Alert archive / Kansas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1987

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 39, NWS Wichita, KS

June 17, 1987Butler County, Cowley County, Kansas

NWS Wichita, KS issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jun 17, 1987, 11:36 PM CDT for Butler County, Cowley County, Kansas. It was in force for 64 min. 2 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Jun 17, 1987, 11:36 PM CDT (04:36 UTC)
Expired
Jun 18, 1987, 12:40 AM CDT
In force
64 min
Issued by
NWS Wichita, KS
Area
Whole counties

Counties Butler County, KS, Cowley County, KS

The radar

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

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Jun 18, 12:00 AM CDTThunderstorm Wind 58Cowley, KS
Jun 18, 12:10 AM CDTThunderstorm Wind 58Butler, KS

NCEI Storm Data entries that began inside the alert's area while it was in force. Before 2003 the local storm report archive is thin, so this is the record of what happened rather than what was phoned in. Storm Data before 1996 records only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail.

The nearest sounding before it

Topeka, KS (KTOP), launched 00:00Z, 4.6 hours before the alert went out and 196 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 1987-06-18Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2560 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Topeka, KS at 00:00Z on 1987-06-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 32 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
2560 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-31 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1529 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
24 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
32 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
195 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
2.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KICT 180436
SVRICT
KSC015-035-180540-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
1136 PM CDT WED JUN 17 1987
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1240 AM CDT FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES OF
 
SOUTHEAST KANSAS... BUTLER... COWLEY
 
AT 1130 PM A MAJOR SQUALL LINE PACKING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MILES
AN HOUR WAS MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 25 TO 30 MILES AN HOUR AND EXTENDED
FROM 15 MILES NORTH OF WICHITA TO THE OKLAHOMA/KANSAS BORDER SOUTH
OF WELLINGTON.

 
THIS THUNDERSTORM WILL LIKELY PRODUCE LARGE HAIL...HEAVY RAIN...DAMAGING
WINDS AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.  SEEK SHELTER FROM THIS STORM.
 
PSWAIN

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm 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, Jun 17, 6:35 PM CDT, 5 hours 1 minute before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
635 PM CDT WED JUN 17 1987

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH CONTINUES FOR MUCH OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL
KANSAS UNTIL 1100 PM TONIGHT.

AT 630 PM CDT...AN AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS SOME INTENSE WERE LOCATED
IN AN AREA 30 TO 60 MILES WIDE AND NORTH OF A LINE FROM NEAR SALINA
TO NEAR LYONS KANSAS TO NEAR GREAT BEND TO NEAR GARDEN CITY KANSAS.
THESE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE SHOWN LITTLE OR NO MOVEMENT SINCE 530PM.

IN OKLAHOMA AN AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS A FEW INTENSE WERE IN AN AREA
45 MILES IN DIAMETER AND CENTERED 20 MILES SOUTHEAST OF ENID
OKLAHOMA. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15 MILES AN
HOUR.

ELAND
Special weather statement, Jun 17, 7:50 PM CDT, 3 hours 46 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
745 PM CDT WED JUN 17 1987

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH CONTINUES FOR MUCH OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL
KANSAS UNTIL 1100 PM TONIGHT.

AT 735 PM CDT...THUNDERSTORMS SOME INTENSE CONTINUE IN CENTRAL AND
WESTERN KANSAS.

THE MOST INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED JUST SOUTH OF KANAPOLIS
RESERVOIR...15 MILES NORTHWEST OF LYONS...20 MILES SOUTH OF HAYS
AND JUST SOUTH OF MC CRAKEN KANSAS.

THE GENERAL AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS NORTH OF A LINE FROM JUST WEST
OF LINDSBORG KANSAS TO NEAR LYONS TO GREAT BEND TO JUST NORTH OF
DODGE CITY KANSAS. THUNDERSTORMS IN CENTRAL KANSAS WERE NEAR STATIONARY
WHILE THUNDERSTORMS IN WESTERN KANSAS WERE MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15
MILES AN HOUR.
ELAND
Special weather statement, Jun 17, 8:17 PM CDT, 3 hours 19 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
810 PM CDT WED JUN 17 1987

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH CONTINUES FOR MUCH OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL
KANSAS UNTIL 1100 PM TONIGHT.

INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POISED TO MOVE INTO SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS.

