Wichita, Kansas

Weather Forecast Office

Three rounds of storms including an EF-2 tornado on April 26th

Overview

Fifteen straight hours of severe storms impacted central and eastern Kansas on Sunday April 26th into the very early morning hours of Monday April 27th. NWS Wichita started issuing warnings around 10 am and didn't stop until around 3 am that night.

The most intense supercell through this event impacted northern Montgomery County and northern Labette County near sunset. This storm spawned a tornado near the town of Sycamore that produced EF1 and EF2 damage.

Earlier in the day, a long-lived line of storms tracked across central Kansas into the Flint Hills and produced numerous reports of large hail, especially across Marion, Chase, Woodson and Allen counties. Last but not least to finish out the event, numerous supercells developed after 10pm and dropped massive hail on the town of Salina. Arkansas City was also impacted by a large hail producing storm.

Tornado
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Storm Reports
Rainfall
Environment

Tornadoes:

Tornado #1 - WSW of Sycamore
Montgomery County

Date	4/26/2026
Time (Local)	6:55pm - 7:13pm CDT
EF Rating	EF-1
Est. Peak Winds	90 mph
Path Length	5.03 miles
Max Width	30 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0
Summary: Social media photo and video combined with radar data and storm survey indicated an EF1 tornado which damaged farm outbuildings including small grain bins.

Tornado #2 - South & East of Sycamore
Montgomery County

Date	4/26/2026
Time (Local)	7:09pm - 7:23pm CDT
EF Rating	EF-2
Est. Peak Winds	125 mph
Path Length	4.59 miles
Max Width	400 yards
Injuries/Deaths	1 injury
Summary: This tornado began SSW of Sycamore and tracked ENE along 5800 Rd causing EF2 damage to two houses east of the Verdigris River and north of Rd 5800. One occupant of one of the homes was unfortunately injured.

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

Round 1

This initial round of storms tracked all the way across central into eastern Kansas during the morning and afternoon hours, producing mainly large hail.

Radar/Photo

Hail north of Yates Center

Radar/Photo

Hail in Canton

Radar/Photo

Hail in Hillsboro

Hail in Marion

Round 2

This round of storms produced a tornado in southeast Kansas along with another tornado just south of the KS/OK border.

Regional radar animation. The storm just south of the KS/OK border also produced a tornado

Radar animation of reflectivity(left) and storm relative velocity(right) of the supercell that spawned the tornado near Sycamore

Infrared satellite animation showing the extremely cold cloud tops with the storm over southeast KS

Visible satellite animation showing the storms developing over southeast KS/northeast Oklahoma

Video of the tornado can be viewed here.

Hydrograph

Tornado near Sycamore

Hydrograph

Tornado near Sycamore

Hydrograph

Funnel cloud near the town of Lebette

Imcredible #Tornado intercept. NE Elk City around 6:45pm. Called it into 911 dispatch. Supercell was quickly tor warned again. #kswx @MaxVelocityWX @NWSWichita pic.twitter.com/4Yl2eTjnCk
— Jake Stehli (@eljakeo30) April 27, 2026

Tornado 2 miles west of Sycamore moving into Sycamore, Kansas. @NWSWichita #tornado #kswx pic.twitter.com/tBqF9Qllwx
— Charles Peek (@CharlesPeekWX) April 27, 2026

Round 3

This round of storms produced mainly large hail reports, especially across Salina and Arkansas City.

Salina Hail

Radar/Photo

Arkansas City Hail

Storm Reports


Preliminary Local Storm Report...Summary
National Weather Service Wichita KS
413 AM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026

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

1000 AM     Hail             1 NW Russell            38.90N 98.87W
04/26/2026  E0.75 Inch       Russell            KS   Public

            Delayed report from mPING.

1106 AM     Hail             Geneseo                 38.52N 98.16W
04/26/2026  M1.00 Inch       Rice               KS   Trained Spotter



1205 PM     Hail             7 NNE Mcpherson         38.47N 97.63W
04/26/2026  M1.75 Inch       McPherson          KS   Public



1208 PM     Hail             1 NE Mcpherson          38.38N 97.65W
04/26/2026  M1.00 Inch       McPherson          KS   Public



1218 PM     Hail             1 NE Galva              38.40N 97.52W
04/26/2026  E1.00 Inch       McPherson          KS   Public

            Delayed report from mPING.

