Heat Wave Persists Over the Central U.S.; Significant Flooding Expected in the Northern Mid-Atlantic Tuesday

Dangerous and extreme heat will remain across portions of the Central U.S. this week, persisting across the Mid to Lower Mississippi Valleys, Gulf Coast, Southern Plains and portions of Texas. A heat wave over the Southwest will intensify late this week. Severe thunderstorms and flash flooding will spread from the Great Lakes/Ohio Valley to the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast the next few days. Read More >

Overview

May 24th, 2021 was a day in which northwest Kansas won't forget for a while. On this day, numerous tornadoes occurred across the region. A cold front had moved through the area on May 23rd, and on May 24th, was stalled across western Kansas. During the early afternoon, storms began to form along and just north of the cold front. Several of them quickly became tornadic, eventually producing tornadoes across Wallace, Logan, Thomas, and Sheridan Counties. The most significant storm formed right over Colby, KS around 3:30 pm CDT. This storm eventually produced a tornado just northeast of Colby, KS at around 4:16 CDT. The storm progressed to the northeast, producing funnel clouds and tornadoes up until it moved into far northwestern Sheridan County. As the storm approached Selden, KS, a tornado formed around four miles west of town. The tornado slowly moved to the east, eventually crossing Highway 83 and moving into town. It was here the most significant damage of the day was observed as a multi-vortex tornado pushed through town, producing high-end EF-1 damage with estimated wind speeds of around 110 mph. The tornado then turned left, moving northeast out of town along Highway 83. The tornado eventually dissipated around the Highway 83 and Highway 383 junction.

Tornadoes are still being counted and this page will provide preliminary storm information on this memorable event. The page will be updated as more information becomes available. No additional storm surveys are planned at this time.

Tornado
Photos & Video
Radar
Storm Reports

Tornadoes:

SELDEN, KS
SHERIDAN COUNTY

Date	May 24th, 2021
Time (Local)	6:06 - 6:36 pm CDT
EF Rating	EF-1
Est. Peak Winds	110 mph
Path Length	5.87 miles
Max Width	850 yards, or 1/2 mile
Injuries/Deaths	1/0
Summary: A large, multi-vortex tornado moved across northwestern Sheridan County, Kansas, impacting the town of Selden. The tornado started west of town initially and moved slowly to the east, eventually crossing Highway 83. As the tornado crossed the highway, it started to impact structures on the west side of Selden, and eventually moving across the town. In town, damage was widespread and quiet concentrated. At one point, the tornado reached a width of one half mile wide. Damage consisted of thousands of broken tree limbs, hundreds of uprooted and snapped trees, shingles off and pieces of roofing removed from residences and buildings, many farm outbuildings either missing roofing material, walls damaged, and/or the building completely collapsed and removed from its foundation, windows broken out of houses, buildings, and vehicles, snapped power poles, overturned irrigation pivots, overturned semis and rail cars, and several grain silos blown over. The tornado then proceeded to the east, exiting town and heading towards the Highway 83 and Highway 383 split. There were a few more irrigation pivots overturned, as well as power poles snapped. The tornado appeared to dissipate as it neared the Highway 83 and Highway 383 split due to a lack of any visible damage at that intersection. The challenge with this survey was there were multiple vortices causing damage. Therefore, there were a few areas of more concentrated high-end EF-1 damage with broad/widespread EF-0 to EF-1 damage. Finally, thank you to emergency management, law enforcement, storm spotters, chasers, and the citizens of Selden for providing information, images, videos, and their accounts of what happened as this greatly informed this survey. Without your help, this survey would have been much more difficult.

Track Map

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File

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

Photos & Video

(click image to enlarge)


Selden, KS Tornado Credit: Brandon and Lauren Morris	3 miles west of Selden, KS Credit: Chad Griffin	Tornado near Selden, KS Credit: Jacob Terrell


Selden, KS tornado Credit: Jesse Risley	Close-up of the Selden tornado Credit: Matthew Cappucci	Image of Selden, KS Tornado Credit: Jesse Risley

Damage in Selden, KS

Credit: NWS Damage Assessment

Damage in Selden, KS

Credit: NWS Damage Assessment

Damage in Selden, KS

Credit: NWS Damage Assessment

Damage in Selden, KS

Credit: NWS Damage Assessment

Damage in Selden, KS

Credit: NWS Damage Assessment

Damage in Selden, KS

Credit: NWS Damage Assessment

Damage in Selden, KS

Credit: NWS Damage Assessment

Damage in Selden, KS

Credit: NWS Damage Assessment

Damage in Selden, KS

Credit: NWS Damage Assessment

@NWSGoodland
— Brittany Newman (@Sturms112010) May 24, 2021

My @NWSGoodland video from today! https://t.co/15O5us5Vl3?amp=1 #kswx
— Tyler Kurtz (@tylerkurtz99) May 24, 2021

Tornado right outside of Seldon, KS
— Mackenzie King (@MackenzieKing97) May 24, 2021

Radar

(click image to enlarge)


Radar Reflectivity around the time the Selden, KS Tornado began.	Radar Storm Relative Velocity around the time the Selden, KS Tornado began.	Radar Reflectivity shortly after the Selden, KS Tornado began.	Radar Storm Relative Velocity shortly after the Selden, KS Tornado began.


