Throughout the night hours of May 18–19, 2025, a lone supercell thunderstorm produced a familyA Comprehensive Glossary of Weather Terms for Storm Spotters of multiple large and intense tornadoes across the southern portions of the state of Kansas, in the Great Plains region of the United States. Five intense tornadoes, all rated EF3 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, were confirmed. Many rural farmsteads and communities across Kiowa, Edwards, Pratt, Stafford and Reno Counties were struck by these powerful tornadoes. The small city of Plevna took a direct hit from one of these tornadoes around midnight. Despite the large-scale tornadic activity, no casualties were reported with these tornadoes.The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's finalized damage survey by county:
The tornadoes themselves were a part of a large tornado outbreak that lasted from May 18–21, which followed after another major and deadly outbreak on May 15–16 during the active 2025 season. In the wake of the tornadoes, storm chasers, meteorologists, local news, and residents of southern Kansas were astounded, with some having memories of what happened over 18 years earlier,The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's finalized damage survey by county: when a massive and devastating EF5 tornado struck the city of Greensburg on May 4, 2007.
Meteorological synopsis
Model synoptics
A deep upper-level trough across the western U.S. set the stage for the beginning of the multi-day outbreak on May 18. Strong southwesterly mid-level flow overspread the central and southern Plains, with 500 mb winds of 60–70 knots (69-81 mph) moving over a destabilizing warm sector. At the surface, a sharpening dryline extended from southeastern Colorado into the eastern Texas Panhandle, while a retreating warm front was draped across northern Oklahoma and southern Kansas. This front separated very moist low-level air to the south from drier and cooler air to the north, and it helped focus the afternoon and evening severe threat. Surface dew points surged into the upper 60s and low 70s°F (18 to 23°C), and mixed-layer CAPE (MLCAPE) values reached 3000–4500 joules per kilogram in parts of western Oklahoma and south-central Kansas.
Forecast models and observed soundings indicated a strongly sheared environment, with enlarged hodographs near the warm front and low-level jet intensification expected during the evening. Effective bulk shear of 50–65 knots (58-75 mph) and SRH values over 300 m2/s² in localized areas created a highly favorable setup for tornadic supercells. The greatest risk was forecast in a corridor from the eastern Texas Panhandle through western Oklahoma and into southern Kansas, especially near the triple point and warm front intersection. With steep mid-level lapse rates and strong instability in place, large to very large hail (potentially 2–4 inches in diameter) was also a significant concern with any sustained supercells. The SPC issued a moderate risk for southern Kansas and northern Oklahoma, including a 15% hatched area (EF2+) for tornadoes and very large hail.
Prelude and forecasting of storms By mid- to late afternoon, isolated supercells were expected to initiate near the triple point in southwestern Kansas and farther south along the dryline in western Oklahoma. Storms were forecast to rapidly become severe, with early development possibly influenced by convective inhibition but then quickly intensifying with loss of the cap. Forecast guidance highlighted the potential for one or more discrete supercells to persist into the evening, producing significant hail and strong tornadoes, particularly in southern Kansas and northern Oklahoma. As evening progressed, upscale growth into clusters was anticipated farther south into northwest Texas and southwestern Oklahoma, with increasing wind potential and some continuation of the tornado threat into nighttime.
Tornado summaries
Kiowa County, Kansas
Initial intense tornado The first major tornado of the night touched down in extreme northern Comanche County, to the northwest of Coldwater right after dusk settled at 9:21 PM CDT (02:21 UTC). Upon formation along County Line Road, the tornado broke branches off trees at EF0 intensity, before moving into neighboring Kiowa County. Upon entry, the storm began to widen significantly to the west of US Highway 183, as it began to track to the north through the open fields and paralleling 17th Avenue east of the tornado.
Farmstead destruction
As the tornado continued its journey in rural southwestern Kiowa County, heading northwards towards the intersection of 17th Avenue and V Street, it started closing in on a lone farmstead located at another three-way junction. Along the three-way junction between 17th Avenue and U Street, the tornado impacted this farmstead at peak strength, causing high-end EF3 damage to a metal farm building with winds of . Nearby trees were subsequently uprooted and or debarked at EF3 intensity as well, and a grain cart was displaced away into a grove of trees with estimated EF2 winds of . The residing farmhouse, which despite it was engulfed by the tornado, escaped the worst destruction as moderate EF1 damage was inflicted to it.
Endpoint near Mullinville After causing intense destruction the property, the tornado continued its trek to the north as it paralleled 17th Avenue, destroying powerlines at high-end EF1 intensity. Up ahead, high-end EF1 damage occurred again as trees had their trunks snapped with estimated winds. After that, the tornado headed northeasterly before dissipating at 9:38 PM CDT (02:38 UTC) to the southeast of Mullinville. This was the first EF3 tornado of the event, tracking for just over and was up to nearly half a mile wide. It lasted for just under 20 minutes, and caused no injuries or fatalities.
