A possible tornado damaged five structures in northern Riley County shortly after 5 p.m. Thursday, including four on the east side of the City of Riley and one near Randolph, after outdoor warning sirens were sounded in the area.
Riley County Emergency Dispatch received the reports as the storm moved through the county east of the City of Riley, and volunteer firefighters with Riley County Fire District #1 reported substantial tree damage and debris along with the structural damage.
The storm drew attention quickly because it hit during the late afternoon and left a visible trail of disruption across the county. No injuries had been reported at the time of the report, but heavy rain also caused substantial flooding and several roadways were closed because of high water and debris.
For residents and property owners in the City of Riley and near Randolph, the immediate question is not only what was damaged, but what the storm actually was. The report described a possible tornado, and the National Weather Service had not yet determined whether a tornado occurred when the damage was first reported.
That assessment will now decide whether the event is formally counted as a tornado and, if so, what EF rating it receives. Until then, the county is left with the evidence on the ground: damaged structures, downed debris, flooded roads and a storm that may have been stronger than the first reports could confirm.
