Alert archive / Kansas / Tornado Warnings in 2008

Tornado Warning 39, NWS Dodge City, KS

May 23, 20084 counties in Kansas

NWS Dodge City, KS issued this tornado warning at May 23, 2008, 8:09 PM CDT for 4 counties in Kansas. It was in force for 51 min. 3 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, 8:09 PM CDT (01:09 UTC)
Expired: May 23, 2008, 9:00 PM CDT
In force: 51 min
Issued by: NWS Dodge City, KS
Area: Storm-based polygon

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

The radar

The Dodge City radar (KDDC), 127 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:12 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

Time	Report	Where	Remark
May 23, 8:32 PM CDT	TORNADO	Ellis, KS	TWO DAMAGING TORNADOES WERE REPORTED, WITH LOTS OF POWER FLASHES OBSERVED.
May 23, 8:40 PM CDT	TORNADO	4 N Cedar Bluff, KS	DAMAGED 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
May 23, 8:49 PM CDT	TSTM WND GST 90	11 Ese Trego Center, KS

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.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
May 23, 2:15 PM CDT	Tornado Watch PDS	SPC	7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Dodge City, (KDDC), launched 00:00Z, 1.2 hours before the alert went out and 125 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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 240111
TORDDC
KSC051-135-165-195-240200-
/O.NEW.KDDC.TO.W.0039.080524T0109Z-080524T0200Z/

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DODGE CITY HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  ELLIS COUNTY IN CENTRAL KANSAS.
  NORTHWESTERN RUSH COUNTY IN CENTRAL KANSAS.
  NORTHEASTERN NESS COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL KANSAS.
  EASTERN TREGO COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL KANSAS.

* UNTIL 900 PM CDT

* AT 807 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE
  TRACKING A CONFIRMED LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO 5 MILES
  SOUTHEAST OF CEDAR BLUFF...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  CEDAR BLUFF...
  OGALLAH...
  RIGA...
  ELLIS...
  YOCEMENTO...
  RURAL RESIDENCES OF EASTERN TREGO...ELLIS...NORTHEASTERN NESS AND
  NORTHWESTERN RUSH COUNTIES.

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

THE TOWN OF ELLIS IS IN THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO.  PLEASE SEEK 
SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.

ANOTHER TORNADO IS LOCATED NEAR RANSOM.  THIS TORNADO WAS HEADED 
TOWARDS RANSOM AND CEDAR BLUFF.

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 WARNING EXTENDS THE PREVIOUS WARNING ISSUED FOR NESS, TREGO, 
AND ELLIS COUNTIES.

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

LAT...LON 3911 9976 3912 9911 3880 9908 3851 9984
      3857 10006
TIME...MOT...LOC 0109Z 235DEG 14KT 3873 9965

$$

JOHNSON

3 follow-up statements

000 
WWUS53 KDDC 240120
SVSDDC

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

KSC051-135-165-195-240200-
/O.CON.KDDC.TO.W.0039.000000T0000Z-080524T0200Z/
TREGO KS-ELLIS KS-NESS KS-RUSH KS-
816 PM CDT FRI MAY 23 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM CDT FOR EXTREME
NORTHWESTERN RUSH...NORTHEASTERN NESS...ELLIS AND EASTERN TREGO
COUNTIES...

EMS PERSONEL AND STORM CHASERS HAVE BEEN TRACKING A LARGE TORNADO.
THIS TORNADO. AT 815 PM THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED 4 MILES SOUTHWEST
OF ELLIS AND WAS MOVING TOWARD ELLIS AT 30 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  CEDAR BLUFF...
  RIGA...
  ELLIS...
  ANTONINO...
  YOCEMENTO...
  HAYS...
  CATHARINE...
  EMMERAM...
  RURAL RESIDENCES OF EASTERN TREGO...ELLIS...NORTHEASTERN NESS AND
  NORTHWESTERN RUSH COUNTIES.

RESIDENTS OF ELLIS...YOCEMENTO AND RURAL AREAS OF WESTERN AND 
NORTHERN ELLIS COUNTY SHOULD TAKE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.

ANOTHER TORNADIC STORM WAS LOCATED 3 MILES NORTHEAST OF RANSOM
AND THIS TORNADO WAS HEADED TOWARD CEDAR BLUFF.

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

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.

LAT...LON 3912 9911 3884 9910 3854 9986 3857 10005
      3910 9971
TIME...MOT...LOC 0116Z 231DEG 29KT 3884 9960

$$

FINCH

000 
WWUS53 KDDC 240132
SVSDDC

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

KSC165-240138-
/O.CAN.KDDC.TO.W.0039.000000T0000Z-080524T0200Z/
RUSH KS-
828 PM CDT FRI MAY 23 2008

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EXTREME NORTHWESTERN RUSH COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

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

LAT...LON 3912 9911 3884 9910 3860 9986 3866 9994
      3910 9971
TIME...MOT...LOC 0128Z 215DEG 30KT 3893 9954

$$

KSC051-135-195-240200-
/O.CON.KDDC.TO.W.0039.000000T0000Z-080524T0200Z/
TREGO KS-ELLIS KS-NESS KS-
828 PM CDT FRI MAY 23 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM CDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN NESS...ELLIS AND EASTERN TREGO COUNTIES...

