Alert archive / Missouri / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1990

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 19, NWS Kansas City, MO

May 15, 1990Clay County, Jackson County, Missouri; Johnson County, Wyandotte County, Kansas

NWS Kansas City, MO issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 15, 1990, 8:18 PM CDT for Clay County, Jackson County, Missouri; Johnson County, Wyandotte County, Kansas. It was in force for 27 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 15, 1990, 8:18 PM CDT (01:18 UTC)
Expired
May 15, 1990, 8:45 PM CDT
In force
27 min
Issued by
NWS Kansas City, MO
Area
Whole counties

Counties Johnson County, KS, Wyandotte County, KS, Clay County, MO, Jackson County, MO

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, 1.3 hours before the alert went out and 91 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 1990-05-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1934 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 1990-05-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 103 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
1934 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-14 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
926 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
59 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
103 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
90 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
2.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KMCI 160118
SVRMCI
MOC095-047-KSC091-209-160145-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KANSAS CITY INT'L AIRPORT MO
818 PM CDT TUE MAY 15 1990

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 
WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 845 PM CDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING 
COUNTIES

   IN THE WEST CENTRAL PART OF MISSOURI
      WESTERN JACKSON...

   IN THE EAST CENTRAL PART OF KANSAS
      NORTHERN JOHNSON...EASTERN WYANDOTTE...

   IN THE NORTHWEST PART OF MISSOURI
      SOUTHERN CLAY...

AT 720 PM CDT ONE INCH HAIL WAS REPORTED MOVING INTO SOUTHERN
WYANDOTTE COUNTY KANSAS.

THESE STORMS CAN PRODUCE A TORNADO WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCED
WARNINGz. BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY IF ONE IS
SPOTTED.

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, May 15, 3:50 PM CDT, 4 hours 28 minutes before
MOZ008-152200
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KANSAS CITY INT'L AIRPORT, MO
440 PM CDT TUE MAY 15 1990

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE KANSAS CITY METRO AREA
AND ST JOSEPH UNTIL 1100 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING...
...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE METRO AREA AND ST JOSEPH
UNTIL 1000 PM THIS EVENING...

MORE THUNDERSTORMS...SOME WITH HEAVY RAIN...AND POSSIBLY STRONG GUSTY
WINDS AND HAIL...WILL BE DEVELOPING IN KANSAS AND SPREADING INTO
THE KANSAS CITY AND ST JOSEPH AREAS THIS EVENING.

MANY OF THE SMALLER STREAMS AND CREEKS IN THE METRO AREA ARE RUNNING
BANK FULL OR ARE OUT OF THEIR BANKS.  THE BIG BLUE RIVER IS IN FLOOD
OR WILL RISE ABOVE FLOOD STAGE AT MANY POINTS.  THE STAGE AT BANNISTER
ROAD WAS 37.4 FEET AT 330 PM...AND WAS NEAR CREST.

DO NOT DRIVE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. VEHICLES
CAUGHT IN RISING WATER SHOULD BE ABANDONED QUICKLY.  MOVE TO HIGHER
GROUND.  AND NEVER TRY TO CROSS A FLOWING STREAM...EVEN A SMALL
ON...ON FOOT.

SCHILLING
Special weather statement, May 15, 4:54 PM CDT, 3 hours 24 minutes before
MOZ008-152300
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KANSAS CITY INT'L AIRPORT, MO
450 PM CDT TUE MAY 15 1990

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE KANSAS CITY METRO AREA
AND ST JOSEPH UNTIL 1100 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING...
...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE METRO AREA AND ST JOSEPH
UNTIL 1000 PM THIS EVENING...

MORE THUNDERSTORMS...SOME WITH HEAVY RAIN...AND POSSIBLY STRONG GUSTY
WINDS AND HAIL...ARE FORECAST TO DEVELOP IN KANSAS AND SPREAD INTO
THE KANSAS CITY AND ST JOSEPH AREAS THIS EVENING.

