soundings indicating good lower level shear with slight backing in the mid levels. The only severe output recorded from these storms were severe hail across the afternoon and evening of 4/24 with heavy rain lasting into the morning of 4/25.
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 Apr 24, 2:07 PM CST, 1 hour 53 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Dodge City KS 307 PM CDT Thu Apr 24 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - There is a 50-70% chance for strong to severe thunderstorms tonight. - Unseasonably cool temperatures expected Friday. && .UPDATE... Issued at 242 PM CDT Thu Apr 24 2025 **MESOSCALE DISCUSSION** 19Z surface observations show a weak outflow boundary roughly along the K-96 corridor. There isn't much difference temperature wise along the boundary as temperatures are basically in the upper 60s to low 70s in the cooler sector and in the lower to mid 70s in the warmer sector to the south. Isolated convection has developed in portions of Rush and Ness county along the boundary but should remain sub severe for the time being as bulk shear values in the lower levels are still pretty weak (> 30 kts). Present thermodynamics have roughly 2000 J/kg surface CAPE along and south of the outflow boundary and lapse rates of 7 C in the 0-3km range. These rates should start to increase mainly along and south of the highway 54 corridor which will be the focus for today's forecast severe weather threat. SPC 1630Z update continues a slight risk roughly along and south of a Syracuse to Medicine Lodge line and the main threat will be hail up to 2 inches and wind gusts up to 70 mph. Tornado threat at this point should be fairly low. As the outflow boundary moves to the south and west through the afternoon and interacts with a dryline near the Oklahoma panhandle we could see a few eluted supercells develop between 21-00Z in the vicinity of these boundaries. Forecast hodographs continue to show slight increasing in the 850 mb winds but SFC-6km shear values in the 30-35 kt range. Hodograph curvatures show a slight sickle shape in the lower levels and then with northwesterly winds aloft a kink in the mid levels which should stifle giant hail production (baseball or larger) but we could at least reach 2 inch criteria. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 300 PM CDT Thu Apr 24 2025 WV imagery indicates a southwest flow aloft prevailing across the Western High Plains. Near the surface, an area of low pressure remains anchored in extreme southeast Colorado with an attendant frontal boundary extending northeast through western Kansas. Thunderstorm chances (50-70%) pick up again late this afternoon/early evening with a similar setup to yesterday as the SREF indicates a weak/compact upper level shortwave perturbation ejecting northeast out of the Southern Rockies into the Western High Plains early in the period. Meanwhile, a larger scale upper level shortwave trough swinging east through the Upper Midwest into the Great Lakes Region will help nudge the aforementioned frontal boundary southward across southwest Kansas into northern Oklahoma later this evening/overnight. Near the surface, a prevailing southeasterly upslope flow will reinforce a moist airmass across central/southwest Kansas with surface dewpoints holding generally in the mid/upper 50s(F) to the lower 60s(F), supporting reasonable instability with MUCAPE values upward of 1500 to 2000 J/kg. With sufficient instability within a zone of steepening mid-level lapse rates thunderstorm development is expected this afternoon as H5 vort maxima begin to kick out across the Western and Southern High Plains, interacting with a dryline attendant to the surface low in southeast Colorado and subsequent stalled boundary in western Kansas as suggest by CAMs, not to mention any remnant outflow boundaries from lingering morning convection. The focus for storm development then shifts southward toward the Oklahoma border through the evening hours in conjunction with the quasi- stationary boundary beginning to shift south. The best chance for storm development is expected to be across central/south central Kansas and eastern portions of southwest Kansas where the HREF shows a 30-50% probability of 6-hr QPF exceeding 0.25 of an inch by late this evening with storms potentially lingering well into Friday morning. Increased rain chances (60-80%) return Friday night/early Saturday as medium range ensembles indicate a southwesterly flow aloft returning across the Western High Plains in wake of a ridge axis shifting east into the Central Plains. Departing surface high pressure through the Upper Midwest will set up a east-southeasterly upslope flow across the high plains of eastern Colorado/western Kansas with a projected frontal boundary extending generally across the Texas Panhandle northwest into southeast Colorado. With sufficient moisture return providing increased instability, diurnally driven thunderstorm development is expected in vicinity of the frontal boundary with storms then spreading northeast into southwest Kansas late Friday night into Saturday morning. This is supported by the latest NBM painting a widespread 20-30% probability for 12-hr QPF exceeding 0.25 of an inch by early Saturday afternoon. Near seasonal temperatures are forecast tonight as a weak frontal boundary sinks slowly south through west central Kansas and portions of southwest/central Kansas by daybreak Friday. With the HREF indicating a 40-60% probability of temperatures dropping below 50F in west central Kansas to a 20-40% probability of falling below 55F in south central Kansas, look for lows in the upper 40s(F) to the mid-50s(F). Unseasonably cool temperatures are likely Friday as cooler air filters into western Kansas behind a cold front dropping south into the Texas Panhandle/western Oklahoma, lowering H85 temperatures down to near 5C in extreme southwest Kansas to around 12C in south central Kansas. The HREF shows a 40-60% probability of temperatures climbing above 55F out near the Colorado border to a 90% probability of temperatures nudging above 60F in south central Kansas, so look for afternoon highs only up into the 50s(F) out west to the lower 60s(F) farther east, especially if expected early morning low level stratus lingers. A warming trend is then expected through the weekend as departing surface high pressure returns a southerly flow to western Kansas. