A cluster of storms moved northward out of Oklahoma and into south-central Kansas during the early afternoon hours of July 18th. This cluster, while isolated, produced up to 71 mph winds in the Wichita metro along with wind damage across the city.
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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.
A cluster of storms moved northward out of Oklahoma and into south-central Kansas during the early afternoon hours of July 18th. This cluster, while isolated, produced up to 71 mph winds in the Wichita metro along with wind damage across the city. Further south, up to golf ball sized hail was reported in Conway Springs. As storms continued northward during the early evening hours, they began to lose their intensity. However, 60 mph winds were reported in Marion County before storms became sub-severe.
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 Jul 18, 1:57 PM CST, 1 hour 32 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Wichita KS 257 PM CDT Fri Jul 18 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - A few showers and storms possible tonight mainly in central KS. - Hot and humid conditions with mostly dry weather are expected into next week. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 255 PM CDT Fri Jul 18 2025 Currently, there is a surface low extending from eastern CO to western SD with a warm front draping down from eastern NE to central MO. In our area, southerly flow at the surface persists resulting in dewpoints in the mid 70s and temperatures in the upper 80s to lower 90s. This evening, instability will increase as surface heating amplifies and moisture continues to build. As we move into the overnight hours, this axis of instability will shift north with the better instability staying north and east of our area. As the LLJ increases tonight, an axis of convergence will set up in northern Kansas. Given the limited forcing, low chances of showers and storms will remain in central KS. Low temperatures will drop to the low to mid 70s. On Saturday, a frontal boundary will move towards the KS/NE border keeping southerly flow at the surface in our area. High temperatures are expected to rise into the mid to upper 90s with areas in central Kansas around 100. Low-level upslope flow in eastern CO will help initiate storms Saturday afternoon to evening with the expectation of eastward propagation. Given decent instability is expected in northern Kansas, it is possible that a storm may reach central KS. However, strong inhibition will limit chances with the potential that storms will diminish as they move into the area. With the mid-level ridge slightly amplifying on Sunday as it shifts towards the Mississippi Valley, thickness will continue to increase. High temperatures on Sunday will be similar to Saturday with highs in the upper 90s to the lower 100s. On Sunday night, low precipitation chances will be possible in central KS as an embedded weak ripple is expected to ride the upper/mid-level ridge combined with an increasing LLJ. Monday-Friday... Starting early next week, model consensus supports the upper-level ridge amplifying more, allowing heights to continue rising. With southerly flow persisting, hot and humid conditions are expected daily. Overnight lows are expected to stay warm with most areas in the mid to upper 70s. Upper-level flow will steer some shortwave troughs into the Central High Plains making low precipitation chances possible through this period. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY/... Issued at 1238 PM CDT Fri Jul 18 2025 Only a few isolated showers remain early this afternoon across southeast Kansas however these will remain east of CNU. VFR conditions have returned to all terminals and are expected to remain so through the remainder of this TAF period. A few isolated showers and thunderstorms may try to develop across central Kansas late this afternoon and evening however confidence on a direct impact at any one site remains too low to include a mention in the TAF at this time. Winds approximately 1000 ft above ground will ramp up late tonight leading to a period of LLWS at most terminals through tomorrow morning. && .ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Extreme Heat Warning from 2 PM Saturday to 7 PM CDT Wednesday for KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100. && DISCUSSION...GC AVIATION...WI
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Wichita KS 339 PM CDT Fri Jul 18 2025 KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-192045- 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- 339 PM CDT Fri Jul 18 2025 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of Central Kansas, South Central Kansas and Southeast Kansas. .DAY ONE...Tonight A few additional storms are possible this afternoon, especially across central and south central Kansas. The strongest storms may produce wind gusts up to 60 mph and heavy rainfall. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday Small storm chances, mainly at night, exist over the next week. Widespread severe weather is not expected. Heat indices will climb above 100 degrees Saturday through Thursday across much of the area. An Extreme Heat Warning is in effect from 2 PM Saturday until 7 PM Wednesday and may need to be extended in future updates. .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 Wichita radar (KICT), 34 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:29 UTC.
12 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Initially reported as estimated 60 mph wind gusts, the winds continued increasing until it was estimated that wind gusts were around 70 mph a few minutes later.
This wind gust was estimated.
Estimated wind gusts around 60 mph.
Estimated wind gusts around 60 mph.
Wind gusts measured at the ASOS station at Wichita Eisenhower National Airport.
Yingling Aviation at Eisenhower Airport reported a small FedEx Cessna 208 Caravan plane was tipped over with wing damage by thunderstorm wind gusts.
Reported wind gust of 65mph came from a trained spotter at Central and Oliver.
NWS employee reported 70mph winds at 9th and Zoo Blvd.
Emergency management reported a tree limb blown down on a car near Irma and 45th N in Maize.
NWS employee reported tree damage on Zoo Blvd just east of I-235, part of the lane was being blocked by the downed tree.
Large tree limb was knocked down by thunderstorm wind gusts.
Wind gusts estimated to be around 60 mph in Peabody.
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, July 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: 1282735, 1283556, 1282736, 1282737, 1282738, 1282739, 1282740, 1282824, 1282825, 1282826, 1282828, 1282829, 1282834.