Greensburg, Kansas
New cycle and tornado emergency After the first EF3 tornado dissipated, 6 minutes later at 9:44 PM CDT (02:44 UTC) a second intense tornado touched down in a field, on the western flank of US 183. Upon crossing the highway, the rapidly widened and intensified significantly, as it downed powerlines at EF2 intensity with winds of . On the northern side of the tornado, a truck trailer was rolled over on its side at one property along US 183.
A tornado emergency was issued at 9:48 PM CDT (02:48 UTC) by the National Weather Service office in Dodge City, Kansas, as an apparent large and damaging tornado was located south of Greensburg. The large and significant tornado continued to the northeast, passing in between numerous farmsteads as it continued to grow in width. Another instance of EF2 damage occurred, as the tornado snapped yet more powerlines at the four-way crossroad between N Street and 31st Avenue. A small, satellite vortex formed on the northern flank of the tornado. The vortex caused EF1 damage to utility poles on 31st Avenue and flipped a small section of one nearby irrigation pivot that the parent tornado was damaging before merging with the main vortex shortly after. Over at M Street and 33rd Avenue, the main circulation yet again inflicted damage of EF2 intensity in this area, as two pole transmission towers were toppled with winds in a wide damage swath, and to their south a tree grove was destroyed. Not far to the northeast of the destroyed pole towers, another irrigation pivot was flipped at EF1 strength along the tornado's eastern flank.
Intensification and dissipation
Encroaching on a property to its north, the tornado passed just east of a farmhouse before reaching peak intensity. Here, the tornado caused EF3 damage to a shelter belt, debarking many trees and leaving only the stubs and largest branches left standing. The storm continued and on L Street weakened in strength, as EF2-level damage was inflicted to a snapped pole. The tornado then changed its direction more east-northeasterly as it was passing southeast of Greensburg. At this point, it caused another trail of considerable damage from L Street, to east of 35th Avenue with more electrical lines downed at high-end EF2 strength, and a pivot separated and displaced with estimated winds. West of 39th Avenue, another pivot was damaged while the tornado headed back on a northeasterly track again. The twister then abruptly headed north as it was beginning to reach the end of its life. Passing east and north of Brenham, the tornado inflicted one final instance of EF1 damage to a pivot, before it dissipated just northeast of the small community at 10:06 PM CDT (03:06 UTC).
Haviland, Kansas
Formation of third severe tornado Just 2 minutes before the previous intense tornado near Greensburg dissipated, the parent supercell cycled and at 10:04 PM CDT (03:04 UTC) dropped its third intense tornado to the southeast of Brenham. Heading northeast towards US Highway 54. Here, the tornado impacted a stalled Union Pacific freight train at an estimated EF2 strength, toppling some 100 rail cars.
After derailing the train, the twister moved onward and made a harder turn to the east-northeast as it was west of Haviland. Along I Street, tree lines and powerlines along the road were debarked at high-end EF2 strength before the tornado banked back to its original trajectory of a northeastern direction. Passing through flat farmland, the tornado impacted and flipped irrigation pivots at significant strength, as EF2 damage was considered inflicted along H Street. A minute later, at approximately 10:14 PM CDT (03:14 UTC) an EF1 satellite tornado formed over to the west of the main circulation, to the north of Brenham. Along its track, this small and short-lived tornado flipped one pivot and snapped large branches off trees before dissipating 7 minutes later at 10:27 PM CDT (03:27 UTC). No casualties were reported and winds were estimated at peak to be .
Damage swath and strengthening Along 47th Avenue, a wide path of downed powerlines was surveyed, as the tornado was at a persistent EF2 intensity. Over to the east, another pivot was struck and separated, with some parts tossed nearly from their original points. Approaching the four-way junction intersecting both G Street and 49th Avenue, the tornado encroached onto two properties northwest of Haviland. The southern of the two was struck with considerable intensity, as both a large barn was completely destroyed and the residing home sustained from EF2 roof damage. Over to the northern property, buildings received only EF1-level damage. Moving almost precisely over the crossroads and on the eastern flank of 49th Avenue, the tornado restrengthened back to EF2 intensity as a tree grove was impacted, with the trunks of some snapped. Due north of Haviland at F Street, the tornado passed extremely closely to a relatively large farm, partially destroying a big grain bin system.
Peak intensity and subsequent occlusion
From E Street to beyond, the tornado steadily increased in intensity, inflicting EF2 to EF3 damage. On 53rd Avenue, the center of the tornado narrowly missed a direct impact on one farmstead, however to the east the tornado completely shredded a shelter belt. Winds at this location were assessed to be low-end EF3 intensity, with corresponding winds of . Crossing over D Street, the tornado yet again completely obliterated trees as it reached peak high-end EF3 winds. Passing 55th Avenue, the tornado caused its last instance of significant (EF2+) damage as it flipped and separated another irrigation pivot.
Afterwards, the tornado headed due north and into Edwards County in its occluding phase. It then moved northwest and dissipated at 10:39 PM CDT (03:39 UTC) to the southeast of Trousdale.
Iuka, Kansas
Fourth touch down and rapid intensification The parent supercell continued to move to the east and exited Kiowa County completely. At around 10:47 PM CDT (03:47 UTC) a new tornado developed to the north of Cullison, located in western Pratt County.