Alert archive / Kansas / Flash Flood Warnings in 1990

Flash Flood Warning 22, NWS Topeka, KS

July 26, 1990Ellsworth County, Kansas

NWS Topeka, KS issued this flash flood warning at Jul 26, 1990, 1:24 AM CDT for Ellsworth County, Kansas. It was in force for 2 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 26, 1990, 1:24 AM CDT (06:24 UTC)
Expired
Jul 26, 1990, 3:30 AM CDT
In force
2 hr
Issued by
NWS Topeka, KS
Area
Whole counties

County Ellsworth 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

Dodge City, (KDDC), launched 00:00Z, 6.4 hours before the alert went out and 180 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, Dodge City, at 00:00Z on 1990-07-26Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 844 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, Dodge City, at 00:00Z on 1990-07-26The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 12 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
844 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-50 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
2382 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
20 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
12 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
238 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KCNK 260624
FFWCNK
KSC053-260830-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED/EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED 
FLASH FLOOD WARNING 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONCORDIA KS
124 AM CDT THU JUL 26 1990

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A FLASH FLOOD WARNING 
EFFECTIVE UNTIL 330 AM CDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTY

   IN THE CENTRAL PART OF KANSAS
      NORTHERN ELLSWORTH

AT 120 AM CDT FLASH FLOODING WAS OCCURING ALONG THE SMOKY HILL
RIVER IN NORTHERN ELLSWORTH.  NUMEROUS REPORTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED
OF STREET FLOODING AND FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS.  SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS HAVE WEAKENED IN THE EFFECTED AREAS HOWEVER RUNOFF
FROM HEAVY RAINS UPSTREAM WILL CAUSE WATER LEVELS TO RISE.

RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINS IN THE WARNED AREA WILL LIKELY FLOOD
STREAMS AND LOW AREAS.  BE CAREFUL DRIVING AND DON/T TRY TO CROSS
WATER RUSHING OVER ROADS AND STREETS.

FLASH FLOODING WILL LIKELY RESULT FROM THE HEAVY RAIN THAT HAS
FALLEN OVER THE WARNED AREA.  STAY AWA;Y FROM AREAS SUSCEPTIBLE
TO FLOODING LIKE SMALL STREAMS..LOW LYING AREAS AND UNDERPASSES.
GO TO HIGHER GROUND IMMEDIATELY.

URBAN

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, Jul 25, 11:41 PM CDT, 1 hour 43 minutes before
KSZ013>016-260530-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
1140 PM CDT WED JUL 25 1990

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING ACROSS PARTS OF NORTHEAST KANSAS AT
1130 PM CDT.
THE LEADING EDGE OF THE SHOWERS STRETCHED FROM THE NEBRASKA BORDER AROUND
65 MILES NORTHWEST OF TOPEKA NEAR SENECA TO AROUND 25 MILES NORTHWEST OF TOPEKA
NEAR ST MARYS TO AROUND 70 MILES SOUTHWEST OF TOPEKA IN SOUTHWEST MORRIS
COUNTY. VERY HEAVY RAINS GUSTY WINDS AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING WERE NOTED NEAR
ST MARYS...AND ALSO NEAR ALMA AS WELL AS 15 MILES SOUTHWEST OF COUNCIL GROVE
RESERVOIR.

ALL THE RAIN HAD SLOWED ITS EASTWARD PROGRESSION TO AROUND 10 MPH.
THIS MOVEMENT WOULD PLACE THE LEADING EDGE FROM NEAR SABETHA TO NORTHWEST
SHAWNEE COUNTY AROUND 15 MILES NORTHWEST OF TOPEKA TO AROUND 25 MILES NORTH-
WEST OF EMPORIA IN EASTERN MORRIS COUNTY BY 1230PM CDT. THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD
BE MOVING INTO THE TOPEKA AREA BETWEEN 1230 AND 1AM CDT.
+

4TONIGHT THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO OVERSPREAD NORTHEAST AND EASTCENTRAL
KANSAS. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS ARE POSSIBLE. LOWS WILL BE NEAR 70 WITH WINDS
SOUTH TO SOUTHEAST 10 TO 20 MPH EXCEPT VARIABLE AND GUSTY AROUND
THUNDERSTORMS.

KAYS
Special weather statement, Jul 25, 11:55 PM CDT, 1 hour 29 minutes before
KSZ007-008-010-011-260600-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONCORDIA KS
1155 PM CDT WED JUL 25 1990

THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR NORTHERN RUSSELL AND NORTHWEST LINCOLN
COUNTIES OF CENTRAL KANSAS IS NOW CANCELLED.  THE RUSSELL SHERIFF
REPORTS ROADS ACROSS THE NORTHEAST PART OF THE COUNTY ARE OPEN.
NUMEROUS CREEKS AND STREAMS HOWEVER ARE BANKFULL WITH SOME LOW LAND
FLOODING.  THE WATER IS RECEDING ACROSS NORTHEAST RUSSELL COUNTY.
QLINCOLN COUNTY REPORTS NO FLOODING.

SCHNEIDER
Special weather statement, Jul 26, 12:05 AM CDT, 1 hour 19 minutes before
KSZ007-008-010-011-260600-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONCORDIA KS
1159 PM CDT WED JUL 25 1990

A THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN AND 1/2 IN HAIL WAS 20 MILES
NORTHWEST OF GREAT BEND NEAR GALATIA AT 1155 PM CDT.  OTHER THUNDERSTORMS
PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN WERE 10 MILES WEST OF GREAT BEND..20 MILES
NORTHEAST OF GREAT BEND AND JUST SOUTH OF SALINA.

