CHASE COUNTY—The National Weather survey team reported they found tracks from eight tornadoes in the Chase County storm on Wednesday and two were rated EF-2 intensity, 125 miles per hour, according to the weather service in Wichita.
Survey team found EF-2 damage one mile east of Elmdale, 3 miles southwest of Strong City and 3 and one half miles south of Dunlap.
The storm damaged homes and businesses, downed power lines, trees and knocked out power to much of the county, according to the Chase County Sheriff's Department.
The weather service reported the first tornado at 8:13p.m. approximately 6 miles southwest of Emdale. It was rated EF1 with an estimated peak wind of 99mph, a path of .006 miles and a width of 100 yards. It lasted two minutes and ended 5 miles southwest of Elmdale.
The second tornado occurred at 8:15 p.m. approximately 1 mile southwest of Emdale. It was rated EF0 with an estimated peak wind of 75mph, a path of 1.3 miles and a width of 100 yards. It lasted four minutes and and ended at Elmdale. There was one minor injury in this tornado from a semi that rolled near the intersection of Highway 50 and Highway 150.
The third tornado appeared 8:22p.m. one half mile southeast of Emdale. It was rated EF2 with an estimated peak wind of 125mph, a path of 11.7 miles and a width of 880yards. It lasted thirty minutes and ended six miles northeast of Strong City. This tornado damaged a metal building one mile east of Elmdale and to farm outbuildings three miles southwest of Strong City.
The fourth tornado was reported a 8:31p.m. two and one half miles east of Elmdale. It was rated EF1 with an estimated peak wind of 94mph, a path of 1.3 miles and a width of 200 yards. It lasted two minutes and ended one mile south, southeast of Strong City. This tornado damaged areas north of Chase County Fishing Lake including trees and a small outbuilding.
The weather service reported the fifth tornado at 8:31p.m. approximately 2.3 miles southwest of Strong City. It was rated EF0 with an estimated peak wind of 74mph, a path of 2.7 miles and a width of 175 yards. It lasted two minutes and ended .2 miles north of Strong City.
The sixth tornado occurred at 8:35p.m. just east of Cottonwood Falls. It was rated EF1 with an estimated peak wind of 94mph, a path of 1.1 miles and a width of 50 yards. It lasted four minutes and ended .7 miles northeast of Cottonwood Falls.
The seventh tornado occurred at 8:47p.m. and started four miles east, northeast of Cottonwood Falls. It was rated EF0 with an estimated peak wind of 85mph, a path of 3.2 miles and a width of 150 yards. It lasted ten minutes and ended seven miles northeast of Cottonwood Falls. The sheriff's office reported one minor injury from a car that was picked up with glass breaking.
The final tornado that night occurred at 8:55p.m. and started eight miles northeast of Strong City. It was rated EF2 with peak winds of 118mph, a path of 5.5 miles and a width of 100 yards. It lasted twelve minutes and ended 3.7 miles south of Dunlap. The sheriff's office reported on minor injury from a car that was picked up with glass breaking.
This tornado damaged a transmission power structure around 3 and one half miles south of Dunlap near the Chase, Morris county line.
EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories: EF0...Weak......65 to 85 mph, EF1...Weak......86 to 110 mph, EF2...Strong....111 to 135 mph, EF3...Strong....136 to 165 mph, EF4...Violent...166 to 200 mph and EF5...Violent...>200 mph