THE NEARLY STATIONARY INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS IN  RICE COUNTY HAVE
BEGAN TO MOVE SOUTHEASTWARD...AND ARE LOCATED JUST NORTH OF THE
RENO RICE COUNTY LINE IN SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS.

AS THESE THUNDERSTORMS MOVE SOUTHEAST INTO RENO COUNTY VERY HEAVY
RAINS...HAIL...STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING CAN BE
EXPECTED.

PERSONS IN RENO COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR
FURTHER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGSS.
ELAND
Special weather statement, Jun 17, 8:42 PM CDT, 2 hours 54 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
835 PM CDT WED JUN 17 1987

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH CONTINUES FOR MUCH OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL
KANSAS UNTIL 100 AM THUSDAY MORNING.

A LINE OF INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS SOME SEVERE  WAS LOCATED FROM 15
MILES WEST OF MC PHERSON KANSAS TO 15 MILES NORTH OF HUTCHINSON TO
NEAR ST JOHNS TO NEAR LARNED TO NEAR KINSLEY KANSAS. HEAVY RAINS...
STRONG GUSTY WINDS...HAIL AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING CAN BE EXPECTED
WITH THE MORE INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS AS THEY MOVE SOUTHEAST AT 15 MILES
AN HOUR.

THE GENERAL AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS 100 MILES WIDE AND WEST AND
NORTH OF A LINE FROM NEAR SALINA TO HUTCHINSON TO GREENSBURG TOo
WOODWARD OKLAHOMA.

ELAND
Special weather statement, Jun 17, 9:36 PM CDT, 2 hours before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
935 PM CDT WED JUN 17 1987

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH CONTINUES FOR MUCH OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL
KANSAS UNTIL 100 AM THUSDAY MORNING.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING CONTINUES UNTIL 940PM FOR RENO COUNTY
IN SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS.

AT 930 PM A LINE OF INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS 15 MILES WIDE WAS LOCATED
FROM JUST WEST OF MC PHERSON TO JUST SOUTH OF HUTCHINSON TO NEAR
GREENSBURG KANSAS. VERY HEAVY RAIN...HAIL...STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND
DANGEROUS LIGHTNING CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THESE INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS
AS THEY MOVE SOUTHEAST AT 20 MILES AN HOUR. A GUST LINE WAS VISIBLE
ON RADAR JUST WEST OF THE CITY OF WICHITA AND WINDS WILL LIKELY SHIFT
TO GUSTY NORTHERLY IN THE CITY OF WICHITA BY 1000 PM.

THE GENERAL AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS 125 MILES WIDE AND WEST OF A
LINE FROM NEAR CLAY CENTER TO MC PHERSON TO NEAR CHENEY RESERVOIR TO
NEAR MEDICINE LODGE AND ALVA OKLAHOMA.
ELAND
Special weather statement, Jun 17, 9:49 PM CDT, 1 hour 47 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
945 PM CDT WED JUN 17 1987

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR RENO COUNTY HAS EXPIRED...HOWEVER...
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH CONTINUES FOR MUCH OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL
KANSAS UNTIL 100 AM THUSDAY MORNING.

AT 945 PM INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS COUNTINUED OVER THE SOUTHCENTRAL PORTIONS
RENO COUNTY 35 MILES NORTHWEST OF WICHITA...NEAR PRETTY PRAIRIE AND
THEN SOUTHWEST  THROUGH NORTHWEST KINGMAN COUNTY NEAR CUNNINGHAM...
NO SEVERE WEATHER HAS BEEN REPORTED WITH THESE STORMS SINCE 9 30 PM.

HOWEVER...THESE STORMS WILL CONTINUE TO PRODUCE GUSTY WINDS TO 50 MILES
AN HOUR...HAIL AND BRIEF HEAVY RAIN AS THEY MOVE SOUTH SOUTHEAST AT 25 TO 30
MILES AN HOUR.

SWAIN

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 17, 8:36 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTReno64 min
Jun 17, 9:58 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTKingman62 min
Jun 17, 10:47 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTHarper63 min
Jun 17, 10:47 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTSedgwick63 min
Jun 17, 11:02 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTSumner58 min
Jun 18, 12:20 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTChautauqua60 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Kansas, 1987Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1987

Sources

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