Alert archive / Kansas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1997

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 4, NWS Goodland, KS

April 29, 1997Decatur County, Rawlins County, Kansas

NWS Goodland, KS issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Apr 29, 1997, 4:28 PM CDT for Decatur County, Rawlins County, Kansas. It was in force for 47 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Apr 29, 1997, 4:28 PM CDT (21:28 UTC)
Expired
Apr 29, 1997, 5:15 PM CDT
In force
47 min
Issued by
NWS Goodland, KS
Area
Whole counties

Counties Decatur County, KS, Rawlins County, KS

The radar

The Goodland radar (KGLD), 92 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:16 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.

The watch it was issued in

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

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Apr 29, 4:00 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

N. Platte/Lee Bi, NE (KLBF), launched 12:00Z, 9.5 hours before the alert went out and 150 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, N. Platte/Lee Bi, NE at 12:00Z on 1997-04-29Temperature 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, N. Platte/Lee Bi, NE at 12:00Z on 1997-04-29The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 149 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
1270 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
48 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
149 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
195 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 KGLD 292128 RRA
SVRGLD
KSC039-153-292215-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
328 PM MDT TUE APR 29 1997

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR
  WESTERN DECATUR COUNTY IN NORTHWESTERN KANSAS
  EASTERN RAWLINS COUNTY IN NORTHWESTERN KANSAS

* UNTIL 515 PM CDT (415 PM MDT)
 
* SOME LOCATIONS AFFECTED
  OBERLIN                     AROUND 505 PM CDT

* AT 427 PM CDT...GOODLAND DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE
  THUNDERSTORM 11 MILES SOUTHWEST OF OBERLIN NEAR THE
  DECATUR/RAWLINS COUNTY LINE. THE STORM WAS MOVING NORTHEAST
  AT 15 MPH.

SINCE A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT...HAVE A PLAN READY IN CASE
A TORNADO ALSO OCCURS WITH THIS SEVERE TH2UNDERSTORM.  IF YOU HEAR A
LOUD ROARING SOUND OR SEE ROTATING DEBRIS...IT MAY BE A TORNADO.

MENTZER

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 Goodland, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Apr 29, 2:52 PM CDT, 1 hour 36 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 29, 2:52 PM CDT, 1 hour 36 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
152 PM MDT (252 PM CDT) TUE APR 29 1997

...MN FCST PROBLEM WILL BE TSTMS TNGT...

UPR LVL TROF MVG THROUGH ERN WY WITH SECONDARY S/WV THRU WRN CO.
LO LVL MOISTURE HAS DCRD OVR WRN CWA WITH DEWPTS DROPPING 10 DEG
F AT GLD.  AT 19Z DRY LN EXTENDED FM AKO...GLD...TRIBUNE...LAA.
INSTABILITY SHUD INCR LTR THIS AFTN AND TNGT AS ETA SHOWED STG
DIFFERENTIAL THERMAL ADVCTN BETWEEN H8 AND H5.  MODIFIED SNDG
GAVE CAPE AT LBF NEAR 1500.  WL INCLUDE PSBLY SVR FOR NE AND ERN
NW KS CWA DUE TO GREATER MOISTURE AND INSTABILITY AND WL STRATIFY
POPPS W TO E ACCORDINGLY.

STG GRAD FM SFC THRU H7 COMBINED WITH STG SUBSIDENCE WILL GIVE
WINDY CONDITIONS TONIGHT AND EARLY WED.  ALTHOUGH FAIRLY HIGH RH
ON MDLS WL GO PC ON WED DUE TO DNSLOPE AND SUBSIDENCE.

NEXT WEST CST SYS SHUD BE CLOSE ENUF BY THU AFTN TO GIVE A CHC
FOR TSTMS WITH INCRG INSTABILITY.

LTL DIFFERENCE IN MDLS AND WL GO LTL CHG FM NGM MOS TEMPS/POPS.

