EF2 Tornado — Wabaunsee, Kansas

2024-03-13 · near Alta Vista, Wabaunsee, Kansas

Event narrative

NWS damage survey along with multiple video accounts show a tornado formed just east of Alta Vista then tracked over mainly rural areas of Wabaunsee County to the northeast producing damage along an 8.5 mile long track. The tornado was most intense just northeast of Alta Vista and southeast of Volland where EF2 damage was found to hardwood trees where widespread healthy tree trunks were snapped on the west side of the circulation. The survey crew could not access further east closer to the center point or eastern flank of the tornado circulation damage path however it is estimated that this was around 300 yards wide at its widest point. Maximum winds estimated to around 115 mph based upon damage to hardwood trees.

Wider weather episode

Supercell thunderstorms formed along a warm front on the evening of March 13th. The supercells produced numerous reports of large hail some as large as baseballs and softballs. The supercells also produced at least 2 strong tornadoes. One tracked across mainly rural areas in Wabaunsee County and another formed just to the northwest of the city of Rossville, Kansas. No injuries were reported from the storms.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (38.8700, -96.4500)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1156448. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.