Alert archive / Kansas / Tornado Warnings in 1993

Tornado Warning 25, NWS Dodge City, KS

May 17, 1993Barber County, Kansas

NWS Dodge City, KS issued this tornado warning at May 17, 1993, 5:29 PM CDT for Barber County, Kansas. It was in force for 46 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 17, 1993, 5:29 PM CDT (22:29 UTC)
Expired
May 17, 1993, 6:15 PM CDT
In force
46 min
Issued by
NWS Dodge City, KS
Area
Whole counties

County Barber County, KS

The nearest sounding before it

Dodge City, (KDDC), launched 12:00Z, 10.5 hours before the alert went out and 123 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, Dodge City, at 12:00Z on 1993-05-17Temperature 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, Dodge City, at 12:00Z on 1993-05-17The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 133 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
617 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
19 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
133 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
212 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 KDDC 172233
TORDDC
KSC007-172315-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY KS
529 PM CDT MON MAY 17 1993
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DODGE CITY HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  615 PM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...
 
IN SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS
 
   ...BARBER COUNTY
 
AT 525 PM CDT...DOPPLER WEATHER RADAR INDICATED A TORNADO 20 MILES WEST
OF MEDICINE LODGE NEAR HIGHWAY 160. THIS TORNADO WAS MOVING TO THE EAST
AT 15 MILES AN HOUR. PERSONS IN BARBER COUNTY SHOULD GO TO THEIR TORNADO
SHELTERS NOW.
 
IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF A TORNADO...THE SAFEST PLACE IS A
BASEMENT.  GET UNDER A STAIRWELL OR PIECE 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.
 
 
SZKIL

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, May 17, 3:16 PM CDT, 2 hours 13 minutes before
KSZ006-172115-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY KS
316 PM CDT MON MAY 17 1993

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS RAPIDLY DEVELOPING...

AT 312 PM...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A RAPIDLY DEVELOPING STRONG
THUNDERSTORM ABOUT 8 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BUCKLIN OR 25 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
DODGE CITY.  THE STORM HAD DEVELOPED VERY RAPIDLY AND IS CAPABLE OF
PRODUCING BRIEF HEAVY RAIN...HAIL...GUSTY WIND TO 40 MILES AN HOUR AND
DEADLY LIGHTNING.

THE STORM WAS MOVING EAST/NORTHEAST AT 15 MILES AN HOUR AND WILL BE IN
THE BUCKLIN AREA BY 325 PM.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR COMMERCIAL RADIO AND TELEVISION
STATIONS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.   ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS WILL
LIKELY DEVELOP BY 4 PM AS THEY MOVE THROUGH PARTS OF CLARK...SOUTHEAST
FORD...EDWARDS AND KIOWA COUNTIES.

HUTTON
Special weather statement, May 17, 3:19 PM CDT, 2 hours 10 minutes before
KSZ006-172115-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY KS
316 PM CDT MON MAY 17 1993

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS RAPIDLY DEVELOPING...

AT 312 PM...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A RAPIDLY DEVELOPING STRONG
THUNDERSTORM ABOUT 8 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BUCKLIN OR 25 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
DODGE CITY.  THE STORM HAD DEVELOPED VERY RAPIDLY AND IS CAPABLE OF
PRODUCING BRIEF HEAVY RAIN...HAIL...GUSTY WIND TO 40 MILES AN HOUR AND
DEADLY LIGHTNING.

THE STORM WAS MOVING EAST/NORTHEAST AT 15 MILES AN HOUR AND WILL BE IN
THE BUCKLIN AREA BY 325 PM.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR COMMERCIAL RADIO AND TELEVISION
STATIONS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.   ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS WILL
LIKELY DEVELOP BY 4 PM AS THEY MOVE THROUGH PARTS OF CLARK...SOUTHEAST
FORD...EDWARDS AND KIOWA COUNTIES.

HUTTON
Special weather statement, May 17, 3:38 PM CDT, 1 hour 51 minutes before
KSZ002-003-005-006-008-009-172145-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY KS
338 PM CDT MON MAY 17 1993

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR A PORTION OF SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WATCH UNTIL
1000 PM CDT FOR A PORTION OF SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS. THE COUNTIES OF
STAFFORD...EDWARDS...PAWNEE...KIOWA...COMANCHE...PRATT...AND BARBER
ARE INCLUDED IN THE WATCH. SOME CITIES AND TOWNS INCLUDED IN THE WATCH
ARE PRATT...LARNED...GREENSBURG...MEDICINE LODGE...AND COLDWATER.

REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADOES
AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.

AT 3:35 PM CDT..DOPPLER WEATHER RADAR INDICATED A DEVELOPING LINE OF
THUNDERSTORMS FROM 25 MILES EAST OF DODGE CITY TO 25 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
DODGE CITY. THIS LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS JUST ENTERING INTO WESTERN
KIOWA COUNTY. THESE STORMS WILL PRODUCE HEAVY RAINS...HAIL...STRONG
WINDS...AND DEADLY LIGHTNING. IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THESE
STORMS...MOVE INSIDE A STURDY SHELTER AND REMAIN THERE UNTIL THE STORMS
PASS.

