Alert archive / Kansas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2011

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 377, NWS Wichita, KS

August 5, 2011Ellsworth County, Lincoln County, Kansas

NWS Wichita, KS issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 5, 2011, 3:06 AM CDT for Ellsworth County, Lincoln County, Kansas. It was in force for 39 min. 2 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: Aug 5, 2011, 3:06 AM CDT (08:06 UTC)
Expired: Aug 5, 2011, 3:45 AM CDT
In force: 39 min
Issued by: NWS Wichita, KS
Area: Storm-based polygon
Hail: 0.75 in
Wind: 60.0 mph

Counties Ellsworth County, KS, Lincoln County, KS

The radar

The Grand Island radar (KUEX), 150 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 08:05 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
Aug 5, 3:15 AM CDT	TSTM WND GST 60	4 Ssw Ellsworth, KS
Aug 5, 3:22 AM CDT	TSTM WND GST 50	6 Ne Ellsworth, 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 one storm report to this severe thunderstorm warning; the first came 9 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 nearest sounding before it

Dodge City, (KDDC), launched 00:00Z, 8.1 hours before the alert went out and 195 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: 1291 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -18 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 2488 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 16 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 11 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 42 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.

830 
WUUS53 KICT 050806
SVRICT
KSC053-105-050845-
/O.NEW.KICT.SV.W.0377.110805T0806Z-110805T0845Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
306 AM CDT FRI AUG 5 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  ELLSWORTH COUNTY IN CENTRAL KANSAS...
  LINCOLN COUNTY IN CENTRAL KANSAS...

* UNTIL 345 AM CDT

* AT 305 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE
  TRACKING A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING
  DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.  THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED
  ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 8 MILES SOUTHEAST OF HUNTER TO
  ELLSWORTH TO LORRAINE...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  ELLSWORTH...LINCOLN...WESTFALL...BARNARD...KANOPOLIS STATE PARK...
  BEVERLY...ELLSWORTH AIRPORT AND KANOPOLIS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 60 MILES PER 
HOUR...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 3923 9793 3853 9792 3852 9848 3881 9849
      3913 9848 3914 9850 3923 9849
TIME...MOT...LOC 0806Z 255DEG 27KT 3914 9832 3880 9826
          3854 9833
WIND...HAIL 60MPH <.75IN

$$

DARMOFAL

2 follow-up statements

251 
WWUS53 KICT 050822
SVSICT

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
322 AM CDT FRI AUG 5 2011

KSC053-105-050845-
/O.CON.KICT.SV.W.0377.000000T0000Z-110805T0845Z/
LINCOLN KS-ELLSWORTH KS-
322 AM CDT FRI AUG 5 2011

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ELLSWORTH AND
LINCOLN COUNTIES UNTIL 345 AM CDT...

AT 318 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE TRACKING
A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS IN
EXCESS OF 60 MPH.  THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING
FROM 7 MILES WEST OF BARNARD TO 9 MILES EAST OF ELLSWORTH TO
GENESEO...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  KANOPOLIS STATE PARK...WESTFALL...BARNARD AND BEVERLY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 60 MILES PER 
HOUR...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 3923 9793 3853 9792 3852 9848 3881 9849
      3913 9848 3914 9850 3923 9849
TIME...MOT...LOC 0822Z 251DEG 28KT 3917 9813 3879 9804
          3855 9809
WIND...HAIL 60MPH <.75IN

$$

DARMOFAL

868 
WWUS53 KICT 050846
SVSICT

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
346 AM CDT FRI AUG 5 2011

KSC053-105-050856-
/O.EXP.KICT.SV.W.0377.000000T0000Z-110805T0845Z/
LINCOLN KS-ELLSWORTH KS-
346 AM CDT FRI AUG 5 2011

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR ELLSWORTH AND LINCOLN COUNTIES
HAS EXPIRED...

THE LINE OF STORMS WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAVE WEAKENED BELOW
SEVERE LIMITS...AND NO LONGER POSES AN IMMEDIATE THREAT TO LIFE OR
PROPERTY...HOWEVER GUSTY WINDS ARE STILL POSSIBLE WITH THESE
THUNDERSTORMS.

