The tornado that tore through a portion of Lake Kahola Thursday night as part of a slow-moving storm system has been classified as an EF1.
EF-1 is the second lowest level on the Fujita Scale, which classifies tornadoes based on intensity through measurements of wind speeds and damage caused. EF1 tornadoes are classified as moderate tornadoes, which range between 73 and 112 mph, causing moderate damage.
The tornado developed at 6:26 pm four miles southwest of Dunlap and was 30 yards in diameter. The tornado traveled approximately one mile and had a peak wind gust of 110 miles per hour.
The tornado directly struck the northern side of Lake Kahola, damaging upwards of 15 units, not including an Airbnb, destroying four garages and flipping four boats, one of which was still in its lift at the time
The Lake Kahola tornado was one of four confirmed in the KVOE listening area Thursday evening. Wabaunsee County had two touchdowns, both classified EF0. The first developed at 6:03 pm, five miles west northwest of Alma and traveled just over 3.3 miles with a peak wind gust of 70 mph ending at 6:09 pm, 4 miles northwest of Alma. The second developed at 6:04 pm, seven miles southeast of Volland and traveled half a mile, ending at 6:05 pm, 8 miles southeast of Volland.
Lyon County also had a confirmed EF0 touchdown four miles south of Allen at 7:08 pm. The Allen tornado had an 85 mph peak wind gust and stretched one mile, ending three miles south-southwest of Admire before ending at 7:14 pm.
10:20 am Friday:
National Weather Service survey crews may have a challenge as they track tornado damage north and west of Emporia on Friday.
Meteorologist Matt Wolters says surveyors may not have a lot to work with, aside from structure and boat damage at Lake Kahola from a tornado Thursday night.
The atmospheric setup was conducive to small, short-lived tornadoes. It also evolved in such a way that supercell structure, or rotating updrafts that can extend to ground level as tornadoes, was evident in some locations as storms looked like a line while they advanced to the east.
Lake Kahola had upwards of 15 units damaged, not including an Airbnb. Four boats were flipped. Four garages were destroyed.
The Lake Kahola situation has another layer to it. Passmore says Chase County has received federal funding and asked Morris County to cost-share a warning siren at the lake, along with Lake Kahola.
Morris County commissioners decided against the cost-share at their April 7 meeting, citing budget constraints and efforts to avoid raising levied tax amounts. There is no word yet on whether the siren situation will be discussed at Tuesday’s County Commission meeting.
Survey crews typically have their investigations done and early investigations published by late afternoon the day after a tornado incident.
If you have rain totals, storm reports or storm photos from Thursday, message the KVOE Bluestem Farm and Ranch Supply text line at 620-342-5863. If you have storm video, direct message your video to Facebook@kvoenews.
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12 am Friday: Nearly 20 Lake Kahola structures, four boats damaged by Thursday tornado
Slow-moving thunderstorms caused at least one confirmed tornado northwest of Emporia on Thursday evening, and the National Weather Service plans to survey damage tracks Friday.
A cluster of storms crossed over Lake Kahola early in the evening, dropping a tornado that damaged at least 13 units, damaged an Airbnb, demolished four garages and flipped four boats. Several limestone fence posts were also ripped out of the ground. Emporia’s Radio Stations co-owner Jamie Sauder called it a “close encounter of the first kind.”
From that vantage point, Sauder says he could see a lot of damage.
Lake Kahola Manager Jason Passmore had another angle, but he got to see the twister up close as well.
Along with the damage, the storm knocked out power to the lake buildings for hours afterward. Even with all that, Passmore says the situation could have been a lot worse.
Tornado touchdowns were also reported near Dunlap and Bushong. It is too early to say whether those were the same tornado or different ones.
Tornadoes northwest of Emporia were part of an event that included two main cells or line segments, both dropping heavy rain and the south cell also responsible for hail from egg- to baseball-size in Marion County. Severe hail reports were isolated.
*2 miles southwest of Madison: 1-inch hail
*9 miles east of Matfield Green: 1-inch hail
Wind damage was also isolated.
*1 mile south-southwest of Burlington: One building lost its roof. Scattered tree damage across Burlington
*5 miles north-northeast of Gridley: Damage to one outbuilding
Over 800 Evergy customers lost power at times during the storms, including over 700 in central Osage County.
Rainfall totals were commonplace Thursday evening, with more likely Friday morning.
*KVOE studios: 0.70 inches
*Emporia Municipal Airport: 0.41 inches
*Deerbrook Addition: 0.50 inches
*10th and Weaver: 1.05 inches
*South and Sylvan: 0.70 inches
*1100 block Constitution: 0.60 inches
*3.5 miles west of Emporia Golf Course: 0.50 inches
*1 mile north of Allen: 0.90 inches
*Americus: 1.10 inches
*Emporia Energy Center: 0.50 inches
*Eureka Milliken Airport: 0.28 inches
*Between Hartford and Olpe: 0.60 inches
*6 miles north of Gridley: 0.50 inches
*Kansas Highway 99 at Lyon-Greenwood county line: 1 inch
*Olpe Blacksmith Shop: 1.50 inches
*2 miles southwest of Olpe: 2.50 inches
*Reading: 1.50 inches
*200 block Road 340: 1.08 inches
*Strong City: 1.30 inches
*Toledo: 0.46 inches
Thursday’s storms developed in an enhanced risk area — one of the rare times an enhanced risk designation has verified to this extent for Lyon or surrounding counties. More storms, including severe weather chances, are ahead for Saturday and Sunday. Lyon County Emergency Management Director Jarrod Fell says this should be a reminder for everybody when it comes to severe weather planning.
KVOE and KVOE.com will have updates.
10:30 pm Thursday
Slow-moving thunderstorms caused at least one confirmed tornado northwest of Emporia on Thursday evening, and the National Weather Service plans to survey damage tracks Friday.
A cluster of storms crossed over Lake Kahola early in the evening, dropping a tornado that damaged at least 13 units, damaged an Airbnb, demolished four garages and flipped four boats. No injuries were reported. Power was offline for several hours after the storms blew through.
Tornado touchdowns were also reported near Dunlap and Bushong. It is too early to say whether those were the same tornado or different ones.
Tornadoes northwest of Emporia were part of an event that included two main cells or line segments, both dropping heavy rain and the south cell also responsible for hail from egg- to baseball-size in Marion County.
KVOE and KVOE.com will have updates.
Photos by KVOE News reporters and KVOE listeners
