Westmoreland tornado

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]

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. 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]

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 (4.2 km) and had a maximum estimated width of 100 yards (91 m).^[9] Storm chaser Reed Timmer intercepted and filmed the tornado as it moved through Westmoreland.^[10]

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

One person, 58-year-old Ann Miller, was killed in her mobile home on North 4th Street by the tornado.^[17] Three others sustained injuries during the event.^[18][19] Tornado sirens in the town reportedly failed to sound.^[20]

On February 6, 2025, Representatives Nick Langworthy and Sharice Davids introduced the Weather Alert Response and Notification Act (WARN Act). The act proposes that the Comptroller General of the United States conduct a study on the effectiveness of "emergency alerting systems in disseminating timely and relevant information", specifically on the effectiveness of the effectiveness of various platforms and social media sites, whether guidance and training exist for those issuing emergency alerts, and whether improvements could be made to outdoor siren systems. The act received bipartisan support, with 33 other representatives cosponsoring the bill. The bill is currently under discussion in the House Transportation Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.^[21][22]

The act proposes that the Comptroller General of the United States conduct a study on the effectiveness of "emergency alerting systems in disseminating timely and relevant information", specifically on the effectiveness of the effectiveness of various platforms and social media sites, whether guidance and training exist for those issuing emergency alerts, and whether improvements could be made to outdoor siren systems. The bill is currently under discussion in the House Transportation Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.^{[23][24][25][26]}

Several other tornadoes occurred across the Great Plains region on April 30.

• List of United States tornadoes in April 2024

• Greensburg tornado, another Kansas tornado that saw the implementation of a "Long-Term Recovery Group"
• List of F3, EF3, and IF3 tornadoes (2020–present)
  • 2021 Fultondale tornado, another EF3 tornado where tornado sirens allegedly didn't sound