AT 1155 PM CDT THE SALINA POLICE REPORTED STREET FLOODING IN THE
CITY OF SALINA.

OTHER SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE SCATTERED ACROSS CENTRAL AND
NORTHCENTRAL KANSAS.

PERSONS LIVING IN LOW LYING AREAS OR AREAS PRONE TO FLOODING SHOULD
TAKE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS.  THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN WILL
CONTINUE OuFF AND ON THROUGH THE NIGHT ACROSS CENTRAL AND NORTHCENTRAL
KANSAS.                                                 SCHNEIDER
Special weather statement, Jul 26, 12:49 AM CDT, 35 minutes before
KSZ013>016-260645-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
1248 AM CDT THU JUL 26 1990

AT 1235 AM SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED TO MOVE EAST ACROSS
NORTHEAST KANSAS. THE LEADING EDGE OF THE THUNDERSTORMS WAS FROM 65
MILES OF TOPEKA NEAR SABETHA TO NEAR TOPEKA TO 10 MILES WEST OF EMPORIA.
MOVMENT WAS TO THE EAST AT 15 MILES AN HOUR.

THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED FROM 20 MILES NORTH OF TOPEKA
NEAR HOLTON TO10 MILES NORTHWEST OF TOPEKA NEAR ROSSVILLE TO 20 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF TOPEKA IN THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF WABAUNSEE COUNTY. THESE
THUNDERSTORMS COULD PRODUCE LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS...STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND
VERY INTENSE LIGHTNING.

THE LEADING EDGE OF THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD REACH ATCHISON
AND LAWRENCE BETWEEN 130 AND 230 AM THIS MORNING.
.
TONIGHT THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO OVERSPREAD NORTHEAST AND EASTCENTRAL
KANSAS. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS ARE POSSIBLE. LOWS WILL BE NEAR 70 WITH WINDS
SOUTH TO SOUTHEAST 10 TO 20 MPH EXCEPT VARIABLE AND GUSTY AROUND
THUNDERSTORMS.

CRANDALL
Special weather statement, Jul 26, 12:55 AM CDT, 29 minutes before
KSZ013>016-260645-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
1248 AM CDT THU JUL 26 1990

AT 1235 AM SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED TO MOVE EAST ACROSS
NORTHEAST KANSAS. THE LEADING EDGE OF THE THUNDERSTORMS WAS FROM 65
NORTH MILES OF TOPEKA NEAR SABETHA TO NEAR TOPEKA TO 10 MILES WEST OF
EMPORIA MOVMENT WAS TO THE EAST AT 15 MILES AN HOUR.

THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED FROM 20 MILES NORTH OF TOPEKA
NEAR HOLTON TO10 MILES NORTHWEST OF TOPEKA NEAR ROSSVILLE TO 20 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF TOPEKA IN THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF WABAUNSEE COUNTY. THESE
THUNDERSTORMS COULD PRODUCE LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS...STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND
VERY INTENSE LIGHTNING.

THE LEADING EDGE OF THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD REACH ATCHISON
AND LAWRENCE BETWEEN 130 AND 230 AM THIS MORNING.

TONIGHT THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO OVERSPREAD NORTHEAST AND EASTCENTRAL
KANSAS. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS ARE POSSIBLE. LOWS WILL BE NEAR 70 WITH WINDS
SOUTH TO SOUTHEAST 10 TO 20 MPH EXCEPT VARIABLE AND GUSTY AROUND
THUNDERSTORMS.

CRANDALL
Special weather statement, Jul 26, 1:00 AM CDT, 24 minutes before
KSZ007-008-010-011-260700-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONCORDIA KS
1 AM CDT THU JUL 26 1990

THUNDERSTORMS WERE DIMINISHING IN INTENSITY ACROSS CENTRAL AND NORTH
CENTRAL KANSAS AT 1 AM...HOWERVER AN AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY
RAIN 15 MILES NORTH OF GREAT BEND WAS CAUSING MINOR SGREET FLOODING IN
HOISINGTON AND WATER WAS REPORTED OVER HIGHWAY 281 5 WEST AND 4 NORTH OF
HOISINGTON.   WATER WAS ALSO REPORTED OVER THE ROAD IN A FEW PLACES
ALONG 140 BETWEEN WILSON AND ELLSWORTH.

PERSONS LIVING IN LOW LYING AREAS OR AREAS PRONE TO FLOODING SHOULD
TAKE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS.  THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN WILL
CONTINUE OFF AND ON THROUGH THE NIGHT ACROSS CENTRAL AND NORTHCENTRAL
KANSAS.

OTHER SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN CENTRAL AND NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS
WERE EAST OF A LINE FROM SMITH CENTER TO GREAR BEND AND NORTH OF A LINE
FROM GREAR BEND TO MCPHERSON TO TOPEKA.  GHE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
WERE MOVING TO TH EAST AT 10 TO 15 MPH.
MP

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 25, 8:21 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPRussell54 min
Jul 25, 8:43 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPLincoln62 min
Jul 25, 8:58 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPEllsworth62 min
Jul 25, 9:12 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningTOPLincoln, Russell3 hr
Jul 25, 9:18 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPRussell47 min
Jul 26, 7:25 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningTOPEllsworth, Lincoln, Ottawa, Saline3 hr

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.