LAT...LON 3923 9793 3853 9792 3852 9848 3881 9849
      3913 9848 3914 9850 3923 9849
TIME...MOT...LOC 0822Z 251DEG 28KT 3917 9813 3879 9804
          3855 9809

$$

DARMOFAL

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 Aug 5, 12:02 AM CDT, 3 hours 4 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 5, 12:02 AM CDT, 3 hours 4 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
1202 AM CDT FRI AUG 5 2011

.AVIATION...06Z TAFS KRSL/KSLN/KHUT/KICT/KCNU
MCS SITUATED OVER PRIMARILY W & NW KS IS MOVG E/NE 25KTS AT 05Z.
FORECAST STRATEGY IS ESSENTIALLY UNCHANGED FROM 00Z DISCUSSION
WITH TSRA MOVG ACROSS KRSL & KSLN FROM 06Z-10Z. FOR NOW HAVE
RETAINED "VCTS" ASSIGNED TO KHUT & KICT UNTIL ARRIVAL TIMES COME
INTO BETTER FOCUS. VERY CONCEIVABLE THAT SCT SHRA/TSRA WILL FESTER
OVER MUCH OF CNTRL & SC KS BEYOND 12Z DUE NWD POSITIONING OF
STATIONARY FRONT DRAPED ALONG KS/OK BORDER IN REGION OF MODEST
ISENTROPIC ASCENT.

&&

PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 313 PM CDT THU AUG 4 2011/

DISCUSSION...

STABLE CONDITIONS WERE OBSERVED ACROSS EASTERN KANSAS IN THE WAKE OF
THE MORNING MCS BUT WITH INCREASING INSOLATION THE AIRMASS IS
EXPECTED TO BECOME INCREASINGLY UNSTABLE BY LATE AFTERNOON/EARLY
EVENING. THE FRONT WAS DIFFICULT TO LOCATE EARLY THIS
AFTERNOON...HOWEVER THE PRIMARY OUTFLOW BOUNDARY HAS PUSHED WELL
SOUTH INTO OKLAHOMA AND WITHOUT A WELL DEFINED FOCUS FOR DEEP
MOIST CONVECTION...THUNDERSTORM CHANCES SHOULD REMAIN LOW ACROSS THE
AREA LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY EVENING. STORMS DEVELOPING
ACROSS THE HIGH PLAINS MAY BE STEERED TOWARD PORTIONS OF
CENTRAL/WEST CENTRAL KANSAS LATE TONIGHT BEFORE ARRIVING ACROSS
SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS EARLY ON FRIDAY ALONG NOSE OF A WEAK LLJ.
LOCATIONS ACROSS CENTRAL/EAST CENTRAL KANSAS APPEAR TO HAVE THE BEST
OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE WIDESPREAD WETTING RAINS WITH ACTIVITY LINGERING
THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS ON FRI BEFORE DIMINISHING. AFTERNOON
THUNDERSTORMS MAY REDEVELOP FRIDAY AFTERNOON SPREADING EASTWARD
FRIDAY NIGHT AND MAINTAINED LOW POPS FOR THIS SCENARIO. DIFFERENCES
IN HOW FAR NORTH THE DIFFUSE FRONT MIXES ON FRIDAY REMAIN WITH THE
GFS MORE AGGRESSIVE WHEN COMPARED TO THE NAM.

SATURDAY-SUNDAY...THIS DIFFUSE STATIONARY FRONT IS EXPECTED TO
BISECT THE FORECAST AREA THROUGH THE WEEKEND. THIS FRONT IS EXPECTED
TO MIX SLOWLY NORTHWARD ON SATURDAY BEFORE BEING FORCED SOUTH LATE
SUNDAY AS A SHORTWAVE TROUGH MOVES OVER UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY
AREA. THIS WILL ALLOW THE DEEPLY MIXED AIRMASS OVER OKLAHOMA TO
RETURN TO SOUTHERN AND SOUTHEAST KANSAS WITH TEMPERATURES OF 100-105
ANTICIPATED AND A CONTINUATION OF THE EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING. THIS
FRONT WILL ALSO BE A FOCUS FOR DEEP MOIST CONVECTION THROUGH THE
PERIOD AND MAINTAINED LOW POPS ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA.

MONDAY-THURSDAY...A MILD START TO THE PERIOD IS ANTICIPATED AS THE
PERSISTENT FRONT MEANDERING ACROSS THE CENTRAL PLAINS IS PROGGED TO
SET UP ACROSS CENTRAL/NORTHERN KANSAS SUPPORTING ANOTHER DAY OF
HEAT HEADLINES ACROSS THE SOUTHERN HALF OF KANSAS. A SERIES OF
UPPER LEVEL TROUGHS MOVING OVER THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY/GREAT
LAKES AREA WILL HELP BREAK DOWN THE PERSISTENT RIDGE ALLOWING A
COLD FRONT TO MOVE SOUTH INTO OKLAHOMA BY TUESDAY. THIS FRONT IS
PROGGED TO BECOME STATIONARY SOUTH OF THE AREA WITH A
COOLER/CANADIAN AIRMASS BUILDING INTO THE CENTRAL PLAINS STATES.
THIS WILL BRING WELCOME RELIEF FROM THE PROLONGED HEAT AND
CONTINUED CHANCES FOR DEEP MOIST CONVECTION. AS THE STRONGER WEST-
NORTHWEST MID/UPPER FLOW DEVELOPS OVER THE AREA PERIODS OF STRONG
TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH REPEATED HEAVY RAINS APPEARS POSSIBLE
ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST KANSAS.