MANY OF THE SMALLER STREAMS AND CREEKS IN THE METRO AREA ARE RUNNING
BANK FULL OR ARE OUT OF THEIR BANKS.  THE BIG BLUE RIVER IS IN FLOOD
OR WILL RISE ABOVE FLOOD STAGE AT MANY POINTS.  THE STAGE AT BANNISTER
ROAD WAS 39.4 FEET AT 430 PM...AND WAS NEAR CREST.

DO NOT DRIVE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. VEHICLES
CAUGHT IN RISING WATER SHOULD BE ABANDONED QUICKLY.  MOVE TO HIGHER
GROUND.  AND NEVER TRY TO CROSS A FLOWING STREAM...EVEN A SMALL
ONE...ON FOOT.

THE MISSOURI HIGHWAY PATROL REPORTED THE FOLLOWING HIGHWAYS CLOSED
DUE TO HIGH WATER...
   HIGHWAY 350 AT KNOB TOWN...NEAR LEES SUMMIT MO.
   HIGHWAY  92 AT THE CLAY/PLATTE COUNTY LINE NEAR SMITHVILLE MO.
   HIGHWAY  24 EAST OF LEVASY WHICH IS EAST ABOUT 10 MILES EAST
               OF INDEPENDENCE MO.

SCHILLING
Special weather statement, May 15, 5:57 PM CDT, 2 hours 21 minutes before
MOZ004-008-160000
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KANSAS CITY INT'L AIRPORT, MO
555 PM CDT TUE MAY 15 1990

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE KANSAS CITY METRO AREA
AND ST JOSEPH UNTIL 1100 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING...
...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE METRO AREA AND ST JOSEPH
UNTIL 1000 PM THIS EVENING...

MORE THUNDERSTORMS...SOME VERY STRONG...WERE DEVELOPING TO THE WEST OF
KANSAS CITY.  THESE STORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 45 MILES AN HOUR AND
WILL REACHING THE METRO AREA AND ST JOSEPH AROUND 700 PM THIS EVENING.

MANY OF THE SMALLER STREAMS AND CREEKS ARE RUNNING BANK FULL OR ARE
IN FLOOD.  THE BIG BLUE RIVER IS IN FLOOD OR WILL RISE ABOVE FLOOD
AT MANY POINTS.  THE STAGE AT BANNISTER ROAD WAS 39.8 FEET AND WAS
NEAR CREST.

DO NOT DRIVE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. VEHICLES
CAUGHT IN RISING WATER SHOULD BE ABANDONED QUICKLY.
PERSONS LIVING NEAR SMALL STREAMS AND IN FLOOD PRONE AREAS SHOULD
KEEP ABREST OF THE SITUATION.

RAINFALL ACROSS THE KANSAS CITY METROPOLITAN AREA...MIDNIGHT TO 530 PM
...RANGED FROM AROUND 3 INCHES TO 61/2 INCHES.
SOME AMOUNTS AROUND THE AREA...
   KANSAS CITY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT    2.83
   LEES SUMMIT MO                       6.50
   LEEWOOD KS                           5.60
   PRAIRIE VILLAGE KS                   4.28
   OLATHE KS                            4.20

SOME OTHER RAINFALL TOTALS IN NORTHWEST MISSOURI AND IN EXTREME EAST
KANSAS...o
   FAIRFAX                              4.50
   STILLWELL                            3.80
   LAWRENCE                             4.10

SCHILLING
Special weather statement, May 15, 6:30 PM CDT, 1 hour 48 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KANSAS CITY INT'L AIRPORT, MO
6530 PM CDT TUE MAY 15 1990

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN IN EFFECT FOR THE LOCAL AREA UNTIL 11AM
WEDNESDAY...
...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10PM...

