Alert archive / Kansas / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 9, NWS Wichita, KS

April 14, 2011Chautauqua County, Kansas

NWS Wichita, KS issued this tornado warning at Apr 14, 2011, 4:55 PM CDT for Chautauqua County, Kansas. It was in force for 65 min. 6 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
Apr 14, 2011, 4:55 PM CDT (21:55 UTC)
Expired
Apr 14, 2011, 6:00 PM CDT
In force
65 min
Issued by
NWS Wichita, KS
Area
Storm-based polygon

County Chautauqua County, KS

The radar

The Tulsa radar (KINX), 120 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:56 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
Apr 14, 5:15 PM CDTHAIL 2.5Chautauqua, KS
Apr 14, 5:16 PM CDTTORNADO4 W Chautauqua, KSBRIEF TORNADO TOUCHDOWN REPORTED BY A TRAINED SPOTTER.
Apr 14, 5:30 PM CDTFUNNEL CLOUDPeru, KS
Apr 14, 5:30 PM CDTTSTM WND GST 60Peru, KSOFF DUTY NWS EMPLOYEE ESTIMATES 60 MPH WITH THE RFD OF THE THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING THE FUNNEL CLOUD.
Apr 14, 5:30 PM CDTHAIL 0.88Sedan, KSTRAINED SPOTTER REPORTS NICKEL SIZED HAIL AND 0.91 INCHES OF RAIN IN 20 MINUTES.
Apr 14, 5:35 PM CDTHAIL 0.88Sedan, KS

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
Apr 14, 2:10 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Lamont, OK (KLMN), launched 12:00Z, 9.9 hours before the alert went out and 124 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, Lamont, OK at 12:00Z on 2011-04-14Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 155 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, Lamont, OK at 12:00Z on 2011-04-14The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 507 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
155 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-470 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1449 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
91 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
507 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
541 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

779 
WFUS53 KICT 142155
TORICT
KSC019-142300-
/O.NEW.KICT.TO.W.0009.110414T2155Z-110414T2300Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
455 PM CDT THU APR 14 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST KANSAS...

* UNTIL 600 PM CDT

* AT 453 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE
  TRACKING A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS
  DANGEROUS STORM WAS LOCATED 9 MILES SOUTHWEST OF ELGIN...OR 12
  MILES SOUTH OF CEDAR VALE...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  SEDAN...ELGIN...CHAUTAUQUA...PERU...NIOTAZE AND HALE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME...A VEHICLE OR
OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT
YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

&&

LAT...LON 3700 9647 3730 9630 3729 9596 3699 9596
TIME...MOT...LOC 2155Z 223DEG 28KT 3696 9641
HAIL <.75IN

$$

JAKUB
4 follow-up statements
316 
WWUS53 KICT 142206
SVSICT

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
506 PM CDT THU APR 14 2011

KSC019-142300-
/O.CON.KICT.TO.W.0009.000000T0000Z-110414T2300Z/
CHAUTAUQUA KS-
506 PM CDT THU APR 14 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY UNTIL
600 PM CDT...

AT 502 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE TRACKING
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS DANGEROUS 
STORM WAS LOCATED 5 MILES SOUTHWEST OF ELGIN...OR 14 MILES SOUTHEAST 
OF CEDAR VALE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH. THIS STORM COULD PRODUCE 
A TORNADO AT ANY TIME! ELGIN IS IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM!

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  SEDAN...ELGIN...CHAUTAUQUA...PERU...NIOTAZE AND HALE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A 
STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME...A VEHICLE OR 
OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT 
YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

&&

LAT...LON 3700 9647 3730 9630 3729 9596 3699 9596
TIME...MOT...LOC 2205Z 223DEG 28KT 3696 9632
HAIL 1.75IN

$$

KLEINSASSER
332 
WWUS53 KICT 142222
SVSICT

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
522 PM CDT THU APR 14 2011

KSC019-142300-
/O.CON.KICT.TO.W.0009.000000T0000Z-110414T2300Z/
CHAUTAUQUA KS-
522 PM CDT THU APR 14 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY UNTIL
600 PM CDT...

