Alert archive / Kansas / Tornado Warnings in 2009

Tornado Warning 14, NWS Dodge City, KS

April 18, 2009Finney County, Gray County, Haskell County, Kansas

NWS Dodge City, KS issued this tornado warning at Apr 18, 2009, 3:10 PM CDT for Finney County, Gray County, Haskell County, Kansas. It was in force for 35 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 18, 2009, 3:10 PM CDT (20:10 UTC)
Expired
Apr 18, 2009, 3:45 PM CDT
In force
35 min
Issued by
NWS Dodge City, KS
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Finney County, KS, Gray County, KS, Haskell County, KS

The radar

The Dodge City radar (KDDC), 54 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:12 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.

The watch it was issued in

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

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Apr 18, 1:28 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Dodge City, (KDDC), launched 12:00Z, 8.2 hours before the alert went out and 60 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 12:00Z on 2009-04-18Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 68 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 12:00Z on 2009-04-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 77 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
68 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-103 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
807 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
47 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
77 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
112 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WFUS53 KDDC 182010
TORDDC
KSC055-069-081-182045-
/O.NEW.KDDC.TO.W.0014.090418T2010Z-090418T2045Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY KS
310 PM CDT SAT APR 18 2009

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DODGE CITY HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  EXTREME SOUTH CENTRAL FINNEY COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST KANSAS.
  WEST CENTRAL GRAY COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST KANSAS.
  NORTHEASTERN HASKELL COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST KANSAS.

* UNTIL 345 PM CDT

* AT 309 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 16 MILES SOUTH
  OF CHARLESTON...OR 8 MILES NORTH OF COPELAND...MOVING NORTHEAST AT
  15 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  CHARLESTON...
  RURAL RESIDENCES OF NORTHEASTERN HASKELL...SOUTHERN FINNEY AND
  WESTERN GRAY COUNTIES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

WHEN A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED BASED ON DOPPLER RADAR...IT MEANS
THAT STRONG ROTATION HAS BEEN DETECTED IN THE STORM. A TORNADO MAY
ALREADY BE ON THE GROUND...OR IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP SHORTLY. IF YOU
ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS DANGEROUS STORM...MOVE INDOORS AND TO THE
LOWEST LEVEL OF THE BUILDING. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. IF DRIVING...DO
NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER A HIGHWAY OVERPASS.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM CDT SATURDAY EVENING
FOR SOUTHWESTERN KANSAS.

&&

LAT...LON 3791 10057 3770 10041 3758 10070 3770 10067
TIME...MOT...LOC 2011Z 217DEG 12KT 3765 10064

$$

18
2 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS53 KDDC 182035
SVSDDC

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY KS
335 PM CDT SAT APR 18 2009

KSC055-182046-
/O.CAN.KDDC.TO.W.0014.000000T0000Z-090418T2045Z/
FINNEY KS-
335 PM CDT SAT APR 18 2009

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EXTREME SOUTH CENTRAL FINNEY COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  RURAL RESIDENCES OF SOUTHERN FINNEY COUNTY.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM CDT SATURDAY EVENING
FOR SOUTHWESTERN KANSAS.

LAT...LON 3770 10063 3791 10057 3769 10047 3765 10054
      3760 10065
TIME...MOT...LOC 2036Z 217DEG 12KT 3772 10058

$$

KSC069-081-182045-
/O.CON.KDDC.TO.W.0014.000000T0000Z-090418T2045Z/
GRAY KS-HASKELL KS-
335 PM CDT SAT APR 18 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 345 PM CDT FOR EXTREME
EAST CENTRAL HASKELL AND WEST CENTRAL GRAY COUNTIES...

