Alert archive / Kansas / Tornado Warnings in 2008

Tornado Warning 5, NWS Topeka, KS

May 2, 2008Douglas County, Jefferson County, Shawnee County, Kansas

NWS Topeka, KS issued this tornado warning at May 2, 2008, 1:04 AM CDT for Douglas County, Jefferson County, Shawnee County, Kansas. It was in force for 27 min. 19 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 2, 2008, 1:04 AM CDT (06:04 UTC)
Expired
May 2, 2008, 1:31 AM CDT
In force
27 min
Issued by
NWS Topeka, KS
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Douglas County, KS, Jefferson County, KS, Shawnee County, KS

The radar

The Topeka radar (KTWX), 77 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 06:04 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 2, 1:04 AM CDTTORNADO5 Wnw Clinton, KSAN UNOCCUPIED HOUSE TOOK SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE FROM A TORNADO. THE GARAGE AND APPROXIMATELY TWO THIRDS OF THE HOUSE WERE REMOVED FROM THE FOUNDATION. DEBRIS FROM THE HOUSE WWRE BLOWN A FEW HUNDRED YARDS AWAY. THE PRELIMINARY RATING OF THE DAMAGE ASSOCIATED WITH T
May 2, 1:05 AM CDTTSTM WND DMG1 Se Richland, KS2 POWER POLES DOWN AT INTERSECTION OF 105TH AND STUBBS RD.
May 2, 1:06 AM CDTTORNADO4 Nw Clinton Lake, KSA METAL OUTBUILDING WAS COLLAPSED. DEBRIS FROM THE BUILDING WERE CARRIED A SHORT DISTANCE AWAY. THE PRELIMINARY RATING OF THE DAMAGE ASSOCIATED WITH THE TORNADO AT THIS LOCATION IS AN EF-0. -THIS IS A DELAYED REPORT-
May 2, 1:11 AM CDTTSTM WND GST 70Sw Lawrence, KSEXTREMELY HEAVY RAIN...WIND SPEEDS AT LEAST 70MPH.
May 2, 1:13 AM CDTTSTM WND DMG2 Wnw Lawrence, KSSEVERAL 5 TO 7 INCH DIAMTER BRANCHES SNAPPED AT HOME OF NWS METEOROLOGIST.
May 2, 1:13 AM CDTTSTM WND DMGLecompton, KSMETAL BUILDING THAT HOLDS THE LECOMPTON TOWNSHIP FIRE STATION HAD ITS NORTH AND SOUTH DOORS BLOWN IN. BUILDING IS ON CTY RD 458 WEST OF THE LAWRENCE TURNPIKE INTERCHANGE.
May 2, 1:15 AM CDTTSTM WND GST 702 N Perry, KS
May 2, 1:17 AM CDTTSTM WND DMG3 E Perry, KSROOF OFF A SHED AT 13TH AND WILDHORSE. ALSO POWER IS OUT TO MOST OF EASTERN JEFFERSON COUNTY.
May 2, 1:18 AM CDTTSTM WND DMG4 E Perry, KSSEVERAL REPORTS OF DAMAGE. LARGE TREES DOWN ON HWY 24. ROOF OFF OF A SHED AT 13TH AND WILDHORSE. POWER OUT ON THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE JEFFERSON COUNTY LINE. TREE DOWN IN MCCLOUTH ON A POWER LINE.
May 2, 1:19 AM CDTTSTM WND GST 60Lawrence, KS
May 2, 1:19 AM CDTTSTM WND GST 703 Nw Lawrence, KSPOWER FLASHES N OF MILE MARKER 201 ON I-70.
May 2, 1:20 AM CDTTSTM WND DMG3 Wnw Lawrence, KSDECK ROOF BLOWN OVER HOUSE. SPOTTER ESTIMATED 70 MPH WIND GUST.
May 2, 1:20 AM CDTTSTM WND DMGNw Lawrence, KSSPOTTER WAS DRIVING ALONG HWY 40/6TH STREET ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE OF LAWRENCE. ESTIMATED WIND SPEEDS TO BE 85-90MPH. DID NOT NOTE ANY BUILDING DAMAGE. A TRANSFORMER WAS BLOWN AT THE INTERSECTION OF 6TH AND WAKARUSA. TREE DAMAGE ACROSS THE NORTHWEST PORTION OF
May 2, 1:21 AM CDTTSTM WND GST 604 Ne Clinton, KSEAST SIDE OF CLINTON LAKE DAM. PEA-SIZED HAIL AS WELL.
May 2, 1:22 AM CDTTSTM WND DMGNw Lawrence, KSBROADCAST MEDIA METEOROLOGIST REPORTED 18 INCH TO 20 INCH DIAMETER TREES SNAPPED NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF 6TH STREET AND QUEENS ROAD IN NORTHWEST LAWRENCE.
May 2, 1:25 AM CDTTSTM WND GST 70Lawrence, KS
May 2, 1:26 AM CDTTSTM WND DMG2 N Lawrence, KSTRACTOR TRAILOR BLOWN OVER IN NORTH LAWRENCE AT THE INTERSECTION OF COUNTY ROAD 438 AND 7.
May 2, 1:26 AM CDTTSTM WND GST 712 N Lawrence, KS
May 2, 1:32 AM CDTTSTM WND DMGMclouth, KSTREE DOWN ON A POWER LINE TO A HOUSE.