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/... Issued at 1103 AM CDT Thu Apr 24 2025 Isolated to widely scattered thunderstorms are expected to develop across portions of southwest Kansas late this afternoon into early evening, potentially affecting the vicinity of all TAF sites generally after 21-23Z. Otherwise, primarily VFR conditions are expected to prevail through late evening. Low level stratus is then expected to develop along and behind a cold front pushing southward through western Kansas overnight, resulting in potential MVFR cigs developing in vicinity of KHYS after 06-08Z and spreading southward through daybreak Friday. Light east- southeast winds prevailing through early evening are expected to turn northeasterly 10 to 20kt generally after 02-04Z behind a weak cold front sinking southward through western Kansas into northern Oklahoma. && .DDC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && UPDATE...Tatro DISCUSSION...JJohnson AVIATION...JJohnson
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Dodge City KS 445 AM CDT Thu Apr 24 2025 KSZ030-031-043>046-061>066-074>081-084>090-250945- 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- 445 AM CDT Thu Apr 24 2025 /345 AM MDT Thu Apr 24 2025/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Kansas, south central Kansas, southwest Kansas, and west central Kansas. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight There is a chance of severe thunderstorms this afternoon and evening across southwest Kansas. Very large hail is the primary concern. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday There is a small chance of severe thunderstorms Sunday evening across western Kansas. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Storm spotters may be needed this afternoon and evening, especially along the southern tier of southwest Kansas.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
416 PM CDT Thu Apr 24 2025
KSZ087-088-242145-
Meade KS-Clark KS-
416 PM CDT Thu Apr 24 2025
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT EASTERN MEADE AND SOUTHERN CLARK
COUNTIES THROUGH 445 PM CDT...
At 416 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 10
miles northwest of Englewood, moving northeast at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 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.
This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of eastern Meade and
southern Clark Counties.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3700 10001 3720 10050 3748 10021 3700 9954
TIME...MOT...LOC 2116Z 218DEG 11KT 3716 10011
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
BENNETTSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
420 PM CDT Thu Apr 24 2025
KSZ031-242200-
Ellis KS-
420 PM CDT Thu Apr 24 2025
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT EAST CENTRAL ELLIS COUNTY
THROUGH 500 PM CDT...
At 420 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Victoria, moving northeast at 10 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 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.
This strong thunderstorm will be near...
Emmeram around 425 PM CDT.
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.
&&
LAT...LON 3908 9909 3904 9904 3885 9904 3891 9924
TIME...MOT...LOC 2120Z 226DEG 8KT 3890 9913
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
UMSCHEIDPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
440 PM CDT Thu Apr 24 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0432 PM Hail 2 SSE Meade 37.26N 100.32W
04/24/2025 M1.00 Inch Meade KS Public
Time estimated from radar.
&&
ASPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
456 PM CDT Thu Apr 24 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0456 PM Hail 12 S Sitka 37.00N 99.65W
04/24/2025 M1.00 Inch Clark KS Public
&&Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
459 PM CDT Thu Apr 24 2025
KSZ031-046-242245-
Rush KS-Ellis KS-
459 PM CDT Thu Apr 24 2025
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN RUSH AND
SOUTHEASTERN ELLIS COUNTIES THROUGH 545 PM CDT...
At 459 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
La Crosse, moving northeast at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 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.
This strong thunderstorm will be near...
Liebenthal around 505 PM CDT.
Loretta around 510 PM CDT.
Pfeifer around 515 PM CDT.
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 for
central Kansas.
&&
LAT...LON 3878 9904 3870 9904 3870 9903 3862 9903
3850 9937 3863 9945 3884 9911
TIME...MOT...LOC 2159Z 238DEG 26KT 3859 9932
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
UMSCHEIDThe Dodge City radar (KDDC), 18 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:57 UTC.
9 hail, 1 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.
A storm total precipitation report of 4.5 inches from previous nights storms. Reported rain washed out cattle fences with cattle getting loose.
A public report of 1 inch hail.
Public report of 1.5 inch hail.
Public report of 1.75 inch hail.
Public report of 1 inch hail.
Public report on social media with a video of 2.5 inch hail.
Emergency manager reported 2 inch hail.
Public report of 1 inch hail.
Public report of 2 inch hail and the accumulation of smaller hail.
Public report of 1 inch hail.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kansas in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Kansas, April 2025
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: 1244475, 1244466, 1244467, 1244468, 1244469, 1244472, 1244470, 1244471, 1244474, 1244473.