1230 PM     Hail             5 N Mcpherson           38.44N 97.66W
04/26/2026  M1.25 Inch       McPherson          KS   NWS Employee

            time estimated from radar.

1232 PM     Hail             Canton                  38.39N 97.43W
04/26/2026  M1.25 Inch       McPherson          KS   Trained Spotter

            half dollar hail size piling up.

1232 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     Canton                  38.39N 97.43W
04/26/2026  M70 MPH          McPherson          KS   Trained Spotter



1245 PM     Hail             Lehigh                  38.37N 97.30W
04/26/2026  E1.00 Inch       Marion             KS   Fire Dept/Rescue

            Quarter size according to Fire Chief.

1252 PM     Hail             3 SSE Lehigh            38.33N 97.28W
04/26/2026  E1.00 Inch       Marion             KS   Trained Spotter

            Piles of quarter size hail.

1255 PM     Hail             Hillsboro               38.35N 97.20W
04/26/2026  E1.75 Inch       Marion             KS   Emergency Mngr



1257 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Lehigh                  38.37N 97.30W
04/26/2026                   Marion             KS   Fire Dept/Rescue

            Report of tree through roof at house in
            Lehigh.

0106 PM     Hail             Canton                  38.39N 97.43W
04/26/2026  E1.50 Inch       McPherson          KS   Public

            Delayed report from mPING: Ping Pong Ball
            (1.50 in.).

0113 PM     Hail             Hillsboro               38.35N 97.21W
04/26/2026  E1.00 Inch       Marion             KS   Emergency Mngr



0113 PM     Hail             2 SW Marion             38.33N 97.04W
04/26/2026  E1.00 Inch       Marion             KS   Trained Spotter

            Delayed report of 1 inch hail.

0123 PM     Hail             Marion                  38.35N 97.02W
04/26/2026  M1.25 Inch       Marion             KS   Emergency Mngr

            Picture of 1 1/4 inch hail.

0132 PM     Hail             Florence                38.24N 96.93W
04/26/2026  E1.00 Inch       Marion             KS   Emergency Mngr



0138 PM     Hail             Florence                38.24N 96.94W
04/26/2026  E0.75 Inch       Marion             KS   Public

            Report from mPING: Dime (0.75 in.).

0215 PM     Hail             7 SE Lindsborg          38.48N 97.62W
04/26/2026  E1.00 Inch       McPherson          KS   Public

            Delayed report from mPING.

0228 PM     Hail             Cassoday                38.04N 96.64W
04/26/2026  E0.88 Inch       Butler             KS   Storm Chaser



0234 PM     Hail             2 SE Cassoday           38.02N 96.62W
04/26/2026  E1.00 Inch       Butler             KS   CO-OP Observer



0237 PM     Hail             2 SW Cassoday           38.01N 96.66W
04/26/2026  E1.50 Inch       Butler             KS   Public

            Delayed report from mPING.

0303 PM     Hail             3 NW Madison            38.16N 96.18W
04/26/2026  E1.00 Inch       Greenwood          KS   Trained Spotter



0308 PM     Hail             Madison                 38.13N 96.14W
04/26/2026  E2.00 Inch       Greenwood          KS   Public



0317 PM     Hail             Erie                    37.57N 95.24W
04/26/2026  E1.75 Inch       Neosho             KS   Public

            Public report of hail between 1.5 and 2
            inches in diameter or just slightly smaller
            than a golf ball.

0345 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     9 N Yates Center        38.00N 95.75W
04/26/2026  E60 MPH          Woodson            KS   Trained Spotter



0349 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     9 N Yates Center        38.00N 95.75W
04/26/2026  E65 MPH          Woodson            KS   Trained Spotter

            Estimated 65 mph with pea sized hail.

0352 PM     Hail             9 N Yates Center        38.00N 95.75W
04/26/2026  M1.00 Inch       Woodson            KS   Trained Spotter



0403 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     5 W Neosho Falls        38.01N 95.64W
04/26/2026  E80 MPH          Woodson            KS   Trained Spotter

            80+ mph winds estimated with quarter sized
            hail reported 9 NE of Yates Center.

