Alert archive / Kansas / Tornado Warnings in 1991
Tornado Warning 20, NWS Topeka, KS
NWS Topeka, KS issued this tornado warning at Apr 26, 1991, 3:00 PM CDT for Washington County, Kansas. It was in force for 45 min. 3 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
- Apr 26, 1991, 3:00 PM CDT (20:00 UTC)
- Expired
- Apr 26, 1991, 3:45 PM CDT
- In force
- 45 min
- Issued by
- NWS Topeka, KS
- Area
- Whole counties
County Washington County, KS
What was reported inside it
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 26, 3:14 PM CDT | Hail 1.75 | Washington, KS | |
| Apr 26, 3:25 PM CDT | Tornado F2 | Washington, KS | |
| Apr 26, 3:50 PM CDT | Tornado F3 | Washington, 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, 8.0 hours before the alert went out and 152 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- No buoyant parcel
- Mixed-layer LCL
- NaN m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 39 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 507 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 536 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000 TTAA00 KCNK 262000 TORCNK KSC201-262045- BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED TORNADO WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONCORDIA KS 300 PM CDT FRI APR 26 1991 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CONCORDIA HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 345 PM CDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION... IN NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS ...WASHINGTON COUNTY AT 2 58 CDT CONCORDIA RADAR INDICATED A POSSIBLE TORNADO 20 MILES EAST OF CONCORDIA NEAR CLIFTON MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 35 MILES AN HOUR. THIS POSSIBLE TORNADO MAY BE IN THE PALMER AREA BY 3 10 PM CDT. 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. IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF A TORNADO...THE SAFEST PLACE IS A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A STAIRWELL OR P4IECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER IN AN INTERIOR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET ON THE LOWEST FLOOR. USE BLANKETS...PILLOWS... OR CUSHIONS TO COVER YOUR BODY. AVOID WINDOWS. PACKETT
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, Apr 26, 1:11 PM CDT, 1 hour 49 minutes before
KSZ013-014-015-016-261915- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS 110 PM CDT FRI APR 26 1991 ...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 183 UNTIL 8 PM CDT FOR PARTS OF NORTHEAST KANSAS... A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THAT PART OF NORTHEAST KANSAS GENERALLY WEST OF A MARYSVILLE...MANHATTAN JUNCTION CITY LINE UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 181 FOR SOUTHEAST KANSAS HAS BEEN REP BY TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 183. THUNDERSTORMS OVER PARTS OF CENTRAL KANSAS ARE EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO NORTHEAST KANSAS AFTER 3 PM CDT. CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE WEATHER...INCLUDING LARGE HAIL AND POSSIBLY TORNADOES. THE THUNDERSTORMS OVER NORTHEAST ANDERSON CO UNTY NEAR GARNETT AT 1 PM SHOULD MOVE INTO MIAMI COUNTY BY 130 PM. PEOPLE OF NORTHEAST KANSAS SHOULD MONITOR NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL RADIO AND TELEVISION FOR LATER STATEMENTS OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS. WOYNICK
Special weather statement, Apr 26, 1:13 PM CDT, 1 hour 47 minutes before
KSZ013-014-015-016-261915- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT ...CORRECTED FOR WORDING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS 110 PM CDT FRI APR 26 1991 ...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 183 UNTIL 8 PM CDT FOR PARTS OF NORTHEAST KANSAS... A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THAT PART OF NORTHEAST KANSAS GENERALLY WEST OF A MARYSVILLE...MANHATTAN JUNCTION CITY LINE UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 181 FOR SOUTHEAST KANSAS HAS BEEN REPLACED BY TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 183. THUNDERSTORMS OVER PARTS OF CENTRAL KANSAS ARE EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO NORTHEAST KANSAS AFTER 3 PM CDT. CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE WEATHER...INCLUDING LARGE HAIL AND POSSIBLY TORNADOES. THE THUNDERSTORMS OVER NORTHEAST ANDERSON COUNTY NEAR GARNETT AT 1 PM SHOULD MOVE INTO MIAMI COUNTY BY 130 PM. PEOPLE OF NORTHEAST KANSAS SHOULD MONITOR NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL RADIO AND TELEVISION FOR LATER STATEMENTS OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS. WOYNICK
Special weather statement, Apr 26, 1:27 PM CDT, 1 hour 33 minutes before
KSZALL-261930- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS 126 PM CDT FRI APR 26 1991 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE FORMING ACROSS KANSAS... A TORNADO WATCH COVERS A LARGE PART OF CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST KANSAS UNTIL 8 PM. AT 130 PM...A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WAS STARTING TO FORM ACROSS CENTRAL KANSAS. THIS LINE WAS FORMING FROM JUST EAST OF CONCORDIA...TO WEST OF SALINA...TO WEST OF HUTCHINSON. BETWEEN 130 AND 230 PM...RAPID INTENSIFICATION OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS IS EXPECTED ACROSS CENTRAL SECTIONS OF THE STATE. SEVERE WEATHER...INCLUDING HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...AND POSSIBLY TORNADOES ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS AS THE MOVE EAST NORTHEAST. PEOPLE SHOULD REVIEW PREPAREDNESS PLANS AT THIS TIME AND KEEP INFORMED FOR FUTURE WATCHES AND WARNINGS. CIVIL DEFENSE OFFICIALS AND SPOTTER GROUPS ARE REQUESTED TO MONITOR THIS SITUATION CLOSELY. THIS STORMS COULD REACH THE TOPEKA AREA LATER THIS AFTERNOO<N OR EVENING. FELDT
Special weather statement, Apr 26, 1:48 PM CDT, 1 hour 12 minutes before
KSZ013>014-270130- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS 147 PM CDT FRI APR 26 1991 ...VERY STRONG WINDS ARE POUNDING EASTERN AND CENTRAL KANSAS THIS AFTERNOON... BLUSTERY SOUTH WINDS AT 25 TO 35 MPH WITH SOME GUSTS NEAR 50 MPH WILL CONTINUE ACROSS EASTERN AND PARTS OF CENTRAL KANSAS INTO THE EVENING HOURS. AT BILLARD AIRPORT IN TOPEKA A WIND GUST TO 46 MPH WAS RECORDED SHORTLY AFTER 1PM. THE WINDS WILL BE QUITE DANGEROUS FOR RECREATIONAL BOATERS AND PERSONS IN HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES. IN ADDITION...SEVERE STORMS MAY ALSO PRODUCE EVEN STRONGER WINDS.
