31 Tornado Reports Yesterday In The U.S. Grapefruit Sized Hail. Kansas & Oklahoma Hardest Hit
- Bob Cox
- May 19
- 5 min read
Overview
On May 18, 2025, a significant severe weather outbreak impacted multiple regions of the United States, characterized by tornadoes, large hail, and damaging winds. This report synthesizes data from tornado, hail, and wind reports to provide a comprehensive analysis of the event, focusing on the geographical distribution, intensity, impacts, and meteorological context. The data includes 31 tornado reports, 132 hail reports, and 66 wind reports, primarily affecting the Central and Southern Plains, with additional impacts in the Southeast and Mid-South.
Tornado Activity
Summary: A total of 31 tornado reports were recorded across Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas. The tornadoes ranged from brief touchdowns to longer-tracked events, with some causing significant damage.
Geographical Distribution:
Colorado: 3 tornadoes in Arapahoe and Adams Counties, primarily in rural areas southeast of Denver. These were brief, with durations of 6–15 minutes, and caused minimal reported damage.
Kansas: 13 tornadoes across Cheyenne, Scott, Gove, Logan, Edwards, Pawnee, Kiowa, Stafford, and Reno Counties. Notable activity occurred in Gove County (Grinnell) and Reno County (near Turon and Plevna), where tornadoes caused structural damage and power outages.
Nebraska: 3 tornadoes in Dundy, Hitchcock, and Hayes Counties, with reports of downed power lines and possible structural damage.
Oklahoma: 5 tornadoes in Ellis County, centered around Arnett. These were observed by storm chasers and caused damage to a mobile home and vegetation.
Texas: 1 tornado in Hemphill County, south of Higgins, with no significant damage reported.
Key Impacts:
Adams County, CO (3 NNE Bennett): A tornado from 1:43 PM to 1:58 PM MDT overturned a mobile home and snapped large pine trees, indicating potential EF1 or higher intensity.
Gove County, KS (Grinnell): Multiple tornado reports between 11:35 PM and 12:02 AM CDT, with emergency manager confirmation of a direct hit on Grinnell, causing structural damage and power outages.
Reno County, KS (4 N Turon and 5 SW Plevna): Large tornadoes with significant debris signatures on radar destroyed a home and downed power lines, suggesting EF2 or higher intensity.
Ellis County, OK (Arnett area): Multiple tornadoes between 10:23 PM and 11:02 PM CDT caused localized damage, with durations up to 9 minutes.
Meteorological Context:
Tornadoes were associated with a strong low-pressure system and warm, moist air fueling supercell thunderstorms. Radar-indicated tornado debris signatures (TDS) were noted in several Kansas events, confirming significant tornadoes.
The Central Plains, particularly Kansas and Oklahoma, experienced peak tornado activity in the late afternoon to early evening, driven by high instability and strong wind shear.
Hail Reports
Summary: 132 hail reports were recorded, with hail sizes ranging from 1.00 inch (quarter-sized) to 4.50 inches (softball-sized). The largest hail was reported in Ellis County, OK, and Scott County, KS.
Geographical Distribution:
Kansas: 48 reports across counties including Sedgwick, Cheyenne, Scott, Gove, Ellis, and Rice. The largest hail (4.00–4.50 inches) was reported in Scott County (5 WSW Scott State Lake) and Ellis County (near Arnett).
Oklahoma: 22 reports, primarily in Ellis, Woodward, and Harper Counties, with hail up to 4.50 inches near Arnett.
Nebraska: 16 reports in Cheyenne, Dundy, and Hitchcock Counties, with hail up to 2.00 inches.
Colorado: 13 reports in Arapahoe, Kit Carson, and Yuma Counties, with hail up to 2.00 inches.
Texas: 8 reports, including 3.00-inch hail in Woodward County and 2.50-inch hail in Taylor County.
Arkansas and Oklahoma (Northeast): 20 reports, with hail up to 1.75 inches in Benton and Washington Counties, AR, and Mayes County, OK.
Key Impacts:
Ellis County, OK (near Arnett): Hail ranging from 3.00 to 4.50 inches caused significant property damage, including to vehicles and buildings.
Scott County, KS (5 WSW Scott State Lake): 4.00-inch hail was reported, likely damaging crops and structures.
