Largest tornado outbreaks in history of Kansas

[Chris Hayes]

Per this link http://www.crh.noaa.gov/crnews/display_story.php?wfo=ddc&storyid=14919&source=0 there were 50 confirmed tornadoes from the May 23 torndo outbreak. When I read that, I thought that that had to be one of the largest, if not THE largest tornado outbreak in Kansas since records were starting to be kept. Anyone have any info on the largest tornado outbreaks in Kansas? I believe there were around 40 on June 15, 1992.

 

[Skip Talbot]

How many did May 5 have last year? Probably well under 50 or 40, but that was also a major event.

 

[Chris Hayes]

I'm not sure how many there were in Kansas on May 5. During the 2 day event (4th and 5th) there were over 80. So, I'm betting no more than 40-50 on the 5th. I couldnt believe it when I read 50. That's not counting the several that there were in Goodland's CWA that day. Deffinately a memorable event.

 

[Shane Adams]

I'm not sure how many there were in Kansas on May 5. During the 2 day event (4th and 5th) there were over 80. So, I'm betting no more than 40-50 on the 5th. I couldnt believe it when I read 50. That's not counting the several that there were in Goodland's CWA that day. Deffinately a memorable event.

If there were 80 reports in KS between May 4-5 last year, I'd bet dollars to dimes the 5th got the lion's share of them. The May 4 event only produced a dozen or so tornadoes before midnight, which technically became May 5.

 

[Greg McLaughlin]

Any tornadoes occurring after midnight May 5th (from convection starting on May 4th) should not be considered part of the outbreak of May 5. According to Thomas Grazulis (Significant Tornadoes first edition) an outbreak ends when there is a 6 hour or greater lull in tornado activity. This would lead me to not consider overnight/morning activity from May 4-5 part of the afternoon/evening activity from May 5th. Someone also mentioned the June 15, 1992 event. I do believe recalling this to be a two day event (June 15-16?) which produced over 100 tornadoes, and tops with some of the supercells were pushing 68,000ft (per Significant Tornadoes second edition). I don't have those books, but I am fairly certain about that info I read in them.

What I find interesting about May 23, 2008 and May 5, 2007 is the similar location of many of the tornado occurrences. May 5, 2007 may be one of the most concentrated outbreaks I have ever seen.

 

[Tony Lyza]

With the 50 tornadoes from DDC, the 7 from GLD, and the 3 from ICT, there were 60 tornadoes in the state of Kansas May 23rd, 2008. If this becomes the official number, it will only be 7 tornadoes off of the record for the most tornadoes in any state in a single day, set by the 67 in South Dakota on June 24th, 2003.

 

[MatthewCarman]

I am not sure for KS but I believe Iowa's biggest outbreak was May 22, 2004 when we had 36 tornadoes across the state. CH13 Said that was a record the next day and we probibly had more tornadoes that day go unoticed.

 

[Boris Konon]

With the 50 tornadoes from DDC, the 7 from GLD, and the 3 from ICT, there were 60 tornadoes in the state of Kansas May 23rd, 2008. If this becomes the official number, it will only be 7 tornadoes off of the record for the most tornadoes in any state in a single day, set by the 67 in South Dakota on June 24th, 2003.

In the 5/3/99 outbreak, OK had 63 tornadoes. Most of these I think occurred
within that calendar day.

 

[Shane Adams]

In the 5/3/99 outbreak, OK had 63 tornadoes. Most of these I think occurred
within that calendar day.

According to the OUN NWSFO website, there were 60 tornadoes in OK on May 3, followed by 12 more on May 4. I'm not sure what the 'rule' is for when an outbreak starts/stops, but during the 72 tornadoes on May 3-4, the longest gap between tornadoes was 3 hours and 49 minutes.

 

[Tony Lyza]

According to the OUN NWSFO website, there were 60 tornadoes in OK on May 3, followed by 12 more on May 4. I'm not sure what the 'rule' is for when an outbreak starts/stops, but during the 72 tornadoes on May 3-4, the longest gap between tornadoes was 3 hours and 49 minutes.

The 67 in SD is a 24h record. That there were less than 6h between the OK tornadoes of May 3rd and May 4th of 1999 would constitute as one outbreak by most standards (Grazulis uses a 6h break to define the end of an outbreak).

 

[Adam Lucio]

How many did Missouri get on 3/12/06? I thought I read somewhere that they set some sort of record.