A pair of supercells developed across northwest Kansas and led to many reports of hail as large as baseballs near Sharon Springs and Grainfield, damaging winds and a couple of tornadoes across Greeley county.
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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 GLD wrote it up.
A pair of supercells developed across northwest Kansas and led to many reports of hail as large as baseballs near Sharon Springs and Grainfield, damaging winds and a couple of tornadoes across Greeley county.
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 Aug 3, 11:23 AM MST, 1 hour 57 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Goodland KS 1223 PM MDT Sun Aug 3 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Isolated to widely scattered severe storms are forecast to develop along and south of Highway 36 this afternoon. Large to very large hail and damaging winds will be the main hazards. - Isolated strong to severe storms still remain possible Monday and Tuesday with hail the main threat at this time. - Gradual warm up through the week with generally drier conditions. && .SHORT TERM /THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/... Issued at 1222 PM MDT Sun Aug 3 2025 This afternoon and evening, a broad area of low pressure is forecast to remain situated across the area in roughly a southwest to northeast orientation. With this, the winds should remain from the north for Eastern Colorado and areas near the Tri-State border while winds across the rest of the area are east and south. With this, a surface convergence boundary should set up around I-70 and help develop some storms this afternoon around 2pm. That being said, it looks like a low to mid-level boundary is sliding south around Southwestern Nebraska. Satellite imagery shows a line of clouds moving south in this area with surface observations keeping winds from the south. Radar is showing showers and storms developing along this. While they currently aren't long live or strong, this line could interfere with the forecast. The current forecast is for the instability to increase across the area as the day goes on, allowing a few strong to severe storms to develop along the surface low convergence zone. With CAPE around 3000 J/KG and mid level lapse rates around 8 C/km, large to very large hail is the main threat. The main hindrance for hail looks to be effective shear around 30 kts, which would favor pulsing or clustering storms. Wind gusts around 60 to 70 mph are also possible as storms lower back down. As mentioned above, will be watching that northern convergence zone as it may be able to fire up additional storms for northern portions of the area, similar to what it is doing around the noon hour. The hazards would be the same with these storms. For the evening, any initial storms that form this afternoon should either dissipate (due to low shear) or move south out of the area. We will then need to watch for storms from the northwest that are forecast to develop along the higher terrain. That being said, instability is forecast to lower around sunrise and effective shear remain low which should cause most to dissipate before they reach the area. That being said, storm outflows might allow for additional development and help keep the wind threat going through the evening and early overnight hours. Overall storm coverage should remain isolated to scattered due to weak forcing. Greater coverage is more likely if multiple outflow boundaries begin to move across the area. Late tonight, any lingering storms should dissipate and allow for mostly clear skies across the area. However, some low clouds and fog could develop across the eastern half of the area as higher pressure remains to the east, keeping winds generally from the east. With the slight upslope flow and forecast moisture advection, it could be another dreary morning for the eastern half of the area. Tomorrow, the upper ridge over the southwest is forecast to begin slowly expand towards the Plains and amplifying. With it, the area is forecast to be a bit warmer around 90 along with mostly sunny skies. Winds are forecast to become stronger as a low develops along the Front Range with the higher surface pressure east of the area. Speeds could reach 15 to 30 mph with gusts to 40 mph, especially for western portions of the area. There is another chance for storms during the afternoon and evening hours, though the chances are a little more conditional. It will depend on if storms can form along the higher terrain, or if a subtle convergence boundary can form along the edge of the low pressure. If storms form, they would have the same potential hazards as today. The current forecast continue to favor more isolated storms, especially with some upper subsidence trying to setup over the area. Any storms that form should end before midnight. Tomorrow night, skies are forecast to slowly clear with low temperatures dropping towards the lower 60s. Winds are forecast to maybe be a little lower, but remain around 10 to 20 mph with the pressure gradient remaining fairly tight. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... Issued at 1222 PM MDT Sun Aug 3 2025 Tuesday-Thursday, the upper ridge over the southwest is forecast to expand more into the South-Central High Plains and over the area. With the expanding ridge, temperatures are forecast to warm above average again into the mid-upper 90s and 100s. The hottest day is currently forecast to be Thursday, with the possibility of heat index values reaching the 100s. Will keep an eye out for the potential for heat advisory criteria. Storm chances linger, but should be fairly low due to the broad upper subsidence. That being said, the area is forecast to be on the upper part of the ridge, which means shortwaves could influence the area during the afternoon/evening hours and provide some forcing for greater storm development. Finally, the other conditions to keep an eye on is the potential for some critical fire weather conditions. As we get warmer and drier, there is the possibility that wind gusts could reach 30 mph while RH is dropping into the teens (mainly for counties along the Colorado border). Friday-Sunday, the upper ridge is forecast to be flattened and retreat more to the southwest as some upper troughs try and swing through the Northern Plains. If the troughs don't move in fast enough, Friday could be another day with temperatures and heat index values in the 100s. Otherwise, temperatures should cool back to the 80s and 90s, with increased chances for storms due to the additional forcing moving through the area. Severe weather will remain possible through the week. Severe chances should also be higher this upcoming weekend with the potential systems sweeping through the Plains. