Alert archive / Kansas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1994

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 151, NWS Topeka, KS

August 26, 1994Lyon County, Kansas

NWS Topeka, KS issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 26, 1994, 12:18 AM CDT for Lyon County, Kansas. It was in force for 42 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Aug 26, 1994, 12:18 AM CDT (05:18 UTC)
Expired
Aug 26, 1994, 1:00 AM CDT
In force
42 min
Issued by
NWS Topeka, KS
Area
Whole counties

County Lyon County, KS

The nearest sounding before it

Topeka, KS (KTOP), launched 00:00Z, 5.3 hours before the alert went out and 75 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 1994-08-26Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 299 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 00:00Z on 1994-08-26The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 17 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
299 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-106 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
2094 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
29 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
17 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
86 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.7

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KTOP 260520 RRA
SVRTOP
KSC111-139-177-260600-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
1218 AM CDT FRI AUG 26 1994
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TOPEKA HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  100 AM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN EAST CENTRAL KANSAS
 
   ...NORTHERN LYON COUNTY...WESTERN OSAGE COUNTY
   ...SOUTHWESTERN SHAWNEE COUNTY
 
AT 1215 AM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM ABOUT
35 MILES WEST OF TOPEKA NEAR ALMA. THIS STORM WAS MOVING TO THE
SOUTH SOUTHEAST AT 30 MPH AND WILL MOVE ACROSS ESKRIDGE...DOVER...
HARVEYVILLE AND AUBURN TO NEAR BURLINGAME AND ADMIRE BY 1 AM CDT.
 
60 TO 80 MILE AN HOUR WINDS HAVE BEEN REPORTED WITH THESE STORMS AS THEY
MOVED ACROSS EASTERN POTTAWATOMIE AND NORTHERN WABUNSEE COUNTIES.
 
PEOPLE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM SHOULD GET TO A SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.!
 
 
THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM.  IF YOU ARE IN ITS PATH YOU SHOULD
PREPARE FOR DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 55 MPH...LARGE HAIL...AND
DEADLY LIGHTNING.  PEOPLE OUTSIDE SHOULD MOVE TO A SHELTER...
PREFERABLY INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING BUT STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

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, Aug 25, 9:58 PM CDT, 2 hours 20 minutes before
KSZ006>009-018>021-034-035-260350-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONCORDIA KS
957 PM CDT THU AUG 25 1994

...STRONG WINDS ARE OCCURRING OVER OSBORNE COUNTY...

AT 955 PM CDT RADAR INDICATED VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER OSBORNE
COUNTY EXTENDING FROM JUST SOUTH OF DOWNS TO NEAR NATOMA. RADAR INDICATES
THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WINDS OVER 50 MPH...ALONG WITH
HEAVY RAINS AND POSSIBLY PEA-SIZE HAIL.

PERSONS IN OSBORNE COUNTY SHOULD REMAIN INDOORS UNTIL THE STORM HAS
PASSED. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR
LOCAL NEWS MEDIA FOR FURTHER UPDATES.

BAKER
Special weather statement, Aug 25, 10:07 PM CDT, 2 hours 11 minutes before
KSZ010>012-022>026-036-038>040-260410-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
1007 PM CDT THU AUG 25 1994

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE HEADED FOR NORTHEAST KANSAS...

AT 1005 PM...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WAS APPROACHING THE
NORTHEAST KANSAS COUNTIES OF MARSHALL...NEMAHA AND BROWN. THE
STORMS WERE MOVING SOUTHEAST AT AROUND 25 MILES AN HOUR. THIS
MOVEMENT WILL BRING THE STORMS INTO THE MARYSVILLE...SENECA AND
HIAWATHA AREAS BETWEEN 1030 AND 11 PM.

THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE ON THE WEST END OF THE LINE ABOUT
25 MILES NORTHWEST OF MARYSVILLE. THE STORMS HAVE SHOWN A SLIGHT
WEAKENING TREND SINCE 930 PM.

IF YOU LIVE IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS...BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO
A PLACE OF SAFETY IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES OR A WARNING
IS ISSUED.

STRONG GUSTY WIND...FREQUENT LIGHTNING...VERY HEAVY RAINFALL AND
SMALL HAIL MAY ACCOMPANY THE STRONGER STORMS.
Special weather statement, Aug 25, 10:09 PM CDT, 2 hours 9 minutes before
KSZ006>009-018>021-034-035-260400-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONCORDIA KS
1009 PM CDT THU AUG 25 1994

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE THEIR TREK OVER NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS...

AT 1008 PM CDT CONCORDIA RADAR INDICATED AN AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS
OVER NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS EXTENDING TO THE NORTH AND WEST OF A LINE FROM
10 MILES NORTH OF RUSSELL TO BELOIT TO NEAR JAMESTOWN. THE STRONGEST
STORMS WERE LOCATED NEAR BELOIT...AND WERE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PEA-SIZE
HAIL ALONG WITH FREQUENT DEADLY CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING.