Radar Reflectivity at the time the tornado was impacting Selden, KS.	Radar Storm Relative Velocity at the time the tornado was impacting Selden, KS.	Radar Correlation Coefficient at the time the tornado was impacting Selden, KS. The large are of low CC indicates debris in the air as sampled by radar.	Radar Differential Reflectivity at the time the tornado was impacting Selden, KS. The large are of low ZDR indicates debris in the air as sampled by radar.


Radar Reflectivity around the time the Selden, KS Tornado was dissipating.	Radar Storm Relative Velocity around the time the Selden, KS Tornado was dissipating.	Radar Reflectivity around the time the Selden, KS Tornado was dissipating.	Radar Storm Relative Velocity around the time the Selden, KS Tornado was dissipating.

Storm Reports

For a map of all preliminary storm reports, please see this website.

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS

540 PM MDT TUE MAY 25 2021

..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...

..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....

..REMARKS..

0206 PM TORNADO 11 NNE WALLACE 39.06N 101.52W

05/24/2021 WALLACE KS TRAINED SPOTTER

DISPATCH RELAYED A SPOTTER REPORT OF A BRIEF

TORNADO.

0208 PM TORNADO 8 NW WINONA 39.15N 101.35W

05/24/2021 THOMAS KS TRAINED SPOTTER

DISPATCH RELAYED A SPOTTER REPORT OF A BRIEF

TORNADO.

0212 PM TORNADO 14 NNE WALLACE 39.10N 101.51W

05/24/2021 WALLACE KS TRAINED SPOTTER

TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTED TORNADO ON GROUND

AT TIME OF REPORT. 8 MILES NW OF MCALLASTER.

0213 PM TORNADO 12 WNW WINONA 39.10N 101.46W

05/24/2021 LOGAN KS PUBLIC

REPORT OF 2 TORNADOES ON THE GROUND AT THE

SAME TIME, ONE APPEARED TO BE A LANDSPOUT.

0218 PM FUNNEL CLOUD 9 NW WINONA 39.16N 101.35W

05/24/2021 THOMAS KS PUBLIC

FUNNEL CLOUD REPORTED.

0250 PM TORNADO 12 NNW WALLACE 39.08N 101.67W

05/24/2021 WALLACE KS PUBLIC

CORRECTS PREVIOUS TORNADO REPORT FROM 12 NNW

WALLACE. CALLER REPORTED SEEING TORNADO ON

THE GROUND FAR NORTH OF SHARON SPRINGS.

0300 PM FLASH FLOOD 15 N LEOTI 38.70N 101.37W

05/24/2021 WICHITA KS LAW ENFORCEMENT

REPORTS OF WATER OVER THE ROAD DEEP ENOUGH

FOR KS-25 TO BE BARRICADED AT HACKBERRY

CREEK. ESTIMATED TIME OF REPORT.

0304 PM FUNNEL CLOUD 3 NE COLBY 39.41N 101.01W

05/24/2021 THOMAS KS PUBLIC

SHORT LIVED FUNNEL CLOUD REPORTED NE OF

COLBY BY PUBLIC.

0315 PM TORNADO 10 SSE BREWSTER 39.24N 101.30W

05/24/2021 THOMAS KS TRAINED SPOTTER

REPORTED SMALL ROPE TORNADO NNW OF WINONA,

KS. DELAYED REPORT.

0316 PM TORNADO 8 SSW LEVANT 39.27N 101.26W

05/24/2021 THOMAS KS TRAINED SPOTTER

SMALL SHORT LIVED TORNADO REPORTED BY

SPOTTER.

0316 PM TORNADO 4 NE COLBY 39.43N 101.00W

05/24/2021 THOMAS KS LAW ENFORCEMENT

LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED TORNADO BRIEFLY

TOUCHED GROUND NE OF COLBY BEFORE LIFTING

BACK UP.

0323 PM TORNADO 3 WNW GEM 39.44N 100.96W

05/24/2021 THOMAS KS TRAINED SPOTTER

SPOTTER REPORTS TORNADO WEST OF GEM, KS.

0328 PM FUNNEL CLOUD 3 WNW GEM 39.44N 100.96W

05/24/2021 THOMAS KS TRAINED SPOTTER

0340 PM FUNNEL CLOUD 4 NNE COLBY 39.43N 101.01W

05/24/2021 THOMAS KS PUBLIC

SOCIAL MEDIA PICTURE OF A FUNNEL CLOUD.

0345 PM TORNADO 5 NNW GEM 39.49N 100.92W

05/24/2021 THOMAS KS TRAINED SPOTTER

TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTED BRIEF TORNADO. ALSO

REPORTED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA.