MWM

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
WICHITA-KICT    75  99  77 105 /  40  30  20  20
HUTCHINSON      74  95  76 103 /  50  40  20  30
NEWTON          75  95  76 102 /  40  40  30  20
ELDORADO        76  96  76 104 /  40  40  30  20
WINFIELD-KWLD   76 102  77 105 /  30  30  20  20
RUSSELL         71  92  72  96 /  60  50  20  30
GREAT BEND      71  93  72  98 /  60  40  20  30
SALINA          72  90  74  97 /  50  50  30  20
MCPHERSON       73  94  75 101 /  50  50  30  20
COFFEYVILLE     77 103  77 105 /  20  30  20  20
CHANUTE         75  98  76 101 /  30  40  30  20
IOLA            75  97  76 100 /  30  40  30  20
PARSONS-KPPF    76 101  77 104 /  30  40  20  20

&&

.ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING FROM NOON FRIDAY TO 8 PM CDT MONDAY FOR
KSZ067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100.

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 4, 4:29 PM CDT, 10 hours 37 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
429 PM CDT THU AUG 4 2011

KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-052130-
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-
429 PM CDT THU AUG 4 2011

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

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE TONIGHT ACROSS CENTRAL
AND PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS. A FEW STRONG STORMS WILL BE
POSSIBLE WITH THE MAIN THREATS BEING WIND GUSTS OF 50 MPH...SMALL
HAIL...AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

DANGEROUS HEAT INDICES WILL CONTINUE TO IMPACT SOUTH CENTRAL AND
SOUTHEAST KANSAS FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY. PLEASE REFER TO THE EXCESSIVE
HEAT WARNING FOR DETAILS.

THUNDERSTORM CHANCES WILL CONTINUE THROUGH WEDNESDAY. STRONG TO
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL REMAIN POSSIBLE THROUGH THE PERIOD WITH
MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR WIDESPREAD WETTING RAINS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED TONIGHT.

&&

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

MWM

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 5, 1:15 AM CDT, 1 hour 51 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
115 AM CDT FRI AUG 5 2011

KSZ032-047-050700-
BARTON-RUSSELL-
115 AM CDT FRI AUG 5 2011

...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WESTERN BARTON AND WESTERN RUSSELL COUNTIES...

AT 109 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE TRACKING
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM ELLIS TO LA CROSSE
TO 11 MILES WEST OF LARNED...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

WINDS TO 50 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS AS THEY MOVE INTO
WESTERN PORTIONS OF BARTON AND RUSSELL COUNTIES BETWEEN 130 AM AND
2 AM.

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

DARMOFAL

Special weather statement, Aug 5, 1:46 AM CDT, 1 hour 20 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
146 AM CDT FRI AUG 5 2011

KSZ047-050715-
BARTON-
146 AM CDT FRI AUG 5 2011

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

AT 142 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE TRACKING
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR LARNED...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

A WIND GUST TO 43 MPH WAS OBSERVED IN LARNED. WINDS UP TO 50 MPH ARE
POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM AS IT AFFECTS SOUTHWEST BARTON COUNTY.

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

DARMOFAL

Local storm report, Aug 5, 2:13 AM CDT, 53 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
213 AM CDT FRI AUG 05 2011

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

0125 AM     TSTM WND DMG     CEDAR VALE              37.11N 96.50W
08/05/2011                   CHAUTAUQUA         KS   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREE DOWNED WHICH DAMAGED BUILDING.

&&

KED

Special weather statement, Aug 5, 2:16 AM CDT, 50 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
216 AM CDT FRI AUG 5 2011

KSZ047-050745-
BARTON-
216 AM CDT FRI AUG 5 2011

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

AT 212 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE TRACKING
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR GREAT BEND...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35
MPH.

WINDS TO 50 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

DARMOFAL

Local storm report, Aug 5, 2:33 AM CDT, 33 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
233 AM CDT FRI AUG 05 2011

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

0231 AM     TSTM WND GST     GREAT BEND              38.36N 98.81W
08/05/2011  E60 MPH          BARTON             KS   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            50 TO 60 MPH WIND GUSTS.

&&

KED

Local storm report, Aug 5, 3:02 AM CDT, 4 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
302 AM CDT FRI AUG 05 2011

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

0300 AM     TSTM WND GST     HOLYROOD                38.59N 98.41W
08/05/2011  E60 MPH          ELLSWORTH          KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

KED

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Aug 5, 2:27 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Barton, Ellsworth, Lincoln, Rice, Russell	48 min
Aug 5, 3:34 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Saline	26 min

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.