During the afternoon, evening, and late evening hours of May 18th, supercells brought severe weather to far NW Missouri. Storms eventually congealed into a large line of thunderstorms, which brought widespread damaging wind gusts to the region as well as a couple tornadoes.
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 EAX wrote it up.
During the afternoon, evening, and late evening hours of May 18th, supercells brought severe weather to far NW Missouri. Storms eventually congealed into a large line of thunderstorms, which brought widespread damaging wind gusts to the region as well as a couple tornadoes.
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 Kansas City, MO wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 18, 1:57 PM CST, 2 hours 8 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO
257 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026
.KEY MESSAGES...
* Significant threat for severe weather across NW Missouri this
evening with destructive hail, damaging winds and tornadoes.
This threat will transition to a damaging winds and QLCS
tornadoes as scattered storms develop into a line and build
southeast.
* Substantial flood threat tonight across the region with
rainfall rates expected to exceed 2"/hr. Flood watch in effect
tonight into Tuesday morning. Additional rainfall amounts of
1.5-3+" with pockets exceeding 5".
* Cooler and drier conditions develop on Tuesday and continue into
Wednesday.
* Rainfall chances return to the region Thursday through the end
of the weeekend.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 253 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026
Mature trailing stratiform MCS worked through the area overnight
leading to a widespread 1-2 inches of rain across the region. Saw
MCS backbuild across central Missouri through the late morning,
keeping temperatures quite cool through mid-day. Have seen signs of
gravity waves emanating from the tail end of the the MCS, spreading
to the north-northwest.
Have started to see some partial-rapid clearing across eastern KS
into western Missouri leading to nice warming- roughly west of I-35.
Pseudo warm front/outflow boundary is poised just south of the
forecast area across central Missouri. This boundary may try to lift
north through the late afternoon hours. If that occurs, could see
an isolated storms develop south of a line from Butler through
Clinton leading to large hail/gusty winds. Expect surface
temperatures to continue to warm through the afternoon hours into
the upper 70s to 80s, leading to rapidly increasing instability. By
late this afternoon, expect moderate to extreme instability with SB
CAPE values of 4000-5000 J/kg roughly along and west of the I-35
corridor.
Surface low pressure centered near Salina KS is expected to lift
northeast this afternoon to southwest Iowa into the evening.
Discreet supercells have already begun developing across central
into northern KS, building east in time in what is a very volatile
environment. 0-6 km shear is in the 40-50 knot range across eastern
KS should easily support supercells, with the potential for very
large hail and tornadoes. Expect supercells to remain discreet
building into Northwest Missouri in the early evening hours, capable
of producing very large hail, damaging winds and the potential for
strong tornadoes. As the severe weather event evolves, expect the
supercells to evolve into a squalline and build southeast in time.
Expect severe threat to transition towards damaging winds, but could
still see QLCS tornadoes with embedded supercells along the line.
Training storms, along with precipitable water values of nearly two
inches and deep warm cloud depths will lead to efficient rainfall.
CAMs have been fairly consistent with another 1.5-3+" of rainfall
across the region tonight, with pockets of 5+". HREF and REFs
probabilities for 2"/hr rainfall rates are approaching 50%. Flash
flood guidance across the area is low with the recent rains,
generally running from 1-2.5"/6 hour period. Collaborated with WPC
and surrounding offices to raise excessive rainfall outlook to
moderate across most of the area. Cams suggest storms may linger
Tuesday morning as the surface boundary moves slowly through the
area. Have extended the flood watch through 18Z south of the
Missouri River.
Much cooler conditions are expected midweek behind the front with
high in the 60s and lows in the 40s. A developing trough late week
across the Northern Plains could bring additional instability
showers and storms to the region as early as Thursday.
&&
.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z TUESDAY/...
