During a 3.5 hour period centered from 7-1030 pm CDT on this Sunday evening, a pair of strong to severe linear mesoscale convective systems (MCS) affected this six-county North Central Kansas area and merged with each other in the process. These storms were primarily damaging wind-producers. However, the one known severe-criteria hail report was a significant one as golf ball to softball size stones occurred near Agra. Wind-wise, the initial storm complex that moved into the area from northwest Kansas yielded severe-criteria measured gusts at Logan (58 MPH) and Phillipsburg airport (67 MPH). A bit later in the evening, following the merger of the first storm complex with a stronger, larger MCS diving southeastward out of south central Nebraska, Jewell and Mitchell counties bore the brunt of damaging winds including estimated 70 MPH winds in Mankato, a measured 86 MPH gust near Jewell, and a report of tree branches downed throughout Beloit. Rainfall-wise, the progressive nature of convection held amounts under 1 inch in most places.
Timing-wise, the first storm complex tracked into Phillips and Rooks counties from the west between 7-8 pm CDT, having grown upscale from its humble late-afternoon beginnings along western portions of the Kansas-Nebraska border. As this initial area of convection reached far eastern portions of Smith and Osborne counties around 930 pm CDT, its northern end quickly merged with the leading edges of a stronger linear MCS charging southeastward out of Nebraska. During the ensuing hour, strong to severe winds swept through Jewell and Mitchell counties before departing the local area to the east and southeast. Although showers/weak storms lingered over some places a bit longer, the vast majority of the local area was void of precipitation by 1230 am CDT on the 18th.
By late-summer standards, this synoptic and mesoscale setup was fairly ripe for an organized severe weather event. In the mid-upper levels, a low-amplitude shortwave trough brushed into the Central Plains from the northwest, along the southern periphery of a larger scale disturbance centered over southern Saskatchewan/Manitoba. As a result, mid-upper level flow increased enough to promote generally 30-35 knots of 0-6 kilometer deep layer wind shear over North Central Kansas. In addition, instability was quite potent as the combination of afternoon surface temperatures in the 90s F and dewpoints in the 60s promoted mixed-layer CAPE values of 2000-4000 J/kg ahead of the incoming convective complexes.

Thunderstorm Wind in PHILLIPS, KANSAS
From 17-AUG-14 19:15:00 to 17-AUG-14 19:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: PHILLIPSBURG
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Wind gusts were estimated to be near 60 MPH.

Thunderstorm Wind in PHILLIPS, KANSAS
From 17-AUG-14 20:30:00 to 17-AUG-14 20:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: PHILLIPSBURG ARPT
Magnitude: 55.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Hail in SMITH, KANSAS
From 17-AUG-14 20:00:00 to 17-AUG-14 20:07:00 (CST-6)
Location: SMITH CENTER
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Hail in PHILLIPS, KANSAS
From 17-AUG-14 19:24:00 to 17-AUG-14 19:24:00 (CST-6)
Location: AGRA
Magnitude: 4.25 
Property damage: 250.00K
Crop damage: 250.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail ranging in size from golf balls to softballs was reported.

Thunderstorm Wind in MITCHELL, KANSAS
From 17-AUG-14 20:50:00 to 17-AUG-14 20:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: BELOIT
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

Wind gusts were estimated to be near 60 MPH.  Numerous tree branches were downed across town.

Thunderstorm Wind in JEWELL, KANSAS
From 17-AUG-14 20:52:00 to 17-AUG-14 20:52:00 (CST-6)
Location: MANKATO
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

Wind gusts were estimated to be near 70 MPH.

Thunderstorm Wind in JEWELL, KANSAS
From 17-AUG-14 21:03:00 to 17-AUG-14 21:03:00 (CST-6)
Location: JEWELL
Magnitude: 75.00 MG
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Thunderstorm Wind in PHILLIPS, KANSAS
From 17-AUG-14 18:36:00 to 17-AUG-14 18:36:00 (CST-6)
Location: LOGAN
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Thunderstorm Wind in PHILLIPS, KANSAS
From 17-AUG-14 19:07:00 to 17-AUG-14 19:07:00 (CST-6)
Location: PHILLIPSBURG ARPT
Magnitude: 58.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS