Storms produced very heavy rain, localized hail and wind damage, and even a brief tornado over north central Kansas on this Tuesday afternoon and evening. Around 2 PM CST, several thunderstorms rapidly developed southwest-to-northeast across Rooks and Smith counties. These storms merged into a line as they moved east and gradually evolved into two multicell clusters. Each cluster tracked across portions of Jewell, and Osborne and Mitchell counties. The Jewell County storm become a very small bow echo, but with no wind damage reported. However, some wind damage did occur over southeastern Osborne County where wood framing and metal sheeting were blown off an outbuilding on one farm. A hay rake and two empty grain trailers were also blown over. Hail occurred in many places, with the largest 2 inches in diameter over south central Mitchell County. This same storm produced a brief tornado that resembled an elephant trunk. As these storms moved into northeast Kansas, other storms continued to initiate near Interstate 70 and began lifting into southern Osborne and Mitchell counties after 6 PM CST. The axis of storms stopped lifting north and repeated storm development occurred over southern Osborne and Mitchell counties, between 7 and 11 PM CST, resulting in total rainfall amounts between 2.50 and 5.18 inches. The highest amount of 5.18 inches fell just southeast of Tipton. Flash flooding occurred in low-lying spots from southeast Osborne across central Mitchell counties, with water over multiple county roads. Flooding resulted in a washout where bridge work was being performed in Mitchell county on Victor road, between P and Q roads.
A low pressure system was near Lake Superior with a slow-moving cold front extending southwest across Kansas to the Oklahoma Panhandle. In the upper-levels, southwest flow covered most of the U.S., with a trough over the West and a ridge over the Northeast. Just prior to thunderstorm development, temperatures were in the lower to middle 80s with dewpoints in the lower 60s. With mid-level lapse rates near 8 C/km, MLCAPE was 2000-2500 J/kg. Deep layer shear was 40-50 kts, which was more than sufficient for severe thunderstorms.

Tornado in MITCHELL, KANSAS
From 01-MAY-18 17:09:00 to 01-MAY-18 17:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: VICTOR
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

This tornado was captured by video and photograph by a storm chaser. The tornado was rated an EF-0, moving over an open field with an estimated wind speed of 75 MPH.

Hail in PHILLIPS, KANSAS
From 01-MAY-18 14:15:00 to 01-MAY-18 14:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: KIRWIN
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hail in SMITH, KANSAS
From 01-MAY-18 14:38:00 to 01-MAY-18 14:38:00 (CST-6)
Location: KENSINGTON
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in SMITH, KANSAS
From 01-MAY-18 14:40:00 to 01-MAY-18 14:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: ATHOL
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 150.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in OSBORNE, KANSAS
From 01-MAY-18 16:17:00 to 01-MAY-18 16:17:00 (CST-6)
Location: COVERT
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 150.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Hail in MITCHELL, KANSAS
From 01-MAY-18 17:10:00 to 01-MAY-18 17:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: VICTOR
Magnitude: 2.00 
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 150.00K
Reported by: Social Media

Flash Flood in OSBORNE, KANSAS
From 01-MAY-18 20:00:00 to 01-MAY-18 23:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: OSBORNE MUNI ARPT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 30.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Ground-truth rainfall of 3 to 6 inches were recorded, though radar estimates in some locations were at least a few inches higher. The main impact from this heavy rain was water running over multiple county roads.

Flash Flood in MITCHELL, KANSAS
From 01-MAY-18 20:00:00 to 01-MAY-18 23:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: TIPTON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 30.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Ground-truth rainfall of 3 to 6 inches were recorded, though radar estimates in some locations were at least a few inches higher. The main impact from this heavy rain was water running over multiple county roads.

Hail in MITCHELL, KANSAS
From 01-MAY-18 20:02:00 to 01-MAY-18 20:02:00 (CST-6)
Location: HUNTER
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 150.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in SMITH, KANSAS
From 01-MAY-18 15:12:00 to 01-MAY-18 15:12:00 (CST-6)
Location: GAYLORD
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in JEWELL, KANSAS
From 01-MAY-18 15:42:00 to 01-MAY-18 15:42:00 (CST-6)
Location: ESBON
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in JEWELL, KANSAS
From 01-MAY-18 15:47:00 to 01-MAY-18 15:47:00 (CST-6)
Location: BURR OAK
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in OSBORNE, KANSAS
From 01-MAY-18 16:25:00 to 01-MAY-18 16:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: OSBORNE MUNI ARPT
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in MITCHELL, KANSAS
From 01-MAY-18 16:45:00 to 01-MAY-18 16:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: HUNTER
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Quarter size hail was accompanied by estimated 60 MPH wind gusts.

Hail in OSBORNE, KANSAS
From 01-MAY-18 16:54:00 to 01-MAY-18 16:54:00 (CST-6)
Location: COVERT
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in MITCHELL, KANSAS
From 01-MAY-18 20:14:00 to 01-MAY-18 20:14:00 (CST-6)
Location: SIMPSON
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in MITCHELL, KANSAS
From 01-MAY-18 20:35:00 to 01-MAY-18 20:35:00 (CST-6)
Location: VICTOR
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Thunderstorm Wind in JEWELL, KANSAS
From 01-MAY-18 15:48:00 to 01-MAY-18 15:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: BURR OAK
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 OSBORNE, KANSAS
From 01-MAY-18 16:20:00 to 01-MAY-18 16:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: COVERT
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Some minor outbuilding damage was reported in the area.

Thunderstorm Wind in MITCHELL, KANSAS
From 01-MAY-18 16:45:00 to 01-MAY-18 16:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: HUNTER
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 and were accompanied by quarter size hail.

Heavy Rain in MITCHELL, KANSAS
From 01-MAY-18 15:00:00 to 01-MAY-18 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: TIPTON
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A storm total rainfall amount of 5.18 inches was measured.

Heavy Rain in OSBORNE, KANSAS
From 01-MAY-18 15:00:00 to 01-MAY-18 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: COVERT
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A storm total rainfall amount of 4.84 inches was measured.

Heavy Rain in MITCHELL, KANSAS
From 01-MAY-18 15:00:00 to 01-MAY-18 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: VICTOR
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

A storm total rainfall amount of 3.28 inches was measured.

Heavy Rain in MITCHELL, KANSAS
From 01-MAY-18 15:00:00 to 01-MAY-18 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: HUNTER
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

A storm total rainfall amount of 4.50 inches was measured.