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Powerful Pacific System Impacting the West; First Significant Snow for Portions of the East

Power Pacific system will continue to bring significant impacts for Pacific Northwest into northern California the remainder of the week. Dangerous coastal affects, heavy rain, flooding, strong winds, and higher elevation mountain snow continues. Meanwhile, a storm across the east is set to bring the first accumulating snow to many higher elevations of the Catskills into the central Appalachians. Read More >

Overview

During the afternoon to evening hours on 8 May 2016, widespread strong to severe thunderstorms developed ahead of a dryline situated across western into central KS. Numerous reports of large hail (with some exceeding 2-inches) along with a few tornadoes occurred from mid afternoon to the early overnight hours. Some EF-2 damage occurred north of Hays in Ellis county.

Radar/Photo

Panoramic of supercell storm (Photo courtesy of Grady Dixon)

 

Tornadoes:

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Tornado #1 - Catharine to Codell Tornado
Ellis County

Date 05/08/2016
Time (Local) 708 PM CDT
EF Rating EF-2
Est. Peak Winds 125 mph
Path Length 6.55 miles
Max Width 440 yards
Injuries/Deaths 0/0

Summary:

Cyclic tornadic supercell produced a significant tornado starting 8 miles north of Catharine and stayed on the ground several miles until it entered Rooks County.  Peak intensity was estimated at EF-2 intensity.

Radar/Photo Radar/Photo Radar/Photo Radar/Photo
Shed destroyed in northern Ellis county.
(courtesy Derrick Unrein)
Power lines downed in northern Ellis county
(courtesy Derrick Unrein)
Radar imagery from approximate time of tornado north of Hays (~ 720 pm CDT). 14 miles northeast of Hays 7:21 pm
(courtesy Grady Dixon)

Tornado #2 Ellis
Ellis County

Date 05/08/2016
Time (Local) 700 PM CDT
EF Rating EF-0
Est. Peak Winds 80 mph
Path Length 0.88 miles
Max Width 50 yards
Injuries/Deaths 0/0

Summary:

A brief weak tornado spun up 5 miles north of Ellis, KS.  It was only on the ground for a few miles.

Radar/Photo Radar/Photo
Rope tornado north of Ellis
(courtesy Derrick Unrein)
Radar imagery from approximate time of tornado north of Ellis (~ 700 pm CDT).

Tornado #3 Cedar Bluff
Ellis County

Date 05/08/2016
Time (Local) 600 PM CDT
EF Rating EF-0
Est. Peak Winds 75 mph
Path Length 1.85 miles
Max Width 25 yards
Injuries/Deaths 0/0

Summary:

A short lived weak tornado spun up on the west end of Cedar Bluff Reservoir.  It was only on the ground for about 2 miles.

Radar/Photo Radar/Photo
Along Highway 283 west of Cedar Bluff Reservoir shortly after 6:00 pm
(courtesy Grady Dixon)
Radar imagery from approximate time of tornado west of Cedar Bluffs Reservoir (~ 6 pm CDT).

 

The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories:

EF0
Weak

65-85 mph
EF1
Moderate
86-110 mph
EF2
Significant
111-135 mph
EF3
Severe
136-165 mph
EF4
Extreme
166-200 mph
EF5
Catastrophic
200+ mph
ef-scale

Radar:

Header

Radar Image Radar Image Radar Image
Radar imagery from approximate time of tornado west of Cedar Bluffs Reservoir (~ 6 pm CDT). Radar imagery from approximate time of tornado north of Ellis (~ 700 pm CDT). Radar imagery from approximate time of tornado north of Hays (~ 720 pm CDT).

Storm Reports

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY KS
806 AM CDT MON MAY 9 2016

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

0539 PM     HAIL             5 ESE LAKE COLDWATER    37.21N 99.27W
05/08/2016  E1.75 INCH       COMANCHE           KS   LAW ENFORCEMENT  



0605 PM     HAIL             7 N KINSLEY             38.02N 99.41W
05/08/2016  E3.00 INCH       EDWARDS            KS   LAW ENFORCEMENT  



0607 PM     TORNADO          6 SSW TREGO CENTER      38.81N 99.94W
05/08/2016                   TREGO              KS   STORM CHASER     

            TORNADO LASTED ABOUT 5 MINUTES. 

0635 PM     HAIL             3 SSW ELLIS             38.90N 99.58W
05/08/2016  E2.75 INCH       ELLIS              KS   LAW ENFORCEMENT  



0638 PM     HAIL             DILLWYN                 37.97N 98.87W
05/08/2016  E0.75 INCH       STAFFORD           KS   LAW ENFORCEMENT  



0643 PM     HAIL             3 NW BISON              38.55N 99.24W
05/08/2016  M1.25 INCH       RUSH               KS   TRAINED SPOTTER  



0650 PM     HAIL             2 N YOCEMENTO           38.94N 99.42W
05/08/2016  M1.75 INCH       ELLIS              KS   STORM CHASER     



0708 PM     TORNADO          7 NW CATHERINE          39.00N 99.30W
05/08/2016                   ELLIS              KS   LAW ENFORCEMENT  



0713 PM     TORNADO          9 NW EMMERAM            39.06N 99.24W
05/08/2016                   ELLIS              KS   STORM CHASER     



0714 PM     HAIL             6 ESE LARNED            38.15N 99.00W
05/08/2016  E1.00 INCH       PAWNEE             KS   PUBLIC           



0715 PM     TORNADO          9 NNW EMMERAM           39.09N 99.19W
05/08/2016                   ELLIS              KS   PUBLIC           

            SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO FARM HOUSE AND 
            OUTBUILDINGS. 

0718 PM     TORNADO          7 NNW CATHERINE         39.02N 99.26W
05/08/2016                   ELLIS              KS   PUBLIC           



0720 PM     TORNADO          7 NNE ELLIS             39.02N 99.50W
05/08/2016                   ELLIS              KS   STORM CHASER     

            BRIEF TORNADO. 

0820 PM     HAIL             6 NE LAKE CITY          37.42N 98.75W
05/08/2016  E1.00 INCH       BARBER             KS   PUBLIC           



0911 PM     HAIL             4 SSE RANSOM            38.58N 99.90W
05/08/2016  E1.00 INCH       NESS               KS   PUBLIC           



0913 PM     HAIL             6 SSE RANSOM            38.55N 99.91W
05/08/2016  E1.75 INCH       NESS               KS   TRAINED SPOTTER  



0918 PM     HAIL             6 SSE RANSOM            38.55N 99.91W
05/08/2016  E2.50 INCH       NESS               KS   EMERGENCY MNGR   



1010 PM     HAIL             SCHOENCHEN              38.71N 99.33W
05/08/2016  E1.00 INCH       ELLIS              KS   TRAINED SPOTTER  



1010 PM     HAIL             4 S MUNJOR              38.75N 99.26W
05/08/2016  E3.00 INCH       ELLIS              KS   COCORAHS         

            THE HAIL RESULTED IN SHREDDED LEAVES, CAR 
            DENTS AND DAMAGED SHINGLES. 

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