Hail in Kansas, May 30, 2026

Name: Hail in Kansas, May 30, 2026
Start: 2026-05-30T21:08
End: 2026-05-30T21:16
Location: Kansas

May 30, 2026 · NWS TOP · 3 events in 1 county or zone

A cluster of thunderstorms moved across Lyon County on the evening of May 30, producing sporadic hail around 1 inch.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

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Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 3

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS TOP wrote it up.

A cluster of thunderstorms moved across Lyon County on the evening of May 30, producing sporadic hail around 1 inch.

What forecasters said that day

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 Topeka, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 30, 5:29 PM CST, 3 hours 39 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

Severe thunderstorms are possible late this afternoon and evening with damaging winds and large hail.
A conditional risk for severe storms remains for late Sunday afternoon and evening. If storms develop, large hail and damaging winds are possible.
Low precipitation chances linger for much of next week with seasonable temperatures.

Area forecast discussion, May 30, 5:29 PM CST, 3 hours 39 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Topeka KS
629 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Severe thunderstorms are possible late this afternoon and evening
  with damaging winds and large hail.

- A conditional risk for severe storms remains for late Sunday
  afternoon and evening. If storms develop, large hail and damaging
  winds are possible.

- Low precipitation chances linger for much of next week with
  seasonable temperatures.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 205 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026

Scattered convection continues at midday in east-central Kansas in
broadly-diffluent though modest southwest mid/upper level flow in
persistent isentropic lift under easterly surface flow. This lift
should slowly dissipate into early Sunday as southerly winds return
near the surface and upper heights rise. The main area of attention
over the later afternoon today remains to be to the southwest where
a dryline is sharpening. Forcing here remains largely limited to
convergence along the dryline with the main upper wave displaced to
the northwest. ML CAPE was already around 3000 J/kg at 18Z ahead of
the dryline and will continue to increase northeast with time and
space into the evening. Deep-layer shear continues to look less than
ideal for supercells, so most CAMS congealing storms into at least a
broken line as they move northeast seems on track. Wind gusts may
the be primary threat this far northeast with DCAPE values
potentially around 1200 J/kg into the early evening, though some
large hail could still occur. Most of the severe threat should be to
the east by midnight, but some continued WAA convection may linger
overnight. A somewhat to very unstable airmass with somewhat
stronger shear will likely remain in place Sunday and Monday though
forcing for ascent is hard to find. Generally-weak low-level flow
Sunday could leave outflow boundaries around for some focus with the
main time of storm concern from late afternoon to late evening.

Weak upper riding looks to take hold from the central Plains
northeast into central Canada for the middle portions of next week,
keeping precipitation chances somewhat reduced and slightly favoring
central Kansas over eastern Kansas. Highs in the 80s and lows in the
60s should dominate this forecast.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z MONDAY/...
Issued at 629 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026

Convective-based forecast as a line of thunderstorms moving out of
central Nebraska is expected to impact the terminals later this
evening. Upgraded KMHK from a PROB30 to prevailing line of TS as
confidence was better for the line of thunderstorms to hold together
that far. As the line moves east, storms may weaken a bit and
confidence in timing and coverage is not high so kept with the
PROB30 for KTOP and KFOE. MVFR CIGs move in by early Sunday morning
with clearing to VFR by the late TAF.

&&

.TOP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.

&&

DISCUSSION...Poage
AVIATION...Griesemer

Hazardous weather outlook, May 30, 12:48 PM CST, 8 hours 20 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Topeka KS
148 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026

KSZ008>012-020>024-026-034>040-054>056-058-059-311900-
Republic-Washington-Marshall-Nemaha-Brown-Cloud-Clay-Riley-
Pottawatomie-Jackson-Jefferson-Ottawa-Dickinson-Geary-Morris-
Wabaunsee-Shawnee-Douglas-Lyon-Osage-Franklin-Coffey-Anderson-
148 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Kansas,
east central Kansas, north central Kansas, and northeast Kansas.

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight

Thunderstorms are expected to move east to northeast across the
area late this afternoon to around midnight tonight. Some of these
may be severe and produce damaging winds gusts and large hail.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday

There is a marginal risk for severe thunderstorms across the
entire area late Sunday afternoon and evening.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters may be needed through tonight.

&&

More detailed information can be found at:
www.weather.gov/media/top/DssPacket.pdf

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 30, 7:10 PM CST, 1 hour 58 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Topeka KS
810 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0807 PM     Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 N Enterprise          38.94N 97.12W
05/30/2026                   Dickinson          KS   Emergency Mngr

            3-5 inch limbs down.