0413 PM     Hail             4 NW Iola               37.97N 95.46W
04/26/2026  M1.00 Inch       Allen              KS   Trained Spotter



0418 PM     Hail             5 NW Iola               37.99N 95.45W
04/26/2026  E1.00 Inch       Allen              KS   Trained Spotter

            Quarter hail broke one glass window.

0647 PM     Tornado          5 NW Sycamore           37.39N 95.78W
04/26/2026                   Wilson             KS   Storm Chaser

            report of brief tornado touchdown.

0702 PM     Tornado          3 WSW Sycamore          37.31N 95.77W
04/26/2026                   Montgomery         KS   Storm Chaser

            tornado confirmed by spotter.

0713 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Sycamore                37.33N 95.72W
04/26/2026                   Montgomery         KS   Emergency Mngr

            time estimated from radar.

0715 PM     Hail             Sycamore                37.33N 95.72W
04/26/2026  M2.50 Inch       Montgomery         KS   Emergency Mngr



0717 PM     Hail             Sycamore                37.33N 95.72W
04/26/2026  M2.50 Inch       Montgomery         KS   Emergency Mngr



0731 PM     Hail             1 NW Cherryvale         37.28N 95.57W
04/26/2026  E3.00 Inch       Montgomery         KS   Public



0731 PM     Hail             5 W Parsons Tri City Ai 37.34N 95.60W
04/26/2026  M2.75 Inch       Montgomery         KS   Public

            Report from mPING: Baseball (2.75 in.).

0755 PM     Tornado          5 ESE Cherryvale        37.25N 95.47W
04/26/2026                   Labette            KS   Trained Spotter

            A couple brief rope tornado touchdowns
            between 7:45pm and 8pm. Location estimated
            from radar.

0826 PM     Hail             Longton                 37.38N 96.08W
04/26/2026  M1.00 Inch       Elk                KS   Fire Dept/Rescue



0832 PM     Tornado          Altamont                37.19N 95.29W
04/26/2026                   Labette            KS   911 Call Center

            report of tornado on the ground.

0920 PM     Funnel Cloud     1 NE Labette            37.24N 95.18W
04/26/2026                   Labette            KS   911 Call Center

            Picture sent via NWS chat. Funnel looks
            three-quarters the way to the ground. Time
            estimated from radar.

0928 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Oswego                  37.17N 95.11W
04/26/2026                   Labette            KS   Law Enforcement

            Several tree limbs down along with power
            poles and power lines.

0947 PM     Flash Flood      Parsons                 37.33N 95.27W
04/26/2026                   Labette            KS   Cocorahs

            Numerous streets flooded with 4.41 inches
            measured in cocorahs gage.

0950 PM     Rain             Parsons                 37.34N 95.26W
04/26/2026  M4.41 Inch       Labette            KS   Public

            CocoRahs gaged report in the Parsons area.

1029 PM     Flash Flood      4 W Parsons             37.34N 95.34W
04/26/2026                   Labette            KS   Law Enforcement

            Report of a car washed off the road.

1135 PM     Hail             6 NW Mcpherson          38.45N 97.72W
04/26/2026  M1.00 Inch       McPherson          KS   Public

            Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).

1135 PM     Hail             5 S Lindsborg           38.51N 97.67W
04/26/2026  E1.00 Inch       McPherson          KS   Trained Spotter



1135 PM     Hail             6 S Lindsborg           38.49N 97.65W
04/26/2026  E1.00 Inch       McPherson          KS   Trained Spotter



1135 PM     Hail             5 N Mcpherson           38.44N 97.66W
04/26/2026  E1.75 Inch       McPherson          KS   Public



1139 PM     Hail             3 ESE Lindsborg         38.55N 97.62W
04/26/2026  E1.00 Inch       McPherson          KS   Trained Spotter



1146 PM     Hail             Ellsworth               38.74N 98.23W
04/26/2026  E1.50 Inch       Ellsworth          KS   Trained Spotter



1150 PM     Hail             8 NE Ellsworth          38.82N 98.12W
04/26/2026  E1.00 Inch       Ellsworth          KS   Trained Spotter



