Wichita, Kansas

Weather Forecast Office

May 6, 2015 Tornadoes

Central/South Central Kansas Tornadoes

May 6, 2015

*Story will continue to be updated, so please check back*

Last Updated: Saturday, May 9th

Overview:

Strong to severe thunderstorms affected portions of central and south central Kansas, mainly west of I-135 during the late afternoon and evening hours of Wednesday, May 6th. The severe weather occurred along and east of a dryline ahead of large storm system over the western United States. The first tornado developed in Lincoln county about 7 miles southwest of Lincoln, KS causing minor damage south and east of town. Another tornado developed near Mount Hope tracking north through Harvey County. This tornado crossed Highway 50 about 4 miles west of Halstead and continued tracking north toward Moundridge before dissipating. Two other brief tornadoes developed, one near Anthony, KS and another a few miles west of Clonmel, KS.

Radar

Overview loop of radar data and warnings.

Above is a map of preliminary storm reports.

Lincoln County EF-0 Tornado

Radar reflectivity image from KICT

Storm relative velocity image from KICT.

RATING:                 EF-0
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND:    75 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/: 8.5 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/:   100 YARDS
FATALITIES:             0
INJURIES:              0

START DATE:               05/06/2015
START TIME:               223 PM CDT
START LOCATION:         7 SOUTH-SOUTHWEST LINCOLN/LINCOLN COUNTY/KANSAS

END DATE:              05/06/2015
END TIME:                   237 PM CDT
END LOCATION:           1 EAST LINCOLN/LINCOLN COUNTY/KANSAS

EF SCALE: THE ENHANCED FUJITA SCALE CLASSIFIES TORNADOES INTO THE
FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:

EF0...WEAK......65 TO 85 MPH
EF1...WEAK......86 TO 110 MPH
EF2...STRONG....111 TO 135 MPH
EF3...STRONG....136 TO 165 MPH
EF4...VIOLENT...166 TO 200 MPH
EF5...VIOLENT...>200 MPH

NOTE:
THE INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT IS PRELIMINARY AND SUBJECT TO
CHANGE PENDING FINAL REVIEW OF THE EVENT AND PUBLICATION IN
NWS STORM DATA.

Damage to a cemetary near Lincoln, KS. Damage to a tree south of Lincoln, KS.

Segwick/Harvey Counties EF-3 Tornado

May 6th 2015

Storm relative velocity image from KICT.

RATING:                 EF-3
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND:    150 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/: 15.5 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/:   300 YARDS
FATALITIES:             0
INJURIES:               1

START DATE:             MAY 06 2015
START TIME:             445 PM CDT
START LOCATION:         2 MILES SOUTH MOUNT HOPE/SEDGWICK/KANSAS

END DATE:               MAY 06 2015
END TIME:               513 PM CDT
END LOCATION:           4.5 MILES NORTHEAST BURRTON/HARVEY/KANSAS

EF SCALE: THE ENHANCED FUJITA SCALE CLASSIFIES
TORNADOES INTO THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES.

EF0...WEAK......65 TO 85 MPH
EF1...WEAK......86 TO 110 MPH
EF2...STRONG....111 TO 135 MPH
EF3...STRONG....136 TO 165 MPH
EF4...VIOLENT...166 TO 200 MPH
EF5...VIOLENT...>200 MPH

NOTE:
THE INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT IS PRELIMINARY AND SUBJECT TO
CHANGE PENDING FINAL REVIEW OF THE EVENT AND PUBLICATION IN
NWS STORM DATA.

Tornado near Mount Hope. Taken by Jim Reed

Damage to a house NE of Mt. Hope.

Tree damage in Harvey County near Burrton.

Tornado looking north from K-96 near Mount Hope. Photo courtesy of Jim Reed.

Shed damage near Mount Hope.

Uprooted tree near Mount Hope. Photo courtesy of Hannah Davis via KWCH.

Video


Video Courtesy of Stormchasingvideo. Description of video: A rotating supercell thunderstorm formed just after 2pm on 5/6/2015 and quickly intensified near the city of Ellsworth, Kansas. As the storm passed north of Ellsworth and crossed interstate 70 it developed a large tornado which tracked north and north east paralleling the highway 14 corridor. The tornado crossed highway 14 about 3 miles south of Lincoln, Kansas and stuck a farmstead ripping a roof off of one of their outbuildings. Shot 1- Storm Chaser Ben McMillan is live on a cable weather network giving reports on the tornado as it is intensifying and approaching the city of Lincoln west of highway 14 and northwest of the chaser\'s location Shot 2- Multiple vortexes in the tornado are observed northwest of the chasers location Shot 3- The tornado begins to cause damage and visible debris is observed to the chasers northwest Shot 4- Tornado crosses the road in front of the chaser to the north and more structural damage and tree debris is observed in the circulation as it crosses the road Shot 5- Multiple vortexes are observed to the chasers northeast in a field	Video Courtesy of Stormandsky. Description of video: Close up footage of the tornado south of Lincoln Center KS May 6, 2015. Including intact barn/shed roof going airborne near the tornado and drill bit vortices very close in the field.
Video taken by Michael Arndt near Mt. Hope earlier this evening. Posted by US National Weather Service Wichita Kansas on Wednesday, May 6, 2015
Video taken by Michael Arndt near Mt. Hope