Alert archive / Kansas / Tornado Warnings in 1993

Tornado Warning 2, NWS Topeka, KS

May 6, 1993Shawnee County, Wabaunsee County, Kansas

NWS Topeka, KS issued this tornado warning at May 6, 1993, 5:48 PM CDT for Shawnee County, Wabaunsee County, Kansas. It was in force for 42 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 6, 1993, 5:48 PM CDT (22:48 UTC)
Expired
May 6, 1993, 6:30 PM CDT
In force
42 min
Issued by
NWS Topeka, KS
Area
Whole counties

Counties Shawnee County, KS, Wabaunsee County, KS

The nearest sounding before it

Topeka, KS (KTOP), launched 12:00Z, 10.8 hours before the alert went out and 29 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 1993-05-06Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 843 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 1993-05-06The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -15 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
843 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-37 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
802 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
31 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-15 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-15 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
-0.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KTOP 062249
TORTOP
KSC177-197-062330-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
548 PM CDT THU MAY 6 1993
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TOPEKA HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  630 PM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN EAST CENTRAL KANSAS
 
   ...WESTERN SHAWNEE COUNTY...EASTERN WABAUNSEE COUNTY
 
AT 543 PM A TORNADO WAS SPOTTED 27 MILES SOUTHWEST OF TOPEKA OR
2 MILES NORTHEAST OF ESKRIDGE BY THE ESKRIDGE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
 
THE TORNADO WAS MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH AND WILL
MOVE INTO THE KEENE AND DOVER AREA BY 615 PM.
 
THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS STORM.  ACT QUICKLY.  IF YOU ARE IN THE
PATH OF THIS TORNADO MOVE TO A SHE6LTER 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.
 
LAPLANTE
 
&

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 6, 2:36 PM CDT, 3 hours 12 minutes before
KSZ013-014-015-016-062030-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
234 PM CDT THU MAY 6 1993

...SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE ACROSS NORTHEAST
KANSAS...

AT 225 PM A LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM
NEAR MARYSVILLE TO 10 MILES WEST OF TOPEKA TO 27 MILES SOUTHEAST
OF EMPORIA NEAR BURLINGTON.

THE STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH AND WILL
MOVE INTO THE TOPEKA AREA BY 3 PM. BY 330 PM THE LINE OF
STORMS WILL EXTEND FROM HIAWATHA TO 10 MILES WEST OF LAWRENCE TO
GARNETT.

HEAVY RAIN...DANGEROUS LIGTNING AND WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH
WILL ACCOMPANY THE STRONGER STORMS.

A TORNADO WATCH CONTINUES UNTIL 9 PM.

LAPLANTE

 P
Special weather statement, May 6, 3:25 PM CDT, 2 hours 23 minutes before
KSZ013-014-015-016-062130-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
323 PM CDT THU MAY 6 1993

...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE ACROSS NORTHEAST KANSAS....

AT 315 PM A THUNDERSTORM WAS 10 MILES WEST OF LAWRENCE NEAR
CLINTON LAKE. THE STORM WAS MOVING TO THE NORTH AT 40 MPH AND WILL
MOVE OVER THE TURNPIKE AND REACH PERRY LAKE BY 4 PM.

ANOTHER STORM LOCATED 10 MILES SOUTH OF CLAY CENTER WAS MOVING
TO THE NORTH AT 40 MPH AND WILL MOVE INTO THE MARYSVILLE
AREA BY 410 PM.

HEAVY RAIN...LIGHTNING AND WIND GUSTS TO 40 MILES AN HOUR CAN
BE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.

MORE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM CLAY CENTER SOUTH
TO WICHITA AND THESE WILL MOVE INpTO THE JUNCTION CITY TO
COUNCIL GROVE AREAS BY 4PM.

LAPLANTE
Special weather statement, May 6, 3:56 PM CDT, 1 hour 52 minutes before
KSZ013-014-015-016-062200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
355 PM CDT THU MAY 6 1993

...ANOTHER LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS IS MOVING INTO NORTHEAST KANSAS...

AT 350 PM A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM MARYSVILLE TO JUNCTION
CITY TO WESTERN MORRIS COUNTY.

THE STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH AND WILL EXTEND
FROM 10 MILES SOUTHEAST OF MARYSVILLE TO MANHATTAN TO COUNCIL
GROVE BY 445 PM.

HEAVY RAIN...LIGHTNING AND WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH WILL ACCOMPANY THE
STRONGER STORMS.

A TORNADO WATCH CONTINUES FOR NORTHEAST KANSAS UNTIL 9 PM.

