Alert archive / Kansas / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 12, NWS Topeka, KS

May 21, 2011Lyon County, Kansas

NWS Topeka, KS issued this tornado warning at May 21, 2011, 8:52 PM CDT for Lyon County, Kansas. It was in force for 39 min. 5 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
May 21, 2011, 8:52 PM CDT (01:52 UTC)
Expired
May 21, 2011, 9:31 PM CDT
In force
39 min
Issued by
NWS Topeka, KS
Area
Storm-based polygon

County Lyon County, KS

The radar

The Topeka radar (KTWX), 49 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:52 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
May 21, 8:59 PM CDTTORNADO9 Ene Emporia, KS
May 21, 9:00 PM CDTHAIL 1.7510 N Emporia, KS
May 21, 9:07 PM CDTHAIL 18 Nne Emporia, KS
May 21, 9:15 PM CDTTORNADO3 W Reading, KSREPORTED BY EMERGENY MANAGEMENT
May 21, 9:15 PM CDTTORNADOReading, KSPEOPLE TRAPPED IN STORM CELLAR IN READING RELAYED BY LOCAL MEDIA

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
May 21, 3:41 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Lamont, OK (KLMN), launched 00:00Z, 1.9 hours before the alert went out and 249 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 00:00Z on 2011-05-22Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Lamont, OK at 00:00Z on 2011-05-22The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 148 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
3256 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
38 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
148 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
244 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.

079 
WFUS53 KTOP 220152
TORTOP
KSC111-220245-
/O.NEW.KTOP.TO.W.0012.110522T0152Z-110522T0245Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
852 PM CDT SAT MAY 21 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TOPEKA HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHERN LYON COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL KANSAS...

* UNTIL 945 PM CDT

* AT 847 PM CDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A TORNADO.  THIS
  TORNADO WAS LOCATED 6 MILES SOUTHEAST OF AMERICUS...OR 5 MILES   
NORTH OF EMPORIA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.  ANOTHER TORNADO WAS 
LOCATED JUST NORTH OF EMPORIA.  

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  AMERICUS...
  ADMIRE...
  READING...

THIS INCLUDES THE KANSAS TURNPIKE BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 132 AND 153.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

FOR YOUR SAFETY...GO TO A STORM SHELTER OR BASEMENT NOW!

LARGE DESTRUCTIVE HAIL IS ALSO LIKELY ALONG AND NORTH OF THE EXPECTED
TORNADO TRACK.

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

&&

LAT...LON 3853 9633 3874 9602 3873 9595 3849 9595
      3841 9604
TIME...MOT...LOC 0152Z 231DEG 28KT 3849 9612
HAIL 2.50IN

$$

ANGLE
3 follow-up statements
331 
WWUS53 KTOP 220202
SVSTOP

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
902 PM CDT SAT MAY 21 2011

KSC111-220245-
/O.CON.KTOP.TO.W.0012.000000T0000Z-110522T0245Z/
LYON-
902 PM CDT SAT MAY 21 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 945 PM CDT FOR NORTHERN
LYON COUNTY...

AT 856 PM CDT...EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT REPORTED A TORNADO.  THIS 
TORNADO WAS LOCATED 5 MILES NORTHEAST OF EMPORIA...MOVING EAST AT 30 
MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
ADMIRE AND READING.

THIS INCLUDES THE KANSAS TURNPIKE BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 132 AND 153.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

FOR YOUR SAFETY...GO TO A STORM SHELTER OR BASEMENT NOW!

THIS STORM HAS A HISTORY OF PRODUCING TORNADOES. TAKE COVER IN A
BASEMENT OR STORM SHELTER NOW...AND PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING
DEBRIS!

LARGE DESTRUCTIVE HAIL IS ALSO LIKELY ALONG AND NORTH OF THE EXPECTED
TORNADO TRACK.

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

&&

LAT...LON 3853 9633 3874 9602 3873 9595 3849 9595
      3841 9604
TIME...MOT...LOC 0201Z 251DEG 24KT 3847 9608
HAIL 2.75IN

$$

ANGLE
804 
WWUS53 KTOP 220216
SVSTOP

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
916 PM CDT SAT MAY 21 2011

KSC111-220245-
/O.CON.KTOP.TO.W.0012.000000T0000Z-110522T0245Z/
LYON-
916 PM CDT SAT MAY 21 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 945 PM CDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN LYON COUNTY...

AT 910 PM CDT...EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT REPORTED A TORNADO.  THIS 
TORNADO WAS LOCATED JUST WEST OF READING...OR 12 MILES NORTHEAST OF 
EMPORIA...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
READING IS DIRECTLY IN THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO...

THIS INCLUDES THE KANSAS TURNPIKE BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 137 AND 153.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

FOR YOUR SAFETY...GO TO A STORM SHELTER OR BASEMENT NOW!

LARGE DESTRUCTIVE HAIL IS ALSO LIKELY ALONG AND NORTH OF THE EXPECTED
TORNADO TRACK.

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

&&

LAT...LON 3857 9620 3874 9602 3873 9595 3851 9595
      3849 9595 3845 9605
TIME...MOT...LOC 0216Z 255DEG 19KT 3851 9597
HAIL 2.75IN

$$

ANGLE
102 
WWUS53 KTOP 220231
SVSTOP

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
931 PM CDT SAT MAY 21 2011

KSC111-220240-
/O.CAN.KTOP.TO.W.0012.000000T0000Z-110522T0245Z/
LYON-
931 PM CDT SAT MAY 21 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN LYON COUNTY HAS BEEN
CANCELLED...

AT 930 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED THAT THE 
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH TORNADO HAD EXITED LYON COUNTY...THUS THE 
WARNING FOR LYON COUNTY HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3857 9620 3874 9602 3873 9595 3851 9595
      3849 9595 3845 9605
TIME...MOT...LOC 0230Z 255DEG 19KT 3853 9588

$$

ANGLE

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 21, 7:01 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPPottawatomie, Wabaunsee14 min
May 21, 7:26 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPJackson, Jefferson34 min
May 21, 7:28 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPJackson, Jefferson32 min
May 21, 7:35 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPJackson, Shawnee25 min
May 21, 7:41 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPJefferson49 min
May 21, 7:56 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPBrown, Jackson, Jefferson49 min
May 21, 8:03 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTOPLyon42 min
May 21, 8:20 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPLyon, Morris55 min
May 21, 8:22 PM CDTRiver Flood WarningTOPOttawa, Saline30 hr
May 21, 8:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPJackson, Jefferson45 min
May 21, 8:34 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTOPShawnee56 min
May 21, 8:41 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPJackson, Jefferson, Shawnee33 min
May 21, 9:08 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPOsage52 min
May 21, 9:13 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPJefferson47 min
May 21, 9:23 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPOsage52 min
May 21, 9:34 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPJefferson56 min
May 21, 9:43 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPLyon32 min
May 21, 9:55 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPDouglas, Franklin65 min
May 21, 10:12 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPOsage48 min
May 21, 10:55 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPCoffey, Franklin, Osage35 min
May 21, 10:57 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPDouglas, Franklin63 min
May 21, 11:13 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPCoffey, Franklin, Osage47 min
May 21, 11:58 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPFranklin33 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.