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z MONDAY/... Issued at 1103 AM MDT Sun Aug 3 2025 For KGLD... VFR conditions are forecast through the period. The main concern is for the possibility of storms forming over/near the terminal between 20-23Z. If these storms form, they may become severe with large to very large hail as the main threat. After 00Z, the chances for storms drop off and winds should stabilize form the south around 10 kts or less. There is a 10% chance that enough moisture shifts east to give some low ceilings around 1000ft around 12Z. For KMCK... VFR conditions are forecast for most of the period. There could be some nearby showers and storms for the first two hours, though recent radar scans around 17Z had everything lowering and shifting east. For the afternoon and evening, there are chances for storms, but chances are generally below 20% with no clear time when storms would try and move over the terminal. Generally, storms would come from the north if they did move over. Otherwise, conditions may reach IFR levels between 09-17Z depending on how much moisture can remain in the area. Be alert for ceilings around 500-1000ft, and visibility around 3SM. If drier air can mix in from the west, then conditions will remain VFR instead. && .GLD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... KS...None. CO...None. NE...None. && SHORT TERM...KAK LONG TERM...KAK AVIATION...KAK
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Goodland KS 1248 PM MDT Sun Aug 3 2025 COZ090>092-KSZ001>004-013>016-027>029-041-042-NEZ079>081-041900- Yuma-Kit Carson-Cheyenne-Rawlins-Decatur-Norton-Sherman-Thomas- Sheridan-Graham-Wallace-Logan-Gove-Greeley-Wichita-Dundy-Hitchcock- Red Willow- 1248 PM MDT Sun Aug 3 2025 /148 PM CDT Sun Aug 3 2025/ This hazardous weather outlook is for extreme southwest Nebraska... northwest Kansas and east central Colorado. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT... Isolated to widely scattered severe storms are possible south of Highway 36 after 2pm today. Any storm that develops will have the capability to produce large to very large hail, damaging winds and localized blowing dust resulting in visibilities less than one mile. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY... Isolated strong to severe storms are possible again Monday and Tuesday with large hail and damaging winds the primary hazards at this time. The favored time for storm activity looks to be from 2 PM MT to 9 PM MT. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Any reports of severe weather or reduced visibility in blowing dust is appreciated!
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Goodland KS 201 PM MDT Sun Aug 3 2025 KSZ013-027-032030- Wallace KS-Sherman KS- 201 PM MDT Sun Aug 3 2025 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN WALLACE AND SOUTHEASTERN SHERMAN COUNTIES THROUGH 230 PM MDT... At 201 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 9 miles south of Goodland, moving southeast at 20 mph. HAZARD...Half inch hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible. This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of northeastern Wallace and southeastern Sherman Counties. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle. && LAT...LON 3930 10183 3930 10156 3907 10148 3907 10182 TIME...MOT...LOC 2001Z 336DEG 17KT 3922 10169 MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN MAX WIND GUST...<30 MPH KAK
The Goodland radar (KGLD), 13 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:21 UTC.
18 hail, 3 thunderstorm wind, 2 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Up to golf ball sized hail reported for 20 minutes. 0.55 inches of rainfall accompanied the thunderstorm.
The hail was reported via Social Media.
The public reported quarter size hail.
Photo showing a hailstone around 2 inches in diameter. Additional photos show the back window of a vehicle on I-70 near Grainfield was obliterated by the hail, and the front windshield of the same vehicle was smashed.
Wind-driven baseball-sized hail damaged vehicles along I-70, including the destruction of windshields. Report was relayed by broadcast media.
Quarter to ping pong sized hail reported via social media from in the town of Sharon Springs and just south of town.
Image of hailstones larger than half dollars from Sharon Springs from social media.
Social media report of hail ranging from golf ball to baseball in size.
Tree damage in the form of a few larger limbs being knocked down occurred on County Road U, between County Roads 26 and 30.
Spotter reported hail generally around quarters in size, but with a few baseball sized hailstones as well.
Various hail sizes noted in multiple photos with largest being baseball size. Some damage also occurred to travel trailer and a barn.
Ambient weather station named My Weather Station reported the wind gust.
Spotter reported quarter sized hail. Lots of hail falling.
Dime to penny size hail was reported by the emergency manager.
Hailed along the highway, estimated at half dollar size.
Dime to penny size hail was reported by emergency manager.
Quarter sized hail and 2.10 inches of rainfall.
Emergency Manager relayed report that law enforcement had golf ball sized hail 8 miles south of Oakley.
Report from dispatch of a tornado that touched the ground and went back up quickly. It was not ongoing as of the report.
Photos provided showing hail next to ruler up to 2 inches in size.
Various hail sizes noted with the largest being up to golf ball sized.
Kansas mesonet site KS-Tribune measured 61 mph wind gust.
Multiple reports from chasers of a tornado that tracked near CR Z and CR 9 intersection. Further supported by livestream. Did not look to be ongoing after a minute or two.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kansas in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Kansas, 2025Warnings in Kansas, August 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: 1280289, 1280287, 1280291, 1281203, 1281205, 1280292, 1281228, 1281206, 1281294, 1281229, 1281230, 1281211, 1281210, 1281209, 1281231, 1281234, 1281232, 1281233, 1281235, 1281236, 1281238, 1281237, 1281239.