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 2, 12:53 AM CDTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Topeka, KS (KTOP), launched 00:00Z, 6.1 hours before the alert went out and 26 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 2008-05-02Temperature 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, Topeka, KS at 00:00Z on 2008-05-02The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 65 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
3122 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
44 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
65 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
168 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 
WFUS53 KTOP 020604
TORTOP
KSC045-087-177-020645-
/O.NEW.KTOP.TO.W.0005.080502T0604Z-080502T0645Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
104 AM CDT FRI MAY 2 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TOPEKA HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHWESTERN DOUGLAS COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL KANSAS...
  SOUTHEASTERN SHAWNEE COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL KANSAS...
  SOUTHEASTERN JEFFERSON COUNTY IN NORTHEAST KANSAS...

* UNTIL 145 AM CDT

* AT 1259 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR RICHLAND...
  OR 12 MILES SOUTHEAST OF TOPEKA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  CLINTON STATE PARK...
  LECOMPTON...
  PERRY...
  WILLIAMSTOWN...
  LAWRENCE...
  MCLOUTH...

THIS INCLUDES THE KANSAS TURNPIKE BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 186 AND 206.

FOR YOUR SAFETY...GO TO A STORM SHELTER OR BASEMENT NOW TORNADOES
MAY HAVE WINDS GREATER THAN 100 MPH. AVOID OVERPASSES AND WINDOWS...
AND COVER YOUR HEAD.

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

LAT...LON 3930 9516 3897 9517 3883 9549 3886 9550
      3887 9555 3897 9564 3917 9536 3921 9531
      3931 9518
TIME...MOT...LOC 0604Z 238DEG 45KT 3896 9545

$$

BOUSTEAD
2 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS53 KTOP 020611
SVSTOP

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
111 AM CDT FRI MAY 2 2008

KSC177-020621-
/O.CAN.KTOP.TO.W.0005.000000T0000Z-080502T0645Z/
SHAWNEE-
111 AM CDT FRI MAY 2 2008

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN SHAWNEE COUNTY HAS BEEN
CANCELLED...

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

LAT...LON 3930 9516 3897 9517 3883 9549 3886 9548
      3890 9549 3901 9548 3917 9536 3931 9518
TIME...MOT...LOC 0611Z 231DEG 38KT 3901 9538

$$

KSC045-087-020645-
/O.CON.KTOP.TO.W.0005.000000T0000Z-080502T0645Z/
JEFFERSON-DOUGLAS-
111 AM CDT FRI MAY 2 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 145 AM CDT FOR
NORTHWESTERN DOUGLAS AND SOUTHEASTERN JEFFERSON COUNTIES...

AT 109 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS
STORM WAS LOCATED 4 MILES SOUTH OF LECOMPTON...OR 8 MILES WEST OF
LAWRENCE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 43 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
WILLIAMSTOWN...PERRY...LAWRENCE AND MCLOUTH.

THIS INCLUDES THE KANSAS TURNPIKE BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 190 AND 206.

FOR YOUR SAFETY...GO TO A STORM SHELTER OR BASEMENT NOW TORNADOES
MAY HAVE WINDS GREATER THAN 100 MPH. AVOID OVERPASSES AND WINDOWS...
AND COVER YOUR HEAD.

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

LAT...LON 3930 9516 3897 9517 3883 9549 3886 9548
      3890 9549 3901 9548 3917 9536 3931 9518
TIME...MOT...LOC 0611Z 231DEG 38KT 3901 9538

$$

BOUSTEAD
000 
WWUS53 KTOP 020631
SVSTOP

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
130 AM CDT FRI MAY 2 2008

KSC045-087-020640-
/O.CAN.KTOP.TO.W.0005.000000T0000Z-080502T0645Z/
JEFFERSON-DOUGLAS-
130 AM CDT FRI MAY 2 2008

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN DOUGLAS AND SOUTHEASTERN
JEFFERSON COUNTIES HAS BEEN CANCELLED...

AT 130 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED THAT THE
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH THE POSSIBLE TORNADO HAD EXITED THE AREA...
THUS THE WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING DOES REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR EASTERN 
JEFFERSON COUNTY AND DOUGLAS COUNTY THROUGH 145 AM. 

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT. STAY ALERT TO THE WEATHER.

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

LAT...LON 3930 9516 3897 9517 3883 9549 3886 9548
      3890 9549 3901 9548 3917 9536 3931 9518
TIME...MOT...LOC 0630Z 231DEG 38KT 3913 9518

$$

BOUSTEAD

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 1, 7:22 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPFranklin25 min
May 1, 7:44 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPDouglas, Franklin, Osage46 min
May 1, 8:49 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPOttawa41 min
May 1, 10:23 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPCoffey18 min
May 1, 11:27 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPLyon, Morris63 min
May 1, 11:56 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPWabaunsee51 min
May 1, 11:56 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPBrown49 min
May 2, 12:20 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPCoffey, Osage55 min
May 2, 12:33 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPShawnee43 min
May 2, 12:36 AM CDTTornado WarningTOPOsage24 min
May 2, 12:46 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPAnderson, Franklin44 min
May 2, 12:53 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPDouglas, Jefferson52 min
May 2, 1:23 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPJefferson19 min

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.