Alert archive / Kansas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2003

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 10, NWS Hastings, NE

April 16, 2003Jewell County, Mitchell County, Kansas

NWS Hastings, NE issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Apr 16, 2003, 12:40 AM CDT for Jewell County, Mitchell County, Kansas. It was in force for 50 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Apr 16, 2003, 12:40 AM CDT (05:40 UTC)
Expired
Apr 16, 2003, 1:30 AM CDT
In force
50 min
Issued by
NWS Hastings, NE
Area
Counties, with a storm outline in the text

Counties Jewell County, KS, Mitchell County, KS

The radar

The Grand Island radar (KUEX), 79 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 05:43 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.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this severe thunderstorm warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The nearest sounding before it

Topeka, KS (KTOP), launched 00:00Z, 5.7 hours before the alert went out and 231 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 2003-04-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 220 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 2003-04-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 66 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
220 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-147 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1090 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
30 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
66 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
78 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.6

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

257 
WUUS53 KGID 160540
SVRGID
KSC089-123-160630-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
1240 AM CDT WED APR 16 2003

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HASTINGS HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  JEWELL COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS
  MITCHELL COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS

* UNTIL 130 AM CDT

* AT 1237 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SHORT LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FROM 4 MILES WEST OF CAWKER
  CITY TO 8 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BELOIT...OR FROM 45 MILES WEST OF
  CONCORDIA TO 31 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CONCORDIA...MOVING NORTH AT 50
  MPH.

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR...
  BELOIT AT 1245 AM CDT
  IONIA AT 1250 AM CDT
  RANDALL AT 105 AM CDT
  MANKATO AT 110 AM CDT
  MONTROSE AT 120 AM CDT

PEOPLE IN JEWELL AND MITCHELL COUNTIES SHOULD SEEK SHELTER IN A
STURDY STRUCTURE AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

THE PRIMARY SEVERE WEATHER THREAT IS STRONG AND DAMAGING WINDS IN
EXCESS OF 60 MPH.

LAT...LON 3924 9810 3946 9848 3999 9849 3999 9807
          3989 9797
$$
NNNN

09

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 Hastings, NE wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Apr 15, 2:48 PM CDT, 9 hours 52 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 15, 2:48 PM CDT, 9 hours 52 minutes before
SOUTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA/NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
248 PM CDT TUE APR 15 2003

...TIMING OF SEVERE AND WIND MAIN FCST PROBLEMS...

DRYLINE TRYING TO SHARPEN UP OVER WESTERN KANSAS AND FAR SOUTHWEST
NEBRASKA THIS AFTERNOON WITH ISOLATED STORMS STARTING UP ALONG
DRYLINE OVER WESTERN KANSAS. CURRENT FEELING HERE, AND AGREE WITH LATEST
SPC THOUGHTS, IS THAT STORMS WILL PROPAGATE NORTHEAST TONIGHT. ETA
KF AND UPDRAFT MASS FLUX ALSO SUGGESTING SAME. SEE LITTLE REASON THEN
TO CHANGE WHAT WE HAVE GOING IN THE FORECAST FOR THE SHORT TERM. AS
FOR WINDS...WITH SFC LOW CRANKING UP TO OUR SOUTHWEST THIS AFTERNOON
AND WINDS OVER CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN CWA INCREASING ACCORDINGLY, SEE
NO REASON WHY CWA WONT CONTINUE TO REALIZE WIND ADV CONDITIONS
THROUGH THIS EVENING. THUS, WILL PLAN TO EXTEND AND EXPAND WIND ADV
TO COVER THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN CWA FOR TONIGHT.

FOR WEDNESDAY...AGAIN CURRENT FORECAST APPEARS REASONABLE, THUS SEE
LITTLE REASON TO CHANGE THE FORECAST SAVE FOR INCREASING POPS DUE TO
THE EXPECTED WRAPAROUND PCPN SHIELD. AGAIN...VERY TIGHT SFC GRADIENT
ALL CWA TOMORROW, SO WILL PLAN TO BLANKET CWA WITH AN ADVISORY. WITH
AMPLE CLOUD AROUND MOST OF THE DAY, WE MAY HAVE A HARD TIME
REALIZING ANY DOWNWARD MOM. TRANSFER...THUS WILL JUST STICK WITH THE
ADVISORY. ONLY OTHER CHANGE MADE FOR WEDNESDAY WAS TO LOWER HIGHS
THANKS TO CAA AND CLOUD COVER.

EXTENDED MODELS CONTINUE TO ADVERTISE ANOTHER SHORTWAVE TROF
AFFECTING THE CENTRAL PLAINS FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. WITH POPS
ALREADY IN FORECAST, WILL PLAN TO LEAVE ALONE THIS CYCLE AS WELL.

.GID...WIND ADVISORY TONIGHT FOR POINTS ALONG AND SOUTH OF I-80.
       WIND ADVISORY ALL CWA FOR WEDNESDAY.

