Hail and high winds cause damage across Kansas

February 21, 2012|By Susan Gager | KWCH 12 Eyewitness News

(WICHITA, Kan.) — Hail combined with high winds caused damage across the state Monday afternoon. A roof at Butler Community College was blown back and cars were moved sideways.

Another roof was blown off of a barn at Santa Fe Lake Road and a shed was blown into power lines. Trees were uprooted in Wichita.

See Storm Shots from Monday's Storms

Windows were blown out of cars in a Haysville parking lot and some cities are facing downed power lines tonight.

The worst of the storm appears over for most of Kansas, leaving people to access the damage.

“It got really, really black and it started sprinkling, then it started hailing and then it was going sideways and flying this way,” said Leekers employee Hope McNiel.

A storm rolled in quickly across Wichita. Blink and you might have missed it.

“It was crazy, loud and really quick. It happened in just a few minutes,” said McNiel.

For about five minutes, nickel-sized hail pelted the area. Couple that with winds howling at speeds of up to 67 mph and you might have felt the sting. While brief it was powerful enough to do a little damage. Several electrical lines came down near 53rd and Tyler in Wichita. Nearly 1500 homes throughout Sedgwick county went without power this afternoon. In Valley Center the wind blew over this huge semi trailer. Leeker's usually uses it to hold their back stock, but today it was mostly empty. That really helped contribute to it blowing over.

“A little old lady was crying, and everyone was scared, but also everyone was excited and standing around and watching. It was crazy,” said McNiel.

Another viewer called in after watching an old tree rip out of the ground and come down. It was damage all part of a spring-like storm in the middle of an otherwise mild winter.

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