Alert archive / Kansas / Flash Flood Warnings in 1990

Flash Flood Warning 10, NWS Topeka, KS

May 15, 1990Lyon County, Osage County, Kansas

NWS Topeka, KS issued this flash flood warning at May 15, 1990, 8:36 PM CDT for Lyon County, Osage County, Kansas. It was in force for 3 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 15, 1990, 8:36 PM CDT (01:36 UTC)
Expired
May 15, 1990, 11:45 PM CDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Topeka, KS
Area
Whole counties

Counties Lyon County, KS, Osage 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, 1.6 hours before the alert went out and 56 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 KTOP 160138
FFWTOP
KSC111-139-160445-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
836 PM CDT TUE MAY 15 1990
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TOPEKA HAS ISSUED A
FLASH FLOOD WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1145 PM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
 
IN EAST CENTRAL KANSAS
          ...LYON...OSAGE
 
A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED ACROSS OSAGE AND LYON COUNTY AT 830
PM CDT...FROM LAKE PAMONA TO EMPORIA...AND THEN EXTENDED TOWARD
WICHITA. THESE STORMS HAVE BEEN PRODUCING RAINFALL AT THE RATE OF AN
INCH AN HOUR. SOME LOCATIONS WEST OF EMPORIA HAVE RECEIVED NEARLY 2
AND 1/2 INCHES OF RAIN IN JUST 2 HOURS.
 
THE RAIN WILL CONTINUE IN LYON AND OSAGE COUNTY THROUGH 11 PM CDT.
 
 
A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT.  STREAMS,
RIVERS, AND CREEKS CAN BECOME KILLERS IN HEAVY RAIN. CAMPERS
SHOULD AVOID CAMPING ALONG STREAMS OR CREEKS DURING THREATENING
RAINS.
 
BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE
THE DANGERS OF FLOODS AND FLASH FLOODS.  IF FLASH FLOODING IS
OBSERVED...ACT QUICKLY. DO NOT STAY IN AREAS SUBJECT TO FLOODING
WHEN WATER BEGINS TO RISE.
FORTUNE

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 15, 7:02 PM CDT, 1 hour 34 minutes before
KSZ013>016-160030-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
701 PM CDT TUE MAY 15 1990

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 238 IS IN EFFECT FOR EAST CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST
KANSAS UNTIL 10 PM CDT...
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES OVER EASTERN AND SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS
FOR THE REST OF TONIGHT...

AT 655 PM CDT A LINE OF INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING VERY HEAVY
RAINFALL WAS MOVING THROUGH THE TOPEKA AREA. THESE STORMS WILL LIKELY
PRODUCE LOCAL FLOODING IN THE TOPEKA AREA UNTIL ABOUT 8 PM.

AS THESE THUNDERSTORMS MOVE EASTWARD INTO JEFFERSON...DOUGLAS...
OSAGE AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES BETWEEN 7 PM AND 9 PM THIS EVENING...
ADDITIONAL FLOODING IS POSSIBLE...PARTICULARLY IN THOSE AREAS AFFECTED
BY FLOODING EARLIER TODAY. FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS MAY NEED TO BE ISSUED.

PERSONS EXPERIENCING HEAVY RAINFALL SHOULD BE ALERT TO RAPIDLY RISING
WATERS AND THE POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING. BE PREPARED TO TAKE APPROPRIATE
ACTION.

MCNULTY
Special weather statement, May 15, 7:06 PM CDT, 1 hour 30 minutes before
KSZ007-008-010-011-160000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONCORDIA KS
700 PM CDT TUE MAY 15 1990

TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 238 CONTINUES UNTIL 10 PM FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH
CENTRAL AND CENTRAL KANSAS ALONG AND EAST OF A LINE FROM NEAR BELLEVILLE
THROUGH SALINA TO NEAR NEWTON.

RADAR AT 7 PM INDICATED A STRONG LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS SOME 25 MILES IN
WIDTH FROM FAR NORTHEAST KANSAS ACROSS TOPEKA TO NEAR WICHITA.
THE BACK EDGE OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE AS FAR NORTH AS THE NEWTON
AREA.  MOVEMENT WAS EAST NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

WHILE THERE WERE NO THUNDERSTORMS IN NORTH CENTRAL OR CENTRAL KANSAS
THUNDERSTORMS MAY YET DEVELOP IN SOME LOCATIONS THE NEXT HOUR OR TWO.
SO PERSONS IN NORTH CENTRAL AND CENTRAL KANSAS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR
RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS.

ADAMS
Special weather statement, May 15, 7:33 PM CDT, 1 hour 3 minutes before
KSZ013>016-160100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
733 PM CDT TUE MAY 15 1990

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR JEFFERSON...DOUGLAS...AND
FRANKLIN COUNTIES UNTIL 1115 PM...
...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 238 IS IN EFFECT FOR EAST CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST
KANSAS UNTIL 10 PM CDT...
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES OVER EASTERN AND SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS
FOR THE REST OF TONIGHT...