Sedgwick County, KS (Wichita area): Golf ball-sized hail (1.75 inches) was reported at multiple locations, including near Wichita Eisenhower Airport, potentially impacting infrastructure and aviation.
Benton County, AR (Siloam Springs): Accumulating hail up to 1.75 inches caused localized disruptions.
Meteorological Context:
Large hail was produced by supercell thunderstorms with strong updrafts, fueled by high convective available potential energy (CAPE). The largest hailstones were reported in areas with sustained supercell activity, particularly in Kansas and Oklahoma.
Wind Reports
Summary: 66 wind reports were recorded, with wind speeds up to 71 mph and widespread reports of tree and power line damage. Unconfirmed tornado damage was noted in some reports.
Geographical Distribution:
Southeast (AL, GA, MS): 25 reports, primarily tree and power line damage in Alabama (Talladega, Randolph Counties), Georgia (Troup, Meriwether, Upson Counties), and Mississippi (Panola, Coahoma, Tallahatchie Counties).
Central Plains (CO, KS, NE, OK): 24 reports, with high wind gusts in Colorado (Arapahoe, Morgan Counties), Kansas (Scott, Sheridan Counties), Nebraska (Scotts Bluff, Cheyenne Counties), and Oklahoma (Ellis County).
Mid-South and Arkansas: 11 reports, with tree damage in Arkansas (Benton, Washington Counties) and Mississippi (DeSoto, St. Francis Counties).
Other Areas: Scattered reports in Texas, Nebraska, and Wyoming.
Key Impacts:
Scott County, KS (Modoc): 15 rail cars were blown over, and power lines were damaged, possibly due to a tornado.
Benton County, AR (Siloam Springs): Multiple large trees were snapped or blown over, causing property damage.
Talladega County, AL (Sylacauga): Trees and power lines fell onto vehicles, blocking roads and causing outages.
Hitchcock County, NE (Stratton): A weak tornado caused roof damage and downed power lines.
St. Francis County, AR (Forrest City): Numerous trees and power poles were downed, with a church and metal building sustaining significant damage.
Meteorological Context:
Damaging winds were associated with both supercell thunderstorms and squall lines. High wind gusts (60–71 mph) were measured at ASOS and mesonet stations, indicating strong downdrafts and rear-flank downdrafts in supercells.
Regional Analysis
Central Plains (KS, NE, CO, OK):
This region experienced the most intense severe weather, with 16 tornadoes, widespread large hail (up to 4.50 inches), and wind gusts up to 71 mph.
Kansas was the epicenter, with significant tornado and hail damage in Gove, Reno, and Ellis Counties.
Supercell thunderstorms were persistent, driven by a volatile combination of high instability, moisture, and wind shear.
Southern Plains (OK, TX):
Oklahoma saw multiple tornadoes and extreme hail (up to 4.50 inches) in Ellis County, with wind gusts up to 62 mph.
Texas had limited tornado activity but significant hail (up to 3.00 inches) and wind damage.
Southeast and Mid-South (AL, GA, MS, AR):
Primarily wind-driven damage, with trees and power lines down across multiple counties.
Arkansas experienced both hail and wind damage, with Benton and Washington Counties reporting significant tree damage.
Societal and Economic Impacts
Property Damage: Tornadoes in Kansas (Grinnell, Reno County) and Oklahoma (Arnett) caused structural damage to homes, businesses, and infrastructure. Large hail likely damaged vehicles, roofs, and crops, particularly in agricultural areas.
Power Outages: Downed power lines were reported in Nebraska, Kansas, Alabama, and Arkansas, leading to widespread outages.
Transportation Disruptions: Rail cars blown over in Scott County, KS, and road blockages from fallen trees in Alabama and Georgia disrupted local transportation.
Public Safety: No fatalities were reported, but fallen trees and power lines posed hazards, and a vehicle was impacted by debris in Talladega County, AL.
Conclusion
The severe weather outbreak on May 18, 2025, was a significant event driven by a dynamic meteorological setup conducive to supercell thunderstorms. Kansas and Oklahoma were the hardest hit, with multiple tornadoes, grapefruit-sized hail, and damaging winds causing widespread impacts. The Southeast and Mid-South experienced primarily wind-driven damage, with lesser hail and no confirmed tornadoes. This event underscores the importance of timely severe weather warnings and preparedness, particularly in the Central Plains during peak tornado season.
Source: Storm Prediction Center
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