High instability was in place as an upper level wind maxima moved out of the base of a deep upper trough in the west.

Thunderstorm Wind in ELLIS, KANSAS
From 18-MAY-13 18:45:00 to 18-MAY-13 18:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: HAYS
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Several power poles were blown down by high wind.

Thunderstorm Wind in EDWARDS, KANSAS
From 18-MAY-13 18:45:00 to 18-MAY-13 18:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: LEWIS
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Reported by: Law Enforcement

A semi was blown over by high wind.

Hail in TREGO, KANSAS
From 18-MAY-13 15:00:00 to 18-MAY-13 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: VODA
Magnitude: 1.75 
Reported by: Public

Hail in NESS, KANSAS
From 18-MAY-13 15:13:00 to 18-MAY-13 15:13:00 (CST-6)
Location: UTICA
Magnitude: 1.75 
Reported by: Public

Hail in NESS, KANSAS
From 18-MAY-13 15:25:00 to 18-MAY-13 15:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: UTICA
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: COOP Observer

Hail in NESS, KANSAS
From 18-MAY-13 15:26:00 to 18-MAY-13 15:26:00 (CST-6)
Location: UTICA
Magnitude: 2.00 
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in NESS, KANSAS
From 18-MAY-13 15:45:00 to 18-MAY-13 15:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: RANSOM
Magnitude: 1.75 
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Hail in NESS, KANSAS
From 18-MAY-13 16:05:00 to 18-MAY-13 16:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: RANSOM
Magnitude: 1.75 
Reported by: Public

Hail in TREGO, KANSAS
From 18-MAY-13 16:30:00 to 18-MAY-13 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: CEDAR BLUFF RES
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in NESS, KANSAS
From 18-MAY-13 16:45:00 to 18-MAY-13 16:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: RANSOM
Magnitude: 2.00 
Reported by: Amateur Radio

The hail was measured 30 minutes after it fell so no doubt it was bigger than 2 inches in diameter.

Hail in NESS, KANSAS
From 18-MAY-13 17:00:00 to 18-MAY-13 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: OSGOOD
Magnitude: 1.75 
Reported by: Public

Hail in TREGO, KANSAS
From 18-MAY-13 17:10:00 to 18-MAY-13 17:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: OGALLAH
Magnitude: 1.75 
Reported by: Public

Hail in HODGEMAN, KANSAS
From 18-MAY-13 17:25:00 to 18-MAY-13 17:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: HANSTON
Magnitude: 2.00 
Reported by: Public

Hail in PAWNEE, KANSAS
From 18-MAY-13 17:45:00 to 18-MAY-13 17:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: SANFORD
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: Storm Chaser

Hail in ELLIS, KANSAS
From 18-MAY-13 18:10:00 to 18-MAY-13 18:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: CATHARINE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in ELLIS, KANSAS
From 18-MAY-13 18:12:00 to 18-MAY-13 18:12:00 (CST-6)
Location: CATHARINE
Magnitude: 1.25 
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in PAWNEE, KANSAS
From 18-MAY-13 18:27:00 to 18-MAY-13 18:27:00 (CST-6)
Location: ROZEL
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in COMANCHE, KANSAS
From 18-MAY-13 18:34:00 to 18-MAY-13 18:34:00 (CST-6)
Location: WILMORE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Hail in COMANCHE, KANSAS
From 18-MAY-13 18:40:00 to 18-MAY-13 18:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: PROTECTION
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Tornado in ELLIS, KANSAS
From 18-MAY-13 17:09:00 to 18-MAY-13 17:12:00 (CST-6)
Location: ELLIS
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Reported by: Emergency Manager

This small tornado damaged some power poles and trees.

Tornado in ELLIS, KANSAS
From 18-MAY-13 17:37:00 to 18-MAY-13 17:39:00 (CST-6)
Location: ANTONINO
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

This tornado was brief and did not cause any damage.

Tornado in PAWNEE, KANSAS
From 18-MAY-13 18:18:00 to 18-MAY-13 18:47:00 (CST-6)
Location: BURDETT RUCKER ARPT
Tornado F-scale: EF4
Property damage: 140.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

This tornado was well documented by storm chasers, spotters and a research team with portable doppler radar.  The tornado did turn north towards the end of it's life cycle.  Low end EF4 damage was done to a home along US156.  The roof and walls were blown away of this well constructed house.  Several large tanks were carried a long distance.  There were 2 people inside but they escaped injury by taking shelter.  Video shows that sub-vortices within the tornado may have actually had a little stronger wind.  The Doppler on wheels that was observing the tornado had near surface measured wind speeds of 165 to 185 MPH.

Tornado in PAWNEE, KANSAS
From 18-MAY-13 19:10:00 to 18-MAY-13 19:13:00 (CST-6)
Location: ASH VALLEY
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

This cone tornado was the third in a series but only lasted for a short time.  No damage was observed.

Tornado in PAWNEE, KANSAS
From 18-MAY-13 18:49:00 to 18-MAY-13 19:01:00 (CST-6)
Location: SANFORD
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Reported by: Storm Chaser

This tornado developed east of the original Rozel tornado and moved north and then back west as outflow pushed the surface contact before it completely roped out.  Damage was done to power poles and a few trees.  A damage survey was completed.

Tornado in NESS, KANSAS
From 18-MAY-13 17:03:00 to 18-MAY-13 17:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: BROWNELL
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

A brief multi-vortex tornado lasted just a couple of minutes.

Hail in NESS, KANSAS
From 18-MAY-13 16:50:00 to 18-MAY-13 16:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: RANSOM
Magnitude: 2.00 
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Tornado in TREGO, KANSAS
From 18-MAY-13 16:27:00 to 18-MAY-13 16:36:00 (CST-6)
Location: CEDAR BLUFF RES
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

This tornado moved over ground that had no trees, fences or anything to damage.  It dissipated as it reached the shores of the Cedar Bluff Reservoir.