Alert archive / Kansas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1990

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 50, NWS Topeka, KS

May 15, 1990Nemaha County, Pottawatomie County, Kansas

NWS Topeka, KS issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 15, 1990, 8:48 AM CDT for Nemaha County, Pottawatomie County, Kansas. It was in force for 39 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 15, 1990, 8:48 AM CDT (13:48 UTC)
Expired
May 15, 1990, 9:27 AM CDT
In force
39 min
Issued by
NWS Topeka, KS
Area
Whole counties

Counties Nemaha County, KS, Pottawatomie 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 12:00Z, 1.8 hours before the alert went out and 80 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 12:00Z on 1990-05-15Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 263 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 12:00Z on 1990-05-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 249 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
263 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-127 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
606 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
46 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
249 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
389 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.3
Supercell composite
8.7

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KTOP 151350 RRA
SVRTOP
KSC131-149-151430-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
848 AM CDT TUE MAY 15 1990
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TOPEKA HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  930 AM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
 
IN NORTHEAST KANSAS
          ...NEMAHA...POTTAWATOMIE
 
AT 845AM A LINE OF INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS REACHED FROM EAST OF
MARYSVILLE AT BAILEYVILLE TO NORTHEAST OF MANHATTAN NEAR WESTMORELAND.
THE STORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR AND SHOULD CROSS THE
COMMUNITIES OF SENECA...SABETHA...CENTRALIA AND ONAGA COMMUNITIES BY
930AM.  THE STORMS WILL LIKELY DROP HEAVY RAIN AND LARGE HAIL IN
PLACES...AND MAY PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS AS WELL.
 
 
THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM.  IF YOU ARE IN ITS PATH YOU SHOULD
PREPARE FOR DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 55 MPH...LARGE HAIL...AND
DEADLY LIGHTNING.  PEOPLE OUTSIDE SHOULD MOVE TO A SHELTER...
PRE%FERABLY INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING BUT STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

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, 6:36 AM CDT, 2 hours 12 minutes before
KSZ007-008-010-011-151230-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONCORDIA KS
635 AM CDT TUE MAY 15 1990

AT 635 THUNDERSTORMS IN A 20 MILE WIDE AREA CONTINUED ACROSS NORTH
CENTRAL KANSAS.  THE AREA WAS FROM 40 MILES NORTHEAST OF CONCORDIA
OR 10 MILES EAST OF WASHINGTON TO JUST NORTH OF CONCORDIA TO 55 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF CONCORDIA NEAR OSBORNE.  HEAVY RAIN..PEA SIZE HAIL..WINDS
OF 20 MPH AND DEADLY LIGHTNING HAVE BEEN REPORTED FROM THIS AREA.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

AN AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS IN CENTRAL KANSAS FROM JUST NORTHEAST
OF SALINA TO 25 MILES NORTHEAST OF SALINA NEAR ABILENE.  HEAVY RAIN..
HAIL..GUSTY WINDS AND DEADLY LIGTHNING CAN BE EXPECTED FROM THIS
AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS.  THE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

REMEMBER A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT OF ALL OF CENTRAL
AND NORTHCENTRAL KANSAS UNTIL 10 AM CDT.                   SCHNEIDER
Special weather statement, May 15, 6:43 AM CDT, 2 hours 5 minutes before
KSZ003-006-151300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
639 AM CDT TUE MAY 15 1990

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 234 HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR PART
OF KANSAS.  THE WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT FOR THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES...

...SOUTHWEST...
CLARK           FINNEY          FORD            GRANT
GRAY            HASKELL         HODGEMAN        KEARNY
MEADE           SEWARD          STEVENS

...SOUTH CENTRAL...
COMANCHE        EDWARDS         KIOWA

THE FOLLOWING CITIES ARE NO LONGER INCLUDED IN THE SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM WATCH...
+

DODGE CITY     GARDEN CITY    LIBERAL
Special weather statement, May 15, 7:01 AM CDT, 1 hour 47 minutes before
KSZ007-008-010-011-151300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONCORDIA KS
655 AM CDT TUE MAY 15 1990

AT 655 AM CDT A 20 MILE WIDE AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS FROM 35 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF CONCORDIA NEAR HUNTER TO JUST NORTH OF CONCORDIA TO
35 MILES NORTHEAST OF CONCORDIA NEAR WASHINGTON.  ANOTHER AREA
WAS 30 MILES  NORTHEAST OF SALINA OR JUST NORTH OF ABILENE.  HEAVY
RAIN..AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING HAVE BEEN REPORTED FROM THESE STORMS.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

OTHER SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS WERE IN CENTRAL AND NORTHCENTRAL
KANSAS NORTHEAST OF A LINE FROM SMITH CENTER TO 20 MILES NORTH OF
RUSSELL TO 10 MILES EAST OF SALINA TO 35 MILES SOUTHEAST OF SALINA.

