Tornadoes Strike North Central Kansas April 6th, 2006 - NWS Topeka, KS

An intense area of low pressure pushed out of the western high plains and into the central plains Thursday, April 6th.  A well defined dryline out ahead of the system served as the focal point for thunderstorm development during the afternoon hours.  These storms produced high winds...large hail...and a couple of storms produced tornadoes in north central Kansas.  Below are some pictures taken April 7th during the damage survey completed by NWS personnel...as well as the preliminary damage survey report.

A list of the storm reports can be found here.

***Preliminary Damage Survey***

A DAMAGE SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED BY STAFF AT THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE IN TOPEKA FOR TORNADOS THAT OCCURRED DURING THE AFTERNOON
HOURS OF MONDAY APRIL 6...2006.

THERE WERE A TOTAL OF 5 TORNADOES PRODUCED BY A SUPERCELL
THUNDERSTORM THAT TRACKED FROM SOUTHEAST OTTAWA
COUNTY...NORTH-NORTHEAST THROUGH EASTERN WASHINGTON COUNTY TO THE
NEBRASKA BORDER.

THE FIRST TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN 3 MILES NORTHWEST
OF SOLOMON...EAST OF NILES AND REMAINED ON THE GROUND FOR 2.5 MILES.
THIS TORNADO CAUSED F1 DAMAGE. THE TORNADO`S MAXIMUM WIDTH WAS
ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT 200 YARDS WIDE.

THE SECOND TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN 2 MILES SOUTH AND 2 MILES WEST OF
MANCHESTER AND REMAINED ON THE GROUND FOR 2.5 MILES. THIS TORNADO
CAUSED F1 DAMAGE. THE TORNADO`S MAXIMUM WIDTH WAS ESTIMATED TO BE
ABOUT 200 YARDS WIDE.

THE THIRD TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN 6 MILES EAST OF LONGFORD AND REMAINED
ON THE GROUND FOR 1/2 MILE. THIS TORNADO CAUSED F1 DAMAGE. THE
TORNADO MAXIMUM WIDTH WAS ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT 200 YARDS WIDE.

THE FOURTH TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN 1.5 MILES WEST OF CLAY CENTER AND
REMAINED ON THE GROUND FOR 8 MILES. THIS TORNADO CAUSED F1 DAMAGE.
THE TORNADO`S MAXIMUM WIDTH WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 1/4 TO 1/2 MILES
WIDE.

THE FIFTH TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN 5 MILES NORTH OF BARNES. THE TORNADO
REMAINED ON THE GROUND FOR 17 MILES BEFORE LIFTING NORTH OF THE
NEBRASKA BORDER...1/2 MILE WEST OF ODELL...NE. THE TORNADO CAUSED F2
DAMAGE TO THREE OR FOUR BUILDINGS AT THE INTERSECTION OF US HIGHWAY
36 AND STATE HIGHWAY 148 IN WASHINGTON COUNTY. THE TORNADO`S MAXIMUM
WIDTH WAS ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT 1/4 MILE WIDE.