Alert archive / Kansas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2011

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 22, NWS Wichita, KS

March 19, 2011Chase County, Kansas

NWS Wichita, KS issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Mar 19, 2011, 10:28 AM CDT for Chase County, Kansas. It was in force for 29 min. 4 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: Mar 19, 2011, 10:28 AM CDT (15:28 UTC)
Expired: Mar 19, 2011, 10:57 AM CDT
In force: 29 min
Issued by: NWS Wichita, KS
Area: Storm-based polygon
Hail: 1.0 in
Wind: 50.0 mph

County Chase County, KS

The radar

The Topeka radar (KTWX), 68 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 15:32 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
Mar 19, 10:36 AM CDT	HAIL 1	3 S Cottonwood Falls, KS
Mar 19, 10:37 AM CDT	HAIL 1.5	N Cottonwood Falls, KS
Mar 19, 10:38 AM CDT	HAIL 1	Cottonwood Falls, KS
Mar 19, 10:38 AM CDT	HAIL 1.75	Cottonwood Falls, KS

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

Did it verify

Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched 4 storm reports to this severe thunderstorm warning; the first came 8 minutes after it went out.

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
Mar 19, 9:43 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Topeka, KS (KTOP), launched 12:00Z, 3.5 hours before the alert went out and 96 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: 0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL: 2111 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 55 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 83 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 308 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.

848 
WUUS53 KICT 191528
SVRICT
KSC017-191630-
/O.NEW.KICT.SV.W.0022.110319T1528Z-110319T1630Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
1028 AM CDT SAT MAR 19 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  EASTERN CHASE COUNTY IN CENTRAL KANSAS...

* UNTIL 1130 AM CDT

* AT 1024 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE
  TRACKING A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE
  HAIL.  THIS STORM WAS LOCATED 6 MILES NORTH OF MATFIELD GREEN...OR
  8 MILES SOUTH OF COTTONWOOD FALLS...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  COTTONWOOD FALLS...STRONG CITY AND SAFFORDVILLE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 60 MILES PER
HOUR...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAIN. FOR
YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF YOUR
HOME OR BUSINESS. HEAVY RAINS FLOOD ROADS QUICKLY SO DO NOT DRIVE
INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.

&&

LAT...LON 3851 9635 3851 9634 3823 9635 3818 9658
      3830 9669 3852 9654 3852 9635
TIME...MOT...LOC 1529Z 224DEG 31KT 3828 9652
WIND...HAIL <50MPH 1.00IN

$$

JAKUB

2 follow-up statements

107 
WWUS53 KICT 191546
SVSICT

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
1046 AM CDT SAT MAR 19 2011

KSC017-191630-
/O.CON.KICT.SV.W.0022.000000T0000Z-110319T1630Z/
CHASE KS-
1046 AM CDT SAT MAR 19 2011

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHEASTERN
CHASE COUNTY UNTIL 1130 AM CDT...

AT 1042 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE
TRACKING A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PING PONG BALL
SIZE HAIL.  THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR SAFFORDVILLE...OR 7 MILES
EAST OF COTTONWOOD FALLS...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF NORTHEASTERN CHASE COUNTY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 60 MILES PER
HOUR...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAIN. FOR
YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF YOUR
HOME OR BUSINESS. HEAVY RAINS FLOOD ROADS QUICKLY SO DO NOT DRIVE
INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.

&&

LAT...LON 3851 9635 3851 9634 3826 9635 3836 9662
      3852 9654 3852 9635
TIME...MOT...LOC 1546Z 224DEG 31KT 3841 9639
WIND...HAIL <50MPH 1.50IN

$$

JAKUB

779 
WWUS53 KICT 191557
SVSICT

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
1057 AM CDT SAT MAR 19 2011

KSC017-191607-
/O.CAN.KICT.SV.W.0022.000000T0000Z-110319T1630Z/
CHASE KS-
1057 AM CDT SAT MAR 19 2011

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN CHASE COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED OUT OF THE WARNED
AREA.

