Alert archive / Kansas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1990

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 50, NWS Wichita, KS

May 21, 1990Cherokee County, Kansas

NWS Wichita, KS issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 21, 1990, 12:28 AM CDT for Cherokee County, Kansas. It was in force for 62 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
May 21, 1990, 12:28 AM CDT (05:28 UTC)
Expired
May 21, 1990, 1:30 AM CDT
In force
62 min
Issued by
NWS Wichita, KS
Area
Whole counties

County Cherokee 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
May 21, 1:30 AM CDTHail 1.75Cherokee, KS
May 21, 1:37 AM CDTHail 1.75Cherokee, 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

Springfield, MO (KUMN), launched 00:00Z, 5.5 hours before the alert went out and 98 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, Springfield, MO at 00:00Z on 1990-05-21Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2299 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, Springfield, MO at 00:00Z on 1990-05-21The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 37 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
2299 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-15 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1348 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
30 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
37 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
196 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.7
Supercell composite
7.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KICT 210528
SVRICT
KSC021-210630-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
1228 AM CDT MON MAY 21 1990

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 
WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 130 AM CDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING 
COUNTY

   IN THE SOUTHEAST PART OF KANSAS
      CHEROKEE

AT 1223 AM GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL WAS REPORTED AT COLUMBUS KANSAS.
RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 15 MILES IN DAIMETER AND
LOCATED NEAR COLUMBUS KANSAS. THIS SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WAS MOVING
TOWARDS THE TOWNS OF CRESTLINE LAWTON AND GALENA KANSAS

 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, 9:41 PM CDT, 2 hours 47 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
Special weather statement, May 20, 10:40 PM CDT, 1 hour 48 minutes before
KSZ009-011-012-014-017-210440-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
1040 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 1027 PM CDT...SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...SOME PRODUCING
VERY HEAVY RAIN CONTINUED FROM NORTH CENTRAL INTO SOUTHEAST KANSAS.

THE PRECIPITATION WAS IN A AREA 110 MILES WIDE AND GENERALLY EAST OF A
LINE FROM JUST WEST OF CONCORDIA TO 10 MILES EAST OF SALINA TO 25 MILES
NORTHEAST OF WICHITA TO CHANUTE TO 20 MILES EAST OF COFFEYVILLE.
THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN EXTENDED FROM 25 MILES NORTHEAST
OF WICHITA TO JUST SOUTH OF EMPORIA AND ALSO FROM 20 MILES WEST OF
OTTAWA TO 30 MILES NORTHEAST OF CHANUTE. NO SEVERE WEATHER HAS BEEN
REPORTED IN SOUTHEAST KANSAS DURING THE PAST HOUR.

MOVEMENT WAS TO THE EAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR.
ROSNER
Special weather statement, May 20, 11:41 PM CDT, 47 minutes before
KSZ009-011-012-014-017-210440-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
1140 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 1127 PM CDT...SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...SOME PRODUCING
VERY HEAVY RAIN CONTINUED ACROSS MOST OF THE EASTERN KANSAS.

THE PRECIPITATION WAS IN A AREA 120 MILES WIDE AND GENERALLY EAST OF A
LINE FROM 10 MILES NORTHWEST OF MARYSVILLE TO 30 MILES WEST OF EMPORIA
TO 15 MILES EAST OF ARKANSAS CITY. THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING HEAVY RAIN
EXTENDED FROM EMPORIA TO 25 MILES NORTHEAST OF CHANUTE...FROM 30 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF EMPORIA TO 50 MILES EAST OF WICHITA AND 30 MILES NORTHEAST
OF ARKANSAS CITY. THE PRECIPITATION WAS MOVING TO THE EAST AT 15 MILES
AN HOUR AND PEOPLE IN THE AREAS OF VERY HEAVY RAIN SHOULD REMtAIN ALERT

AND BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IF FLASH FLOODING OCCURRS.
ROSNER
Special weather statement, May 20, 11:42 PM CDT, 46 minutes before
KSZ009-011-012-014-017-210540-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
1140 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 1127 PM CDT...SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...SOME PRODUCING
VERY HEAVY RAIN CONTINUED ACROSS MOST OF THE EASTERN KANSAS.

THE PRECIPITATION WAS IN A AREA 120 MILES WIDE AND GENERALLY EAST OF A
LINE FROM 10 MILES NORTHWEST OF MARYSVILLE TO 30 MILES WEST OF EMPORIA
TO 15 MILES EAST OF ARKANSAS CITY. THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING HEAVY RAIN
EXTENDED FROM EMPORIA TO 25 MILES NORTHEAST OF CHANUTE...FROM 30 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF EMPORIA TO 50 MILES EAST OF WICHITA AND 30 MILES NORTHEAST
OF ARKANSAS CITY. THE PRECIPITATION WAS MOVING TO THE EAST AT 15 MILES
AN HOUR AND PEOPLE IN THE AREAS OF VERY HEAVY RAIN SHOULDu REMAIN ALERT

AND BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IF FLASH FLOODING OCCURRS.
ROSNER
Special weather statement, May 20, 11:50 PM CDT, 38 minutes before
KSZ009-011-012-014-017-210545-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
1148 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 1140 PM CDT...A THUNDERSTORM 15 MILES IN DIAMETER WAS LOCATED 50
MILES SOUTHEAST OF WICHITA OR JUST NORTHWEST OF SEDAN KANSAS.

HEAVY RAIN...SMALL HAIL...STRONG WINDS AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING IS
LIKELY WITH THIS THUNDERSTORMS AS IT MOVE EAST AT 20 MILES AN HOUR.

THIS THUNDERSTORM SHOULD MOVE OVER OR CLOSE TO CLOVERDALE...CEDARVALE
SEDAN AND HALE KANSAS BY 1230AM MONDAY MORNING.

ELAND
Special weather statement, May 21, 12:09 AM CDT, 19 minutes before
KSZ009-011-012-014-017-210545-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
1205 AM CDT MON MAY 21 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 1200 AM CDT...A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS 10 MILES WIDE WAS LOCATED
FROM JUST SOUTH OF CHANUTE SOUTHWESTWARD TO 50 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
WICHITA OR 15 MILES SOUTHWEST OF SEDAN.

HEAVY RAIN...SMALL HAIL...STRONG WINDS AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING IS
LIKELY WITH THIS LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS AS IT MOVE EAST AT 25 MILES
AN HOUR.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD MOVE THROUGH OR NEAR PARSONS...INDEPENDENCE
CANEY AND SEDAN KANSAS BY 100 AM THIS MORNING.
ELAND

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 20, 9:58 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTAllen, Bourbon32 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; verification from NCEI's Storm Data; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.