Alert archive / Kansas / Tornado Warnings in 2008

Tornado Warning 36, NWS Dodge City, KS

May 23, 2008Ellis County, Ness County, Trego County, Kansas

NWS Dodge City, KS issued this tornado warning at May 23, 2008, 7:43 PM CDT for Ellis County, Ness County, Trego County, Kansas. It was in force for 47 min. 5 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
May 23, 2008, 7:43 PM CDT (00:43 UTC)
Expired
May 23, 2008, 8:30 PM CDT
In force
47 min
Issued by
NWS Dodge City, KS
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Ellis County, KS, Ness County, KS, Trego County, KS

The radar

The Dodge City radar (KDDC), 132 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:44 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 23, 7:45 PM CDTTSTM WND DMGCedar Bluff, KSSTRONG WINDS ROLLED A HORSE TRAILER. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR.
May 23, 7:50 PM CDTTORNADO8 Sw Cedar Bluff, KSTORNADO DAMAGED TREES.
May 23, 8:00 PM CDTTORNADOCedar Bluff, KS
May 23, 8:32 PM CDTTORNADOEllis, KSTWO DAMAGING TORNADOES WERE REPORTED, WITH LOTS OF POWER FLASHES OBSERVED.
May 23, 8:40 PM CDTTORNADO4 N Cedar Bluff, KSDAMAGED INCLUDED NUMEROUS POWER POLES DOWN, ONE HOUSE COMPLETELY DESTROYED BELONGING TO A FAMILY OF 7 BUT NO ONE INJURED, AN OLD PICK UP TRUCK WAS BLOWN IN A DITCH, THREE SEMI TRUCKS WERE TURNED OVER ALONG I-70 - AMBULENCES WERE DISPATCHED AND INJURIES TREATED

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The watch it was issued in

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

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
May 23, 2:15 PM CDTTornado Watch PDSSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Dodge City, (KDDC), launched 00:00Z, 0.7 hours before the alert went out and 130 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, Dodge City, at 00:00Z on 2008-05-24Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2314 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Dodge City, at 00:00Z on 2008-05-24The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 198 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
2314 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-20 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1449 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
70 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
198 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
371 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
2.2
Supercell composite
14.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WFUS53 KDDC 240044
TORDDC
KSC051-135-195-240130-
/O.NEW.KDDC.TO.W.0036.080524T0043Z-080524T0130Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY KS
743 PM CDT FRI MAY 23 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DODGE CITY HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  ELLIS COUNTY IN CENTRAL KANSAS.
  NORTH CENTRAL NESS COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL KANSAS.
  EASTERN TREGO COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL KANSAS.

* UNTIL 830 PM CDT

* AT 739 PM CDT...STORM CHASERS AND WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A
  TORNADO 10 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CEDAR BLUFF...OR 5 MILES NORTHEAST OF
  RANSOM...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 44 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  CEDAR BLUFF...
  OGALLAH...
  ELLIS...
  YOCEMENTO...
  HAYS...
  VICTORIA...
  CATHARINE...
  RURAL RESIDENCES OF EASTERN TREGO...ELLIS AND NORTHERN NESS
  COUNTIES.

THIS TORNADO WILL BE OVER CEDAR BLUFF BY 750 PM. THIS IS A
VERY DANGEROUS TORNADO. SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.

IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING 
BASEBALL SIZE HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS.

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. IF IN A
MOBILE HOME...EVACUATE TO A SUBSTANTIAL STRUCTURE. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS
AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN
INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO
COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. A
LARGE TORNADO HAS BEEN CONFIRMED. IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS
DESTRUCTIVE TORNADO...TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY IN A BASEMENT OR OTHER
UNDERGROUND SHELTER AND GET UNDER SOMETHING STURDY.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CDT FRIDAY EVENING
FOR SOUTHWESTERN KANSAS.

LAT...LON 3912 9975 3912 9929 3885 9911 3862 9982
      3867 9992
TIME...MOT...LOC 0043Z 224DEG 38KT 3870 9981

$$

FINCH
1 follow-up statement
000 
WWUS53 KDDC 240053
SVSDDC

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY KS
751 PM CDT FRI MAY 23 2008

KSC051-135-195-240130-
/O.CON.KDDC.TO.W.0036.000000T0000Z-080524T0130Z/
TREGO KS-ELLIS KS-NESS KS-
751 PM CDT FRI MAY 23 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 830 PM CDT FOR EXTREME
NORTH CENTRAL NESS...NORTHWESTERN ELLIS AND EASTERN TREGO COUNTIES...