LAT...LON 3851 9635 3851 9634 3826 9635 3836 9662
      3852 9654 3852 9635
TIME...MOT...LOC 1557Z 224DEG 31KT 3846 9629

$$

JAKUB

What forecasters said that day

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

NWS Wichita, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Mar 19, 6:55 AM CDT, 3 hours 33 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 19, 6:55 AM CDT, 3 hours 33 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
655 AM CDT SAT MAR 19 2011

.AVIATION...12Z TAFS KRSL/KSLN/KHUT/KICT/KCNU
SCT SHRA & ISOLD TSRA DEVELOPED OVER PRIMARILY SE KS EARLY THIS
MORNING ALONG DEVELOPING ELEVATED WARM FRONT SITUATED IN A W-E MANNER
OVER SC & SE KS. FRONT TO DISSIPATE THIS MORNING...HOWEVER INCREASING
WARM MOIST ADVECTION TO INDUCE SHRA/EMBEDDED TSRA TO GREATLY INCREASE
IN RESPONSE TO EQUALLY INCREASING (& THEREFORE DEEPENING) ISENTROPIC
ASCENT OVER ALL OF KS. AS SUCH CIGS & VSBYS TO DETERIORATE INTO MVFR
STATUS 19/18Z-19/20Z WITH FURTHER DETERIORATION TO IFR LATER THIS
AFTERNOON. (ESPECIALLY OVER SC KS & MUCH OF CNTRL KS...PRIMARILY KSLN
WHERE BETTER ALIGNED WITH GREATEST LWR-DECK MOIST ADVECTION). OUTLOOK
FROM 19/21Z ONWARD IS BLEAK AS WARM ADVECTION IN 15,000-2,000FT LAYER
INDUCES SHARPENING INVERSION THAT'LL LIKELY KEEP MOST TERMINALS IFR
STRATIFIED THROUGH 20/06Z.

&&

PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 307 AM CDT SAT MAR 19 2011/

DISCUSSION...
MAIN FORECAST CONCERNS: PRECIPITATION CHANCES TODAY AND AGAIN
TUESDAY...TEMPERATURES THROUGHOUT...AND FIRE DANGER SUNDAY THROUGH
TUESDAY.

TODAY-TONIGHT:
SHOWERS AND ELEVATED THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD DEVELOP AND SPREAD
NORTHEASTWARD ACROSS OUR AREA THIS MORNING INTO THE AFTERNOON...WITH
DEEP LAYER ISENTROPIC LIFT AND ELEVATED MOISTURE TRANSPORT. MOST
UNSTABLE CAPES OF UP TO 1,000 J/KG...VERY STEEP MID-LEVEL LAPSE
RATES...AND UPDRAFT LAYER SPEED SHEAR SUGGEST SOME STRONG STORMS
WITH MAINLY SMALL HAIL...AND PERHAPS ISOLATED HAIL TO AROUND QUARTER
SIZE. GIVEN THE SOUTHEASTERLY UPSLOPE TRAJECTORIES...CLOUDS AND
RAIN...OUR DIURNAL TEMPERATURE RANGE SHOULD BE LESS THAN NORMAL.
THERE WILL BE A CONTINUED BUT LESSER CHANCE OF SHOWERS/T-STORMS THIS
EVENING NORTH OF THE DIFFUSE RETREATING WARM FRONT.

SUNDAY-MONDAY:
ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES WILL BE THE MAIN STORY WITH A STRONG
LOW-LEVEL THERMAL RIDGE FROM THE SOUTHERN HIGH PLAINS NORTHEASTWARD
INTO OUR AREA. THE MODELS SHOW OUR AREA IN A CAPPED WARM SECTOR
SUNDAY. A COLD FRONT IS PROGGED TO REACH AS FAR SOUTH AS CENTRAL KS
SUNDAY NIGHT BEFORE STALLING...THEN RETREATING BACK NORTHWARD AS A
WARM FRONT BY MONDAY AFTERNOON. WITH FAIRLY WARM 800 MB TEMPERATURES
OF +15 TO +17 C...WILL KEEP DRY FORECAST IN PLACE DURING THE PERIOD.
GUSTY SOUTHERLY WINDS ARE EXPECTED BOTH DAYS.

