Thunderstorms erupted across much of portions of the central United States on June 13 and early June 14, 2026, as clusters of thunderstorms produced extensive straight-line wind damage from the Plains into the Midwest and portions of the South. While several tornadoes and pockets of large hail were reported, damaging thunderstorm winds became the primary hazard, resulting in widespread tree damage, power outages, structural impacts, and at least one fatality.
The most concentrated impacts occurred across Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and surrounding states, where numerous measured wind gusts exceeded severe limits and communities experienced tree damage, infrastructure impacts, and power disruptions. Preliminary reports from the Storm Prediction Center documented dozens of severe wind reports stretching from Nebraska to Texas and eastward into Missouri, Tennessee, and the Carolinas.
Kansas Sees Numerous Severe Wind Reports
Kansas experienced some of the most extensive wind impacts during the event as thunderstorms surged eastward through the evening hours.
One of the strongest measured gusts occurred near Jarbalo in Leavenworth County, where winds reached 81 mph at 10:02 PM CDT. Nearby locations recorded gusts of 78 mph near Muncie in Wyandotte County and 72 mph near Lancaster in Atchison County. Additional gusts of 70 mph or greater were measured near Perry, Arkansas City, Coffeyville, and Independence.
The severe winds caused widespread damage across the state. Trees and power lines were reported down in numerous counties, including Jefferson, Allen, Linn, and Woodson Counties. In Sedgwick County, transmission line poles were snapped west of Viola, while emergency managers reported roof and shed damage near Cheney. Numerous communities experienced localized power outages as the storms moved through.
Missouri Endures Significant Wind Damage
Thunderstorms intensified further as they crossed into Missouri, producing widespread impacts from the Kansas City metropolitan area into southwestern portions of the state.
In the Kansas City region, wind gusts reached 79 mph at Kansas City International Airport, while a 76 mph gust was measured near Courtney in Jackson County and 75 mph near Oakview in Clay County. Numerous reports documented downed trees, snapped branches, and power outages across Clay, Platte, Jackson, Cass, and Lafayette Counties.
Farther south, a National Weather Service survey determined that portions of Jasper and northern Newton Counties experienced damaging straight-line winds estimated as high as 95 mph. Damage included uprooted trees, structural impacts, and widespread power interruptions in and around Joplin. Nearby, Neosho measured an 84 mph wind gust, while an 80 mph report was received near Carthage.
Additional reports described barns thrown into power lines, roofs damaged, and large trees falling onto homes throughout southwestern Missouri. These impacts demonstrate how severe straight-line winds can produce damage comparable to weak tornadoes over much larger geographic areas.
Oklahoma and Texas Record Powerful Gusts
Strong winds also extended into Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle. Mesonet observations in Oklahoma recorded gusts reaching 76 mph southwest of Hardy in Kay County, while multiple communities experienced downed trees, power poles, and utility disruptions. Newkirk saw repeated reports of tree damage and power infrastructure failures as storms moved through.
A particularly tragic report came from Mayes County, Oklahoma, where thunderstorm winds uprooted a tree that fell onto an RV near Locust Grove, resulting in one fatality.
The strongest measured wind in the event occurred in the Texas Panhandle, where a mesonet station in Potter County recorded a 91 mph gust east-southeast of Valley de Oro. Additional gusts approaching 70 mph were measured in Hemphill County as severe thunderstorms crossed the region.
Straight-Line Winds Drive Most Impacts
Although several tornadoes occurred during the event, including EF-1 tornadoes in Missouri and landspouts in Kansas and Arizona, damaging thunderstorm winds produced the majority of impacts across the region. Straight-line winds occur when powerful downdrafts descend from thunderstorms and spread outward, creating intense outflow capable of producing widespread damage. Unlike tornadoes, these winds can affect large areas simultaneously and often leave extensive corridors of tree and power line damage.
By sunrise on June 14, many of the strongest storms had weakened, but their impacts remained evident across multiple states through damaged infrastructure, downed trees, and ongoing power outages. Additional storm surveys and report reviews may further refine the full scope of this event in the coming days.
This data came from Storm Reports provided by the Storm Prediction Center: https://www.spc.noaa.gov/
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