Critical Fire Weather Conditions in the Plains; Increasing Severe Weather Chances for the Plains and Upper Midwest

A strengthening storm system will bring impactful weather to the much of Central U.S. over the next couple of days, including heavy snow in the northern Rockies, Critical fire weather conditions for portions of the Plains, and increasing severe weather chances from the central/southern Plains to the Upper Midwest. Read More >

Overview

On the afternoon of May 21, 2019, a series of low-topped supercell thunderstorms spawned at least half a dozen tornadoes across northeastern Kansas. These tornadoes stayed mostly in rural locations, but one did swipe the western side of the town of Mayetta with EF-1 damage. Other tornadoes formed in Dickinson, Geary, Shawnee, and Jackson counties.

EF-3 tornado in northern Nemaha County - Courtesy of Gerald Satterwhite

Tornado
Radar
Additional

Tornadoes

Tornado - 4.2 miles S of Enterprise
DICKINSON COUNTY

Date	05/21/2019
Time (CDT)	4:32pm - 4:48pm
EF Rating	EF-1
Est. Peak Winds	105 mph
Path Length	7.69 miles (Est.)
Max Width	100 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: This tornado stayed in rural areas of Dickinson County for the most part, damaging some trees and power lines. Its track was intermittent.

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File


Power Line Damage - Courtesy of Issac Ozzman	Tree Damage - Courtesy of Issac Ozzman

Tornado - 1.5 miles East of Chapman
DICKINSON & GEARY COUNTIES

Date	05/21/2019
Time (CDT)	4:52pm - 5:23pm
EF Rating	EF-0
Est. Peak Winds	75 mph
Path Length	17.73 miles (Est.)
Max Width	150 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: This intermittent tornado first began forming along I-70 east of Chapman. Based on radar and spotter reports, the tornado was at is largest as it crossed Milford Lake, but no damage reports have been received.

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File

Tornado - 2.0 miles east of Rossville
SHAWNEE & JACKSON COUNTIES

Date	05/21/2019
Time (CDT)	6:10pm - 6:32pm
EF Rating	EF-0
Est. Peak Winds	80 mph
Path Length	12.64 miles
Max Width	75 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: This tornado formed east of Rossville and tracked into Jackson County. Damage was confined to trees and powerlines.

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File

Tree damage towards the end of the track (NWS Survey)

Tornado - 0.5 miles SW of Mayetta
JACKSON COUNTY

Date	05/21/2019
Time (CDT)	6:38pm - 7:00pm
EF Rating	EF-2
Est. Peak Winds	115 mph
Path Length	17.18 miles
Max Width	75 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: This tornado formed near Mayetta and moved through the western side of town, with EF-1 damage noted. The track was intermittent north of this point, but there were several structures damaged, including a house near the end of the tornado was suffered EF-2 damage.

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File


Trees downed in Mayetta (NWS Storm Survey)	House damaged on the north side of Mayetta â€‹(NWS Storm Survey)	Outbuildings damaged in eastern Jackson County (NWS Storm Survey)	EF-2 damage to a house at the end of the tornado track (NWS Storm Survey)

Tornado - 3.9 miles SW of Oneida
NEMAHA COUNTY

Date	05/21/2019
Time (CDT)	7:06pm - 7:13pm
EF Rating	EF-1
Est. Peak Winds	100 mph
Path Length	3.05 miles
Max Width	50 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: This small, brief tornado occurred southwest of Oneida and damaged outbuildings on one residence.

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File

Tornado - 3.2 miles SE of Bern
NEMAHA COUNTY

Date	05/21/2019
Time (CDT)	7:20pm - 7:28pm
EF Rating	EF-3
Est. Peak Winds	140 mph
Path Length	5.92 miles
Max Width	300 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: This short-lived but powerful tornado tracked through northern Nemaha County and damaged several structures. The most severe damage occurred to a home towards the middle of the tornado's path, where low end EF-3 damage was noted. Damage to trees and power lines also occurred. The tornado lifted about 200 yards south of the Nebraska state line.

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File


The track shows up in fields (Kansas Highway Patrol)	The track swrils in fields (Kansas Highway Patrol)	EF-3 damage to a house (Kansas Highway Patrol)	EF-3 damage to a house (NWS Storm Survey)

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

Radar


Radar rotation with the Dickinson County storm.	Debris Ball/TDS with the tornado moving into Jackson County.	Small TDS noted with the tornado moving through Mayetta.	Strong rotation noted as the tornado moves through Nemaha County.

Additional Information

The Forecast


SPC Day 1 Categorical Outlook	SPC Day 1 Tornado Outlook	SPC Day 1 Hail Outlook	SPC Day 1 Wind Outlook

Warning Lead Time

Counties & Issuance Time	Lead Time
Dickinson & Geary Counties - 4:28pm	4+ min
Dickinson, Geary, Riley, and Clay Counties - 4:56pm (Re-issuance)	Tornado Ongoing
Geary, Riley, and Pottawatomie Counties - 5:18pm (Re-issuance)	Tornado Ongoing
Shawnee and Jackson Counties - 6:20pm	Tornado Ongoing
Shawnee and Jackson Counties - 6:20pm (Tornado #2)	18+ min
Nemaha and Marshall Counties - 7:05pm	1+ min
Nemaha and Marshall Counties - 7:05pm (Tornado #2)	15+ min

Summaries from other NWS Offices

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Critical Fire Weather Conditions in the Plains; Increasing Severe Weather Chances for the Plains and Upper Midwest

May 21, 2019 Tornado Summary