AT 336 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A POSSIBLE TORNADO 11 MILES SOUTH OF CHARLESTON...OR 10
MILES SOUTHWEST OF INGALLS...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  RURAL RESIDENCES OF EASTERN HASKELL AND WESTERN GRAY COUNTIES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

WHEN A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED BASED ON DOPPLER RADAR...IT MEANS
THAT STRONG ROTATION HAS BEEN DETECTED IN THE STORM. A TORNADO MAY
ALREADY BE ON THE GROUND...OR IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP SHORTLY. IF YOU
ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS DANGEROUS STORM...MOVE INDOORS AND TO THE
LOWEST LEVEL OF THE BUILDING. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. IF DRIVING...DO
NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER A HIGHWAY OVERPASS.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM CDT SATURDAY EVENING
FOR SOUTHWESTERN KANSAS.

&&

LAT...LON 3770 10063 3791 10057 3769 10047 3765 10054
      3760 10065
TIME...MOT...LOC 2036Z 217DEG 12KT 3772 10058

$$

18
000 
WWUS53 KDDC 182043 RRA
SVSDDC

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY KS
343 PM CDT SAT APR 18 2009

KSC069-081-182054-
/O.EXP.KDDC.TO.W.0014.000000T0000Z-090418T2045Z/
GRAY KS-HASKELL KS-
343 PM CDT SAT APR 18 2009

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EXTREME EAST CENTRAL HASKELL AND WEST
CENTRAL GRAY COUNTIES EXPIRES AT 345 PM CDT...

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  CHARLESTON...
  RURAL RESIDENCES OF EASTERN HASKELL AND WESTERN GRAY COUNTIES.

THE LIKELIHOOD OF A TORNADO WITH THIS STORM HAS DIMINISHED...THUS THE
TORNADO WARNING HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM CDT SATURDAY EVENING
FOR SOUTHWESTERN KANSAS.

LAT...LON 3770 10063 3791 10057 3769 10047 3765 10054
      3760 10065
TIME...MOT...LOC 2044Z 217DEG 12KT 3774 10056

$$

18

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 17, 7:44 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDDCHamilton, Stanton46 min
Apr 17, 7:51 PM CDTTornado WarningDDCHamilton, Stanton21 min
Apr 17, 8:06 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDDCHamilton42 min
Apr 17, 9:06 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDDCSeward39 min
Apr 18, 12:48 PM CDTTornado WarningDDCFinney, Gray27 min
Apr 18, 12:53 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDDCFinney, Gray52 min
Apr 18, 1:03 PM CDTTornado WarningDDCFinney, Gray27 min
Apr 18, 1:14 PM CDTTornado WarningDDCFinney46 min
Apr 18, 1:27 PM CDTTornado WarningDDCFinney, Gray18 min
Apr 18, 1:40 PM CDTTornado WarningDDCFinney, Gray, Hodgeman50 min
Apr 18, 2:04 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDDCClark, Ford, Hodgeman56 min
Apr 18, 2:14 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDDCHodgeman, Ness46 min
Apr 18, 2:18 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDDCFinney, Hodgeman, Lane, Ness42 min
Apr 18, 2:24 PM CDTTornado WarningDDCFinney, Hodgeman, Lane, Ness51 min
Apr 18, 2:27 PM CDTTornado WarningDDCFinney, Hodgeman, Ness48 min
Apr 18, 2:40 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDDCComanche50 min
Apr 18, 2:50 PM CDTTornado WarningDDCHodgeman40 min
Apr 18, 3:01 PM CDTTornado WarningDDCFord, Kiowa44 min
Apr 18, 3:04 PM CDTTornado WarningDDCHodgeman, Ness41 min
Apr 18, 3:13 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDDCClark, Comanche47 min
Apr 18, 3:20 PM CDTTornado WarningDDCEdwards, Kiowa40 min
Apr 18, 3:24 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDDCKiowa39 min
Apr 18, 3:29 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDDCBarber, Comanche47 min
Apr 18, 3:34 PM CDTTornado WarningDDCHodgeman, Ness41 min
Apr 18, 3:40 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDDCNess26 min
Apr 18, 3:49 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDDCPawnee, Rush40 min
Apr 18, 5:13 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDDCStafford47 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Kansas, 2009Every tornado warning in 2009Tornadoes in 2009

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.