Alert archive / Kansas / Tornado Warnings in 1991

Tornado Warning 46, NWS Wichita, KS

June 1, 1991Butler County, Kansas

NWS Wichita, KS issued this tornado warning at Jun 1, 1991, 5:36 PM CDT for Butler County, Kansas. It was in force for 24 min. 1 report 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
Jun 1, 1991, 5:36 PM CDT (22:36 UTC)
Expired
Jun 1, 1991, 6:00 PM CDT
In force
24 min
Issued by
NWS Wichita, KS
Area
Whole counties

County Butler County, KS

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Jun 1, 5:40 PM CDTTornado F0Butler, 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

Topeka, KS (KTOP), launched 12:00Z, 10.6 hours before the alert went out and 171 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 1991-06-01Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 3284 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 1991-06-01The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 102 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
3284 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-25 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
661 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
29 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
102 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
63 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.5
Supercell composite
2.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KICT 012237
TORICT
KSC015-012315-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
536 PM CDT SAT JUN 1 1991
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  615 PM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...
 
IN SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS
 
   ...BUTLER COUNTY
 
AT 534 PM CDT...A TORNADO WAS REPORTED BY A SPOTTER IN EXTREME SOUTH-
CENTRAL BUTLER COUNTY 3/4-1 MILE NORTH OF THE COWLEY-BUTLER COUNTY
LINE OR 4 MILES NORTH OF ATLANTA.
 
THE TORNADO WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.
 
 
THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS STORM.  ACT QUICKLY.  IF YOU ARE IN THE
PATH OF THIS TORNADO MOVE TO A SHELTER BELOW GROUND IF AVAILABLE.
OTHERWISE... GO TO 
A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR
POSSIBLE.  AVOID WINDOWS.  ABANDON CARS AND MOBILE HOMES FOR A
STURDIER BUILDING OR GET INTO A DITCH OR CULVERT.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado 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, Jun 1, 3:31 PM CDT, 2 hours 5 minutes before
KSZ009-011-012-014-017-012130-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
330 PM CDT SAT JUN 1 1991

...THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS...

AT 325 PM CDT THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN AND WINDS OF
40 TO 50 MILES AN HOUR WERE MOVING INTO WESTERN KINGMAN AND HARPER
COUNTIES AND SOUTHWESTERN RENO COUNTIES. THIS LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS
EXTENDED FROM 25 MILES SOUTHWEST OF HUTCHINSON SOUTHWARD TO 30 MILES
SOUTH: SOUTHEAST OF MEDICINE LODGE.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING TO THE NORTH NORTHEAST AT 35 MILES AN
HOUR.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 461 REMAINS IN EFFECT OF SOUTH CENTRAL
KANSAS UNTIL 5 PM CDT.

ELDER
Special weather statement, Jun 1, 4:34 PM CDT, 1 hour 2 minutes before
KSZ009-011-012-014-017-012230-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
435 PM CDT SAT JUN 1 1991

...HEAVY RAIN AND GUSTY WINDS IN SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS...

AT 427 PM CDT A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN AND
WINDS OF 40 TO 50 MILES AN HOUR EXTENDED FROM 20 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
SALINA SOUTHWARD ACROSS HUTCHINSON TO 30 MILES SOUTHEAST OF MEDICINE
LODGE.

ON THE LEADING EDGE OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS VERY GUSTY WINDS WERE
OCCUTRRING. AT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE ON THE WEST SIDE
OF WICHITA MID CONTINENT AIRPORT HAD A WIND GUST TO 46 MILES AN HOUR
AT 426 PM. PERSONS IN WICHITA, NEWTON, AND WELLINGTON CAN EXPECT STRONG
WINDS AND VERYa HEAVY RAIN OVER THE NEXT HOUR.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 466 CONTINUES FOR SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS
TILL 1000 PM CDT.
Special weather statement, Jun 1, 4:50 PM CDT, 46 minutes before
KSZ009-011-012-014-017-012230-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
450 PM CDT SAT JUN 1 1991

...THUNDERSTORMS IN THE WICHITA AREA...

AT 445 PM CDT A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN AND
WINDS OF 45 TO 50 MILES AN HOUR EXTENDED FROM 20 MILES SOUTH OF
SALINA SOUTHWARD ACROSS WICHITA TO 40 MILES WEST OF ARKANSAS CITY,
OR JUST WEST OF CALDWELL.