Special weather statement, Apr 26, 2:07 PM CDT, 53 minutes before
KSZALL-262015- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS 207 PM CDT FRI APR 26 1991 ...A TORNADO WATCH COVERS A LARGE PART OF CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST KANSAS... SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO FORM AS OF 2 PM ACROSS PARTS OF CENTRAL KANSAS WITH SEVERAL REPORTS OF GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL. SEVERE STORMS WERE LOCATED IN THE AREA BETWEEN SALINA AND CONCORDIA AND ALSO HAD DEVELOPED RAPIDLY WEST OF WICHITA. BETWEEN 2 AND 4 PM...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP ACROSS CENTRAL SECTIONS 0F KANSAS AND MOVE NORTH NORTHEAST. THE CHANCES FOR SEVERE WEATHER WILL INCREASE ACROSS EAST SECTIONS...INCLUDING TOPEKA...MANHATTAN AND EMPORIA LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...MAINLY AFTER 4 PM. PEOPLE ACROSS CENTRAL AND EAST KANSAS SHOULD MONITOR THIS SITUATION CLOSELY AND BE PREPARED TO SEEK SHELTER WHEN WARNINGS ARE ISSUED. SPOTTER GROUPS SHOULD PLAN ON ACTIVATION AS WATCHES ARE ISSUED. FELDT
Special weather statement, Apr 26, 2:53 PM CDT, 7 minutes before
KSZ009-010-011-012-013-014-015-016-017-262100- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS 252 PM CDT FRI APR 26 1991 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE ACROSS PARTS OF KANSAS PRODUCING UP TO BASEBALL SIZE HAIL... A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM FOR MUCH OF CENTRAL INTO NORTHEAST KANSAS. AT 245 PM...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO DEVELOP ACROSS CENTRAL KANSAS...ROUGHLY FROM CONCORDIA TO SALINA TO WEST OF WICHITA. SEVERE STORMS WERE LOCATED JUST EAST OF CONCORDIA AND IN KINGMAN COUNTY...OR 30 MILES SOUTH OF HUTCHINSON. BASEBALL SIZE HAIL WAS REPORTED WITH THE KINGMAN STORM. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AND INTO THE NIGHT ACROSS CENTRAL AND EAST KANSAS. BETWEEN 3 AND 5 PM...THE STORMS WILL BE CONFINED TO CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST KANSAS...THEN...AFTER 5 PM...THE STORMS SHOULD MOVE INTO EAST SECTIONS INCLUDING THE TOPEKA AREA. PEOPLE IN THIS AREA SHOULD KEEP ALERT ...DONT STRAY TOO FAR FROM A PROTECTED SHELTER...AND LISTEN FOR POSSIBLE WARNINGS. FELDT
The office that day
Everything else NWS Topeka, KS issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 26, 1:25 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TOP | Ottawa | 65 min |
| Apr 26, 1:48 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TOP | Cloud | 57 min |
| Apr 26, 2:15 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TOP | Republic | 45 min |
| Apr 26, 2:44 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TOP | Washington | 61 min |
| Apr 26, 2:44 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TOP | Cloud | 28 min |
| Apr 26, 3:40 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | TOP | Washington | 17 min |
| Apr 26, 3:59 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TOP | Washington | 61 min |
| Apr 26, 4:06 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | TOP | Lyon, Morris, Wabaunsee | 39 min |
| Apr 26, 4:44 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | TOP | Wabaunsee | 31 min |
| Apr 26, 4:51 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TOP | McPherson | 24 min |
| Apr 26, 5:04 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | TOP | Pottawatomie, Shawnee, Wabaunsee | 56 min |
| Apr 26, 5:04 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | TOP | Jackson | 56 min |
| Apr 26, 5:05 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TOP | Morris | 40 min |
| Apr 26, 5:23 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TOP | Geary | 52 min |
| Apr 26, 5:28 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | TOP | Jackson | 47 min |
| Apr 26, 5:28 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | TOP | Shawnee | 18 min |
| Apr 26, 5:40 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TOP | Morris | 50 min |
| Apr 26, 5:50 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TOP | Wabaunsee | 40 min |
| Apr 26, 6:02 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | TOP | Morris | 21 min |
| Apr 26, 6:16 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | TOP | Atchison, Brown, Jackson | 44 min |
| Apr 26, 6:28 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TOP | Wabaunsee | 47 min |
| Apr 26, 6:52 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TOP | Jackson, Shawnee | 38 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.