Alert archive / Kansas / Tornado Warnings in 2009

Tornado Warning 11, NWS Topeka, KS

June 17, 2009Brown County, Jackson County, Nemaha County, Kansas

NWS Topeka, KS issued this tornado warning at Jun 17, 2009, 2:22 PM CDT for Brown County, Jackson County, Nemaha County, Kansas. It was in force for 38 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: Jun 17, 2009, 2:22 PM CDT (19:22 UTC)
Expired: Jun 17, 2009, 3:00 PM CDT
In force: 38 min
Issued by: NWS Topeka, KS
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties Brown County, KS, Jackson County, KS, Nemaha County, KS

The radar

The Topeka radar (KTWX), 96 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:23 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
Jun 17, 2:30 PM CDT	HAIL 1.25	7 S Oneida, KS
Jun 17, 2:31 PM CDT	HAIL 1.75	3 Ssw Fairview, KS
Jun 17, 2:55 PM CDT	HAIL 1.5	Powhattan, KS

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

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this tornado warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The watch it was issued in

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

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Jun 17, 12:52 PM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Topeka, KS (KTOP), launched 12:00Z, 7.4 hours before the alert went out and 86 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: 2807 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -98 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1117 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 38 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 13 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 99 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 3.7

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WFUS53 KTOP 171922
TORTOP
KSC013-085-131-172000-
/O.NEW.KTOP.TO.W.0011.090617T1922Z-090617T2000Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
222 PM CDT WED JUN 17 2009

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TOPEKA HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  WESTERN BROWN COUNTY IN NORTHEAST KANSAS...
  NORTHEASTERN JACKSON COUNTY IN NORTHEAST KANSAS...
  EAST CENTRAL NEMAHA COUNTY IN NORTHEAST KANSAS...

* UNTIL 300 PM CDT

* AT 221 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR WOODLAWN...
  OR 21 MILES WEST OF HIAWATHA...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  WOODLAWN...
  WETMORE...
  FAIRVIEW...
  MORRILL...
  KICKAPOO RESERVATION...
  HAMLIN...
  POWHATTAN...

THIS REPLACES THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING PREVIOUSLY IN EFFECT 
FOR BROWN AND NEMAHA COUNTIES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IF A TORNADO APPROACHES...GO TO A BASEMENT OR SEEK SHELTER IN A
HALLWAY OR CLOSET ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING. USE BLANKETS
OR PILLOWS TO COVER YOUR HEAD AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

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

&&

LAT...LON 3994 9563 3965 9555 3959 9555 3963 9604
      3989 9600
TIME...MOT...LOC 1921Z 273DEG 20KT 3975 9590

$$

3 follow-up statements

000 
WWUS53 KTOP 171931
SVSTOP

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
231 PM CDT WED JUN 17 2009

KSC013-085-131-172000-
/O.CON.KTOP.TO.W.0011.000000T0000Z-090617T2000Z/
NEMAHA-BROWN-JACKSON-
231 PM CDT WED JUN 17 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 PM CDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN JACKSON...SOUTHWESTERN BROWN AND EAST CENTRAL NEMAHA
COUNTIES...

AT 223 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THE 
STRONGEST PART OF THIS STORM WAS LOCATED 4 MILES SOUTH OF 
WOODLAWN...OR 20 MILES SOUTHWEST OF HIAWATHA...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
WETMORE...KICKAPOO RESERVATION AND POWHATTAN.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IF A TORNADO APPROACHES...GO TO A BASEMENT OR SEEK SHELTER IN A
HALLWAY OR CLOSET ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING. USE BLANKETS
OR PILLOWS TO COVER YOUR HEAD AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

&&

LAT...LON 3962 9587 3969 9597 3987 9593 3988 9562
      3965 9555 3959 9555
TIME...MOT...LOC 1930Z 279DEG 19KT 3973 9584

$$

000 
WWUS53 KTOP 171941
SVSTOP

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
241 PM CDT WED JUN 17 2009

KSC013-085-131-172000-
/O.CON.KTOP.TO.W.0011.000000T0000Z-090617T2000Z/
NEMAHA-BROWN-JACKSON-
241 PM CDT WED JUN 17 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 PM CDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN JACKSON...SOUTHWESTERN BROWN AND EAST CENTRAL NEMAHA
COUNTIES...