1200 AM     Hail             2 SE Salina             38.79N 97.59W
04/27/2026  M2.00 Inch       Saline             KS   Public



1208 AM     Hail             10 NW Marquette         38.64N 97.98W
04/27/2026  E1.00 Inch       Ellsworth          KS   Public



1223 AM     Hail             2 SW Smolan             38.72N 97.70W
04/27/2026  E1.25 Inch       Saline             KS   Public



1227 AM     Hail             1 NNE Salina            38.83N 97.61W
04/27/2026  M1.50 Inch       Saline             KS   Public



1227 AM     Hail             2 SSW Salina            38.78N 97.64W
04/27/2026  E2.00 Inch       Saline             KS   Public



1228 AM     Hail             6 SW Salina             38.75N 97.70W
04/27/2026  M2.00 Inch       Saline             KS   Public



1229 AM     Hail             2 S Salina              38.78N 97.62W
04/27/2026  E1.50 Inch       Saline             KS   Trained Spotter



1230 AM     Hail             1 N Salina              38.84N 97.61W
04/27/2026  E1.00 Inch       Saline             KS   Public

            Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).

1231 AM     Hail             2 S Salina              38.79N 97.61W
04/27/2026  E2.00 Inch       Saline             KS   Public

            Report from mPING: Hen Egg (2.00 in.).

1232 AM     Hail             2 SE Salina             38.80N 97.60W
04/27/2026  E1.00 Inch       Saline             KS   Public

            Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).

1234 AM     Hail             1 S Salina              38.80N 97.62W
04/27/2026  E1.25 Inch       Saline             KS   Public

            Report from mPING: Half Dollar (1.25 in.).

1237 AM     Hail             1 E Salina              38.82N 97.60W
04/27/2026  E2.00 Inch       Saline             KS   Public

            Report from mPING: Hen Egg (2.00 in.).

1241 AM     Hail             1 SE Salina             38.80N 97.61W
04/27/2026  E2.00 Inch       Saline             KS   Public

            Report from mPING: Hen Egg (2.00 in.).

1248 AM     Hail             8 N Russell             39.00N 98.86W
04/27/2026  E1.00 Inch       Russell            KS   Emergency Mngr



1254 AM     Hail             3 E Salina              38.81N 97.57W
04/27/2026  M1.00 Inch       Saline             KS   Public

            Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).

0101 AM     Hail             1 NW Arkansas City      37.08N 97.06W
04/27/2026  E1.25 Inch       Cowley             KS   Public



0102 AM     Hail             4 S Geuda Springs       37.06N 97.13W
04/27/2026  E1.00 Inch       Cowley             KS   Public

            Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).

0102 AM     Hail             Arkansas City           37.06N 97.04W
04/27/2026  E1.50 Inch       Cowley             KS   Trained Spotter



0103 AM     Hail             1 NW Arkansas City      37.08N 97.05W
04/27/2026  E1.25 Inch       Cowley             KS   Public



0103 AM     Hail             Arkansas City           37.07N 97.04W
04/27/2026  E1.50 Inch       Cowley             KS   Public



0115 AM     Hail             Lucas                   39.06N 98.54W
04/27/2026  E1.50 Inch       Russell            KS   Public



0129 AM     Hail             6 N Sylvan Grove        39.10N 98.39W
04/27/2026  E1.00 Inch       Lincoln            KS   Trained Spotter



0147 AM     Hail             Haven                   37.90N 97.78W
04/27/2026  M0.75 Inch       Reno               KS   Public

            Delayed report from mPING.

0158 AM     Hail             Burrton                 38.02N 97.67W
04/27/2026  M1.00 Inch       Harvey             KS   NWS Employee

            Off-duty NWS employee.

Rain Reports

Environment

Additional weather data including upper air analysis can be found here.


18z SFC Map	21z SFC Map	00z SFC Map


21z MLCAPE	00z MLCAPE


0-6km bulk shear 21z	0-6km bulk shear 00z


0-1km SRH 21z	0-1km SRH 00z


0-3km SRH 21z	0-3km SRH 00z


0-3km CAPE 21z	0-3km CAPE 00z

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