Damage assessment teams from the National Weather Service are looking at damage from multiple tornadoes Sunday into early Monday morning across central and western Kansas that struck at least two cities and caused damage, some extensive, in several counties.
One of the cities that was hit was the western Reno County community of Plevna, where several houses were flattened by a tornado that struck just after midnight. One house was also destroyed about five miles south-southwest of Plevna according to initial reports. That tornado also caused Fairfield USD 310 to cancel classes this morning. The American Red Cross has set up operations in nearby Abbyville to assist those impacted by the tornado.
Earlier Sunday evening a tornado in northwest Kansas made a direct hit on the Gove County community of Grinnell, about 30 miles southeast of Colby. KXXX Radio in Colby reported the roof was taken off of a local church, and a number of homes were destroyed. That storm also downed power lines across I-70, forcing its closure for several hours though it has re-opened to one lane in each direction.
Another area that was hard hit was southeast Stafford County, where the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office reported several homes were destroyed along with power line and tree damage. Emergency crews were also sent to dig out some people who were trapped in their basement.
Another tornado touched down east of Kinsley and moved northeast to near the Pawnee County town of Garfield where it lifted. Tornadoes were also reported in Kiowa, Pratt and Scott counties, with train cars blown over east of Greensburg and west of Scott City. One tornado near Greensburg initially followed a path very close to that of the May 4, 2007, storm that destroyed much of that city. This time the storm went to the east of town.
Earlier on Sunday up to golf ball size hail was reported in a swath from western Sedgwick County through the Hesston area into Marion County, and from western Rice County into the Salina area.