AT 240 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS
STORM WAS LOCATED 5 MILES WEST OF KICKAPOO RESERVATION...OR 15 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF HIAWATHA...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH.

TRAINED SPOTTERS REPORTED A WALL CLOUD NORTH OF WETMORE ABOUT 235 
PM.  GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL WILL ALSO OCCUR WITH THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
KICKAPOO RESERVATION AND POWHATTAN.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IF A TORNADO APPROACHES...GO TO A BASEMENT OR SEEK SHELTER IN A
HALLWAY OR CLOSET ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING. USE BLANKETS
OR PILLOWS TO COVER YOUR HEAD AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

&&

LAT...LON 3961 9574 3964 9581 3969 9585 3981 9583
      3982 9560 3965 9555 3959 9555
TIME...MOT...LOC 1941Z 282DEG 23KT 3971 9575

$$

000 
WWUS53 KTOP 171952
SVSTOP

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
252 PM CDT WED JUN 17 2009

KSC131-172002-
/O.CAN.KTOP.TO.W.0011.000000T0000Z-090617T2000Z/
NEMAHA-
252 PM CDT WED JUN 17 2009

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL NEMAHA COUNTY HAS BEEN
CANCELLED...

THE STORM MOVED OUT OF NEMAHA COUNTY. A TORNADO WATCH CONTINUES IN 
EFFECT.

LAT...LON 3959 9555 3962 9568 3966 9576 3981 9578
      3979 9559 3965 9555
TIME...MOT...LOC 1952Z 288DEG 20KT 3969 9571

$$

KSC013-085-172000-
/O.CON.KTOP.TO.W.0011.000000T0000Z-090617T2000Z/
BROWN-JACKSON-
252 PM CDT WED JUN 17 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 PM CDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN JACKSON AND SOUTHWESTERN BROWN COUNTIES...

AT 252 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS 
STORM WAS LOCATED OVER THE KICKAPOO RESERVATION...OR 15 MILES 
SOUTHWEST OF HIAWATHA...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
KICKAPOO RESERVATION AND RURAL AREAS OF FAR NORTHEAST JACKSON COUNTY.

GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL IS LIKELY WITH THIS STORM.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IF A TORNADO APPROACHES...GO TO A BASEMENT OR SEEK SHELTER IN A
HALLWAY OR CLOSET ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING. USE BLANKETS
OR PILLOWS TO COVER YOUR HEAD AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

&&

LAT...LON 3959 9555 3962 9568 3966 9576 3981 9578
      3979 9559 3965 9555
TIME...MOT...LOC 1952Z 288DEG 20KT 3969 9571

$$

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Topeka, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at Jun 17, 7:09 AM CDT, 7 hours 13 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 17, 7:09 AM CDT, 7 hours 13 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
709 AM CDT WED JUN 17 2009

.UPDATE...

UPDATE FOR 12 UTC AVIATION.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

SEE PREVIOUS DISCUSSION.

&&

.AVIATION...

OVERNIGHT GROUND FOG HAS BEGUN TO LIFT...AND MID JUNE INSOLATION
AND INCREASING LOW LEVEL WINDS SHOULD KEEP CONDITIONS FROM
DROPPING BELOW IFR FOR THE REST OF THE MORNING. INCREASING
SOUTHEAST WINDS TODAY WILL VEER TO THE SOUTHWEST LATE TONIGHT WITH
AS SURFACE LOW MOVES EAST ACROSS THE NORTHERN PLAINS.

65

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 320 AM CDT WED JUN 17 2009/

DISCUSSION...

ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS MOVING SLOWLY ACROSS SE KS ATTM...IN AREA
OF BETTER INSTABILITY AND WEAK ISENTROPIC LIFT. WEAK WAVE ACROSS
WRN KS GENERATING SOME SHOWERS ACROSS NORTHWEST AND NORTH CENTRAL
PORTIONS OF THE STATE.