STAY TUNED TO LOCAL RADIO AND TELEVISION STATIONS FOR THE LATEST WEATHER
INFORMATION.

SZKIL
Special weather statement, May 17, 3:40 PM CDT, 1 hour 49 minutes before
KSZ002-003-005-006-008-009-172145-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY KS
338 PM CDT MON MAY 17 1993

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR A PORTION OF SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WATCH UNTIL
1000 PM CDT FOR A PORTION OF SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS. THE COUNTIES OF
STAFFORD...EDWARDS...PAWNEE...KIOWA...COMANCHE...PRATT...AND BARBER
ARE INCLUDED IN THE WATCH. SOME CITIES AND TOWNS INCLUDED IN THE WATCH
ARE PRATT...LARNED...GREENSBURG...MEDICINE LODGE...AND COLDWATER.

REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADOES
AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.

AT 3:35 PM CDT..DOPPLER WEATHER RADAR INDICATED A DEVELOPING LINE OF
THUNDERSTORMS FROM 25 MILES EAST OF DODGE CITY TO 25 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
DODGE CITY. THIS LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS JUST ENTERING INTO WESTERN
KIOWA COUNTY. THESE STORMS WILL PRODUCE HEAVY RAINS...HAIL...STRONG
WINDS...AND DEADLY LIGHTNING. IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THESE
STORMS...MOVE INSIDE A STURDY SHELTER AND REMAIN THERE UNTIL THE STORMS
PASS.

STAY TUNED TO LOCAL RADIO AND TELEVISION STATIONS FOR THE LATEST WEATHER
INFORMATION.

SZKIL
 
Special weather statement, May 17, 4:01 PM CDT, 1 hour 28 minutes before
KSZ006-009-172200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY KS
401 PM CDT MON MAY 17 1993

...VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE THREATENING PARTS OF CLARK AND
COMANCHE COUNTY...

AT 400 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS IN A LINE
FROM 35 MILES SOUTHEAST OF DODGE CITY TO 50 MILES SOUTH OF DODGE CITY.
THE LINE WAS MOVING EAST AT AROUND 20 MILES AN HOUR.  THE STORMS IN THE
LINE WILL REACH ASHLAND BY 410 PM.

THESE STORMS WERE PRODUCING STRONG GUSTY WINDS...BRIEF VERY HEAVY
RAINS...DEADLY LIGHTNING AND POSSIBLY SOME SMALL HAIL AS THEY MOVE OVER
OPEN FARM COUNTRY.

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CDT FOR THE AREA SOUTH OF
THE ARKANSAS RIVER AND ALONG AND EAST OF HIGHWAY 183...

THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE TORNADOES WITH LITTLE OR
NO ADVANCED WARNING.  BE PREPARED TO SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER IF A WARNING
IS ISSUED.

JOHNSON
Special weather statement, May 17, 4:03 PM CDT, 1 hour 26 minutes before
KSZ006-009-172200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY KS
401 PM CDT MON MAY 17 1993

...VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE THREATENING PARTS OF CLARK AND
COMANCHE COUNTY...

AT 400 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS IN A LINE
FROM 35 MILES SOUTHEAST OF DODGE CITY TO 50 MILES SOUTH OF DODGE CITY.
THE LINE WAS MOVING EAST AT AROUND 20 MILES AN HOUR.  THE STORMS IN THE
LINE WILL REACH ASHLAND BY 410 PM.

THESE STORMS WERE PRODUCING STRONG GUSTY WINDS...BRIEF VERY HEAVY
RAINS...DEADLY LIGHTNING AND POSSIBLY SOME SMALL HAIL AS THEY MOVE OVER
OPEN FARM COUNTRY.

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CDT FOR THE AREA SOUTH OF
THE ARKANSAS bRIVER AND ALONG AND EAST OF HIGHWAY 183...

THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE TORNADOES WITH LITTLE OR
NO ADVANCED WARNING.  BE PREPARED TO SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER IF A WARNING
IS ISSUED.

JOHNSON

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 17, 3:54 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDDCKiowa51 min
May 17, 4:05 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDDCClark, Comanche40 min
May 17, 4:27 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDDCStafford42 min
May 17, 4:40 PM CDTTornado WarningDDCStafford50 min
May 17, 4:47 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDDCKiowa43 min
May 17, 4:49 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDDCComanche41 min
May 17, 5:15 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDDCBarber45 min
May 17, 5:43 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDDCComanche32 min
May 17, 6:15 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDDCBarber45 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Kansas, 1993Every tornado warning in 1993Tornadoes in 1993

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.