GLD 040/060/037/062 311     HLC 048/062/037/065 611
CBK 041/061/038/063 311     MCK 040/060/035/063 311
TRB 042/063/037/065 211     ITR 037/060/037/063 211

HULL

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Apr 29, 11:22 AM CDT, 5 hours 6 minutes before
COZ090>092-KSZ001>004-013>016-027>029-041-042-NEZ079>081-300600-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
1022 AM MDT TUE APR 29 1997

THIS OUTLOOK PERTAINS TO THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES

CHEYENNE CO   CHEYENNE KS   DECATUR KS     DUNDY NE        GOVE KS
GRAHAM KS     GREELEY KS    HITCHCOCK NE   KIT CARSON CO   LOGAN KS
NORTON KS     RAWLINS KS    RED WILLOW NE  SHERIDAN KS     SHERMAN KS
THOMAS KS     WALLACE KS    WICHITA KS     YUMA CO

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED AFTER 4 PM EAST OF A TRENTON
NEBRASKA TO GOVE KANSAS LINE.

SYNOPSIS:
A VIGOROUS UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE WILL MOVE OVER THE AREA LATE
THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.  DAYTIME HEATING COUPLED WITH COOLER
AIR ALOFT WILL PROVIDE UNSTABLE CONDITIONS FOR THUNDERSTORMS TO
DEVELOP.  SOME OF THE STORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE ESPECIALLY EAST
OF A TRENTON NEBRASKA TO GOVE KANSAS LINE WHERE HEATING AND MOISTURE
WILL BE GREATEST. PROJECTED STORM MOTION IS FROM WEST TO EAST AT 25
TO 35 MPH.

HULL
Special weather statement, Apr 29, 11:23 AM CDT, 5 hours 5 minutes before
COZ090>092-KSZ001>004-013>016-027>029-041-042-NEZ079>081-300600-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
1022 AM MDT TUE APR 29 1997

THIS OUTLOOK PERTAINS TO THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES

CHEYENNE CO   CHEYENNE KS   DECATUR KS     DUNDY NE        GOVE KS
GRAHAM KS     GREELEY KS    HITCHCOCK NE   KIT CARSON CO   LOGAN KS
NORTON KS     RAWLINS KS    RED WILLOW NE  SHERIDAN KS     SHERMAN KS
THOMAS KS     WALLACE KS    WICHITA KS     YUMA CO

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED AFTER 4 PM EAST OF A TRENTON
NEBRASKA TO GOVE KANSAS LINE.

SYNOPSIS:
A VIGOROUS UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE WILL MOVE OVER THE AREA LATE
THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.  DAYTIME HEATING COUPLED WITH COOLER
AIR ALOFT WILL PROVIDE UNSTABLE CONDITIONS FOR THUNDERSTORMS TO
DEVELOP.  SOME OF THE STORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE ESPECIALLY EAST
OF A TRENTON NEBRASKA TO GOVE KANSAS LINE WHERE HEATING AND MOISTURE
WILL BE GREATEST. PROJECTED STORM MOTION IS FROM WEST TO EAST AT 25
TO 35 MPH.

HULL
Special weather statement, Apr 29, 3:38 PM CDT, 50 minutes before
KSZ002>004-014>016-NEZ080-081-292340-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
238 PM MDT TUE APR 29 1997

...A TORNADO WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST KANSAS
AND SOUTHWEST NEBRASKA UNTIL 10 PM CDT...

THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WATCH FOR PARTS
OF NORTHWEST KANSAS AND SOUTHWEST NEBRASKA UNTIL 10 PM CDT.  THE
FOLLOWING KANSAS COUNTIES ARE IN THE WATCH...NORTON...SHERIDAN
...DECATUR...GRAHAM...RAWLINS...GOVE...AND THOMAS. THE FOLLOWING
NEBRASKA COUNTIES ARE INCLUDED IN THE TORNADO WATCH...HITCHCOCK AND
RED WILLOW.

A TORNADO WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADIC
DEVELOPMENT. LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. IF YOU
OBSERVE A THUNDERSTORM MOVING TOWARD YOU...SEEK SHELTER INSIDE A
BUILDING IMMEDIATELY. STAY TUNED TO THIS STATION FOR THE LATEST
INFORMATION ON THIS DEVELOPING SITUATION.

MENTZER

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 29, 3:41 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGLDRawlins49 min

Nearby

Severe 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.