Alert archive / Kansas / Tornado Warnings in 2008
Tornado Warning 42, NWS Dodge City, KS
NWS Dodge City, KS issued this tornado warning at May 23, 2008, 8:50 PM CDT for Ellis County, Ness County, Trego County, Kansas. It was in force for 55 min. 1 report 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, 8:50 PM CDT (01:50 UTC)
- Expired
- May 23, 2008, 9:45 PM CDT
- In force
- 55 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), 143 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:53 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, 9:17 PM CDT | TORNADO | 1 N Ellis, KS | TORNADOES WERE REPORTED, ONE LARGE AND ONE SMALL. THE LARGER ONE WAS JUST NORTH OF THE I-70 AT THE ELLIS INTERCHANGE. |
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 | SPC | 7 hr |
| May 23, 8:48 PM CDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 6 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Dodge City, (KDDC), launched 00:00Z, 1.8 hours before the alert went out and 140 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.
- 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
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000
WFUS53 KDDC 240152
TORDDC
KSC051-135-195-240245-
/O.NEW.KDDC.TO.W.0042.080524T0150Z-080524T0245Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY KS
850 PM CDT FRI MAY 23 2008
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DODGE CITY HAS ISSUED A
* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
ELLIS COUNTY IN CENTRAL KANSAS.
EXTREME NORTHEASTERN NESS COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL KANSAS.
EASTERN TREGO COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL KANSAS.
* UNTIL 945 PM CDT
* AT 849 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE
TRACKING A CONFIRMED LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO
JUST NORTHEAST OF CEDAR BLUFF MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.
ANOTHER LARGE AND DAMAGING TORNADO WAS LOCATED IN NORTH CENTRAL
ELLIS COUNTY ABOUT 15 MILES NORTH OF HAYS.
THE TOWN OF ELLIS IS IN THE PATH OF THIS LARGE AND DANGEROUS
TORNADO. TAKE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.
* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
RIGA...
ELLIS...
YOCEMENTO...
CATHARINE...
EMMERAM...
RURAL RESIDENCES OF EASTERN TREGO...ELLIS AND NORTHEASTERN NESS
COUNTIES.
THIS STORM HAS A HISTORY OF PRODUCING TORNADOES CAUSING SIGNIFICANT
DAMAGE
IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING
BASEBALL SIZED 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 WARNING EXTENDS THE PREVIOUS WARNING ISSUED FOR ELLIS
AND TREGO COUNTIES.
LAT...LON 3912 9904 3889 9902 3868 9973 3884 9982
3913 9967
TIME...MOT...LOC 0150Z 229DEG 29KT 3888 9963
$$
FINCH4 follow-up statements
000
WWUS53 KDDC 240203
SVSDDC
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY KS
900 PM CDT FRI MAY 23 2008
KSC135-240210-
/O.CAN.KDDC.TO.W.0042.000000T0000Z-080524T0245Z/
NESS KS-
900 PM CDT FRI MAY 23 2008
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EXTREME NORTHEASTERN NESS COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...
A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 AM CDT SATURDAY MORNING
FOR SOUTHWESTERN KANSAS.
LAT...LON 3912 9904 3894 9914 3880 9961 3890 9972
3913 9963
TIME...MOT...LOC 0200Z 226DEG 38KT 3896 9952
$$
KSC051-195-240245-
/O.CON.KDDC.TO.W.0042.000000T0000Z-080524T0245Z/
TREGO KS-ELLIS KS-
900 PM CDT FRI MAY 23 2008
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 945 PM CDT FOR NORTHERN
ELLIS AND NORTHEASTERN TREGO COUNTIES...
AT 858 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS AND STORM
SPOTTERS WERE TRACKING A LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO 2
MILES SOUTHWEST OF ELLIS...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.
* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
ELLIS...
RURAL RESIDENCES OF NORTHEASTERN TREGO AND NORTHERN ELLIS COUNTIES.
THIS STORM HAS A HISTORY OF PRODUCING LARGE TORNADOES.
ANOTHER TORNADO WAS LOCATED IN FAR NORTHERN ELLIS COUNTY OR ABOUT
10 MILES NORTH NORTHEAST OF ELLIS AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.
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 9904 3894 9914 3880 9961 3890 9972
3913 9963
TIME...MOT...LOC 0200Z 226DEG 38KT 3896 9952
$$
FINCH000
WWUS53 KDDC 240214
SVSDDC
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY KS
914 PM CDT FRI MAY 23 2008
KSC025-047-055-057-069-083-097-101-119-135-145-165-240300-
/O.CON.KDDC.SV.W.0112.000000T0000Z-080524T0300Z/
LANE KS-NESS KS-RUSH KS-PAWNEE KS-FINNEY KS-HODGEMAN KS-EDWARDS KS-
GRAY KS-FORD KS-KIOWA KS-MEADE KS-CLARK KS-
911 PM CDT FRI MAY 23 2008
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CDT
FOR WESTERN CLARK...EASTERN MEADE...NORTHWESTERN KIOWA...FORD...
