Thunderstorms produced damaging winds and some severe sized hail over several counties in north central Kansas on this  Tuesday evening. Scattered single cell thunderstorms began developing around 3 PM CST from central Kansas northeast into southern Nebraska. The formation of numerous cells quickly resulted in a transition to a multicell convective mode by 4 PM CST. This nearly continuous line of storms lifted north into Nebraska by 530 PM CST. As these storms affected north central Kansas, low-end severe hail occurred from southwest to northeast across Rooks, Osborne, and Jewell Counties. The strongest winds were west of this swath. Phillips County was hit particularly hard as measured wind gusts reached 75 mph in Logan and 71 mph at Phillipsburg. In Phillipsburg, large tree branches were snapped off, knocking out power. The roof was also blown off a restaurant. Scattered thunderstorms continue to develop and move into north central Kansas, at times through the evening and overnight hours, and even into Wednesday morning. None of them were severe until a multicell cluster formed over Lincoln County around 530 AM CST. As this cluster lifted north across Mitchell County, between 645 and 745 AM, they produced 1 inch hail. Other scattered storms developed across the rest of north central Kansas, during the morning hours. They weakened and dissipated, forming a large shield of anvil rain that extended into south central Nebraska. As this rain shield began to dissipate, conditions became favorable for a wake low to form. This resulted in a wind gust of 61 mph at Smith Center, at 1015 AM CST. Repeated thunderstorm activity resulted in swaths of 2 to 3 inches of rain. The highest amount was 3.80 inches in Smith Center.
Low pressure was over South Dakota, and its trailing weak cold front moved into south central Nebraska during the day. It became stationary as low pressure formed over southeast Colorado and deepened to near 990 mb. In the upper-levels, a longwave trough was over the Western U.S. with a ridge over the East. A strong shortwave trough lifted out of the Desert Southwest into the Southern Plains, while a closed low dropped into the Pacific Northwest. In the preconvective environment, an elevated mixed layer had overspread a moist boundary layer. Mid-level lapse rates were between 8 and 9 C/km. MUCAPE was between 3000 and 4500 J/kg. With strong dynamic forcing, deep layer shear was very strong, between 40 and 60 kt.

Hail in ROOKS, KANSAS
From 16-MAY-17 16:01:00 to 16-MAY-17 16:01:00 (CST-6)
Location: CODELL
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hail in OSBORNE, KANSAS
From 16-MAY-17 16:03:00 to 16-MAY-17 16:03:00 (CST-6)
Location: PORTIS
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

Hail in OSBORNE, KANSAS
From 16-MAY-17 16:04:00 to 16-MAY-17 16:04:00 (CST-6)
Location: ALTON
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Hail in SMITH, KANSAS
From 16-MAY-17 16:41:00 to 16-MAY-17 16:41:00 (CST-6)
Location: LEBANON
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Thunderstorm Wind in PHILLIPS, KANSAS
From 16-MAY-17 16:38:00 to 16-MAY-17 16:43:00 (CST-6)
Location: LOGAN
Magnitude: 65.00 MG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Wind gusts of 70 to 75 MPH were measured by a mesonet site just west of Logan.

Hail in JEWELL, KANSAS
From 16-MAY-17 16:39:00 to 16-MAY-17 16:39:00 (CST-6)
Location: BURR OAK
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Thunderstorm Wind in PHILLIPS, KANSAS
From 16-MAY-17 16:44:00 to 16-MAY-17 16:48:00 (CST-6)
Location: PHILLIPSBURG
Magnitude: 62.00 MG
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Severe criteria wind gusts, peaking at 71 MPH, were measured just south of Phillipsburg. In town, a restaurant lost its roof. Power lines and large tree limbs, some 6-12 inches in diameter, were downed.

Hail in JEWELL, KANSAS
From 16-MAY-17 16:52:00 to 16-MAY-17 16:52:00 (CST-6)
Location: ESBON
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in MITCHELL, KANSAS
From 17-MAY-17 05:52:00 to 17-MAY-17 05:52:00 (CST-6)
Location: HUNTER
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

Thunderstorm Wind in SMITH, KANSAS
From 17-MAY-17 10:15:00 to 17-MAY-17 10:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: SMITH CENTER ARPT
Magnitude: 53.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Heavy Rain in SMITH, KANSAS
From 16-MAY-17 16:00:00 to 17-MAY-17 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: KENSINGTON
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A total of 3.80 inches of rain had fallen since the previous evening.

Heavy Rain in SMITH, KANSAS
From 16-MAY-17 06:00:00 to 17-MAY-17 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: SMITH CENTER
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

A 24 hour rainfall total of 3.63 inches was reported.