Alert archive / Kansas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1990

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 49, NWS Wichita, KS

May 20, 1990Allen County, Bourbon County, Kansas

NWS Wichita, KS issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 20, 1990, 9:58 PM CDT for Allen County, Bourbon County, Kansas. It was in force for 32 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 20, 1990, 9:58 PM CDT (02:58 UTC)
Expired
May 20, 1990, 10:30 PM CDT
In force
32 min
Issued by
NWS Wichita, KS
Area
Whole counties

Counties Allen County, KS, Bourbon 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, 3.0 hours before the alert went out and 135 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 1990-05-21Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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 1990-05-21The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 33 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1191 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
29 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
33 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
99 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KICT 210258
SVRICT
KSC001-011-210400-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
958 PM CDT SUN MAY 20 1990

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 
WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1100 PM CDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING 
COUNTIES

   IN THE SOUTHEAST PART OF KANSAS
      EASTERN ALLEN...BOURBON

AT 950 PM RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 15 MILES IN
DIAMETER 1ND CENTERED ABOUT 15 MILES SOUTHEAST OF IOLA OR ABOUT
20 MILES NORTHEAST OF CHANUTE KANSAS. THIS SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS
MOVING EAST AT 20 MILES AN HOURAND SHOULD MOVE OVER OR NEAR THE
TOWNS OF MORAN...UNION TOWN AND REDFIELD BY 1100 PM.

 IF YOU ARE IN AN AREA THREATENED BY THE STORM...GO TO A
REINFORCED SHELTER AND PREPARE FOR DAMAGING WIND...LARGE HAIL...
VERY HEAVY RAIN...AND LIGHTNING.

ELAND

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 20, 7:19 PM CDT, 2 hours 39 minutes before
KSZ017-200115-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
717 PM CDT SUN MAY 20 1990

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR MOST OF SOUTHEAST KANSAS TONIGHT...

PEA SIZE HAIL WAS REPORTED BY THE CTHEROKKE COUNTY SHERIFF JUST SOUTH
OF COLUMBUS KANSAS AT 713PM. HEAVY RAIN...SMALL HAIL...STONG GUSTY
AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE LIKELY WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM AS IT MOVES
SLOWLY TO THE NORTHEAST.

ELAND
Special weather statement, May 20, 7:22 PM CDT, 2 hours 36 minutes before
KSZ017-200115-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTION...
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
717 PM CDT SUN MAY 20 1990

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR MOST OF SOUTHEAST KANSAS TONIGHT...

PEA SIZE HAIL W\AS REPORTED BY THE CHEROKEE COUNTY SHERIFF JUST SOUTH
OF COLUMBUS KANSAS AT 713PM. HEAVY RAIN...SMALL HAIL...STONG GUSTY WINDS
AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE LIKELY WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM AS IT MOVES
SLOWLY TO THE NORTHEAST.

ELAND
Special weather statement, May 20, 7:40 PM CDT, 2 hours 18 minutes before
KSZ009-011-012-014-017-210140-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
740 PM CDT SUN MAY 20 1990

...TORNADO WATCH #284 FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN KANSAS IS IN EFFECT
UNTIL 11 PM CDT...
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR MOST OF SOUTHEAST KANSAS TONIGHT...

AT 727 PM CDT...ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS HAD DEVELOPED IN SOUTHEAST
KANSAS WHILE THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING VERY HEAVY CONTINUED IN NORTH
CENTRAL KANSAS AND WERE DEVELOPING INTO EAST CENTRAL KANSAS.

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS HAD DEVELOPED IN SOUTHEAST KANSAS. SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS WERE JUST EAST OF COFFEYVILLE AND JUST NORTH OF COLUMBUS
OR 15 MILES WEST OF JOPLIN MISSOURI. THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE CAPABLE OF
PRODUCING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MILES AN HOUR...LARGE HAIL...VERY HEAVY
RAIN AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. MOVEMENT WAS TO THE NORTHEAST AT 20 MILES
AN HOUR.
ELSEWHERE SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...SOME WITH VERY HEAVY
RAIN CONTINUED FROM NORTH CENTRAL INTO SOUTHEAST KANSAS. THUNDERSTORMS
PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN WERE 20 MILES NORTHWEST OF SALINA AND 10 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF CONCORDIA. MOVEMENT WAS TO THE NORTHEAST AT 25 MILES AN
HOUR.
ROSNER
Special weather statement, May 20, 8:39 PM CDT, 1 hour 19 minutes before
KSZ009-011-012-014-017-210140-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
838 PM CDT SUN MAY 20 1990

...TORNADO WATCH #284 FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN KANSAS IS IN EFFECT
UNTIL 11 PM CDT...
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR MOST OF SOUTHEAST KANSAS TONIGHT...