AT 630 PM, A LINE OF VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WAS LOCATED FROM
JUST NORTH OF TOPEKA, TO COUNCIL GROVE TO LOST SPRINGS KANSAS...
MOVING EAST AT 45 MILES AN HOUR. UP TO MARBLE SIZE HAIL AND WIND
GUST TO 45 MILES AN HOUR HAD BEEN REPORTED WITH THESE STORMS.
HOWEVER RADAR INDICATED THEY WERE STILL INTENSFYING.
THE SHORMS WILL LIKELY MOVE INTO THE LOCAL AREA, FROM THE WEST
JUST AFTER 7 PM.
STRONG WINDS, HAIL, AND AGAIN SOME LOCAL FLOODING IS EXPECTED
WITH THESE STORMS...STAY TUNED.
Special weather statement, May 15, 7:06 PM CDT, 1 hour 12 minutes before
MOZ004-008-160100
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KANSAS CITY INT'L AIRPORT, MO
705 PM CDT TUE MAY 15 1990

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE KANSAS CITY METRO AREA
AND ST JOSEPH UNTIL 1100 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING...
...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE METRO AREA AND ST JOSEPH
UNTIL 1000 PM THIS EVENING...

THUNDERSTORMS...SOME VERY STRONG...WERE IN EAST KANSAS...TO THE WEST OF
KANSAS CITY.  THESE STORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 45 MILES AN HOUR AND
WILL REACHING THE KANSAS CITY AND ST JOSEPH BY 730 PM THIS EVENING.

MANY OF THE SMALLER STREAMS AND CREEKS IN THE METRO AREA ARE BEGINNING
TO FALL BUT WITH HEAVY RAIN LIKELY AGAIN THIS EVENING MORE FLOODING IS
POSSIBLE.  THE BLUE RIVER AT BANNISTER ROAD IS CRESTING AT 40
FEET.  THIS IS THE SECOND HIGHEST STAGE ON RECORD.

DO NOT DRIVE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. VEHICLES
CAUGHT IN RISING WATER SHOULD BE ABANDONED QUICKLY.
PERSONS LIVING NEAR SMALL STREAMS AND IN FLOOD PRONE AREAS SHOULD
KEEP ABREST OF THE SITUATION.

SCHILLING
Special weather statement, May 15, 7:50 PM CDT, 28 minutes before
MOZ004-008-160200
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KANSAS CITY INT'L AIRPORT, MO
745 PM CDT TUE MAY 15 1990

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE KANSAS CITY AREA
UNTIL 1030 PM THIS EVENING...
...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE KANSAS CITY METRO AREA
AND ST JOSEPH UNTIL 1100 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING...
...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE METRO AREA AND ST JOSEPH
UNTIL 1000 PM THIS EVENING...

THUNDERSTORMS...SOME VERY STRONG...WERE BEGINNING TO MOVE INTO THE
NORTHWEST PART OF KANSAS CITY.  HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG WIND
HAD OCCURRED AT THE KANSAS CITY INTERNATION AIRPORT WHERE WIND
GUSTED TO 36 MILES PER HOUR SHOURTLY AFTER 730 PM.

MANY OF THE SMALLER STREAMS AND CREEKS IN THE METRO AREA ARE NEAR
BANKFULL OR FLOODING AND ADDITIONAL RAIN WILL CAUSE RAPID FLOODING.
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE OR WALK THROUGH RISING WATER.
PERSONS LIVING NEAR SMALL STREAMS AND IN FLOOD PRONE AREAS SHOULD
KEEP ABREST OF THE PSITUATION.

HOLIEN

The office that day

Everything else NWS Kansas City, MO issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 15, 7:28 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningEAXClay, Jackson, Platte3 hr
May 15, 11:01 PM CDTTornado WarningEAXBoone29 min
May 15, 11:44 PM CDTTornado WarningEAXCallaway, Montgomery31 min
May 16, 10:09 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEAXBenton, Pettis36 min
May 16, 2:40 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningEAXBenton, Cooper, Morgan, Pettis3 hr
May 16, 2:40 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningEAXSaline3 hr
May 16, 4:00 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningEAXBoone, Callaway, Cole, Moniteau3 hr
May 16, 4:00 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningEAXMiller3 hr
May 16, 4:54 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningEAXGasconade, Maries, Montgomery, Osage3 hr
May 16, 4:54 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningEAXPulaski3 hr
May 15, 7:28 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningEAXJohnson, Leavenworth3 hr

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Missouri, 1990Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Kansas, 1990Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1990

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.