Alert archive / Kansas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1991

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 21, NWS Topeka, KS

March 27, 19914 counties in Kansas

NWS Topeka, KS issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Mar 27, 1991, 1:00 AM CST for 4 counties in Kansas. It was in force for 60 min. 5 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
Mar 27, 1991, 1:00 AM CST (07:00 UTC)
Expired
Mar 27, 1991, 2:00 AM CST
In force
60 min
Issued by
NWS Topeka, KS
Area
Whole counties

Counties Lyon County, KS, Osage County, KS, Shawnee County, KS, Wabaunsee County, KS

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Mar 27, 1:10 AM CSTHail 1Lyon, KS
Mar 27, 1:10 AM CSTHail 1Wabaunsee, KS
Mar 27, 1:15 AM CSTThunderstorm Wind 65Shawnee, KS
Mar 27, 1:20 AM CSTHail 1.5Osage, KS
Mar 27, 1:41 AM CSTHail 1.5Shawnee, 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 00:00Z, 7.0 hours before the alert went out and 37 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 1991-03-27Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 37 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Topeka, KS at 00:00Z on 1991-03-27The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 413 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
37 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-168 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
779 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
59 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
413 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
384 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 KTOP 270700
SVRTOP
KSC111-139-177-197-270800-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
100 AM CST WED MAR 27 1991
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TOPEKA HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  200 AM CST
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN EAST CENTRAL KANSAS
 
   ...NORTHERN LYON COUNTY...NORTHERN OSAGE COUNTY...SHAWNEE COUNTY
   ...SOUTHERN WABAUNSEE COUNTY
    INCLUDES THE CITIES OF TOPEKA...BURLINGAME...CARBONDALE AND
    HARVEYVILLE.
 
RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM ABOUT 40 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
TOPEKA NEAR ADMIRE KANSAS MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST 30 TO 40 MPH.
THE STORM IS CAPABLE OF DROPPING LARGE HAIL...HIGH WINDS IN EXCESS
OF 60 MPH AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.
 
 
A TORNADO WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA.  REMEMBER
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE TORNADOES
WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE WARNING.

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, Mar 26, 8:52 PM CST, 4 hours 8 minutes before
KSZ013-014-015-016-270400-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
852 PM CST TUE MAR 26 1991

RADAR AT 845 PM INDICATED THAT THUNDERSTORMS IN CENTRAL KANSAS ARE
BEGINING TO MOVE INTO EAST-CENTRAL KANSAS.  THE LEADING EDGE OF THE
RAIN EXTENDED FROM JUNCTION CITY TO 30 MILES SOUTHWEST OF JUNCTION
CITY NEAR HERINGTON.  THE STRONGEST STORM WAS 20 MILES SOUTH OF
ABILENE.  THE STORMS ARE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

BRIEtF HEAVY RAINS...GUSTY WINDS AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING CAN BE
EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT HOUR IN MORRIS AND GEARY COUNTIES.

KISNER
Special weather statement, Mar 26, 9:19 PM CST, 3 hours 41 minutes before
KSZ007-008-010-011-270430-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONCORDIA KS
918 PM CST TUE MAR 26 1991

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 67 IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM CST WEDNESDAY FOR ALL OF
CENTRAL AND NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS...

AT 915 PM CST A LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM NEAR
MANHATTAN TO 25 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CONCORDIA OR JUST NORTHWEST OF CLAY
CENTER TO RUSSELL TO 20 WEST OF RUSSELL.  THE HEAVIEST ACTIVITY WAS
LOCATED FROM SALINA TO NEAR MINNEAPOLIS TO NEAR RUSSELL.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE PRODUCING HEAVY RAIN...SMALL HAIL AND INTENSE
LIGHTNING AS THEY MOVED NORTHEAST AT ABOUT 30 MPH.

TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 67 HAS REPLACED WATCH NUMBER 64 AND IS IN EFFECT
UNTIL 4 AM CST WEDNESDAY.  PERSONS IN CENTRAL AND NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS
SHOULD BE ALERT FOR SEVERE WEATHER.          ...MRU...
Special weather statement, Mar 26, 9:24 PM CST, 3 hours 36 minutes before
KSZ013-014-015-016-270420-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
923 PM CST TUE MAR 26 1991

TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 64 COVERING MUCH OF NORTHEAST KANSAS WILL BE
CANCELLED AT 930PM. HOWEVER ANOTHER TORNADO WATCH...NUMBER 67...HAS
BEEN REISSUED FOR CENTRAL AND A SMALL PART OF NORTHEAST KANSAS...
MAINLY WEST OF A LINE FROM SENECA TO EMPORIA AND WESTWARD.