Issued at 1210 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026
Scattered showers and thunderstorms have nearly cleared our
forecast area moving into central MO. SSE winds will increase with
gusts up to 30 knots by early afternoon, continuing through
early evening hours. A line of severe thunderstorms will impact
STJ between roughly 00z and 03z tonight, moving through the KC
metro terminals likely between 02z and 05z tonight. Severe wind
gusts will be possible along the leading edge of the severe
thunderstorm line, with periods of moderate to heavy rain
reducing VIS significantly. Stratiform rain with isolated
lightning strikes will linger behind the main convective line
into early tomorrow morning. There is a potential (30-50%)
terminals will see reduced VIS around 4SM and BR between 10z and
14z.
&&
.EAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MO...Flood Watch through Tuesday afternoon for MOZ020>022-028>033-
037>040-043>046-053-054.
Flood Watch through Tuesday morning for MOZ001>007-011>016-023-
024.
KS...Flood Watch through Tuesday afternoon for KSZ025-057-060-
102>105.
&&
DISCUSSION...BT
AVIATION...WFO EAXHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO 0509 AM CDT Mon May 18 2026 KSZ025-057-060-102>105-MOZ001>008-011>017-020>025-028>033-037>040- 043>046-053-054-191009- Atchison KS-Miami-Linn KS-Doniphan-Leavenworth-Wyandotte-Johnson KS- Atchison MO-Nodaway-Worth-Gentry-Harrison-Mercer-Putnam-Schuyler- Holt-Andrew-De Kalb-Daviess-Grundy-Sullivan-Adair-Buchanan-Clinton- Caldwell-Livingston-Linn MO-Macon-Platte-Clay-Ray-Carroll-Chariton- Randolph-Jackson-Lafayette-Saline-Howard-Cass-Johnson MO-Pettis- Cooper-Bates-Henry- 0509 AM CDT Mon May 18 2026 This hazardous weather outlook is for northwest...north central and west central Missouri...as well as extreme eastern Kansas. .DAY ONE...Through tonight. Please go to https://weather.gov/media/eax/DssPacket.pdf for more information on potential weather hazards. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .KEY MESSAGES... - Showers and thunderstorms continue across the region this morning, with locally moderate to heavy rainfall possible. - Severe thunderstorms are likely late afternoon into late tonight. - Far NW Missouri and NE Kansas will be under the greatest threat for all severe hazards by late afternoon and early evening. - Storms should congeal into a line of thunderstorms by this evening, and move east southeast through the region late tonight. Once this occurs, damaging wind gusts should become the primary hazard, but a few brief tornadoes may be possible. - Moderate to heavy rain will be possible again with the storms tonight. A flood watch is in effect through almost the entire CWA through 7 AM Tuesday. - Cooler temperatures arrive for Tuesday through Thursday before heating up once more by this weekend.
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Kansas City/Pleasant HIll MO
216 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0630 PM Flash Flood 1 NE Trenton 40.09N 93.61W
05/16/2026 Grundy MO Public
Princeton Road flooded. Time based on social
media reports.
0730 PM Flash Flood 1 NW Trenton 40.08N 93.62W
05/16/2026 Grundy MO Public
Bolser Street and Moberly Park flooded. Time
estimated from social media report.
0730 PM Flash Flood 4 WSW Trenton 40.05N 93.69W
05/16/2026 Grundy MO Public
Delayed social media report. Aspen Lane
washed out. Time estimated.
0752 PM Hail 2 SSE Brimson 40.11N 93.72W
05/16/2026 E1.00 Inch Grundy MO Public
Delayed social media report. Time confirmed
from radar.
0759 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 3 WNW Trenton 40.09N 93.66W
05/16/2026 Grundy MO Public
Delayed report. Tree uprooted near Lake
Wittona. Time estimated from radar.
0800 PM Flash Flood 4 ESE Trenton 40.05N 93.55W
05/16/2026 Grundy MO Public
Delayed social media report. Southeast 20th
Street closed from flash flooding. Time
based on social media report.
0900 PM Flash Flood Trenton 40.08N 93.61W
05/16/2026 Grundy MO Public
Grant Street completely inundated. Time
estimated from social media report.
1000 PM Flash Flood 2 SSE Brimson 40.11N 93.72W
05/16/2026 Grundy MO Public
Leisure Lake Dam overflowed onto 25th
Street. Time based on social media report.
