This alert expired on 18 May 2026 at 05:15 UTC. It is kept here as a record.
No stronger detection stands among the 33 recorded within 20 km of this point since 15 March 2026 — 8 others scored the same. Another comparable one was recorded here earlier the same day. 3 more were recorded here in the fortnight before it.
What the source measured
NOAA reported: Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued May 17 at 11:56PM CDT until May 18 at 12:15AM CDT by NWS Wichita KS
An estimated 47,813 people live within 50 km of this point.
Nearby, since 15 March 2026
- May 30, 2026 · score 34 · 20.4 km
How we know
Confirmed by 4 independent sources, including NOAA.
Our own score for this event is 34 out of 100, at 90 % confidence.
The score is ours, computed from intensity, exposed population and local history — not the source’s.
Computed under scoring rules v1. Rows carrying other versions were judged by different rules and are not directly comparable.
Event Data
| Type | Severe Weather |
| Severity | Medium |
| Calamity Score (ours) | 34 / 100 |
| Our confidence | 90% |
| Coordinates | 38.7957, -98.1190 |
| Nearest City | Salina (44 km) |
| Population Exposed | 47.8K within 50 km |
| Impact Tier | significant |
| Timestamp | 2026-05-18T04:56:00.000Z |
| Source | https://api.weather.gov/alerts/merged_Severe Thunderstorm Warning_noaa_urn:oid:2.49.0.1.840.0.c89a01d4099fe01d1a12d0116c4a2aea |
Score Breakdown
Technical Details
| Event | Severe Thunderstorm Warning |
| Urgency | Immediate |
| Certainty | Observed |
| AreaDesc | Barton, KS; Russell, KS; Ottawa, KS |
| Headline | Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued May 17 at 11:56PM CDT until May 18 at 12:15AM CDT by NWS Wichita KS |
| Expires | 2026-05-18T00:15:00-05:00 |
| SenderName | NWS Wichita KS |
| HasExactCoords | true |
| MergedCount | 2 |
| MergedIds | ["noaa_urn:oid:2.49.0.1.840.0.c89a01d4099fe01d1a12d0116c4a2aea21945728.001.1","noaa_urn:oid:2.49.0.1.840.0.074b061e205351879ed7b13e596403cf8a1be609.001.1"] |
| Iem TypeSummary | C |
| Iem City | 5 N Ellsworth |
| Iem County | Ellsworth |
| Iem State | KS |
| Iem Wfo | ICT |
| Iem Remark | Received by photo. Spotter reported funnel had dissipated but had descended and ascended several times. |
| MergedSources | [{"id":"iem_H_38.830_-98.530_1779064080000","source":"iem","severity":"low","severityValue":25,"timestamp":1779064080000,"latitude":38.83,"longitude":-98.53},{"id":"iem_H_38.830_-98.470_1779076380000","source":"iem","severity":"low","severityValue":25,"timestamp":1779076380000,"latitude":38.83,"longitude":-98.47},{"id":"iem_C_38.810_-98.230_1779063300000","source":"iem","severity":"low","severityValue":25,"timestamp":1779063300000,"latitude":38.81,"longitude":-98.23}] |
Safety Information
Always follow official guidance from your local emergency management agency. This platform provides scientific monitoring data and is not a substitute for official warnings. If you are in immediate danger, contact your local emergency number.
Series begins 8 March 2026. Comparisons refer to that period only. Collection gap: 14-26 August 2026.
This data is aggregated algorithmically from scientific sources. Not a replacement for official emergency warnings.
Want to know when something happens in this area?
Calamity.live data shows a weather event with CalamityScore 34/100 (United States), based on data from noaa. Source: Calamity.live, a platform aggregating real-time data from 185 scientific monitoring sources.