1. Event overview

On the early afternoon of June 12, 2002, severe storms produced hail in Kearney County, and small, brief tornadoes in Rooks and Phillips Counties in North Central Kansas. The storms initiated in response to a southward moving cold front that slid through the region during the day. A second round of thunderstorms developed later in the afternoon producing 3.5 inch diameter hail near York, and 4.5 inch diameter hail in Riverdale, and Minden. Considerable hail damage occurred in portions of Kearney where hail was reported greater than 4.5 inches in diameter, resulting in vehicle, roof, and tree damage. The Plains Produce greenhouse east of Minden sustained major glass damage.

The following analyzed surface map depicts general meteorological conditions across the region, at 7 PM local time (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1. Surface map for 7 PM 12 June 2002 with subjectively analyzed mean sea level pressure (solid) contoured every 2 mb. Standard station model used; temperature and dewpoint (°F), pressure (mb), 3-h pressure tendency (mb), and sky conditions reported. Winds in knots with one full barb, and one half barb equal to 10, and 5 knots, respectively. Fronts and pertinent surface features depicted.

The large hail that fell in Kearney and Minden was associated with a supercell thunderstorm (Storm A) that developed in Custer County, along and on the cold side (north) of the surface cold front (Fig. 2). The storm moved southeast at ~35 mph impacting portions of Custer, Buffalo, Kearney, Webster and Franklin Counties, with heavy rain, strong winds, and at times, hail up to and exceeding 4.5 inches.

Fig. 2. Radar reflectivity of Storm A just as the storm arrived into Kearney, valid for 8:36 PM local, 12 June 2002.

A smaller supercell (Storm B) developed concurrently with Storm A in Kearney County, and tracked to the southeast at ~35 mph, impacting portions of Kearney, Adams, Webster, Nuckolls, and Jewell Counties. Hail up to 1.75 inches was reported with the storm (Fig. 3).

Fig. 3. Radar reflectivity valid for 9:01 PM local, 12 June 2002. Relevant features depicted.

A plot of the hail swaths associated with both storms reveals the extent of hail coverage and path lengths. Please note, the plot was based on the preliminary local storm report (see below) and damage surveys conducted by the Hastings National Weather Service Office (Fig. 4).

On June 13 2002, the Hastings National Weather Service Office conducted a damage survey documenting the extent of the hail and wind damage in the city of Kearney and surrounding areas (Fig. 5). Please note the figure was based on the survey and from damage reports received from the Buffalo County Office of Emergency Management. In Kearney, the majority of the greatest widespread hail damaged occurred in the northwest portion of town with scattered damage across eastern sections of the City.

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE

TIME(CDT)  CITY LOCATION            STATE EVENT/REMARKS              COUNTY LOCATION      

0610 AM    CAWKER CITY               KS   .75 INCH HAIL   06/12/02   MITCHELL

1225 PM    8 NNE AXTELL              NE   1 INCH HAIL     06/12/02   KEARNEY        REPORTED BY STORM SPOTTER.

1245 PM    4 W NEWARK                NE   1 INCH HAIL     06/12/02   KEARNEY        REPORTED BY STORM SPOTTER.

0121 PM    9 NW STOCKTON             KS   TORNADO         06/12/02   ROOKS          REPORTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.

0125 PM    3 SW GLADE                KS   TORNADO         06/12/02   PHILLIPS       REPORTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.

0310 PM    8 NE NELSON               NE   .75 INCH HAIL   06/12/02   NUCKOLLS       REPORTED BY PUBLIC.

0339 PM    10 S PLAINVILLE           KS   TORNADO         06/12/02   ROOKS          REPORTED BY PUBLIC.

0513 PM    CLARKS                    NE   1.75 INCH HAIL  06/12/02   MERRICK        REPORTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.

0537 PM    5 SW STROMSBURG           NE   1.75 INCH HAIL  06/12/02   POLK           REPORTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.

0542 PM    3 W STROMSBURG            NE   1.75 INCH HAIL  06/12/02   POLK           REPORTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.

0550 PM    3 W GRESHAM               NE   1 INCH HAIL     06/12/02   YORK           REPORTED BY COOPERATIVE OBSERVER.

0600 PM    7 NW YORK                 NE   3.5 INCH HAIL   06/12/02   YORK           REPORTED BY COOPERATIVE OBSERVER.

0805 PM    7 NNE MILLER              NE   1 INCH HAIL     06/12/02   BUFFALO        EVENT DURATION 5 MINUTES. 
                                                                                    REPORTED BY STORM SPOTTER.

0840 PM    KEARNEY                   NE   4.5 INCH HAIL   06/12/02   BUFFALO        REPORTED BY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

0845 PM    9 NNW MINDEN              NE   2.75 INCH HAIL  06/12/02   KEARNEY

0845 PM    KEARNEY                   NE   1.5 INCH HAIL   06/12/02   BUFFALO        REPORTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.

0855 PM    6 N MINDEN                NE   1.25 INCH HAIL  06/12/02   KEARNEY        REPORTED BY STORM SPOTTER.

0905 PM    MINDEN                    NE   4.5 INCH HAIL   06/12/02   KEARNEY        REPORTED BY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

0908 PM    MINDEN                    NE   2.5 INCH HAIL   06/12/02   KEARNEY        REPORTED BY HAM RADIO OPERATOR.