Alert archive / Missouri / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1997

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 80, NWS Kansas City, MO

May 18, 1997Johnson County, Kansas; Cass County, Jackson County, Missouri

NWS Kansas City, MO issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 18, 1997, 9:54 PM CDT for Johnson County, Kansas; Cass County, Jackson County, Missouri. It was in force for 51 min. 1 report 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
May 18, 1997, 9:54 PM CDT (02:54 UTC)
Expired
May 18, 1997, 10:45 PM CDT
In force
51 min
Issued by
NWS Kansas City, MO
Area
Whole counties

Counties Johnson County, KS, Cass County, MO, Jackson County, MO

The radar

The Pleasant Hill radar (KEAX), 21 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 02:55 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
May 18, 10:03 PM CDTThunderstorm Wind 65Lees Summit, MOLee's Summit Fire Department reported several large trees down from thunderstorm wind gusts to 65 MPH.

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.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
May 18, 5:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Topeka, KS (KTOP), launched 00:00Z, 2.9 hours before the alert went out and 99 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 1997-05-19Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2665 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 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 1997-05-19The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 28 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
2665 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-12 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
2061 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
24 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
28 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
85 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
3.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

004 
WUUS1 KMCI 190254 RRA
SVRMCI
KSC091-MOC037-095-190345-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PLEASANT HILL/KANSAS CITY MO
954 PM CDT SUN MAY 18 1997

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR
    JOHNSON COUNTY - EAST CENTRAL KANSAS
    NORTHERN CASS COUNTY - WEST CENTRAL MISSOURI
    JACKSON COUNTY - NORTHWEST MISSOURI
 
* UNTIL 1045 PM CDT

* SOME LOCATIONS AFFECTED
    GRANDVIEW BY 10 PM
    KANSAS CITY BY 1005 PM
    LEES SUMMIT BY 1015 PM
    BLUE SPRINGS BY 1015 PM

* AT 954 PM WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE
  THUNDERSTORM NEAR GRANDVIEW MOVING EAST 25 MPH.

PEOPLE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM CAN EXPECT HAIL UP TO 2 INCHES IN
DIAMETER AND 70 MPH WINDS.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS.  FOR
YOUR SAFETY...MOVE INDOORS AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

BUNTING

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.

NWS Kansas City, MO wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at May 18, 2:43 PM CDT, 7 hours 11 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 18, 2:43 PM CDT, 7 hours 11 minutes before
NORTHWEST MISSOURI FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PLEASANT HILL/KANSAS CITY MO
240 PM CDT SUN MAY 18 1997

ROUND THREE...ALTHO SITN NOT AS CLEAR CUT AS I WOULD PREFER.
VERY/XTRMLY UNSTABLE AIR IN PLACE TODAY WITH CAPES FCST TO REACH AOA
3000 J/KG GIVEN A SFC PARCEL OF 90/64.  HOWEVER...STILL SOME NEGATIVE
AREA ON SOUNDING WITH THOSE NUMBERS...AND IT'S MORE THAN WAS IN PLACE
YDAY.  SPOT WE WERE KIND OF LOOKING AT FOR CONVECTIVE INITIATION...NW
MO...HAS BEEN UNDER BKN AC DECK...REDUCING HEATING. CONVERGENCE ALONG
PRE-FRONTAL TROF FROM SERN NEB TO SWRN KS NOT ALL THAT STRONG...THO HAS
BEEN INCRG PAST COUPLE OF HOURS PER ADAP. INTERESTING DEVELOPMENT IS
SECONDARY SFC LOW TAKING SHAPE ACRS SWRN KS. ETA FCSTS THIS LOW TO
DEEPEN THRU MIDNIGHT WHICH IN TURN SHD HELP KEEP OUR LOW LVL WINDS FROM
VEERING AROUND TOO TERRIBLY MUCH.  CONVERGENCE ALONG FRONT THEN SHOULD
BE ENHANCED WHICH SHOULD FINALLY GET STUFF GOING.