TUESDAY-FRIDAY:
THE UPPER TROF IN THE WEST WILL EJECT OUT ACROSS THE CENTRAL PLAINS
TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY. WILL MAINTAIN LOW CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS
TUESDAY EAST OF THE DRYLINE PASSAGE ACROSS SOUTHEAST KANSAS.
SOUTHWEST-WESTERLY DOWNSLOPE BEHIND DRYLINE WILL SUPPORT WELL ABOVE
NORMAL HIGHS TUESDAY AFTERNOON. THE AFOREMENTIONED UPPER TROF IS
PROGGED TO GET ABSORBED INTO A POLAR VORTEX OVER SOUTHEASTERN CANADA
MID TO LATE WEEK. THIS WILL DRAW SLIGHTLY COOLER THAN NORMAL AIR
DOWN HERE BY THURSDAY/FRIDAY. SLIGHT CHANCES FOR RAIN RETURN TO
THE PICTURE LATE THURSDAY INTO FRIDAY WITH BOTH THE GFS AND ECMWF
SHOWING AN ISENTROPIC LIFT PATTERN DEVELOPING...ALTHOUGH THERE ARE
SOME TIMING DIFFERENCES WITH THE ECMWF FASTER.

JMC

FIRE WEATHER...
AN UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE INTO THE WESTERN STATES SUNDAY
INTO MONDAY...THEN LIFTING OUT ACROSS THE CENTRAL PLAINS ON TUESDAY.
GUSTY SOUTH-SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS AND ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES WILL
RESULT IN VERY HIGH GRASSLAND FIRE DANGER LEVELS ACROSS MUCH OF THE
AREA MAINLY DURING THE LATE MORNING AND AFTERNOON HOURS EACH DAY. AT
THIS TIME...IT DOES NOT APPEAR THAT FIRE WEATHER HEADLINES WILL BE
NEEDED BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR ANY FORECAST CHANGES CLOSELY.
TUESDAY AFTERNOON LOOKS TO BE THE PERIOD OF BIGGEST CONCERN BEHIND
THE DRYLINE IN SOUTH CENTRAL AND CENTRAL KS.

JMC

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
WICHITA-KICT    57  53  78  56 /  80  30  10  10
HUTCHINSON      56  51  78  54 /  80  30  10  10
NEWTON          56  52  77  55 /  80  40  10  10
ELDORADO        56  53  77  56 /  80  40  10  10
WINFIELD-KWLD   58  54  77  57 /  80  30  10  10
RUSSELL         56  50  80  50 /  50  30  10  10
GREAT BEND      56  50  80  50 /  60  30  10  10
SALINA          56  51  78  53 /  70  40  10  10
MCPHERSON       56  51  78  54 /  80  30  10  10
COFFEYVILLE     59  56  78  58 /  70  30  10  10
CHANUTE         56  54  76  57 /  80  50  10  10
IOLA            55  53  76  57 /  80  50  10  10
PARSONS-KPPF    58  55  77  58 /  70  40  10  10

&&

.ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NONE.
&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 19, 9:45 AM CDT, 43 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
945 AM CDT SAT MAR 19 2011

KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-201445-
RUSSELL-LINCOLN-BARTON-ELLSWORTH-SALINE-RICE-MCPHERSON-MARION-CHASE-
RENO-HARVEY-BUTLER-GREENWOOD-WOODSON-ALLEN-KINGMAN-SEDGWICK-HARPER-
SUMNER-COWLEY-ELK-WILSON-NEOSHO-CHAUTAUQUA-MONTGOMERY-LABETTE-
945 AM CDT SAT MAR 19 2011

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL KANSAS...
SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS AND SOUTHEAST KANSAS.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE LIKELY ACROSS THE AREA TODAY...WITH A LESSER
CHANCE OF STORMS TONIGHT. THESE STORMS COULD BE SEVERE WITH HAIL
OF QUARTER SIZE OR LARGER.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS TUESDAY IN SOUTHEASTERN
KANSAS. IF STORMS DO DEVELOP...THEY COULD BECOME SEVERE.

