The National Weather Service has confirmed a third tornado as part of severe thunderstorm activity in late May. The tornado started in Osage County, although not where it was originally reported.
The Weather Service says an EF-2 touched down a few miles southeast of Overbrook on May 28 and traveled 11 miles to the northeast into Douglas County, eventually lifting as a massive EF-4 developed south of Lawrence. The Osage County tornado had estimated peak winds around 115 mph, had a maximum width of around 100 yards and hurt 12 people.
The Lawrence-Linwood tornado, as the EF-4 is now being called, was about a mile wide and traveled more than 30 miles before lifting west of Bonner Springs. It hurt 18 people as it hit southeast Lawrence and much of Linwood.
The parent supercell thunderstorm also spawned a third tornado on the northeast edge of the Kansas City metropolitan area. The EF-2 had maximum winds of around 115 mph, with a maximum path width of around a quarter-mile. No injuries were reported.
The parent cell originated in Greenwood County and matured in Lyon County before moving northeast and spawning the tornadic activity. Originally, there were some indications a tornado touched down south of Osage City as part of the same supercell thunderstorm. The Weather Service found damage but could not confirm its origin.
Graphic courtesy National Weather Service
{gallery}NWS tornado graphic 060919{/gallery}