THUNDERSTORMS OVER OSBORNE COUNTY HAVE RAPIDLY WEAKENED.

IF YOU SEE THREATENING WEATHER APPROACH...SEEK SHELTER INSIDE AWAY FROM
WINDOWS. LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL NEWS MEDIA FOR FURTHER
UPDATES.

BAKER
Special weather statement, Aug 25, 10:09 PM CDT, 2 hours 9 minutes before
KSZ010>012-022>026-036-038>040-260410-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
1007 PM CDT THU AUG 25 1994

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE HEADED FOR NORTHEAST KANSAS...

AT 1005 PM...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WAS APPROACHING THE
NORTHEAST KANSAS COUNTIES OF MARSHALL...NEMAHA AND BROWN. THE
STORMS WERE MOVING SOUTHEAST AT AROUND 25 MILES AN HOUR. THIS
MOVEMENT WILL BRING THE STORMS INTO THE MARYSVILLE...SENECA AND
HIAWATHA AREAS BETWEEN 1030 AND 11 PM.

THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE ON THE WEST END OF THE LINE ABOUT
25 MILES NORTHWEST OF MARYSVILLE. THE STORMS HAVE SHOWN A SLIGHT
WEAKENING TREND SINCE 930 PM.

IF YOU LIVE IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS...BE PREPARE(D TO MOVE TO
A PLACE OF SAFETY IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES OR A WARNING
IS ISSUED.

STRONG GUSTY WIND...FREQUENT LIGHTNING...VERY HEAVY RAINFALL AND
SMALL HAIL MAY ACCOMPANY THE STRONGER STORMS.
Special weather statement, Aug 25, 10:28 PM CDT, 1 hour 50 minutes before
KSZ006>009-018>021-034-035-260415-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONCORDIA KS
1028 PM CDT THU AUG 25 1994

...THUNDERSTORMS OVER SOUTHEASTERN NEBRASKA SOON TO AFFECT NORTHERN
WASHINGTON COUNTY...

AT 1027 PM...CONCORDIA RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS
OVER SOUTEAST NEBRASKA EXTENDING NORTH OF A LINE FROM NEAR HEBRON TO
FAIRBURY TO ALONG THE NEBRASKA-KANSAS BORDER NORTH OF MARYSVILLE.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 25 MPH AND WILL ENTER
NORTHERN WASHINGTON COUNTY AFTER 1045 PM. THESE THUNDERSTORMS MAY...
HOWEVER...PRODUCE OUTFLOW WINDS UP TO 45 MPH OUT IN ADVANCE OF THE
THUNDERSTORMS LEADING EDGE.

PERSONS IN NORTHERN WASHINGTON COUNTY SHOULD BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO A
PLACE OF SAFETY SHOULD THESE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE THREATENING WEATHER
OR A WARNING IS ISSUED.
.
BAKER
Special weather statement, Aug 25, 11:03 PM CDT, 1 hour 15 minutes before
KSZ006>009-018>021-034-035-260445-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONCORDIA KS
1103 PM CDT THU AUG 25 1994

...WIDELY SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE OVER NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS...

AT 1101 PM...CONCORDIA RADAR INDICATED WIDELY SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS
MAILY SOUTH AND WEST OF A LINE FROM 10 MILES WEST OF ABILENE TO
TO JUST WEST OF CONCORDIA. THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING
FREQUENT DEADLY LIGHTNING ALONG WITH VERY HEAVY RAINS AND GUSTY
WINDS OVER 35 MPH. ALL ACTIVITY WAS MOVEING SOUTHEAST AT AROUND 25 MPH...
ALTHOUGH NEW THUNDERSTORMS WERE DEVELOPING BEHIND THE MAIN AREA...WEST
OF OSBORNE AND SMITH CENTER.

THE THUNDERSTORMS JUST TO THE NORTH OF WASHINGTON COUNTY HAVE BEGIN TO
MOVE INTO NORTHEASTERN PORTIONS OF THE COUNTY JUST TO THE NORTH AND
EAST OF HARLAN. STRONG WINDS TO 50 MPH AND PEA-SIZE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE
WITH THIS STORM.
.
PERSONS OVER NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS SHOULD LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR
LOCAL NEWS MEDIA FOR FURTHER UPDATES.

BAKER

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 25, 11:11 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPWashington28 min
Aug 25, 11:32 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPPottawatomie36 min
Aug 25, 11:54 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPWabaunsee41 min
Aug 26, 12:18 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPOsage, Shawnee42 min
Aug 26, 1:02 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPLyon, Morris44 min
Aug 26, 1:02 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPOsage44 min
Aug 26, 1:30 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPCoffey45 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Kansas, 1994Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1994

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.