FOR TODAY...SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW ALOFT OVER THE ROCKIES ACTS TO
BUILD THE UPPER RIDGE OVER OUR AREA. SHORTWAVES PROGGED TO EJECT
THROUGH THAT FLOW AROUND THE RIDGE AND INTO CTRL KANSAS LATER
TONIGHT. FOR TODAY...SEE PLUME OF 700MB TEMPS OF 14C SLOWLY MOVE
NORTHWARD TOWARDS THE NEBRASKA BORDER AND THINK THIS WILL KEEP
PRECIP CHANCES AT BAY FOR THE DAYTIME HOURS TODAY. HAVE HIGHS IN
THE LOW 90S EAST TO THE MID 90S WEST WITH INCREASING SOUTHERLY
WINDS.

TONIGHT EXPECT TO SEE PIECE OF ENERGY OVER THE ROCKIES FIRE OFF
CONVECTION ALONG THE CAP IN NEBRASKA. STORMS SHOULD DEVELOP
QUICKLY IN HIGHLY UNSTABLE AIRMASS WITH STRONG SHEAR AND
PROPAGATE EAST SOUTHEAST...A FEW OF WHICH MAY CLIP THE FAR NORTHERN
COUNTIES IN THE EVENING HOURS BEFORE PROPAGATING EASTWARD. IF THIS
OCCURS...THESE STORMS WOULD LIKELY BE SEVERE. AT THIS TIM THINK
THEY WILL STAY NORTH BUT WITH EDGE OF CAP ACROSS THE NORTH CANNOT
GO WITHOUT A SLT CHANCE THERE. GFS ALSO HINTING AT PIECE OF
ENERGY NEAR THE TX PANHANDLE MOVING INTO CTRL KS COULD GENERATE
ISOLD ACTIVITY IN A SIMILAR TIMEFRAME. THINK CAP WILL HOLD WEST
BUT WILL CARRY SLT POPS THERE FOR COLLABORATIVE SAKE. WARM
SOUTHERLY WINDS SHOULD KEEP LOWS IN THE LOW TO MID 70S OVERNIGHT
WITH SOME LOWER TEMPS POSSIBLE ALONG THE NORTHERN BORDER WHERE
COLD POOLS FROM THUNDER COULD BRING A BRIEF COOLDOWN.

ANOTHER WARM DAY IN STORE FOR THE AREA ON THURSDAY AS RIDGE
REMAINS OVER THE SOUTHERN PLAINS AND SHORTWAVE SLIDES ALONG THE
CANADIAN BORDER THROUGH THE DAY. SECONDARY WAVE THEN SLIDES IN
BEHIND...A BIT MORE SOUTH...AND BRINGS THE FRONT INTO OUR AREA ON
FRIDAY. BETTER INSTABILITY PROGGED TO SLIDE EASTWARD WITH LEADING
IMPULSE...BUT ENOUGH REMAINS FOR THUNDER POTENTIAL AS THE FRONT
MOVES THROUGH ON FRIDAY. TIMING COULD IMPACT STRENGTH OF THE
STORMS AS AN AFTERNOON PASSAGE COULD ALLOW FOR BUILDUP OF A BIT
MORE INSTABILITY. FRONTAL PASSAGE SHOULD KEEP HIGHS IN THE 80S ON
FRIDAY.

CHANCES FOR PRECIP ON SATURDAY WILL DEPEND ON HOW FAR SOUTH FRONT
MOVES BEFORE IT RETURNS ACROSS OUR AREA. IF GFS SOLUTION VERIFIES
THINK ITS RETURN SOLUTION IS TOO QUICK. HOWEVER ECMWF LINGERS THE
FRONTAL BOUNDARY ACROSS THE AREA FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY...AND
NAM DRAWS FRONT FARTHER SOUTHWARD. STAYED CURRENT FORECAST COURSE
WITH NO POPS BUT MAY NEED TO BE ADDED IF FRONTAL POSITION REMAINS
CLOSE TO OUR AREA. NO CHANGES BEYOND SATURDAY. 67

&&

.TOP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE.