LAPLANTE
Special weather statement, May 6, 4:07 PM CDT, 1 hour 41 minutes before
KSZ007-008-010-011-062215-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONCORDIA KS
407 PM CDT THU MAY 6 1993

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS FOR EASTERN OSBORNE AND ALL OF SMITH
COUNTY HAS EXPIRED...

AT 4 PM CDT RADAR INDICATED THE THUNDERSTORMS OVER EASTERN OSBORNE AND
SMITH COUNTIES HAVE WEAKENED. THE THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED IN A 15 MILE WIDE
BAND FROM 50 MILES NORTHWEST OF CONCORDIA IN NORTHWEST JEWELL COUNTY SOUTH-
WARD TO 45 MILES WEST OF CONCORDIA NEAR DOWNS. THESE STORMS WERE STILL CAPABLE
OF PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN...GUSTY WINDS...PEA TO MARBLE SIZE HAIL AND
DEADLY LIGHTNING AS THEY MOVE TO THE NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

ANOTHER STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 45 MILES WEST OF SALINA NEAR WILSON
AND WAS ALSO MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH AND COULD CONTAIN BRIEF VERY HEAVY
RAIN...HAIL...GUSTY WINDS AND DEADLY LIGHTNING. A TORNADO WATCH CONTINUES IN
EFFECT FOR MOST OF CENTRAL AND NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS UNTIL 8 PM CDT.  IF
THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES MOVE TO SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.  SW
Special weather statement, May 6, 4:08 PM CDT, 1 hour 40 minutes before
KSZ007-008-010-011-062215-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONCORDIA KS
407 PM CDT THU MAY 6 1993

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS FOR EASTERN OSBORNE AND ALL OF SMITH
COUNTY HAS EXPIRED...

AT 4 PM CDT RADAR INDICATED THE THUNDERSTORMS OVER EASTERN OSBORNE AND
SMITH COUNTIES HAVE WEAKENED. THE THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED IN A 15 MILE WIDE
BAND FROM 50 MILES NORTHWEST OF CONCORDIA IN NORTHWEST JEWELL COUNTY SOUTH-
WARD TO 45 MILES WEST OF CONCORDIA NEAR DOWNS. THESE STORMS WERE STILL CAPABLE
OF PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN...GUSTY WINDS...PEA TO MARBLE SIZE HAIL AND
DEADLY LIGHTNING AS THEY MOVE TO THE NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

ANOTHER STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 45 MILES WEST OF SALINA NEAR WILSON
AND WAS ALSO MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH AND COULD CONTAIN BRIEF VERY HEAVY
RAIN...HAIL...GUSTY WINDS AND DEADLY LIGHTNING. A TORNADO WATCH CONTINUES IN
EFFECT FOR MOST OF CENTRAL AND NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS UNTIL 8 PM CDT.  IFn
THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES MOVE TO SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.  SW
Special weather statement, May 6, 4:35 PM CDT, 1 hour 13 minutes before
KSZ013-014-015-016-062230-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
434 PM CDT THU MAY 6 1993

...THUNDERSTORMS STRENGTHEN ACROSS NORTHEAST KANSAS...

AT 425 PM A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM MARYSVILLE
TO MANHATTAN TO 40 MILES NORTHEAST OF WICHITA. STRONGER
STORMS WERE 22 MILES SOUTHWEST OF EMPORIA AND IN THE MANHATTAN
AREA.

THE STRONGEST STORM WILL MOVE INTO WESTERN LYON COUNTY AND REACH
THE AMERICUS AND ADMIRE AREAS BY 530 PM.  VERY HEAVY RAIN...WIND
GUSTS TO 50 MPH AND SMALL HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

BY 530 PM THE LINE OF STORMS WILL EXTEND FROM SENECA TO ST MARYS TO
EMPORIA.

A TORNADO WATCH CONTINUES UNTIL 9 PM.

LAPLANTE

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 6, 12:12 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPMitchell33 min
May 6, 12:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPCloud, Jewell, Republic36 min
May 6, 2:39 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPOsborne51 min
May 6, 3:08 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPSmith52 min
May 6, 3:27 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPOsborne33 min
May 6, 4:21 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPJewell54 min
May 6, 5:08 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPLyon52 min
May 6, 5:37 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPCloud17 min
May 6, 5:39 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPJackson, Nemaha, Pottawatomie51 min
May 6, 6:03 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPNemaha27 min
May 6, 6:20 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPShawnee29 min
May 6, 6:21 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPJackson54 min
May 6, 6:55 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPBrown35 min
May 6, 6:56 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPOsage49 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.