A line of strong thunderstorms produced isolated large hail south and east of Emporia on Wednesday night as well as one report of flooding rain in Burlington and a so-called landspout tornado in Greenwood County.
One round of storms developed around 7 pm and started training over Coffey and Greenwood counties. The storms were initially responsible for a short-lived landspout tornado between Eureka and Hamilton that lasted less than a minute, traveled less than a quarter-mile and caused no damage. The National Weather Service says landspouts form when the parent thunderstorm cloud is growing and there is no rotating updraft, unlike classic tornadoes. Much like a dust devil, the rotation starts at or near the ground.
No tornado warning was issued Wednesday night for Greenwood County.
That storm complex also generated ping-pong-ball-sized hail near Hamilton and quarter-to golf-ball-sized hail in Burlington.
Storms also dumped at least 2.5 inches of rain on Burlington, enough to briefly close a portion of US Highway 75 in the city limits. Central Coffey County was under a flash flood warning for over two hours Wednesday night, but there were no other flooding reports.
Rain reports:
*KVOE studios: 0.60 inches
*Emporia Municipal Airport: 0.68 inches
*Antler Ridge: 0.70 inches
*Tenth and Weaver: 0.40 inches
*Allen: 0.25 inches
*Gridley area: 2.3 inches
*Hamilton: 3 inches
*Lake Kahola: 0.20 inches
*Between Olpe and Hartford: 1.1 inches
Showers and non-severe thunderstorms are possible Thursday, with more storms possible on Easter Sunday and into next week.
If you have hail reports or rain totals, call KVOE at 342-1400 or email kvoe@kvoe.com. If you have photos, message the Bluestem Farm and Ranch text line at 620-342-5863.
