Power Outage in Osborne, KS

Wind-driven wildfires affected a notable portion of southwestern Osborne County and also a small area in northwestern parts of the county. These fires started in the afternoon hours of the 15th, and while they were largely under control by the early morning of the 16th, small flare-ups were a concern for a few more days. The suspected cause of these fires was downed power lines due to strong winds, which gusted up to around 90 MPH at times. Approximately 11,200 acres were burned in the county, the vast majority of which occurred as part of the massive Four Counties Fire (which primarily impacted portions of Russell/Ellis counties just outside the local area). Within Osborne County, this fire mainly affected an area between 280th Drive and the Russell County line, south and southeast of Natoma (the northern edge of the fire got within 2-3 miles of town). In this large fire, two farmsteads were completely destroyed, numerous hay bales burned and at least 362 head of cattle were lost. Another much smaller fire occurred approximately one mile south-southwest of Natoma. Up in the northwest part of the county, another small fire occurred approximately 1-2 miles north-northwest of Alton. Although this fire did not burn any structures, it unfortunately contributed to a fatality when a 95-year old man attempted to drive through the smoke and his vehicle was subsequently overtaken by fire. In the wake of the fires, it was noted that the ground was scoured clean in some areas as the ferocious winds easily swept away soil where grass had burned away.

Wind gusts estimated to be near 60 MPH resulted in tree damage and downed power lines across portions of the county, especially in the town of Osborne.

This tornado initially developed in Russell County, tracking northeast into Osborne County around 5:23 PM CDT. This at times large tornado was observed by storm spotters, chasers and residents. Along its path, the tornado damaged several power poles, snapped and uprooted trees and overturned a grain cart. Three farmsteads were damaged, including a destroyed grain bin, outbuildings and sheds. The maximum wind speed was estimated to be 118 MPH.

This tornado initially developed in Russell County, tracking northeast into Osborne County around 5:23 PM CDT. This at times large tornado was observed by storm spotters, chasers and residents. Along its path, the tornado damaged several power poles, snapped and uprooted trees and overturned a grain cart. Three farmsteads were damaged, including a destroyed grain bin, outbuildings and sheds. The maximum wind speed was estimated to be 118 MPH.

Wind gusts were both estimated and measured between 65 and 70 MPH in the area. There was notable tree damage in Osborne, including larger limbs and a few uprooted trees. An empty semi trailer at a local business was tipped over. A number of power poles were either damaged or snapped. There was damage to an outbuilding located at the airport approximately 1 mile east of town. An abandoned mobile home lost the majority of its roof. The 68 MPH wind gusts was measured by a KSU mesonet site located 1 mile north-northwest of Osborne.

Wind gusts were both estimated and measured between 65 and 70 MPH in the area. There was notable tree damage in Osborne, including larger limbs and a few uprooted trees. An empty semi trailer at a local business was tipped over. A number of power poles were either damaged or snapped. There was damage to an outbuilding located at the airport approximately 1 mile east of town. An abandoned mobile home lost the majority of its roof. The 68 MPH wind gusts was measured by a KSU mesonet site located 1 mile north-northwest of Osborne.

Wind gusts estimated near 70 mph, snapping a few power poles, blowing off a shed roof and heavily damaging a grain bin along the path.

Although severe thunderstorm winds only affected a small portion of North Central Kansas on this Saturday evening, the community of Osborne took a direct hit around 10 p.m. CDT as a wall of 65-70 MPH gusts blasted through town. Notable tree damage resulted, including larger limbs and a few completely uprooted. An empty semi trailer at a local business was tipped over, and a number of power poles were either damaged or snapped. In addition, an airport outbuilding sustained damage and an abandoned mobile home lost most of its roof. In addition to various estimated wind reports, a KSU mesonet station near the north edge of Osborne measured a peak 68 MPH gust. Although wind damage was clearly the main story across town, up to quarter size hail was also reported, along with a quick deluge of 1.50-2.00 of rain. As supported by radar data, damaging winds likely only impacted a narrow corridor as this multicell storm peaked in intensity within no more than 5-10 miles southwest-through-northeast of Osborne, and had weakened considerably by the time it reached the Mitchell County line around 10:30 p.m. CDT. ||This severe storm was not the first convection of the day within this six county North Central Kansas area. As early as 4-5 p.m. CDT, non-severe storms brushed into Mitchell County, splitting off the north edges of a more concentrated cluster of strong to severe storms centered just south of the local area. Then a few hours later, additional sub-severe activity flared up over parts of Rooks/Osborne counties. Between 9-10 p.m. CDT, some of this weaker convection merged with a stronger storm tracking northeast out of Ellis County, eventually producing the Osborne wind damage. Once this severe storm dissipated, only weak activity lingered thereafter, with all of North Central Kansas storm-free by 2 a.m. CDT. In the mid-upper levels, a seasonably-typical quasi-zonal flow pattern was in place over Kansas, containing weak, embedded shortwave disturbances along the northern periphery of a subtropical high centered over Texas. At the surface, afternoon/evening convection within northern and western Kansas was largely tied to convergence along a quasi-stationary front. Despite warm mid level air with 700-millibar temperatures running 12-14 C, the presence of a well-mixed, hot and moist airmass featuring afternoon temperatures in the 90s F and dewpoints generally between 65-70 F was enough to breach the cap and result in vigorous, outflow-dominant multicell storms. Around the time of the Osborne wind damage, mesoscale parameters featured at least 1000-2000 J/kg mixed-layer CAPE and around 30 knots of deep-layer wind shear.