JUST TOOK AT LOOK AT 18Z SOUNDING FROM TOP AND CIN (NEG AREA) A BIT
MORE STOUT THAN I HAD EXPECTED BASED ON 12Z RUN.  THIS LEADS ME TO
BELIEVE IT WILL BE A LATE SHOW...LATER THAN LAST NIGHT.  15Z RUC SHOWS
NO PCPN IN CWA THRU 03Z AND I'M INCLINED TO THINK IT'S GOT THE RIGHT
IDEA (DESPITE THE FACT THAT RUC BLEW IT LAST NIGHT).  BOTTOM LINE THO
CONVGC ALG FRONT SHOULD EVENTUALLY OVERCOME CAP WITH ETA GENERATING
COPIOUS QPF'S IN 03-12Z TIME FRAME.  NOT QUITE READY TO JUMP ONTO FWC'C
CATEGORICAL POPS BANDWAGON THO (WILL PROBABLY JUST USE COVERAGE VS POPS
FOR NRN ZONES WITH AS PERSISTENT SHRA/TSRA CONTINUE). GIVEN
THUNDER...SVR SHD FOLLOW AND CURRENT ZONES HAVE THIS MENTIONED. MID-LVL
WINDS STILL PRETTY WEAK...BUT STRONGER ALG IA BORDER WHERE TOR THREAT
IS PROBABLY HIGHER THAN SRN ZONES.  WITH 3000 CAPE THO...ALL BETS OFF
DESPITE LACK OF GOOD TURNING IN LOW LVL WINDS.

ENUF ABOUT 1ST PD.  STILL SOME Q-VECTOR CONVGC AND UPWARD VV'S AFT 12Z
MON AS UPR WAVE DOESN'T QUITE CLEAR AREA UNTIL MIDDAY.  THO THINK LINE
OF TSRA WILL HAVE CLEARED CWA BY 12Z MON...PSBLTY OF PCPN LINGERING
INTO 2ND PERIOD WARRANTS CONTINUING CHC POPS FOR NOW.

SIGNIFICANT COOLING TO TAKE PLACE IN 2ND AND 3RD PERIODS WITH 850 ZERO
C DEG LINE FCST TO DROP INTO NRN MO BY 48 HRS.  SORT OF PREFER WARMER
FWC...THO NOT QUITE READY NUDGE TEMPS BACK UPWARD FOR MON.  SFC RIDGE
AXIS JUST TO OUR WEST BY 12Z TUE SO WINDS LOOK LIKE THEY MAY STAY UP
JUST ENUF MON NIGHT TO KEEP MINS FROM BOTTOMING OUT TOO BAD.  NICE DAY
SET FOR TUE AND GUIDANCE FINE.

MCI EU 057/064 045/070 050 99740

MANION

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 18, 7:25 PM CDT, 2 hours 29 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PLEASANT HILL/KANSAS CITY MISSOURI
725 PM CDT SUN MAY 18 1997

...CORRECTION TO TIMES...TO ADD REPORT...AND TO CHANGE COUNTY..,

TIME(CST)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0617 PM    LAREDO                    MO   1 INCH HAIL
05/18/97   GRUNDY

0628 PM    4 SSW HUMPHRIES           MO   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/18/97   SULLIVAN

0636 PM    2 W BROWNING              MO   .88 INCH HAIL
05/18/97   LINN

0659 PM    BROWNING                  MO   1 INCH HAIL
05/18/97   SULLIVAN
Local storm report, May 18, 7:28 PM CDT, 2 hours 26 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PLEASANT HILL/KANSAS CITY MISSOURI
725 PM CDT SUN MAY 18 1997

...CORRECTION TO TIMES...TO ADD REPORT...AND TO CHANGE COUNTY..,

TIME(CST)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0617 PM    LAREDO                    MO   1 INCH HAIL
05/18/97   GRUNDY

0628 PM    4 SSW HUMPHRIES           MO   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/18/97   SULLIVAN

0636 PM    2 W BROWNING              MO   .88 INCH HAIL
05/18/97   LINN

0659 PM    BROWNING                  MO   1 INCH HAIL
05/18/97   SULLIVAN           @
Local storm report, May 18, 9:31 PM CDT, 23 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PLEASANT HILL/KANSAS CITY MISSOURI
931 PM CDT SUN MAY 18 1997