REMEMBER A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF CENTRAL
AND NORTHCENTRAL KANSAS UNTIL 10 AM CDT.
SCHNEIDER
Special weather statement, May 15, 7:29 AM CDT, 1 hour 19 minutes before
KSZ007-008-010-011-151330-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONCORDIA KS
725 AM CDT TUE MAY 15 1990

AT 725 AM CDT THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN AND DANGEROUS
LIGHTNING CONTINUED ACROSS PART OF NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS.  HEAVY
RAINS WERE FROM 15 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CONCORDIA TO 10 MILES NORTH
OF CONCORDIA TO 30 MILES NORTHEAST OF CONCORDIA.  THE THUNDERSTORMS
WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

RAINFALLS OF NEARLY TWO INCHES HAVE BEEN REPORTED NORTHWEST AND NORTH
OF CONCORDIA.  JEWELL..25 MILES NORTHWEST OF CONCORDIA REPORTED 1.83
INCHES AND THE RAIN CONTINUED.  STREAMS AND CREEKS WILL SHOW A RAPID RISE
TO THE WEST AND NORTH OF CONCORDIA..PERSONS IN LOW LYING AREAS SHOU LD
BE ALERT AND TAKE NECESSARY PRECATIONS.
SCHNEIDER
Special weather statement, May 15, 7:56 AM CDT, 52 minutes before
KSZ007-010-151400-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONCORDIA KS
750 AM CDT TUE MAY 15 1990

AT 750 THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING HEAVY RAIN CONTINUED OVER A PART OF
NORTHCENTRAL KANSAS.  THE AREA WAS EAST OF A LINE FROM CONCORDIA TO
BELLEVILLE AND NORTH OF A LINE FROM 20 MILES SOUTH OF CONCORDIA TO
JUST SOUTH OF CLAY CENTER.

NUMEROUS AREAS OF NORTHCENTRAL KANSAS HAVE HAD RAINFALLS OF 1 TO
TWO AND ONE HALF INCHES.  CREEKS AND STREAMS WILL RISE RAPIDLY
IN SOUTHEAST JEWELL COUNTY..CLOUD..REPUBLIC AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES.
PERSONS LIVING IN THESE COUNTIES SHOULD BE ALERT AND TAKE NECESSARY
PRECATIONS.

ALSO ONE TO ONE AND ONE HALF INCHES OF RAIN FELL IN NORTHERN OSBORNE
COUNTY. j THE RAIN HAS ENDED IN OSBORNE COUNTY HOWEVER STREAMS AND
CREEKS WILL RISE RAPIDLY..PERSONS IN NORTHERN OSBORNE COUNTY SHOULD
WATCH CREEKS AND STREAMS.                            SCHNEIDER
Special weather statement, May 15, 8:38 AM CDT, 10 minutes before
KSZ007-008-010-011-151430-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONCORDIA KS
835 AM CDT TUE MAY 15 1990

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR REPUBLIC..NORTHERN CLOUD..NORTHERN
CLAY AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES OF NORTHCENTRAL KANSAS UNTIL NOON CDT.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH CONTINES FOR ALL OF CENTRAL AND NORTHCENTRAL
KANSAS UNTIL 10 AM CDT.

AT 835 AM CDT AN AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN WERE
FROM 45 MILES NORTHEAST OF CONCORDIA TO 40 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CONCORDAI.

FLOODING CONTINUES IN SOUTHERN REPUBLIC COUNTY AND ONLY MINOR FLOODING
CONTINUED IN NORTHERN CLOUD COUNTY.  THE REPUBLIC COUNTY SHERIFF REPORTED
HIGHWAY 81 WAS O. K. FOR TRAVEL BUT PLEASE USE CAUTION ON OTHER COUNTY
ROADS.  DO NOT DRIVE OVER A FLOODED ROADWAY.

SOME FLOODING CAN ALSO BE EXPECTED IN WASHINGTON AND NORTHERN CLAY
COUNTIES.  STREAMS AND CREEKS WILL RISE RAPIDLY.
SCHNEIDER

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 15, 12:07 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPPottawatomie53 min
May 15, 12:17 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPDickinson58 min
May 15, 1:29 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPBarton, Russell46 min
May 15, 4:54 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPRice34 min
May 15, 4:54 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPMcPherson43 min
May 15, 7:28 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningTOPOsage3 hr
May 15, 7:28 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningTOPLyon119 min
May 15, 7:48 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningTOPDouglas99 min
May 15, 8:05 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningTOPClay, Cloud, Washington4 hr
May 15, 8:05 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningTOPRepublic4 hr
May 15, 12:19 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningTOPDouglas, Osage3 hr
May 15, 12:38 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningTOPFranklin2 hr
May 15, 5:16 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPDickinson34 min
May 15, 5:49 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPJackson41 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.