As a trough moved through western Kansas, it brought a sharp cold front that had severe winds associated with it. Aided by down sloping winds, the system also had some upper-level support.
Every event with a place to put it; 9 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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.
As a trough moved through western Kansas, it brought a sharp cold front that had severe winds associated with it. Aided by down sloping winds, the system also had some upper-level support.
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 May 14, 5:35 PM CST, 2 hours 55 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Dodge City KS 635 PM CDT Wed May 14 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Isolated severe t-storms are possible each afternoon from Saturday through Monday (chances 20% or less at any given spot). - Widespread rain is not anticipated for the next several days. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 307 PM CDT Wed May 14 2025 A cold front will pass across western Kansas tonight as a strong upper level disturbance passes across the central plains. Winds will likely gust to 40-50 mph along Interstate 70 for 1-2 hours around midnight to 2 am, with lower speeds farther south. Slightly cooler temperatures can be expected in the wake of the front on Thursday and Friday, with mainly 80s for highs. A large upper level trough will develop across the western United States Saturday and Sunday and then move slowly eastward by Monday and Tuesday. Ahead of this large trough, a weaker shortwave trough will traverse the southern plains Saturday evening. Rich low level moisture will be confined mainly to locations south of Kansas where the stronger mid level forcing for ascent will exist. However, an isolated t-storm or two can't be ruled out along the Oklahoma state line during the evening. The most likely day for high-end severe weather for central and southwestern Kansas is Sunday. The larger upper level trough will still be digging across the southwestern states. However, across the plains, it is often the case that the most severe, isolated storms occur with weaker large scale forcing so that only one or two storms develop. If a storm does manage to develop Sunday afternoon and evening, expect very large hail and possible a tornado. However, the vast majority of locations will not experience severe weather. There is still uncertainty in the dry line location; but the ensemble means show it extending from Dighton southward to Cimarron so that the most favored area for severe storms is east of this line in the most air. High temperatures will continue to be mainly in the 80s, with some lower 90s possible Sunday. Thunderstorm chances Monday are still not known with high certainty. As the aforementioned stronger system approaches, the location of the dry line will be crucial. If the deep moisture is across eastern Kansas, then that is where the severe thunderstorms would be. But if the dry line hangs back in central Kansas, then locations such as Medicine Lodge and Pratt would be susceptible to isolated to scattered severe storms. The various ensemble means of the ENS and GEPS have consistently favored central and eastern Kansas for severe weather, with much lower probabilities west of a line from WaKeeney to Dodge City. It is too early to tell the severe weather modes as this depends on many factors such as how isolated the storms are. High temperatures will continue to be mainly in the 80s, with some lower 90s possible Sunday. In the wake of Monday's system, drier air will arrive for Tuesday and Wednesday, unless the system slows way down. A slower solution is shown by a few ensemble members; but the ensemble means are more progressive. && .AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z FRIDAY/... Issued at 635 PM CDT Wed May 14 2025 VFR flying conditions this TAF cycle for all terminals. Current south-southwest winds will begin to veer over the next few hours as a cold front approaches southwest KS. Once this boundary passes through each terminal in the 03-05Z time frame, short range guidance suggests a considerable isallobaric response will exist in its wake, supporting a brief period of very strong northwesterly winds winds sustained in the 20-30 kt range gusting 40-45 kts, and this may be conservative. Thankfully, this will be short lived as winds will relax to 12-15 kts out of the west-northwest by 08-09Z Thursday and continue through the end of the period. && .DDC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && DISCUSSION...Finch AVIATION...Springer
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Dodge City KS 442 AM CDT Wed May 14 2025 KSZ030-031-043>046-061>066-074>081-084>090-150945- 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- 442 AM CDT Wed May 14 2025 /342 AM MDT Wed May 14 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 Patchy fog developing across portions of southwest Kansas early this morning will reduce visibility to less than 1 mile in some locations before dissipating mid-morning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
9 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Multiple personal weather stations recorded wind gusts between 60-63 around this time. It should be noted that one station recorded a 75, but due to it being questionable, it won't be its own event.
A mesonet site recorded a wind gust of 73 mph. A few other nearby sites recorded 58 and 63 mph gusts around the same time.
From an Emergency Manager: several tree branches broken in front of the Scott City High School. One tree branch was estimated to be 18 inches in diameter.
The AWOS station KTQX in Scott City recorded a 64 mph wind gust.
A mesonet site recorded a wind gust of 59 mph. Another nearby site recorded a gust of 58 mph.
A personal weather station recorded a wind gust of 73 mph.
A personal weather station recorded a wind gust of 71 mph.
A personal weather station recorded a 58 mph wind gust.
The ASOS station at KDDC recorded a 60 mph gust.
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, May 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: 1251661, 1251659, 1251654, 1251656, 1251629, 1251630, 1251625, 1251628, 1251626.