16
Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 15, 11:08 AM CDT, 13 hours 32 minutes before
KSZ005>007-017>019-NEZ039>041-046>049-060>064-072>077-082>087-161200-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
1108 AM CDT TUE APR 15 2003

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA AND
PARTS OF NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

SURFACE LOW PRESSURE IS EXPECTED TO RAPIDLY INTENSIFY LATE THIS
AFTERNOON ACROSS THE WESTERN HIGH PLAINS IN RESPONSE TO AN
APPROACHING UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM. MEANWHILE...A DRY LINE
EXTENDING ACROSS WESTERN KANSAS AND SOUTHWEST NEBRASKA WILL MOVE
THROUGH THE AREA LATER TODAY. THIS WILL RESULT IN STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA AND NORTH
CENTRAL KANSAS LATE THIS LATE AFTERNOON AND EVENING...SOME OF WHICH
WILL PROBABLY BECOME SEVERE.

IN ADDITION...THE GRASSLAND FIRE DANGER INDEX WILL BE IN THE EXTREME
CATEGORY ACROSS ALL OF SOUTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA AND NORTH CENTRAL
KANSAS THIS AFTERNOON. HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL BE IN THE LOW TO MID
80S...WITH LOWEST RELATIVE HUMIDITIES AT 15 TO 30 PERCENT. WINDS WILL
GENERALLY BE FROM THE SOUTH AT 20 TO 30 MPH...WITH SOME HIGHER GUSTS
THIS AFTERNOON.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

AS LOW PRESSURE SLIDES EASTWARD ON WEDNESDAY...STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS
WILL DEVELOP ON THE BACK SIDE OF THIS SYSTEM BY THE AFTERNOON.
NORTHWEST WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE INTO THE 25 TO 35 MPH
RANGE...WITH GUSTS TO 45 MPH POSSIBLE.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL PROBABLY BE REQUIRED LATE THIS AFTERNOON
AND INTO THE EVENING HOURS...PARTICULARLY ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS
AND FOR AREAS MAINLY SOUTH OF I-80 IN SOUTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA. THE
MAIN THREAT APPEARS TO BE STRONG DAMAGING WINDS ACCOMPANIED BY LARGE
HAIL.

DEE

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 15, 8:30 PM CDT, 4 hours 10 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
830 PM CDT TUE APR 15 2003

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

0515 PM    2S OXFORD                 NE   0.75 INCH HAIL
04/15/03   FURNAS                         REPORTED BY SPOTTER.

0520 PM    OXFORD                    NE   0.88 INCH HAIL
04/15/03   HARLAN                         REPORTED BY SPOTTER
                                          ON HARLAN...FURNAS
                                          COUNTY LINE.

0805 PM    ELWOOD                    NE   0.75 INCH HAIL
04/15.03   GOSPER                         REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT AT SEVERAL
                                          LOCATIONS AROUND COUNTY.

09
Special weather statement, Apr 15, 8:42 PM CDT, 3 hours 58 minutes before
KSZ005-006-017-018-NEZ046-047-060>062-072>075-082>085-160215-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
842 PM CDT TUE APR 15 2003

THE TORNADO WATCH HAS EXPIRED FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...

IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA...
SHERMAN...HOWARD...BUFFALO...DAWSON...HALL...ADAMS...GOSPER...
KEARNEY...PHELPS...FRANKLIN...WEBSTER...HARLAN AND FURNAS COUNTIES.
IN NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS...
PHILLIPS...SMITH...ROOKS AND OSBORNE COUNTIES.

THUNDERSTORMS HAD WEAKENED ACROSS THE REGION AND NO LONGER POSE A
TORNADO THREAT.  SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
SOME OF THE STORMS THROUGH THE NIGHT.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS FOR THE
LATEST SEVERE WEATHER INFORMATION.

NNNN

09
Special weather statement, Apr 15, 8:42 PM CDT, 3 hours 58 minutes before
KSZ005-006-017-018-NEZ046-047-060>062-072>075-082>085-160215-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
842 PM CDT TUE APR 15 2003

CORRECTED FOR EXTRANEOUS CHARACTERS

...THE TORNADO WATCH HAS EXPIRED FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...

IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA...SHERMAN... HOWARD...BUFFALO
...DAWSON...HALL...ADAMS...GOSPER...KEARNEY...PHELPS...FRANKLIN
WEBSTER...HARLAN AND FURNAS COUNTIES. IN NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS
...PHILLIPS...SMITH...ROOKS AND OSBORNE COUNTIES.

THUNDERSTORMS HAD WEAKENED ACROSS THE REGION AND NO LONGER POSE A
TORNADO THREAT.  SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
SOME OF THE STORMS THROUGH THE NIGHT.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS FOR THE
LATEST SEVERE WEATHER INFORMATION.

NNNN

09
Special weather statement, Apr 15, 10:06 PM CDT, 2 hours 34 minutes before
NEZ039>041-048-049-063-160330-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
1006 PM CDT TUE APR 15 2003

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH HAS BEEN CANCELED FOR THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES.

IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL
NEBRASKA...GREELEY...VALLEY...NANCE...POLK...HAMILTON AND MERRICK
COUNTIES.

THUNDERSTORMS HAD WEAKENED ACROSS THE REGION...AND NO LONGER POSE A
SEVERE WEATHER THREAT. ALTHOUGH SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS WILL BE
POSSIBLE WITH SOME OF THE STORMS...NO ADDITIONAL SEVERE WEATHER IS
ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS FOR THE
LATEST SEVERE WEATHER INFORMATION.

NNNN
09

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Kansas, 2003Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2003

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.