AT 827 PM CDT...ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED IN SOUTHEAST
KANSAS WHILE THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN CONTINUED IN NORTH
CENTRAL KANSAS AND EXTENDED INTO EAST CENTRAL KANSAS.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WERE 20 AND 30 MILES EAST OF COFFEYVILLE. THESE
THUNDERSTORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND IN EXCESS OF 60 MILES AN
HOUR...LARGE HAIL...VERY HEAVY RAIN AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. MOEVEMENT
WAS TO THE EAST NORTHEAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR.

ELSEWHERE SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...SOME WITH VERY HEAVY
RAIN EXTENDED FROM NORTH CENTRAL INTO SOUTH EAST KANSAS. THUNDERSTORMS
PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN EXTENDED FROM 25 MILES NORTHEAST OF EMPORIA TO
15 MILES SOUTHWEST OF OTTAWA. MOVEMENT WAS TO THE NORTHEAST AT 20 MILES
AN HOUR.
ROSNER
Special weather statement, May 20, 8:43 PM CDT, 1 hour 15 minutes before
KSZ009-011-012-014-017-210240-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY...CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
838 PM CDT SUN MAY 20 1990

...TORNADO WATCH #284 FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN KANSAS IS IN EFFECT
UNTIL 11 PM CDT...
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR MOST OF SOUTHEAST KANSAS TONIGHT...

AT 827 PM CDT...ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED IN SOUTHEAST
KANSAS WHILE THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN CONTINUED IN NORTH
CENTRAL KANSAS AND EXTENDED INTO EAST CENTRAL KANSAS.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WERE 20 AND 30 MILES EAST OF COFFEYVILLE. THESE
THUNDERSTORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND IN EXCESS OF 60 MILES AN
HOUR...LARGE HAIL...VERY HEAVY RAIN AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. MOEVEMENT
WAS TO THE EAST NORTHEAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR.

ELSEWHERE SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...SOME WITH VERY HEAVY
RAIN EXTENDED FROM NORTH CENTRAL INTO SOUTH EAST KANSAS. THUNDERSTORMS
PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN EXTENDED FROM 25 MILES NORTHEAST OF EMPORIA TO
15 MILES SOUTHWEST OF OTTAWA. MOVEMENT WAS TO THE NORTHEAST AT 20 MILES
AN HOUR.
ROSNER
Special weather statement, May 20, 9:41 PM CDT, 17 minutes before
KSZ009-011-012-014-017-210340-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
940 PM CDT SUN MAY 20 1990

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH #287 FOR PORTIONS OF EAST CENTRAL AND
SOUTHEAST KANSAS IS IN UNTIL 3 AM CDT...
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR MOST OF EAST CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST KANSAS
TONIGHT...

AT 925 PM CDT...A ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CONTINUED IN EXTREME
SOUTHEAST KANSAS WHILE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN EXTENDED
FROM NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS INTO EAST CENTRAL KANSAS.

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS 10 MILES SOUTHEAST OF COLUMBUS OR 15 MILES
WEST OF JOPLIN MISSOURI. THIS THUNDERSTORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND
IN EXCESS OF 60 MILES AN HOUR...LARGE HAIL...VERY HEAVY RAIN AND
DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. MOVEMENT WAS TO THE EAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR.

ELSEWHERE SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...SOME WITH VERY HEAVY
RAIN...EXTENDED FROM NORTH CENTRAL INTO SOUTHEAST KANSAS. THUNDERSTORMS
PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN EXTENDED FROM 10 MILES SOUTHWEST OF OTTAWA TO
JUST SOUTH OF LA CYGNE OR 30 MILES SOUTHEAST OF OTTAWA AND ALSO EXTENDED
FROM 15 MILES NORTHEAST OF CHANUTE TO  10 MILES NORTH OF PITTSBURG.
MOVEMENT WAS TO THE EAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR.
ROSNER

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 20, 7:29 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTCherokee, Crawford, Labette61 min
May 20, 8:28 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTCherokee, Crawford62 min
May 20, 8:28 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTLabette40 min
May 20, 9:34 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTCherokee56 min
May 21, 12:28 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTCherokee62 min

Nearby

Severe 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.