EASTERN GRAY...WESTERN EDWARDS...HODGEMAN...NORTHEASTERN FINNEY...
PAWNEE...RUSH...NESS AND EASTERN LANE COUNTIES...
AT 911 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LARGE
DAMAGING HAIL UP TO GOLF BALL SIZE...AND DESTRUCTIVE WINDS IN EXCESS
OF 70 MPH. THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 6
MILES NORTHWEST OF ARNOLD TO 8 MILES NORTHWEST OF ENGLEWOOD...MOVING
EAST AT 50 MPH.
AT 911 PM CDT...ONE STRONG STORM WAS 6 MILES SOUTHEAST OF MEADE
STATE LAKE, ANOTHER STRONG STORM WAS 4 MILES WEST OF DODGE CITY, AND
YET ANOTHER STRONG STORM WAS 11 MILES NORTHWEST OF JETMORE.
* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
DODGE CITY...
WRIGHT...
SPEARVILLE...
OFFERLE...
LEWIS...
GARFIELD...
RURAL RESIDENCES OF EASTERN GRAY...EASTERN LANE...EASTERN MEADE...
FORD...HODGEMAN...NESS...NORTHEASTERN FINNEY...NORTHWESTERN
KIOWA...PAWNEE...RUSH...WESTERN CLARK AND WESTERN EDWARDS COUNTIES.
BE ALERT FOR RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS. IF CAUGHT OUTSIDE
SEEK A STURDY SHELTER AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS UNTIL THE STORM HAS
PASSED.
DOPPLER RADAR HAS INDICATED SOME WEAK ROTATION WITHIN THIS STORM.
WHILE NOT IMMEDIATELY LIKELY...TORNADO DEVELOPMENT IS POSSIBLE. IF A
TORNADO IS SPOTTED...ACT QUICKLY AND MOVE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY IN A
STURDY STRUCTURE...SUCH AS A BASEMENT OR SMALL INTERIOR ROOM.
A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 AM CDT SATURDAY MORNING
FOR SOUTHWESTERN KANSAS.
LAT...LON 3869 9904 3811 9903 3791 9920 3787 9942
3747 9954 3745 9980 3701 9988 3700 10038
3867 10042
TIME...MOT...LOC 0211Z 257DEG 45KT 3872 10003 3715 9998
$$
BURKE000 WWUS53 KDDC 240228 SVSDDC SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY KS 928 PM CDT FRI MAY 23 2008 KSC051-240245- /O.CON.KDDC.TO.W.0042.000000T0000Z-080524T0245Z/ ELLIS KS- 928 PM CDT FRI MAY 23 2008 ...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 945 PM CDT FOR NORTH CENTRAL ELLIS COUNTY... AT 926 PM CDT...STORM CHASERS AND WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A TORNADO OVER NORTH CENTRAL ELLIS COUNTY...OR 12 MILES NORTHWEST OF CATHARINE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 44 MPH. * LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... RURAL RESIDENCES OF NORTHERN ELLIS COUNTY. THIS STORM HAS A HISTORY OF PRODUCING TORNADOES. IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS. TORNADOES AT NIGHT ARE ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE OR HEAR THE TORNADO...IT MAY BE TOO LATE. TAKE COVER NOW 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 3913 9923 3906 9923 3902 9949 3913 9946 TIME...MOT...LOC 0228Z 226DEG 38KT 3910 9932 $$ FINCH
000 WWUS53 KDDC 240240 SVSDDC SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY KS 941 PM CDT FRI MAY 23 2008 KSC051-240251- /O.EXP.KDDC.TO.W.0042.000000T0000Z-080524T0245Z/ ELLIS KS- 941 PM CDT FRI MAY 23 2008 ...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTH CENTRAL ELLIS COUNTY EXPIRES AT 945 PM CDT... THE TORNADO THREAT HAS EXITED THE WARNED AREA...THUS THE TORNADO WARNING HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO EXPIRE. A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 AM CDT SATURDAY MORNING FOR SOUTHWESTERN KANSAS. LAT...LON 3913 9923 3906 9923 3902 9949 3913 9946 TIME...MOT...LOC 0241Z 226DEG 38KT 3920 9919 $$ 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, 8:09 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | DDC | Ellis, Ness, Rush, Trego | 51 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, 8:54 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, 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.