Alert archive / Kansas / Tornado Warnings in 1991

Tornado Warning 22, NWS Topeka, KS

April 26, 1991Lyon County, Morris County, Wabaunsee County, Kansas

NWS Topeka, KS issued this tornado warning at Apr 26, 1991, 4:06 PM CDT for Lyon County, Morris County, Wabaunsee County, Kansas. It was in force for 39 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, 4:06 PM CDT (21:06 UTC)
Expired
Apr 26, 1991, 4:45 PM CDT
In force
39 min
Issued by
NWS Topeka, KS
Area
Whole counties

Counties Lyon County, KS, Morris County, KS, Wabaunsee County, KS

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Apr 26, 4:10 PM CDTTornado F0Morris, KS
Apr 26, 4:20 PM CDTTornado F0Wabaunsee, KS
Apr 26, 4:35 PM CDTTornado F2Wabaunsee, 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, 9.1 hours before the alert went out and 69 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 1991-04-26Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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 1991-04-26The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 507 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
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

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KTOP 262112
TORTOP
KSC111-127-197-262145-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
406 PM CDT FRI APR 26 1991
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TOPEKA HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  445 PM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN EAST CENTRAL KANSAS
 
   ...NORTH LYON COUNTY...EASTERN MORRIS COUNTY
   ...SOUTH WABAUNSEE COUNTY
 
AT 405 PM...A TORNADO WAS INDICATED BY RADAR 15 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
COUNCIL GROVE IN EAST MORRIS COUNTY...THIS IS 20 MILES NORTHWEST OF
EMPORIA.
 
BETWEEN 4 AND 445 PM...THIS STORM WILL MOVE ACROSS NORTH
LYON...EAST MORRIS AND SOUTH WABAUNSEE COUNTIES.
 
FELDT
 
 
 
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 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, 1:27 PM CDT, 2 hours 39 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, 2 hours 18 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, 1 hour 59 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, 1 hour 13 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
Special weather statement, Apr 26, 3:22 PM CDT, 44 minutes before
KSZ009-010-011-012-013-014-015-016-017-262130-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
321 PM CDT FRI APR 26 1991

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM IS HEADED TOWARDS EMPORIA FROM THE
SOUTHWEST...

AT 315 PM...A VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 20 MILES SOUTHWEST
OF EMPORIA ALONG THE KANSAS TURNPIKE IN CHASE COUNTY.  THIS STORM IS
DEVELOPING RAPIDLY AND COULD PRODUCE HAIL.

BETWEEN 315 AND 345 PM...THIS STORM WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE RAPIDLY NORTNORTHEAST INTO LYON COUNTY CLOSE TO EMPORIA AND THE COMMUNITY OF
PLYMOUTH.

PEOPLE IN THIS AREA SHOULD KEEP ALERT TO THIS RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER
SITUATION...AND BE PREPARED TO SEEK SHELTER IF CONDITIONS WARRENT OR A
WARNING IvS ISSUED.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST
KANSAS UNTIL 8 PM.

FELDT
Special weather statement, Apr 26, 3:57 PM CDT, 9 minutes before
KSZ010-011-012-013-014-015-016-017-262200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
357 PM CDT FRI APR 26 1991

...A TORNADO WATCH COVERS CENTRAL AND EAST KANSAS...

AT 4 PM...A VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED ALONG THE
MORRIS...CHASE...LYON COUNTY BORDERS.  THIS STORM PRODUCED PEA SIZE
HAIL AS IT PASSED DUNLAP...20 MILES NORTHWEST  OF EMPORIA.

BETWEEN 4 AND 430 PM..THIS STORM WILL MOVE ACROSS EAST MORRIS AND WEST
LYON COUNTIES....BETWEEN EMPORIA AND COUNCIL GROVE.

PEOPLE IN THIS AREA SHOULD KEEP ALERT AND LISTEN FOR POSSIBLE
WARNINGS.

FELDT

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 26, 1:25 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPOttawa65 min
Apr 26, 1:48 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPCloud57 min
Apr 26, 2:15 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPRepublic45 min
Apr 26, 2:44 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPWashington61 min
Apr 26, 2:44 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPCloud28 min
Apr 26, 3:00 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPWashington45 min
Apr 26, 3:40 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPWashington17 min
Apr 26, 3:59 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPWashington61 min
Apr 26, 4:44 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPWabaunsee31 min
Apr 26, 4:51 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPMcPherson24 min
Apr 26, 5:04 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPPottawatomie, Shawnee, Wabaunsee56 min
Apr 26, 5:04 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPJackson56 min
Apr 26, 5:05 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPMorris40 min
Apr 26, 5:23 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPGeary52 min
Apr 26, 5:28 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPJackson47 min
Apr 26, 5:28 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPShawnee18 min
Apr 26, 5:40 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPMorris50 min
Apr 26, 5:50 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPWabaunsee40 min
Apr 26, 6:02 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPMorris21 min
Apr 26, 6:16 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPAtchison, Brown, Jackson44 min
Apr 26, 6:28 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPWabaunsee47 min
Apr 26, 6:52 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPJackson, Shawnee38 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.