In the late afternoon hours of April 30,2024,a strong tornado moved through the northern portions of Westmoreland,a community located in northern Kansas. The tornado,which was on the ground for eight minutes,killed one person and injured three others while producing monetary damage that totaled an estimated $2.6 million (2024 USD). The tornado was the strongest to hit Kansas during the 2024 tornado season,with wind speeds estimated to have been as high as 140 miles per hour (230km/h) within the funnel.
The tornado first touched down at 5:40 p.m. CDT,inflicting EF2-rated damage to a home and trees as it tracked northeast. To the east of Westmoreland Road the tornado reached EF3 intensity,destroying homes and sweeping debris to the northeast as it moved into higher-populated areas. Along its track through the northern portions of Westmoreland several mobile homes were completely destroyed,one being wrapped around a tree and killing the occupant. After leaving town it appeared to lift,producing little damage before lifting at 5:48 p.m. CDT after tracking for 2.6 miles (4.2km).
Recovery and aid efforts were intensive immediately following the tornado,with the "Westmoreland Long-Term Recovery Group" being established by the city to help aid residents,and other funds being allotted by those affected. It was found that the tornado sirens in Westmoreland failed;in February 2025,Kansas Representative Sharice Davids introduced the Weather Alert Response and Notification Act after a string of siren failures within the state.
Advanced forecasting
The Day 3 convective outlook,outlined by the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) on April 28,outlined a "slight",level 2-out-of-5 risk for the northern Great Plains. The risk,which included portions of northeast Kansas,Missouri,Nebraska and Iowa was accompanied by a 15% chance of severe weather in the slight risk zone. The SPC noted in the outlook that "possibly a tornado or two" were possible in the risk area.[1] The Day 2 outlook,issued on the morning of April 29,saw an expansion of the "slight" zone and the addition of a "marginal",level 1-out-of-5 risk zone stretching from Texas to Central Minnesota. A 5% risk for tornadoes was introduced in the slight risk zone,as was a 15% "hatched"[a] risk for damaging winds and another hatched,15% risk for significant hail in the outlined area.[3] A later update to the Day 2 outlook on the evening of April 29 expanded the 5% tornado risk,encompassing much of Eastern Kansas and Western Iowa.[4]
The Day 1 outlook,outlined on April 30,saw the introduction of an "enhanced",level 3-out-of-5 risk for many areas that had previously been included in the slight risk,including northeast Kansas.[5] While the 5% risk for tornadoes largely stayed the same,the SPC denoted a 30% hatched risk for damaging hail for the area.[5]
Tornado summary
Track and intensity map of the tornado through Westmoreland
Key
EF1 86–110mph EF2 111–135mph EF3 136–165mph ⎯ Center of the tornado
The tornado first touched down at 5:40 p.m. CST west of Wilson Creek Road,reaching EF2 intensity immediately after reaching the ground. A home in this area was hit;the exterior walls of the structure collapsed in the winds.[6] After crossing Bigelow Road the tornado snapped the trunks of hardwood trees,maintaining EF2 intensity as it moved northeast. It weakened shortly before crossing Westmoreland Road,where it would enter into more populated areas.[6] As it entered into the northern portions of Westmoreland it again strengthened,inflicting EF2 damage to a garage and ripping the roof of a house. On North Walnut Street the tornado first reached EF2 intensity,completely destroying several homes and lifting the subfloor of at least one home. Debris from the homes was swept to the northeast by the tornado,although issues with home construction and quality led the National Weather Service to assign a low-end EF3 rating to the residences. Further northeast tree trunks were snapped at EF2 intensity;EF1 damage was inflicted to homes on the tornado's southern edge. The tornado killed one person as it struck several mobile homes along North Fourth Street;one mobile home was found wrapped around a tree.[6] More debris was scattered around by the tornado in this area.[7]
EF2-rated damage to a home on East Campbell Street
The tornado briefly weakened to EF1 strength as it continued northeast,snapping hardwood tree trunks before reaching EF2 intensity as it passed over a property located at 405 East Campbell Street.[8] After crossing K-99 and exiting the east portions of Westmoreland the tornado weakened and "appeared to lift",[9] producing no discernable damage until it lifted near the Rock Creek at 5:48 p.m. CST. The tornado was on the ground for eight minutes,killing one person and injuring three others.[6] The tornado traveled an estimated 2.6 miles (4.2km) and had a maximum estimated width of 100 yards (91m).[9] Storm chaser Reed Timmer intercepted and filmed the tornado as it moved through Westmoreland.[10]