1000 PM Flash Flood 4 S Modena 40.24N 93.68W
05/16/2026 Grundy MO Public
Delayed social media report. Route C closed
near Route A from flash flooding. Time based
on social media reports.
1000 PM Flash Flood 3 WNW Trenton 40.09N 93.66W
05/16/2026 Grundy MO County Official
Severe flash flooding in Crowder State Park.
Several trees were downed from flooding, and
multiple structures were damaged. The park
is closed for several days.
1030 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 4 E Osgood 40.18N 93.28W
05/16/2026 Sullivan MO Public
Downed trees at a residence near Route M.
Time estimated from radar.
1103 AM Flood 2 W Eagleville 40.47N 94.03W
05/17/2026 Harrison MO Dept of Highways
Route M closed from flooding.
1020 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 4 SSE Phelps City 40.35N 95.57W
05/17/2026 Atchison MO Utility Company
Downed wires near 260 Street. Time estimated
from radar.
1022 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 3 SE Phelps City 40.37N 95.57W
05/17/2026 Atchison MO Utility Company
Downed wires near 245 Street. Time estimated
from radar.
1022 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 3 S Rockport 40.37N 95.53W
05/17/2026 Atchison MO Utility Company
Downed wires near Route 111. Time estimated
from radar.
1031 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 4 NNW Fairfax 40.39N 95.42W
05/17/2026 Atchison MO Utility Company
Downed wires near N Avenue. Time estimated
from radar.
1051 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 4 N Oregon 40.04N 95.14W
05/17/2026 M60 MPH Holt MO Public
Private weather sensor.
1112 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 NE Oregon 40.01N 95.11W
05/17/2026 Holt MO Utility Company
Downed wires near Quill Road. Time estimated
from radar.
1136 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 1 W Union Star 39.98N 94.62W
05/17/2026 M58 MPH Andrew MO Public
Private weather sensor.
0121 AM Tstm Wnd Gst 4 SW Cameron 39.70N 94.29W
05/18/2026 M65 MPH Clinton MO Public
Private weather sensor.
0336 AM Tstm Wnd Gst 3 NNE Bucklin 39.82N 92.87W
05/18/2026 M64 MPH Linn MO Public
Private weather sensor.
&&
CMSPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Kansas City/Pleasant HIll MO
243 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1019 AM Hail Linneus 39.88N 93.19W
05/16/2026 E1.00 Inch Linn MO Public
Delayed social media report. Time confirmed
from radar.
0517 PM Hail 2 N Trenton 40.11N 93.62W
05/16/2026 E1.75 Inch Grundy MO Public
Delayed social media report. Time confirmed
from radar.
0739 PM Hail Gilman City 40.14N 93.87W
05/16/2026 M1.00 Inch Harrison MO Public
Delayed social media report. Time confirmed
from radar.
0757 PM Hail Eagleville 40.47N 93.99W
05/16/2026 E1.75 Inch Harrison MO Public
Delayed social media report. Time estimated
from radar.
0759 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Albany 40.25N 94.33W
05/16/2026 Gentry MO Public
Delayed social media report. Home video if a
tree downed at a residence in Albany. Time
based on video and confirmed from radar.
0833 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 6 E Bethany 40.27N 93.91W
05/16/2026 Harrison MO Public
Downed tree at a residence east of Bethany.
Time estimated from radar.
1000 PM Flash Flood 1 NE Pattonsburg 40.06N 94.13W
05/16/2026 Daviess MO Public
Several social media reports of flooding in
rural areas surrounding Pattonsburg. Time
based on radar.
1000 PM Flash Flood 5 WSW Galt 40.11N 93.48W
05/16/2026 Grundy MO Public
Route N closed from flash flooding. Time
based on social media report.
1143 PM Hail 4 N Green City 40.32N 92.95W
05/16/2026 E1.00 Inch Sullivan MO Public
Delayed social media report. Time estimated
from radar.
&&
CMSThe Omaha radar (KOAX), 128 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:05 UTC.
