Alert archive / Kansas / Flash Flood Warnings in 1986

Flash Flood Warning 2, NWS Topeka, KS

May 16, 1986Brown County, Kansas

NWS Topeka, KS issued this flash flood warning at May 16, 1986, 6:40 AM CDT for Brown County, Kansas. It was in force for 4 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 16, 1986, 6:40 AM CDT (11:40 UTC)
Expired
May 16, 1986, 10:30 AM CDT
In force
4 hr
Issued by
NWS Topeka, KS
Area
Whole counties

County Brown County, KS

The radar

The WSR-88D network and its archive begin in 1991, so there is no radar volume for this alert.

The nearest sounding before it

Topeka, KS (KTOP), launched 00:00Z, 11.7 hours before the alert went out and 92 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Topeka, KS at 00:00Z on 1986-05-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 83 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Topeka, KS at 00:00Z on 1986-05-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 13 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
83 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-90 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1724 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
25 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
13 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
47 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
TTAA00 KTOP 161140
FFWTOP
KSC131-013-149-161-117-161530-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED/EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED 
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
640 AM CDT FRI MAY 16 1986

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A FLASH FLOOD WARNING 
EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1030 AM CDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES OF

NORTHEAST KANSAS...NEMAHA...BROWN...NORTHERN POTTAWATOMIE...NORTHERN 
 RILEY AND MARSHALL

AT 635 AM CDT...VERY HEAVY TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WERE CONTINUING
TO MOVE ACROSS THE NORTHEAST KANSAS COUNTIES BORDERING NEBRASKA.
VERY HEAVY RAINS IN EXCESS OF TWO INCHES HAVE BEEN REPORTED.

RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINS WILL LIKELY FLOOD STREAMS AND LOW AREAS.
BE CAREFUL DRIVING AND DON/T TRY TO CROSS WATER RUSHING ACROSS ROADS.

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS ISSUED ONLY WHEN FLASH FLOODING HAS BEEN
REPORTED OR IS EXPECTED SHORTLY.  TAKE NECESSARY ACTION NOW.

 VERY HEAVY RAINS IN EXCESS OF 2 INCHES WERE RPORTED TO HAVE
 FALLEN IN A SHORT TIME AT BAILEYVILLE...AND NEARLY 3 INCHES
 AT BLUE RAPIDS BETWEEN 4AM AND 6AM CDT....AND HEAVY RAINS
 WERE CONTINUING.

BILLS

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this flash flood warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 16, 12:49 AM CDT, 5 hours 51 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
1250 AM CDT FRI MAY 16 1986

...HAMILTON..KEARNEY..FINNEY..HODGEMAN AND PAWNEE COUNTIES REMOVED
   FROM SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 177...

THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES IN SOUTHWEST KANSAS HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 177.

AT 1245AM CDT...ALL THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED IN NORTHWEST AND
NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS...GENERALLY NORTH OF A TRIBUNE TO RUSSELL LINE.
NO THUNcDERSTORMS WERE INDICATED ANYWHERE IN SOUTHWEST KANSAS.

THE WATCH DOES REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF NORTHWEST AND NORTH
CENTRAL KANSAS...GENERALLY NORTH OF THE TRIBUNE TO RUSSELL LINE...
UNTIL 6AM CDT.

BILLS
Special weather statement, May 16, 2:44 AM CDT, 3 hours 56 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONCORDIA KS
240 AM CDT FRI MAY 16 1986

AT 240 AM CDT...INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS WERE SCATTERED FROM 10 MILES NORTH
WEST OF LINCOLN TO 15 MILES NORTH OF MINNEAPOLIS IN NORTH CENTRAL
KANSAS. INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS WERE ALSO LOCATED 15 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
BELLEVILLE. THESE STORMS WILL PRODUCE VERY HEAVY RAINS..GUSTY WINDS AND
POSSIBLY HAIL AS THEY MOVE EASTNORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAINS WERE NUMEROUS FROM 25 MILES NORTHWEST OF
RUSSELL EAST TO 15 MILES WEST OF MILTONVALE. THESE STORMS WERE ALSO
MOVING EASTNORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.
ES
Special weather statement, May 16, 3:11 AM CDT, 3 hours 29 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
310 AM CDT FRI MAY 16 1986

...THUNDERSTORMS HEADED FOR PART OF NORTHEAST KANSAS...

AT 310 AM CDT...INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS WERE OVER NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS
TO THE NORTH OF SALINA. THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE LOCATED ABOUT MID WAY
BETWEEN SALINA AND CONCORDIA...AND ABOUT 15 MILES NORTH OF CONCORDIA.
A SMALL THUNDERSHOWER HAD ALSO DEVELOPED NEAR MANHATTAN.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT AROUND 35 MILES AN
HOUR AND WILL LIKELY MOVE INTO NORTHERN RILEY AND MARSHALL COUNTIES
OF NORTHEAST KANSAS BY 4AM CDT. THESE STORMS WILL PRODUCE VERY HEAVY
RAINS AND GUSTY WINDS AS WELL AS POSSIBLY SOME HAIL IF THEY CONTINUE
AT THEIR CURRENT INTENSITY.

