MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
A line of severe thunderstorms produced large hail and damaging winds across central Kansas late Saturday, with reports of hail up to half-dollar size and wind gusts approaching 70 mph in parts of Reno, Harvey and Kingman counties.
According to National Weather Service storm reports, Kingman County was among the hardest-hit areas. Quarter-sized hail was reported three miles north of Zenda at 4:33 p.m., followed by half-dollar-sized hail five miles east of Kingman at 4:44 p.m. The larger hail report was estimated from radar data.
In Reno County, storm damage began showing up shortly before 6 p.m. Two- to three-inch tree branches were snapped in Haven around 5:45 p.m. A personal weather station measured a 60 mph wind gust four miles east of Hutchinson at 6:05 p.m. Hail reports continued after midnight, including quarter-sized hail one mile north-northeast of Mount Vernon at 7:15 p.m. and another quarter-sized hail report six miles west of Andale at 7:38 p.m.
Harvey County also experienced strong winds and hail. Social media reports indicated wind gusts between 60 and 70 mph about five miles north-northwest of Halstead at 11:30 p.m., with large and small tree branches reported down. Walton recorded wind gusts near 60 mph at 6:55 p.m. Hail up to half-dollar size was reported in Sedgwick at 8:05 p.m., while quarter-sized hail fell about five miles south-southeast of Newton at 8:25 p.m.
Elsewhere in south-central Kansas, Andale recorded a delayed report of a 70 mph wind gust at 7:41 p.m., accompanied by half-dollar-sized hail. Mount Hope reported hail up to 1.5 inches in diameter and wind gusts estimated between 55 and 65 mph around 7:40 p.m.
No tornadoes were reported in Reno, Harvey, Kingman, Pratt or McPherson counties during the event, and no injuries were immediately reported. The National Weather Service continues to collect and verify storm reports from across the region.