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 17, 5:23 AM CDT, 8 hours 59 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
523 AM CDT WED JUN 17 2009

KSZ008>012-020>024-026-034>040-054>056-058-059-181030-
REPUBLIC-WASHINGTON-MARSHALL-NEMAHA-BROWN-CLOUD-CLAY-RILEY-
POTTAWATOMIE-JACKSON-JEFFERSON-OTTAWA-DICKINSON-GEARY-MORRIS-
WABAUNSEE-SHAWNEE-DOUGLAS-LYON-OSAGE-FRANKLIN-COFFEY-ANDERSON-
523 AM CDT WED JUN 17 2009

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL...NORTH
CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST KANSAS.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ACROSS NEBRASKA LATE THIS
AFTERNOON INTO THIS EVENING. ALTHOUGH THE EXPECTED STORM TRACK IS
GENERALLY NORTH OF THE STATE LINE...A FEW OF THESE STORMS MAY MOVE
FAR ENOUGH SOUTH TO CLIP THE NORTHERN COUNTIES OF KANSAS. IF THEY
DO...THESE STORMS MAY BE SEVERE WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING
WINDS THE PRIMARY THREAT WITH ISOLATED TORNADOES ALSO POSSIBLE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

THERE IS A CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY AS A
FRONT MOVES ACROSS THE STATE.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS MAY BE NEEDED LATER TONIGHT NEAR THE KANSAS NEBRASKA
STATE LINE.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jun 17, 1:42 PM CDT, 40 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
142 PM CDT WED JUN 17 2009

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0138 PM     HAIL             1 S BAILEYVILLE         39.83N 96.18W
06/17/2009  E2.00 INCH       NEMAHA             KS   CO-OP OBSERVER

&&

BN

Local storm report, Jun 17, 1:59 PM CDT, 23 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
159 PM CDT WED JUN 17 2009

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0156 PM     HAIL             ESE SENECA              39.83N 96.06W
06/17/2009  E1.25 INCH       NEMAHA             KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

BN

Local storm report, Jun 17, 2:00 PM CDT, 22 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
200 PM CDT WED JUN 17 2009

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0200 PM     HAIL             N SENECA                39.84N 96.06W
06/17/2009  E1.50 INCH       NEMAHA             KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

BN

Local storm report, Jun 17, 2:03 PM CDT, 19 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
203 PM CDT WED JUN 17 2009

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0145 PM     HAIL             1 S BAILEYVILLE         39.83N 96.18W
06/17/2009  E3.00 INCH       NEMAHA             KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

BN

Local storm report, Jun 17, 2:08 PM CDT, 14 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
208 PM CDT WED JUN 17 2009

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0203 PM     HAIL             5 SSW ONEIDA            39.80N 95.98W
06/17/2009  E1.00 INCH       NEMAHA             KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

BN

Local storm report, Jun 17, 2:17 PM CDT, 5 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
217 PM CDT WED JUN 17 2009

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0212 PM     HAIL             6 SSW ONEIDA            39.79N 95.98W
06/17/2009  E1.50 INCH       NEMAHA             KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

BN

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jun 16, 9:40 PM CDT	River Flood Warning	TOP	Anderson, Franklin	13 hr
Jun 17, 12:34 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Republic, Washington	41 min
Jun 17, 1:08 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Marshall	52 min
Jun 17, 1:15 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Republic, Washington	45 min
Jun 17, 1:30 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Nemaha	45 min
Jun 17, 2:11 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Brown, Nemaha	49 min
Jun 17, 2:11 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	TOP	Marshall, Washington	34 min
Jun 17, 2:39 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	TOP	Marshall, Nemaha	36 min
Jun 17, 2:57 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	TOP	Brown, Jackson	33 min
Jun 17, 3:15 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	TOP	Marshall, Nemaha	30 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Kansas, 2009 Every tornado warning in 2009 Tornadoes 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.