National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Overview

Rich low level moisture rapidly lifted north across the Plains on Saturday May 25th with storms initially developing along a developing dryline across Western Oklahoma. One particular storm gained strength as it tracked north of the Oklahoma/Kansas border. This supercell thunderstorm produced a brief tornado in Barber county before tracking east and producing an EF-2 tornado west of Anthony. What made this tornado unique was that it did not form from the main mesocyclone associated with the supercell, but rather from the supercells interaction with one of the storms lifting due north out of Oklahoma.

The tornado threat was short-lived though as storms lifting north out of northern Oklahoma merged with the supercell which transitioned the threat to damaging winds.  This cluster of storms produced 60 to 75 mph winds as it tracked across Wichita which caused widespread tree damage and widespread power outages.

Around midnight additional storms developed over southern Cowley County and rapidly starting rotating which required a tornado warning as it tracked toward the Kansas/Oklahoma border.  This storm went on to produce just shy of baseball size hail in Tyro and 80 mph winds in Caney. 

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