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0730 PM    WINIGAN                   MO   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/18/97   SULLIVAN                       GOLFBALL HAIL 1 EAST OF
                                          WINIGAN

0736 PM    13 E SAVANNAH             MO   .75 INCH HAIL
05/18/97   ANDREW                         DIME SIZE HAIL

0737 PM    OAK                       MO   .75 INCH HAIL
05/18/97   DE KALB                        DIME SIZE HAIL 1 MI N OF
                                          OAK

0746 PM    NOVINGER                  MO   .88 INCH HAIL
05/18/97   ADAIR                          NICKLE SIZE HAIL 8 MILES
                                          WEST OF NOVINGER

0810 PM    GREENTOP                  MO   1 INCH HAIL
05/18/97   SCHUYLER                       QUARTER SIZE HAIL 5 E
                                          GREENTOP

0811 PM    LANSING                   KS   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/18/97   LEAVENWORTH                    GOLFBALL HAIL IN LANSING
                                          JARBOLO AND BASEHOR

0851 PM    GIFFORD                   MO   .75 INCH HAIL
05/18/97   MACON                          DIME SIZE HAIL JUST SOUTH
                                          OF GIFFORD

0900 PM    KIRKSVILLE                MO   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/18/97   ADAIR                          GOLFBALL HAIL FELL FOR 5
                                          MINUTES

CORRECTED 737 PM REPORT
Local storm report, May 18, 9:34 PM CDT, 20 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PLEASANT HILL/KANSAS CITY MISSOURI
931 PM CDT SUN MAY 18 1997

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0730 PM    WINIGAN                   MO   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/18/97   SULLIVAN                       GOLFBALL HAIL 1 EAST OF
                                          WINIGAN

0736 PM    13 E SAVANNAH             MO   .75 INCH HAIL
05/18/97   ANDREW                         DIME SIZE HAIL

0737 PM    OAK                       MO   .75 INCH HAIL
05/18/97   DE KALB                        DIME SIZE HAIL 1 MI N OF
                                          OAK

0746 PM    NOVINGER                  MO   .88 INCH HAIL
05/18/97   ADAIR                          NICKLE SIZE HAIL 8 MILES
                                          WEST OF NOVINGER

0810 PM    GREENTOP                  MO   1 INCH HAIL
05/18/97   SCHUYLER                       QUARTER SIZE HAIL 5 E
                                          GREENTOP

0811 PM    LANSING                   KS   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/18/97   LEAVENWORTH                    GOLFBALL HAIL IN LANSING
                                          JARBOLO AND BASEHOR

0851 PM    GIFFORD                   MO   .75 INCH HAIL
05/18/97   MACON                          DIME SIZE HAIL JUST SOUTH
                                          OF GIFFORD

0900 PM    KIRKSVILLE                MO   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/18/97   ADAIR                          GOLFBALL HAIL FELL FOR 5
                                          MINUTES

CORRECTED 737 PM REPORZT

The office that day

Everything else NWS Kansas City, MO issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 18, 7:42 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEAXLeavenworth63 min
May 18, 8:04 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEAXWyandotte56 min
May 18, 8:46 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEAXLeavenworth59 min
May 18, 10:01 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEAXMiami59 min
May 18, 11:09 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningEAXMiami4 hr
May 18, 7:07 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEAXAdair68 min
May 18, 7:21 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEAXAndrew, DeKalb69 min
May 18, 7:26 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEAXSullivan34 min
May 18, 7:58 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEAXSchuyler47 min
May 18, 8:13 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEAXAdair47 min
May 18, 8:29 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEAXCaldwell, Livingston61 min
May 18, 8:31 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEAXClay59 min
May 18, 8:44 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEAXLinn, Macon61 min
May 18, 8:50 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEAXRay70 min
May 18, 9:03 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEAXAdair57 min
May 18, 9:52 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEAXClay53 min
May 18, 10:05 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEAXRay55 min
May 18, 10:22 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEAXJohnson, Lafayette53 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Missouri, 1997Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Kansas, 1997Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1997

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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.