Aftermath and recovery
Approximately 22 houses were damaged or destroyed by the tornado,being deemed "unlivable". 13 more businesses were damaged during the event.[11] The Small Business Administration (SBA) offered low-interest federal disaster loans to businesses affected by the tornado.[12] Damage from the tornado received a maximum rating of "EF3" on the Enhanced Fujita scale following a tornado damage survey by the National Weather Service,making the tornado the strongest to occur in Kansas during 2024 and the strongest until a more intense EF3 was confirmed north of Grainfield,Kansas during the tornado outbreak of May 18,2025.[6]
On May 16,the SBA declared a disaster in the state of Kansas,effective from the date of signing to February 2025.[13] The Red Cross dispatched damage assessors from the Wichita area to Westmoreland to aid in cleanup and recovery efforts.[14]
Shortly after the tornado,the city of Westmoreland created the "Westmoreland Long-Term Recovery Group" to help residents of Westmoreland recover from the event.[15] The city also invoked the "Caring Communities Fund",which allotted over $160,000 to Westmoreland residents who were affected by the tornado.[16]
Death and WARN Act
The destroyed mobile home where Miller was killed
One person,58-year-old Ann Miller,was killed in her mobile home on North 4th Street by the tornado.[17][18][19][6] Three others sustained injuries during the event.[20][21]Tornado sirens in the town reportedly failed to sound.[22]
A high-end EF0 impacted a large implement shed and an older wooden barn. The shed was destroyed and the barn collapsed. Some trees were downed and minor outbuilding damage also occurred.[32]
This large, slow-moving tornado moved through rural areas producing power pole, tree, and outbuilding damage. The tornado hit two farmsteads after turning northeast before turning northwest and dissipating. According to the survey by the NWS office in Norman, Oklahoma, the tornado produced EF1 damage but "may have been much stronger".[36]
An anticyclonic tornado damaged some trees. The NWS office in Norman states that this tornado was "likely stronger than the observed damage" in their survey.[37]
↑ A "hatched" risk, as defined by the Storm Prediction Center, is a tool used to outline "a 10% or higher probability for significant severe events within 25 miles of any point".[2]
↑ National Weather Service in Wichita, Kansas (2024). Kansas Event Report: EFU Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
↑ National Weather Service in Topeka, Kansas (2024). Kansas Event Report: EF1 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
↑ National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma (2024). Oklahoma Event Report: EF1 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
↑ National Weather Service in Topeka, Kansas (2024). Kansas Event Report: EFU Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
↑ National Weather Service in Wichita, Kansas (2024). Kansas Event Report: EFU Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
↑ National Weather Service in Topeka, Kansas (2024). Kansas Event Report: EFU Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
↑ National Weather Service in Topeka, Kansas (2024). Kansas Event Report: EF1 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
↑ National Weather Service in Des Moines, Iowa (2024). Iowa Event Report: EF0 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
↑ National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma (2024). Oklahoma Event Report: EFU Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
↑ National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma (2024). Oklahoma Event Report: EF0 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
↑ National Weather Service in Wichita, Kansas (2024). Kansas Event Report: EF0 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
↑ National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma (2024). Oklahoma Event Report: EF1 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
↑ National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma (2024). Oklahoma Event Report: EF1 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
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![Track and intensity map of the tornado through Westmoreland
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Key
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EF1 86-110 mph
EF2 111-135 mph
EF3 136-165 mph
[?] Center of the tornado
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