AT 920PM SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN THE MANHATTAN AREA
WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH. STRONGER STORMS WERE NEAR SALINA
ALSO MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH...THESE STORMS COULD ARRIVE IN THE
MANHATTAN AND JUNCTION CITY AREA BETWEEN 10 AND 1030PM. OVER THE REST
OF NORTHEAST KANSAS...NO RAIN OR STORMS WERE SHOWN AT 920PM..

AKULOW
Special weather statement, Mar 26, 9:50 PM CST, 3 hours 10 minutes before
KSZ013>016-270445-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
950 PM CST TUE MAR 26 1991

TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 67 IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR THAT PART OF NORTHEAST
KANSAS WEST OF A LINE FROM SENECA WHICH IS ABOUT 60 MILES NORTHWEST OF
TOPEKA...TO EMPORIA. THE WATCH WILL CONTINUE UNTIL 4AM CST WEDNESDAY
AND ALSO COVERS ALL OF CENTRAL KANSAS.

AT 950PM SCATTERED SHOWERS WERE BETWEEN MARYSVILLE AND MANHATTAN...
WHILE STRONG AND POSSIBLY SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WERE NEAR SALINA.
THE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 TO 35 MPH AND WILL LIKELY MOVE
MARYSVILLE AREA AROUND 11PM.

THE ATMOSPHERE REMAINS QUITE HUMID AND UNSTABLE OVER NORTHEAST KANSAS
TONIGHT...THUS MORE THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY DURING THE NIGHT.

STAY TUNED TO WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL RADIO AND TV FOR LATER INFORMATION.
AKULOW
Special weather statement, Mar 26, 10:28 PM CST, 2 hours 32 minutes before
KSZ013>016-270530-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
1028 PM CST TUE MAR 26 1991

TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 67 IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR THAT PART OF NORTHEAST
KANSAS WEST OF A LINE FROM SENECA WHICH IS ABOUT 60 MILES NORTHWEST OF
TOPEKA...TO EMPORIA. THE WATCH WILL CONTINUE UNTIL 4AM CST WEDNESDAY
AND ALSO COVERS ALL OF CENTRAL KANSAS.

THUNDERSTORMS HAD INCREASED IN THE MANHATTAN AND MARYSVILLE AREA
BETWEEN 10 AND 1030PM. THE STORMS WERE JUST WEST AND NORTHEAST OF
TUTTLE CREEK LAKE...NORTH INTO SOUTHERN MARSHALL COUNTY NEAR
FRANKFORT.

VERY HEAVY RAIN...HAIL...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS ARE LIKELY
WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS AS THEY MOVE NORTHEAST AT 30 TO 40 MPH INTO
MARSHALL AND NEMAHA COUNTIES BY 1115PM.

AKULOW
Special weather statement, Mar 27, 1:00 AM CST, 0 minutes before
KSZ007-008-010-011-270752-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONCORDIA KS
1259 AM CST WED MAR 27 1991

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 67 IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM CST WEDNESDAY FOR ALL OF
CENTRAL AND NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS...

AT 1255 AM CST A LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM JUNCTION
CITY TO SALINA TO EAST OF HUTCHINSON.  THE STRONGEST ACTIVITY WAS EAST OF
JUNCTION CITY TO HERINGTON AND WERE PRODUCING HEAVY RAIN...SMALL HAIL AND
INTENSE LIGHTNING AS THEY MOVED NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

KLEYLA

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 26, 6:12 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPCloud, Mitchell38 min
Mar 26, 6:31 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPRepublic44 min
Mar 26, 6:50 PM CSTTornado WarningTOPMcPherson, Rice40 min
Mar 26, 7:30 PM CSTTornado WarningTOPMcPherson30 min
Mar 26, 9:31 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPLincoln, Ottawa44 min
Mar 26, 9:36 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPRussell19 min
Mar 26, 9:55 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPLincoln, Ottawa30 min
Mar 26, 10:12 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPClay, Cloud48 min
Mar 26, 10:50 PM CSTTornado WarningTOPClay25 min
Mar 26, 10:53 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPNemaha67 min
Mar 26, 11:00 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPCloud, Washington45 min
Mar 26, 11:18 PM CSTTornado WarningTOPMarshall, Pottawatomie27 min
Mar 26, 11:36 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPMcPherson54 min
Mar 26, 11:48 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPMarshall, Nemaha57 min
Mar 26, 11:53 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPMorris, Wabaunsee67 min
Mar 27, 12:17 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPBrown43 min
Mar 27, 12:19 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPShawnee41 min
Mar 27, 1:17 AM CSTTornado WarningTOPJefferson28 min
Mar 27, 1:29 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPDouglas, Jefferson61 min
Mar 27, 1:48 AM CSTTornado WarningTOPDouglas42 min
Mar 27, 1:55 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPShawnee35 min
Mar 27, 2:24 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPDouglas, Jefferson, Shawnee66 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Kansas, 1991Every severe thunderstorm warning 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.