The May 23, 2008 tornado
EF4Gove County, Kansas
An EF4 tornado on a 11.4-mile path that injured 2. It was one of 79 tornadoes recorded in the U.S. that day, 7 of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
Watch how it happened Part of the outbreak of May 23, 2008: 79 tornadoes in 5 statesEF4 tornado · May 23, 2008
How it happened
Follow the tornado’s path, minute by minute.
The tornado
- Rating
- EF4
- Enhanced Fujita scale
- Path length
- 11.4 mi
- Width up to 1,320 yards
- Killed
- 0
- Along the whole path
- Injured
- 2
- Along the whole path
- Date and time
- Friday, May 23, 2008
- 5:10 PM CST
The National Weather Service account
Written by the local Weather Service office after its damage survey.
A large wedge tornado developed about 9 miles SSW of Quinter and moved north, then northwest, eventually dissipating 2 miles SE of Park. This tornado caused extensive damage to several homes, including EF4 damage to one home which was completely destroyed. A car and a pickup truck were tossed or bounced 200 yards at the residence. Nearby, two other homes suffered extensive damage. This tornado caused two injuries, including the driver of a vehicle which was thrown off Interstate 70, and an older male attempting to get into his storm cellar when he was struck by flying debris.
The storm system that day
Intense supercell thunderstorms moved north across the region during the afternoon and evening hours producing 10 tornadoes, including an F4 tornado just SW of Quinter. Extremely heavy rainfall also resulted in flooding in many areas. Many of these thunderstorms occurred in the same areas as the storms the previous day.
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.
Counties on its path
Storm Prediction Center severe weather database. Path drawn as a straight line from the recorded start to end point.