AT 749 PM CDT...TREGO COUNTY EMS WERE TRACKING A LARGE AND EXTREMELY 
DANGEROUS TORNADO NEAR CEDAR BLUFF BROWNELL...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 
MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  CEDAR BLUFF...
  RIGA...
  RURAL RESIDENCES OF EASTERN TREGO...NORTHERN NESS AND NORTHWESTERN
  ELLIS COUNTIES.

THIS STORM HAS A HISTORY OF PRODUCING TORNADOES.

OGALLAH AND ELLIS ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS LARGE AND EXTREMELY
DANGEROUS TORNADO. SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.

HEAVY RAINFALL MAY OBSCURE THIS TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW IF YOU WAIT
TO SEE OR HEAR IT COMING...IT MAY BE TOO LATE TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE.

THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. A
LARGE TORNADO HAS BEEN CONFIRMED. IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS
DESTRUCTIVE TORNADO...TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY IN A BASEMENT OR OTHER
UNDERGROUND SHELTER AND GET UNDER SOMETHING STURDY.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CDT FRIDAY EVENING
FOR SOUTHWESTERN KANSAS.

LAT...LON 3912 9975 3912 9929 3886 9942 3866 9982
      3869 9990
TIME...MOT...LOC 0051Z 215DEG 18KT 3871 9981

$$

FINCH

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 23, 7:00 PM CDTTornado WarningDDCEllis, Hodgeman, Lane, Ness, Rush, Trego45 min
May 23, 7:02 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDDCFinney, Lane, Ness43 min
May 23, 7:24 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDDCClark26 min
May 23, 7:31 PM CDTTornado WarningDDCLane, Ness, Trego29 min
May 23, 7:47 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDDCFinney, Gray, Haskell, Lane, Meade, Scott58 min
May 23, 7:51 PM CDTTornado WarningDDCNess, Trego39 min
May 23, 7:54 PM CDTTornado WarningDDCClark, Comanche, Edwards, Ford, Kiowa66 min
May 23, 8:09 PM CDTTornado WarningDDCEllis, Ness, Rush, Trego51 min
May 23, 8:32 PM CDTTornado WarningDDCEdwards, Kiowa, Pawnee, Pratt, Stafford58 min
May 23, 8:39 PM CDTTornado WarningDDCBarber, Comanche36 min
May 23, 8:43 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDDCClark, Comanche, Kiowa47 min
May 23, 8:50 PM CDTTornado WarningDDCEllis, Ness, Trego55 min
May 23, 8:54 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDDCClark, Edwards, Finney, Ford, Gray, Hodgeman and 6 more66 min
May 23, 9:07 PM CDTTornado WarningDDCBarber, Comanche38 min
May 23, 9:20 PM CDTTornado WarningDDCEdwards, Pawnee, Pratt, Stafford55 min
May 23, 9:23 PM CDTTornado WarningDDCBarber, Clark, Comanche, Kiowa37 min
May 23, 9:39 PM CDTTornado WarningDDCBarber, Pratt51 min
May 23, 9:55 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDDCClark50 min
May 23, 10:01 PM CDTTornado WarningDDCComanche, Kiowa44 min
May 23, 10:06 PM CDTTornado WarningDDCBarber, Pratt39 min
May 23, 10:09 PM CDTTornado WarningDDCPawnee, Stafford22 min
May 23, 10:21 PM CDTTornado WarningDDCClark, Comanche, Ford, Kiowa54 min
May 23, 10:25 PM CDTTornado WarningDDCEdwards, Ford, Hodgeman, Pawnee50 min
May 23, 10:38 PM CDTTornado WarningDDCPratt, Stafford32 min
May 23, 10:43 PM CDTTornado WarningDDCEdwards, Kiowa, Pawnee, Pratt, Stafford47 min
May 23, 11:04 PM CDTTornado WarningDDCEdwards, Pawnee, Rush, Stafford17 min
May 23, 11:10 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDDCBarber, Comanche65 min
May 23, 11:30 PM CDTTornado WarningDDCPratt, Stafford30 min
May 23, 11:48 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDDCPratt27 min
May 23, 11:52 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDDCBarber38 min
May 24, 3:42 AM CDTRed Flag WarningDDCGrant, Hamilton, Kearny, Morton, Stanton, Stevens10 hr
May 24, 4:05 PM CDTFire Weather WatchDDCFinney, Grant, Hamilton, Haskell, Kearny, Morton and 3 more11 hr

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Kansas, 2008Every tornado warning in 2008Tornadoes in 2008

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.