BILLS
Special weather statement, May 16, 3:57 AM CDT, 2 hours 43 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONCORDIA KS
350 AM CDT FRI MAY 16 1986

AT 350 AM CDT...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE SCATTERED ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL
KANSAS FROM 25 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BELOIT EASTNORTHEAST TO NEAR MARYS/
VILLE. HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS WERE ALSO OCCURRING IN NORTHWEST KANSAS FROM
20 MILES SOUTHWEST OF PHILLIPSBURG EAST TO 20 MILES NORTHWEST OF OS/
BORNE.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAINS..20 TO 30 MPH WI.NDS..
AND POSSIBLY SOME SMALL HAIL.

EVEN THOUGH NO SEVERE WEATHER HAS BEEN RECENTLY REPORTED..PEOPLE IN THE
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH AREA SHOULD REMAIN ALERT FOR RAPIDLY CHANGING
CONDITIONS.
ES
Special weather statement, May 16, 4:41 AM CDT, 1 hour 59 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
440 AM CDT FRI MAY 16 1986

...THUNDERSTORMS SPREADING INTO NORHEAST KANSAS...

AT 430 AM CDT...INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM NEAR CLAY CENTER
ACROSS TUTTLE CREEK RESERVOIR..WHICH IS JUST NORTH OF MANHATTAN...TO
JUST SOUTH OF FRANKFORT IN SOUTHEAST MARSHALL COUNTY. OTHER THUNDER-
STORMS WERE NEAR WAMEGO AND ST. MARYS DEVELOPING EASTWARD TO JUST NORTH
OF TOPEKA.

THE HEAVIEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE JUST TO THE EAST OF CLAY CENTER AND
WILL MOVE ACROSS TUTTLE CREEEK RESERVOIR BY 515AM CDT. VERY HEAVY
RAINS...GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MILES AN HOUR AND POSSIBLY SOME
HAIL MAY BE EXPECTED FROM THESE STORMS AS THEY MOVE TO THE EASTo
NORTHEAST AT 30 TO 35 MILES AN HOUR.

BILLS
Special weather statement, May 16, 4:53 AM CDT, 1 hour 47 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONCORDIA KS
450 AM CDT FRI MAY 16 1986

AT 450 AM CDT...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED ACROSS PARTS OF NORTH
CENTRAL KANSAS. THE LARGEST STORMS WERE 15 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CONCORDIA
AND 10 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CLAY CENTER.

HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED FROM 10 MILES SOUTHEAST TO 25 MILES
NORTHEAST OF CLAY CENTER AND 20 MILES SOUTHWEST OF SMITH CENTER.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE SHOWN LITTLE CHANGE IN INTENSITY DURING THE
PAST HOUR AS THEY CONTINUED THEIR EASTNORTHEAST MOVEMENT AT 30 MPH.
HOWEVER...LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS..GUSTY 20 TO 30 MPH WINDS AND POSSIBLY
SMALL HAIL CAN STILL BE EXPECTED.
ES

The office that day

Everything else NWS Topeka, KS issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 16, 12:33 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPOsborne57 min
May 16, 5:07 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPSmith53 min
May 16, 5:24 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPPottawatomie51 min
May 16, 6:27 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPMarshall, Pottawatomie, Riley58 min
May 16, 6:27 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPNemaha58 min
May 16, 6:40 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningTOPMarshall, Nemaha, Pottawatomie, Riley4 hr
May 16, 7:18 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPAtchison57 min
May 16, 8:19 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPWashington61 min
May 16, 8:48 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPClay32 min
May 16, 9:05 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPRiley30 min
May 16, 2:48 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPClay, Cloud57 min
May 16, 3:22 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPCloud, Ottawa53 min
May 16, 3:40 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPClay50 min
May 16, 4:00 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPMarshall, Riley45 min
May 16, 4:00 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPGeary45 min
May 16, 4:08 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPRiley37 min
May 16, 4:20 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPWashington55 min
May 16, 4:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPEllsworth, Saline55 min
May 16, 4:33 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPClay57 min
May 16, 4:40 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPMarshall, Pottawatomie, Riley50 min
May 16, 4:40 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPGeary50 min
May 16, 4:59 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPMcPherson61 min
May 16, 5:23 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPRice67 min
May 16, 5:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPDickinson, Saline60 min
May 16, 5:49 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPRiley41 min
May 16, 6:03 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPMcPherson42 min
May 16, 6:08 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPPottawatomie52 min
May 16, 6:48 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPJackson42 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Kansas, 1986Every flash flood warning in 1986

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.