IN THIS LINE THE MOST INTENSE STORMS WERE ABOUT 5 MILES EAST OF
ANDALE AND ANOTHER 10 MILES WEST OF CALDWELL.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING TO THE EAST NORTHEAST AT 30 MILES AN
HOUR.  OVER THE NEXT HOUR PERSONS IN HILLSBORO, EL DORADO, AND
ARKANSAS CITY WILL EXPERIENCE STRONG WINDS AS THESE THUNDERSTORMS
CONTINUE MOVING EAST WARD.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 466 CONTINUES FOR MOST OF SOUTH
CENTRAL KANSAS TILL 1000 PM CDT.

ELDER
Special weather statement, Jun 1, 5:09 PM CDT, 27 minutes before
KSZ009-011-012-014-017-012230-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
505 PM CDT SAT JUN 1 1991

A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED MOVING NORTHEAST ACROSS CENTRAL
AND SOUTH-CENTRAL KANSAS.

THE LINE...15 MILES WIDE...EXTENDED FROM 15 MILES SOUTH OF SALINA THROUGH
WICHITA TO THE KANSAS/OKLAHOMA BORDER 40 MILES SOUTH OF WICHITA NEAR
CALDWELL. THESE STORMS CONTAINED 40 TO 50 MPH WINDS...SMALL HAIL AND BRIEF
VERY HEAVY RAINS. AT 427 PM WINDS GUSTED TO 47 MPH AT WICHITA MID-CONTIN-
ENT AND AT 503 PM 46 MPH GUSTS AND PEA-SIZED HAIL WERE REPORTED AT
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE.

THE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.
ES
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 466 CONTINUES FOR MOST OF SOUTH
CENTRAL KANSAS TILL 1000 PM CDT.

ELDER
Special weather statement, Jun 1, 5:14 PM CDT, 22 minutes before
KSZ009-011-012-014-017-012230-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTED...
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
505 PM CDT SAT JUN 1 1991

A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED MOVING NORTHEAST ACROSS CENTRAL
AND SOUTH-CENTRAL KANSAS AT 505 PM.

THE LINE...15 MILES WIDE...EXTENDED FROM 15 MILES SOUTH OF SALINA THROUGH
WICHITA TO THE KANSAS/OKLAHOMA BORDER 40 MILES SOUTH OF WICHITA NEAR
CALDWELL. THESE STORMS CONTAINED 40 TO 50 MPH WINDS...SMALL HAIL AND BRIEF
VERY HEAVY RAINS. AT 427 PM WINDS GUSTED TO 47 MPH AT WICHITA MID-CONTIN-
ENT AND AT 503 PM 46 MPH GUSTS AND PEA-SIZED HAIL WERE REPORTED AT
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE.

THE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 466 CONTINUES FOR MOST OF SOUTH
CENTRAL KANSAS TIL 1000 PM CDT.
ES
Special weather statement, Jun 1, 5:35 PM CDT, 1 minute before
KSZ009-011-012-014-017-012330-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
535 PM CDT SAT JUN 1 1991

...STRONG WINDS MOVING INTO THE EASTERN SECTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL
KANSAS...

A 525 PM CDT A THE LEADING EDGE OF A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS...30 MILES
WIDE...EXTENDED FROM SALINA TO 25 MILES NORTHEAST OF WICHITA, NEAR
EL DORADO, TO ARKANSAS CITY. ALONG THIS LEADING EDGE WINDS WERE
GUSTING TO ABOUT 45 MILES AN HOUR. ALSO THESE STORMS WERE PRODUCING
BRIEF PERIODS OF VERY HEAVY RAIN.

THE LINE WAS MOVING TO THE EAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR. IT WILL BE INTO
THE EUREKA...HOWARD AND CEDAR VALE AREAS BY 630 PM CDT.

THIS LINE WAS A PART OF A LARGER AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERTORMS THAT
WERE IN AN AREA 60 MILELS WIDE THAT EXTENDED FROM 40 MILES WEST OF
CONCORDIA THROUGH HUTCHINSON SOUTHWARD TO NORTHWEST OF OKLAHOMA CITY.
THE AREA OF RAIN WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 466 CONTINUES FOR PARTS OF
SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS TILL 1000 PM CDT.

ELDER

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 1, 3:38 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTHarper37 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Kansas, 1991Every tornado warning in 1991Tornadoes in 1991

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.