AT 828 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS AND STORM
SPOTTERS WERE TRACKING A LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO 1
MILES SOUTHWEST OF ELLIS...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  ELLIS...
  HAYS...
  VICTORIA...
  CATHARINE...
  EMMERAM...
  EMMERAM...
  RURAL RESIDENCES OF EASTERN TREGO...ELLIS AND NORTHEASTERN NESS
  COUNTIES.

THIS STORM HAS A HISTORY OF PRODUCING TORNADOES. PERSONS IN 
WESTERN AND NORTHERN ELLIS COUNTY SHOULD TAKE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.

ANOTHER TORNADIC STORM WAS LOCATED 3 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CEDAR
BLUFF MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH. PERSONS IN CEDAR BLUFF SHOULD
TAKE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.

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

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.

LAT...LON 3912 9911 3884 9910 3860 9986 3866 9994
      3910 9971
TIME...MOT...LOC 0128Z 215DEG 30KT 3893 9954

$$

FINCH

000 
WWUS53 KDDC 240141
SVSDDC

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

KSC051-135-195-240200-
/O.CON.KDDC.TO.W.0039.000000T0000Z-080524T0200Z/
TREGO KS-ELLIS KS-NESS KS-
836 PM CDT FRI MAY 23 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM CDT FOR NORTH
CENTRAL NESS...ELLIS AND EASTERN TREGO COUNTIES...

AT 835 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS AND STORM
SPOTTERS WERE TRACKING A LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO 4
MILES NORTHEAST OF ELLIS...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 34 MPH.

ANOTHER TORNADIC STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR NEAR CEDAR BLUFF...
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH. 

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  RURAL RESIDENCES OF WESTERN AND NORTHERN ELLIS AND NORTHERN
  NESS COUNTIES...
  ELLIS...
  YOCEMENTO...
  
AT 832 PM...A TRUCK WAS FLIPPED OVER AT MILE MARKER 140 ON
INTERSTATE 70.

THIS STORM HAS A HISTORY OF PRODUCING TORNADOES CAUSING SIGNIFICANT 
DAMAGE IN ELLIS. RESIDENTS OF NORTHERN AND WESTERN ELLIS COUNTY
SHOULD TAKE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. THIS IS A LIFE THREATENING
SITUATION.

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.

LAT...LON 3912 9911 3888 9915 3864 9981 3869 9989
      3910 9971
TIME...MOT...LOC 0136Z 215DEG 30KT 3898 9949

$$

FINCH

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 23, 7:00 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DDC	Ellis, Hodgeman, Lane, Ness, Rush, Trego	45 min
May 23, 7:02 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DDC	Finney, Lane, Ness	43 min
May 23, 7:24 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DDC	Clark	26 min
May 23, 7:31 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DDC	Lane, Ness, Trego	29 min
May 23, 7:43 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DDC	Ellis, Ness, Trego	47 min
May 23, 7:47 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DDC	Finney, Gray, Haskell, Lane, Meade, Scott	58 min
May 23, 7:51 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DDC	Ness, Trego	39 min
May 23, 7:54 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DDC	Clark, Comanche, Edwards, Ford, Kiowa	66 min
May 23, 8:32 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DDC	Edwards, Kiowa, Pawnee, Pratt, Stafford	58 min
May 23, 8:39 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DDC	Barber, Comanche	36 min
May 23, 8:43 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DDC	Clark, Comanche, Kiowa	47 min
May 23, 8:50 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DDC	Ellis, Ness, Trego	55 min
May 23, 8:54 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DDC	Clark, Edwards, Finney, Ford, Gray, Hodgeman and 6 more	66 min
May 23, 9:07 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DDC	Barber, Comanche	38 min
May 23, 9:20 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DDC	Edwards, Pawnee, Pratt, Stafford	55 min
May 23, 9:23 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DDC	Barber, Clark, Comanche, Kiowa	37 min
May 23, 9:39 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DDC	Barber, Pratt	51 min
May 23, 9:55 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DDC	Clark	50 min
May 23, 10:01 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DDC	Comanche, Kiowa	44 min
May 23, 10:06 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DDC	Barber, Pratt	39 min
May 23, 10:09 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DDC	Pawnee, Stafford	22 min
May 23, 10:21 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DDC	Clark, Comanche, Ford, Kiowa	54 min
May 23, 10:25 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DDC	Edwards, Ford, Hodgeman, Pawnee	50 min
May 23, 10:38 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DDC	Pratt, Stafford	32 min
May 23, 10:43 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DDC	Edwards, Kiowa, Pawnee, Pratt, Stafford	47 min
May 23, 11:04 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DDC	Edwards, Pawnee, Rush, Stafford	17 min
May 23, 11:10 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DDC	Barber, Comanche	65 min
May 23, 11:30 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DDC	Pratt, Stafford	30 min
May 23, 11:48 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DDC	Pratt	27 min
May 23, 11:52 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DDC	Barber	38 min
May 24, 3:42 AM CDT	Red Flag Warning	DDC	Grant, Hamilton, Kearny, Morton, Stanton, Stevens	10 hr
May 24, 4:05 PM CDT	Fire Weather Watch	DDC	Finney, Grant, Hamilton, Haskell, Kearny, Morton and 3 more	11 hr

Nearby

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