GUSTY SOUTH TO SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS AND WARMER THAN NORMAL
TEMPERATURES WILL RETURN FROM SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. THIS WILL
CREATE VERY HIGH GRASSLAND FIRE DANGER ACROSS MUCH OF THE REGION.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED TODAY OR TONIGHT.

&&

FOR A GRAPHICAL VERSION OF THIS INFORMATION...SEE OUR
WEBPAGE AT (LOWERCASE) HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/WICHITA/HWO/HWO.PHP

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Mar 19, 9:41 AM CDT, 47 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
941 AM CDT SAT MAR 19 2011

KSZ053-069-070-191530-
BUTLER-CHASE-GREENWOOD-
941 AM CDT SAT MAR 19 2011

...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY FOR BUTLER...CHASE AND GREENWOOD COUNTIES...

AT 937 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE TRACKING
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 6 MILES EAST OF EL DORADO...AND MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

PENNY TO NICKEL SIZE HAIL IS POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

BE PREPARED TO TAKE SHELTER IN THE EVENT THE STORMS INTENSIFY AND
BECOME SEVERE, OR A WARNING IS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE.

JAKUB

Local storm report, Mar 19, 9:57 AM CDT, 31 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
957 AM CDT SAT MAR 19 2011

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

0954 AM     HAIL             2 W ALTAMONT            37.19N 95.33W
03/19/2011  E0.75 INCH       LABETTE            KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

VJP

Local storm report, Mar 19, 10:04 AM CDT, 24 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
1004 AM CDT SAT MAR 19 2011

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

1003 AM     HAIL             2 W ALTAMONT            37.19N 95.33W
03/19/2011  E1.00 INCH       LABETTE            KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

VJP

Local storm report, Mar 19, 10:12 AM CDT, 16 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
1012 AM CDT SAT MAR 19 2011

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

1001 AM     HAIL             2 N EDNA                37.09N 95.36W
03/19/2011  E1.75 INCH       LABETTE            KS   PUBLIC

            FAMILY MEMBER OF NWS EMPLOYEE REPORTS GOLFBALL SIZED
            RELAYED BY NWS SPRINGFIELD.

1009 AM     HAIL             ALTAMONT                37.19N 95.29W
03/19/2011  E1.00 INCH       LABETTE            KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

1010 AM     HAIL             2 W ALTAMONT            37.19N 95.33W
03/19/2011  E1.25 INCH       LABETTE            KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

VJP

Special weather statement, Mar 19, 10:20 AM CDT, 8 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
1020 AM CDT SAT MAR 19 2011

KSZ052-191600-
MARION-
1020 AM CDT SAT MAR 19 2011

...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY FOR MARION COUNTY...

AT 1014 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE
TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 5 MILES WEST OF DURHAM...OR 19 MILES
NORTHWEST OF MARION...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

PENNY TO NICKEL SIZE HAIL IS POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

JAKUB

Local storm report, Mar 19, 10:26 AM CDT, 2 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
1026 AM CDT SAT MAR 19 2011

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

1017 AM     HAIL             5 N ALTAMONT            37.26N 95.29W
03/19/2011  E1.00 INCH       LABETTE            KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

VJP

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Mar 19, 8:18 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Labette, Montgomery	57 min
Mar 19, 9:45 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Labette	60 min
Mar 19, 10:05 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Chautauqua, Cowley	44 min
Mar 19, 10:40 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Labette, Neosho	65 min
Mar 19, 11:11 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Greenwood, Woodson	25 min
Mar 19, 1:14 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Labette	43 min
Mar 19, 1:55 PM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	ICT	Montgomery	4 hr

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Kansas, 2011 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2011

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.