&&

ng

Local storm report, May 30, 7:50 PM CST, 1 hour 18 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Topeka KS
850 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0804 PM     Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg Abilene                 38.92N 97.21W
05/30/2026                   Dickinson          KS   Emergency Mngr

            Picture of large softwood tree downed.

&&

ng

Special weather statement, May 30, 8:17 PM CST, 51 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Topeka KS
917 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026

KSZ010-011-023-038-310245-
Wabaunsee-Pottawatomie-Nemaha-Marshall-
917 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT NORTH CENTRAL WABAUNSEE...
SOUTHWESTERN NEMAHA...EASTERN POTTAWATOMIE AND EASTERN MARSHALL
COUNTIES THROUGH 945 PM CDT...

At 917 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 4 miles west of Frankfort to 3 miles north of
Belvue to 3 miles southwest of St. Marys. Movement was north at 35
mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down small tree limbs and blow
         around unsecured objects. Minor damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Blaine, St. Marys, Frankfort, Onaga, Belvue, Beattie, Emmett,
Vermillion, Wheaton, and Lillis.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3941 9603 3926 9603 3907 9610 3929 9634
      3971 9655 4000 9644
TIME...MOT...LOC 0217Z 194DEG 30KT 3973 9649 3927 9619 3916 9612

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

Griesemer

Special weather statement, May 30, 8:44 PM CST, 24 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Topeka KS
944 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026

KSZ011-023-024-310315-
Pottawatomie-Jackson-Nemaha-
944 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN NEMAHA...
NORTHEASTERN POTTAWATOMIE AND WESTERN JACKSON COUNTIES THROUGH 1015
PM CDT...

At 944 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 6
miles southeast of Havensville, moving north at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down small tree limbs and blow
         around unsecured objects. Minor damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Wetmore, Circleville, Corning, Netawaka, Soldier, Havensville, and
Goff.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3925 9596 3942 9617 3974 9607 3973 9588
      3959 9571
TIME...MOT...LOC 0244Z 202DEG 28KT 3944 9600

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

Griesemer

Special weather statement, May 30, 8:51 PM CST, 17 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Topeka KS
951 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026

KSZ037-054-310330-
Lyon-Morris-
951 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN MORRIS AND
NORTHWESTERN LYON COUNTIES THROUGH 1030 PM CDT...

At 949 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Strong City, moving north at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and penny size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down small tree limbs and blow
         around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to outdoor
         objects and vegetation is possible.

Locations impacted include...
Council Grove, Americus, Bushong, Dunlap, and Council Grove Lake.

This includes Kansas Turnpike between mile markers 117 and 122.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3852 9635 3852 9657 3874 9652 3874 9635
      3858 9618 3820 9635
TIME...MOT...LOC 0249Z 197DEG 26KT 3840 9648

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

Griesemer

Special weather statement, May 30, 9:06 PM CST, 2 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Topeka KS
1006 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026

KSZ054-310330-
Lyon-
1006 PM CDT Sat May 30 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHERN LYON COUNTY THROUGH
1030 PM CDT...

At 1006 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7
miles northwest of Olpe, moving north at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down small tree limbs and blow
         around unsecured objects. Minor damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Emporia, Olpe, Hartford, and Neosho Rapids.

This includes the following highways...
 Interstate 35 between mile markers 128 and 143.
 Kansas Turnpike between mile markers 120 and 138.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3817 9636 3822 9636 3859 9619 3846 9595
      3817 9596
TIME...MOT...LOC 0306Z 197DEG 26KT 3831 9628

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

Griesemer

The radar

The Topeka radar (KTWX), 76 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 03:05 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Lyon

When: May 30, 9:08 PM CST to 9:09 PM CST
Where: Lyon County, 6.91 mi S of Plymouth
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 38.320, -96.320

Report from mping.

Hail, Lyon

When: May 30, 9:15 PM CST to 9:16 PM CST
Where: Lyon County, 3.79 mi W of Emporia
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 38.400, -96.250

Report from mping.

Hail, Lyon

When: May 30, 9:15 PM CST to 9:16 PM CST
Where: Lyon County, 2.79 mi ESE of Plymouth
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 38.410, -96.270

Report relayed via KVOE radio. Time estimated from radar data.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Kansas in 2026 Every state in 2026 This day in weather history Warnings in Kansas, May 2026

Sources

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: 1336833, 1336834, 1336835.