EF3 Tornado — Graham, Kansas

2011-06-20 · near (hlc)hill City Muni, Graham, Kansas

Event narrative

A strong tornado developed just west of U.S. Highway 283 north of Hill City and moved northeast into southern Norton County. The tornado produced extensive damage, including irrigation pivots overturned, utility poles destroyed, and farm implements rolled/tossed nearly 3/4 of a mile. The worst damage occurred in northern Graham County just east of Highway 283. Storm chasers reported at least one satellite tornado rotating around this main tornadic circulation.

Wider weather episode

A strong, slow-moving low pressure system moved across northwest Kansas during the afternoon, resulting in over a dozen tornadoes, some strong and long-lived. The strongest tornadoes occurred over Graham and Norton counties. Other reports of baseball sized hail were received.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (39.4898, -99.8720)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 326534. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.