Severe storms produced some hail and a little wind damage on this Tuesday afternoon and early evening. Around 4 PM CST, thunderstorms began forming over Rooks County and, by 5 PM, storm mergers resulted in the formation of a short line segment that extended from southwest to northeast. As this line expanded into Osborne County, other scattered storms formed over Smith, Jewell, and Mitchell counties. These storms joined others over central Kansas, as an MCS developed and a common cold pool formed. The large line of storms that evolved exited Smith, Jewell, and Mitchell counties by 7 PM. As a result, the initial line segment of storms rapidly weakened. The new line became severe over parts of Rooks, Osborne, and Mitchell counties, producing hail up to the size of ping pong balls along with high winds. Power lines were knocked down in Cawker City. Minor street flooding was reported in Beloit where an automated mesonet station measured 2.48 inches of rain in an hour and 15 minutes.
Weak flow was over the United States as the polar jet stream was unusually far to the north over Canada. A slow-moving cut-off low was over western South Dakota. During the day, a shortwave trough south of the low moved from Colorado into the Central Plains. A ridge was over the Great Lakes with another cut-off low over the Gulf Coast. The pressure pattern at the surface was extremely weak over the Central Plains. Just prior to thunderstorm development, temperatures were in the lower 80s with dewpoints in the upper 60s. Mid-level lapse rates were 7-7.5 C/km, but MLCAPE was only 1000-1500 J/kg. Deep layer shear was around 40 kts due to a strong upper-level jet streak accompanying the trough.

Hail in ROOKS, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-18 16:31:00 to 29-MAY-18 16:38:00 (CST-6)
Location: PLAINVILLE
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 500.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail ranging in size from quarters to half dollars was reported.

Hail in ROOKS, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-18 16:28:00 to 29-MAY-18 16:28:00 (CST-6)
Location: PLAINVILLE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Thunderstorm Wind in OSBORNE, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-18 17:40:00 to 29-MAY-18 17:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: OSBORNE
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 500.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Wind gusts were estimated to be near 60 MPH. Wind was accompanied by quarter size hail.

Hail in OSBORNE, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-18 17:44:00 to 29-MAY-18 17:44:00 (CST-6)
Location: OSBORNE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

Hail in OSBORNE, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-18 17:55:00 to 29-MAY-18 17:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: PORTIS
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 500.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

Hail in MITCHELL, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-18 18:09:00 to 29-MAY-18 18:09:00 (CST-6)
Location: BELOIT
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Thunderstorm Wind in MITCHELL, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-18 18:13:00 to 29-MAY-18 18:13:00 (CST-6)
Location: CAWKER CITY
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Power lines were downed just east of Cawker City.

Hail in MITCHELL, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-18 18:13:00 to 29-MAY-18 18:13:00 (CST-6)
Location: CAWKER CITY
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in MITCHELL, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-18 18:15:00 to 29-MAY-18 18:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: ASHERVILLE
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in MITCHELL, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-18 18:18:00 to 29-MAY-18 18:18:00 (CST-6)
Location: ASHERVILLE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy Rain in MITCHELL, KANSAS
From 29-MAY-18 18:15:00 to 29-MAY-18 19:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: BELOIT
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A mesonet recorded 2.48 inches of rain, with most falling in 1 hour and 15 minutes. This rain resulted in some minor street flooding in Beloit.