AT 516 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE TRACKING
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS DANGEROUS 
STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR CHAUTAUQUA...OR 9 MILES SOUTH OF 
SEDAN...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH. THIS STORM HAS STRONG ROTATION! 
A TORNADO COULD DEVELOP AT ANY TIME! TAKE COVER NOW!

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  SEDAN...PERU...NIOTAZE AND HALE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A 
STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME...A VEHICLE OR 
OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT 
YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

&&

LAT...LON 3700 9647 3730 9630 3729 9596 3699 9596
TIME...MOT...LOC 2221Z 228DEG 28KT 3703 9618
HAIL 1.75IN

$$

KLEINSASSER
421 
WWUS53 KICT 142237
SVSICT

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
537 PM CDT THU APR 14 2011

KSC019-142300-
/O.CON.KICT.TO.W.0009.000000T0000Z-110414T2300Z/
CHAUTAUQUA KS-
537 PM CDT THU APR 14 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY UNTIL
600 PM CDT...

AT 530 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE TRACKING
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS DANGEROUS 
STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR PERU...OR NEAR SEDAN...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 
MPH. FUNNEL CLOUDS HAVE BEEN REPORTED WITH THIS STORM...AND IT 
CONTINUES TO EXHIBIT STRONG ROTATION ON RADAR. THIS STORM COULD 
PRODUCE A TORNADO AT ANY TIME!

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  HALE.

VERY LARGE HAIL IS ALSO LIKELY WITH THIS STORM. TENNIS BALL SIZE 
HAIL WAS REPORTED IN THE TOWN OF CHAUTAUQUA AT 515 PM CDT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME...A VEHICLE OR
OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT
YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

&&

LAT...LON 3700 9647 3730 9630 3729 9596 3699 9596
TIME...MOT...LOC 2234Z 225DEG 32KT 3712 9607
HAIL 2.50IN

$$

KLEINSASSER
729 
WWUS53 KICT 142255
SVSICT

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
555 PM CDT THU APR 14 2011

KSC019-142305-
/O.EXP.KICT.TO.W.0009.000000T0000Z-110414T2300Z/
CHAUTAUQUA KS-
555 PM CDT THU APR 14 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT 600 PM
CDT...

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

LAT...LON 3700 9647 3730 9630 3729 9596 3699 9596
TIME...MOT...LOC 2255Z 225DEG 32KT 3725 9590

$$

KLEINSASSER

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 14, 3:11 PM CDTHigh Wind WarningICTBarton, Ellsworth, Harper, Harvey, Kingman, Lincoln and 7 more37 hr
Apr 14, 3:11 PM CDTWind AdvisoryICTButler, Chase, Chautauqua, Cowley, Elk, Greenwood and 6 more37 hr
Apr 14, 3:40 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTEllsworth, Rice50 min
Apr 14, 4:04 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTMcPherson, Saline56 min
Apr 14, 4:07 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTCowley53 min
Apr 14, 4:27 PM CDTTornado WarningICTChautauqua, Cowley, Elk33 min
Apr 14, 4:29 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTEllsworth, Lincoln, Saline61 min
Apr 14, 4:41 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTButler64 min
Apr 14, 4:57 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTSaline35 min
Apr 14, 4:59 PM CDTTornado WarningICTButler, Cowley, Elk, Greenwood33 min
Apr 14, 5:08 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTMarion40 min
Apr 14, 5:13 PM CDTTornado WarningICTSaline19 min
Apr 14, 5:20 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTChase51 min
Apr 14, 5:44 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTButler, Chase, Greenwood34 min
Apr 14, 5:46 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTElk, Labette, Montgomery, Neosho, Wilson59 min
Apr 14, 5:55 PM CDTTornado WarningICTGreenwood29 min
Apr 14, 6:31 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTLabette, Montgomery, Neosho45 min
Apr 14, 6:46 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTLabette, Montgomery, Neosho, Wilson26 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Kansas, 2011Every tornado warning in 2011Tornadoes 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.