AT 725 PM CDT A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS...PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAINFALL...
SOME PEA TO MARBLE SIZE HAIL...AND WIND GUSTS TO 45 MILES AN HOUR...WAS
LOCATED FROM NEAR ST JOSEPH MO...TO JUST SOUTHEAST OF TOPEKA...TO 45
MILES SOUTHWEST OF TOPEKA JUST SOUTH OF COUNCIL GROVE.

THE MOST DANGEROUS ASPECT OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS IS THE ONE TO TWO
INCHES OF RAINFALL THAT THEY PRODUCE DURING THEIR PASSAGE. THESE RAINS
WILL AGGRAVATE THE ALREADY POOR FLOODING SITUATION OVER IN JEFFERESON
...DOUGLAS...AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES. OTHER AREAS MAY ALSO EXPERI'ENCE
LOCAL FLOODING DURING THESE INTENSE STORMS.

PERSONS IN NORTHEAST AND EAST CENTRAL KANSAS SHOULD BE READY TO
FLEE AREAS OF RAPIDLY RISING WATERS. BE PREPARED AND BE CAUTIOUS !

MCNULTY
Special weather statement, May 15, 8:03 PM CDT, 33 minutes before
KSZ013>016-160200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
800 PM CDT TUE MAY 15 1990

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR JEFFERSON...DOUGLAS...AND
FRANKLIN COUNTIES UNTIL 1115 PM...
...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 238 IS IN EFFECT FOR EAST CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST
KANSAS UNTIL 10 PM CDT...
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES OVER EASTERN AND SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS
FOR THE REST OF TONIGHT...

AT 800 PM CDT A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS...PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAINFALL...
SOME PEA TO MARBLE SIZE HAIL...AND WIND GUSTS TO 45 MILES AN HOUR...WAS
LOCATED FROM ST JOSEPH MO...TO 15 MILES SOUTH OF TOPEKA...TO NEAR
EMPORIA THEN CONTINUED SOUTHWEST TOWARD WICHITA.

THE MOST DANGEROUS ASPECT OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS IS THE EXTREMELY HEAVY
RAINFALL THAT HAS PRODUCED SOME LOW AREA FLOODING IN EXTREME SOUTHERN
SHAWNEE COUNTY. SOME SECONDARY ROADS WERE UNDER WATER AT 8PM.
HEAVY RAIN WILL MOVE OUT OF SHAWNEE COUNTY AND INTO FRANKLIN AND
DOUGLAS COkUNTY WHERE FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS ARE IN EFFECT UNTIL
1115 PM CDT.

FORTUNE
Special weather statement, May 15, 8:05 PM CDT, 31 minutes before
KSZ007-008-010-011-160200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONCORDIA KS
800 PM CDT TUE MAY 15 1990

TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 238 CONTINUES UNTIL 10 PM FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH
CENTRAL AND CENTRAL KANSAS.  THIS WATCH AREA WAS ALONG AND EAST OF A
LINE FROM BELLEVILLE THROUGH SALINA TO NEAR NEWTON.

AT 8 PM RADAR CONTINUED TO SHOW A LONG LINE OF VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS
FROM EAST OF TOPEKA TO JUST NORTH OF WICHITA.  MOVEMENT WAS EAST NORTHEAST
AT 35 MPH.  THE BACK EDGE OF THESE STORMS WERE NEAR THE SOUTHEAST PART
OF MCPHERSON COUNTY OF CENTRAL KANSAS.

PERSONS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL AND CENTRAL
KANSAS REMAIN ALERT FOR RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIOoNS.

ADAMS
Special weather statement, May 15, 8:31 PM CDT, 5 minutes before
KSZ009>011-013-015-160230-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
830 PM CDT TUE MAY 15 1990

...PARTS OF TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 238 HAVE BEEN CANCELLED....
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES OVER EASTERN AND SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS
FOR THE REST OF TONIGHT...

TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 238 FOR NORTHERN AND NORTHEAST KANSAS HAS BEEN
CANCELLED WEST OF A LINE FROM NEAR ST JOSEPH MISSOURI TO TOPEKA TO
NEAR HUTCHINSON. HOWEVER EAST OF THIS LINE THE WATCH WILL CONTINUE

IN ADDITION...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 239 FOR SOUTHERN KANSAS WILL
CONTINUE UNTIL 10PM ALSO.

FINALLY...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF NORTHEAST
...SOUTHCENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST KANSAS THE REST OF THE NIGHT.

AKULOW

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 15, 7:13 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningTOPDouglas, Franklin4 hr
May 15, 7:13 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningTOPJefferson62 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Kansas, 1990Every flash flood 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.