0359 PM FUNNEL CLOUD 5 N GEM 39.49N 100.90W

05/24/2021 THOMAS KS PUBLIC

PICTURE FROM SOCIAL MEDIA OF A FUNNEL CLOUD

NORTH OF GEM, KS.

0413 PM TSTM WND GST 15 SSE RUSSELL SPRINGS 38.72N 101.06W

05/24/2021 E60 MPH LOGAN KS PUBLIC

ESTIMATED 50-60 MPH WINDS WITH PEA SIZE HAIL

AND LOTS OF RAIN. ALSO REPORTED WATER IN THE

CREEKS ARE RISING.

0420 PM HAIL 6 WSW THE MONUMENT ROCK 38.74N 100.87W

05/24/2021 E0.75 INCH LOGAN KS PUBLIC

REPORT OF HEAVY RAIN AND HAIL UP TO PENNY IN

SIZE.

0425 PM FUNNEL CLOUD 5 NNW GEM 39.49N 100.93W

05/24/2021 THOMAS KS PUBLIC

SOCIAL MEDIA REPORT WITH PICTURE.

0447 PM FUNNEL CLOUD 2 N REXFORD 39.49N 100.74W

05/24/2021 THOMAS KS TRAINED SPOTTER

MULTIPLE REPORTS FROM MULTIPLE SPOTTERS OF A

FUNNEL HALFWAY TO THE GROUND.

0505 PM HAIL 9 N REXFORD 39.59N 100.71W

05/24/2021 M0.88 INCH DECATUR KS PUBLIC

PUBLIC REPORTED DIME TO NICKEL SIZE HAIL

OCCURING.

0506 PM TORNADO 4 W SELDEN 39.53N 100.64W

05/24/2021 SHERIDAN KS NWS STORM SURVEY

SELDEN, KS EF-1 TORNADO BEGAN HERE AT THIS

TIME.

0507 PM TORNADO 5 NE REXFORD 39.52N 100.68W

05/24/2021 SHERIDAN KS TRAINED SPOTTER

CONFIRMED TORNADO ON THE GROUND MOVING

EASTWARD REPORTED BY SPOTTER.

0518 PM HAIL 7 WNW SELDEN 39.59N 100.68W

05/24/2021 E1.75 INCH DECATUR KS PUBLIC

PUBLIC REPORTED GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL.

0524 PM TORNADO SELDEN 39.54N 100.57W

05/24/2021 SHERIDAN KS NWS STORM SURVEY

*** 1 INJ ***

SELDEN, KS TORNADO STRUCK THE TOWN AROUND

THIS TIME. CONFIRMED BY NWS DAMAGE

ASSESSMENT TEAM.

0526 PM TORNADO SELDEN 39.54N 100.57W

05/24/2021 SHERIDAN KS EMERGENCY MNGR

CORRECTS PREVIOUS TORNADO REPORT FROM

SELDEN. EMERGENCY MANAGER REPORTING

BUILDINGS, POWER LINES AND TREES DOWN, HOMES

DAMAGED, AN OVERTURNED SEMI, AND GAS LEAKS

DUE TO TORNADO.

0526 PM TORNADO SELDEN 39.54N 100.57W

05/24/2021 SHERIDAN KS TRAINED SPOTTER

SPOTTER REPORTS LARGE MULTI VORTEX TORNADO

WITH LOTS OF DAMAGE IN SELDON. TRAIN IS

OVERTURNED AND SILOS ARE DETROYED.

0536 PM TORNADO 2 NE SELDEN 39.56N 100.54W

05/24/2021 SHERIDAN KS NWS STORM SURVEY

SELDEN, KS TORNADO ENDED HERE AT THIS TIME.

EF1 WITH WINDS OF 110 MPH. TORNADO TRAVELED

AROUND 6 MILES AND LASTED AROUND 30 MINUTES.

MULTIPLE VORTEX TORNADO AT TIMES.

0551 PM HEAVY RAIN 3 S OBERLIN 39.77N 100.53W

05/24/2021 M1.00 INCH DECATUR KS TRAINED SPOTTER

0555 PM HAIL 10 S GOVE 38.82N 100.50W

05/24/2021 E0.25 INCH GOVE KS TRAINED SPOTTER

SPOTTER NOTED PEA SIZED HAIL WITH HEAVY

RAINFALL.

0605 PM HAIL 12 S GOVE 38.79N 100.51W

05/24/2021 M0.25 INCH GOVE KS TRAINED SPOTTER

0853 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 E HILL CITY 39.37N 99.83W

05/24/2021 M59 MPH GRAHAM KS ASOS

ASOS STATION KHLC HILL CITY.

0909 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 ENE GOVE 38.97N 100.44W

05/24/2021 M59 MPH GOVE KS MESONET

WUNDERGROUND SITE KKSGRAIN4.

0300 AM HEAVY RAIN 4 N BLAKEMAN 39.88N 101.13W

05/25/2021 M1.10 INCH RAWLINS KS TRAINED SPOTTER

STORM TOTAL RAINFALL REPORT. SPOTTER

ESTIMATED TIME.

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