Slight Risk for Excessive Rainfall and Severe Thunderstorms Thursday

Additional rounds of thunderstorms are expected Thursday and Thursday night across Oklahoma and north Texas, with risks for both large hail and flash flooding. Strong winds may accompany any storms from east Texas northeast through the lower Great Lakes. Read More >

Rare 2016 Christmas Tornadoes

December 25, 2016 will be memorable for many Kansans as several tornadoes developed in a squall line that moved rapidly across the state. December tornadoes are rare due to the fact that they typically need warm, humid air to develop. Prior to 2016, there have been only 8 December tornadoes in Kansas according to records that began in the 1950s. A preliminary 6 weak tornadoes occurred on December 25, 2016, bringing the December tornado total for Kansas to 14, of which 43 percent happened on this day. This is the first time severe weather has occurred on Christmas in Kansas.

Following are storm survey reports of the event:

TORNADO 1

Rating:                 EF-0
Estimated peak wind:    70 mph
Path length /Statute/: 5.78 miles
Path width /Maximum/:   40 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start date:             12/25/2016
Start time:             9:44 AM CST
Start location:         6 miles ESE of Ensign, KS, Ford County
Start Lat/Lon:          37.6199/-101.1431

End date:               12/25/2016
End time:               9:51 AM CST
End location:           5 SW of Dodge City, KS, Ford County
End_lat/lon:            37.6887/-100.0827

TORNADO 4

Rating:                 EF-0
Estimated peak wind:    80 mph
Path length /Statute/: 0.64 miles
Path width /Maximum/:   25 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start date:             12/25/2016
Start time:             0855 AM CST
Start location:         3 Miles South of Kismet, KS, Seward County
Start Lat/Lon:          37.1597 / -100.6987

End date:               12/25/2016
End time:               0856 AM CST
End location:           2.5 Miles South of Kismet
End_lat/lon:            37.1687 / -100.6935

TORNADO 2

Rating:                 EF-0
Estimated peak wind:    80 mph
Path length /Statute/: 3.17 miles
Path width /Maximum/:   30 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start date:             12/25/2016
Start time:             10:28 AM CST
Start location:         6 ESE Bucklin, KS. Kiowa County
Start Lat/Lon:          37.4969/-99.5583

End date:               12/25/2016
End time:               10:35 AM CST
End location:           6 E Bucklin, KS, Kiowa County
End_lat/lon:            37.5386/-99.5338

TORNADO 5 (NWS Hastings CWA)

Rating:                 EF-0
Estimated peak wind:    85 mph
Path length /Statute/: 1.9 miles
Path width /Maximum/:   50 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start date:             12/25/16
Start time:             11:45 AM CST
Start location:         4.4 miles northwest of Alton, KS, Osborne County
Start Lat/Lon:          39.5274N / -99.003W

End date:               12/25/16
End time:               11:48 CST
End location:           5.0 miles northwest of Alton KS, Osborne County
End_lat/lon:            39.503N / -99.0182W

TORNADO 3

Rating:                 EF-0
Estimated peak wind:    75 mph
Path length /Statute/: 6.42 miles
Path width /Maximum/:   30 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start date:             12/25/2016
Start time:             10:51 AM CST
Start location:         7 SSW Greensburg, KS, Kiowa County
Start Lat/Lon:          37.5116/-99.3277

End date:               12/25/2016
End time:               10:59 AM CST
End location:           1 SE Greensburg, KS, Kiowa County
End_lat/lon:            37.5921/-99.272

TORNADO 6*

Rating: ?

Start date:             12/25/16
Start time:             11:01 AM CST
Start location: 6 SE Nekoma, KS, Rush County
Start Lat/Lon:          38.40N / -99.38W

*A storm survey has not been conducted on this spotter confirmed tornado.

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

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