38 thunderstorm wind, 8 hail, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Public relayed 60 mph winds with initial storms moving through.
PWS measured multiple wind gusts over 60 mph, including peak 75 mph, in northern Atchison County.
Ping pong ball sized hail reported east of Westboro.
EM relayed spotter reported golf ball sized hail.
Social media report of golf ball sized hail.
MO SEMA employee reported ping pong ball size hail NW of Maryville.
Downed wires near Cooper Street in Maryville.
Downed wires near Route U.
EM relayed pictures of hail next to ruler in Sheridan. Largest greater than 2.5 inches in diameter.
Hail up to ping pong in size east of Sheridan.
Multiple reports of downed wires west of Fairfax.
Quarter sized hail reported in Grant City.
Photo shared via social media of approximately quarter-sized hail in Burlington Junction.
Downed wires and power outages near Riverbreaks Conservation Area.
Photos relayed of large tree branches down/trees snapped at trunks in Fillmore.
St. Joseph Rosecrans Airport ASOS recorde a 61 mph wind gust.
Several trees blown down in Fillmore.
Social media relayed photos of large tree branches down on north side of St. Joseph.
Social media relayed a report of a downed tree damaging a vehicle in St. Joseph.
Relayed social media report of multiple trees down in Savannah.
Photos relayed of trees limbs down/uprooted trees.
Downed tree at a residence near Hall Street.
Downed trees and wires in Bolckow.
Several reports of downed trees and wires and property damage on County Road 191.
Personal weather station measured 65 mph gust.
Several reports of downed tree limbs and wires in St. Joseph.
Several reports of downed wires northwest of King City.
Report relayed via social media of downed trees and power lines in Darlington.
Personal weather station measured a 64 knot wind gust.
Social media reports of downed tree limbs and wires near Pattonsburg.
Trees uprooted near the school in Pattonsburg.
Measured from handheld anemometer on far east side of St. Joseph.
Downed tree limbs reported via social media near Gilman City.
Photo shared via social media of large tree snapped at trunk near Weatherby Lake.
Multiple downed trees/limbs reported via social media in Parkville area.
Report of 60 mph gust relayed from EM in Parkville.
Downed wires near Cerrito Lane near Riverside.
Photo relayed via social media of tree branches snapped/trees down near Crown Center.
Downed tree and wires near 86th Street.
EM relayed public report of 70 mph wind gust near Gilman City.
Large tree uprooted near 72nd Terrace in Platte Woods.
Downed tree and wires near 65th Terrace.
Multiple reports of wires down and power outages near Plattsburg.
Downed wires near Martin Drive.
Downed tree relayed from social media in the Brookside area.
Photo relayed via social media of large tree uprooted with branches broken off in Hyde Park area.
NWS Damage Survey team confirmed a tornado occurred Monday evening, 5/18/2026, beginning at 9:47 PM CDT in southwestern Ray County Missouri. This tornado caused primarily tree damage along its path, but did impact two properties, one north of Fishing River, shortly after the tornado developed. EF1 Damage to two power poles, one out building was noted, along with the roll over of an empty livestock trailer. The tornado resulted in widespread EF1 tree damage near Reynolds Road and W 108th Street. The tornado continued east-northeast, crossing highway 10 south of Elkhorn before causing tree damage north of Swanwick before crossing highway 13. The tornado ended near the intersection of Frazier Road and Millville Road at 10:06 PM CDT.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Missouri in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Missouri, 2026Warnings in Missouri, May 2026
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: 1343513, 1343514, 1343516, 1343517, 1343518, 1343520, 1343879, 1343880, 1343882, 1343883, 1343885, 1343887, 1343888, 1343889, 1343891, 1343893, 1343903, 1343904, 1343905, 1343906, 1343908, 1343909, 1343912, 1343913, 1343916, 1343917, 1343918, 1343919, 1343931, 1343933, 1343935, 1343936, 1343937, 1343938, 1343940, 1343941, 1343943, 1343944, 1343945, 1343946, and more.