Alert archive / Kansas / Tornado Warnings in 2011
Tornado Warning 16, NWS Topeka, KS
NWS Topeka, KS issued this tornado warning at May 21, 2011, 9:55 PM CDT for Douglas County, Franklin County, Kansas. It was in force for 65 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, 9:55 PM CDT (02:55 UTC)
- Expired
- May 21, 2011, 11:00 PM CDT
- In force
- 65 min
- Issued by
- NWS Topeka, KS
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
Counties Douglas County, KS, Franklin County, KS
The radar
The Topeka radar (KTWX), 88 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 02:56 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
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 21, 10:26 PM CDT | HAIL 1.25 | Centropolis, KS | |
| May 21, 10:38 PM CDT | HAIL 1.75 | 5 Wsw Baldwin City, KS | RELAYED BY EM AT THE CORNER OF HWY 56 AND HWY 59 |
| May 21, 10:40 PM CDT | TSTM WND DMG | 5 Wsw Baldwin City, KS | 60 MPH WIND GUST FROM STORM CHASER RELAYED BY EM. |
| May 21, 10:41 PM CDT | TORNADO | 5 Wsw Baldwin City, KS | RELAYED BY COUNTY EM NEAR THE 59 AND 56 JUNCTION |
| May 21, 10:52 PM CDT | TORNADO | 2 Ssw Pomona, KS | RELAYED BY EMERGENCY MANAGER |
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.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 21, 3:41 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 9 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Springfield, MO (KSGF), launched 00:00Z, 2.9 hours before the alert went out and 235 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 804 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -63 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1618 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 57 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 137 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 202 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.2
- Supercell composite
- 6.0
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
473 WFUS53 KTOP 220255 TORTOP KSC045-059-220400- /O.NEW.KTOP.TO.W.0016.110522T0255Z-110522T0400Z/ BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED TORNADO WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS 955 PM CDT SAT MAY 21 2011 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TOPEKA HAS ISSUED A * TORNADO WARNING FOR... SOUTHERN DOUGLAS COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL KANSAS... NORTHERN FRANKLIN COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL KANSAS... * UNTIL 1100 PM CDT * AT 952 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR AND STORM SPOTTERS WERE TRACKING A TORNADO. THIS STRONG ROTATION WAS LOCATED 8 MILES WEST OF POMONA...OR 13 MILES EAST OF OSAGE CITY...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH. * LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... POMONA... GLOBE... CENTROPOLIS... OTTAWA... RANTOUL... BALDWIN CITY... WELLSVILLE... THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 35 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 174 AND 198. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... FOR YOUR SAFETY...GO TO A STORM SHELTER OR BASEMENT NOW! THIS TORNADO COULD BE WRAPPED IN HEAVY RAIN MAKING IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE. 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 3850 9550 3879 9550 3885 9506 3854 9506 TIME...MOT...LOC 0255Z 252DEG 29KT 3857 9557 HAIL 2.75IN $$ ANGLE
5 follow-up statements
235 WWUS53 KTOP 220308 SVSTOP SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS 1008 PM CDT SAT MAY 21 2011 KSC045-059-220400- /O.CON.KTOP.TO.W.0016.000000T0000Z-110522T0400Z/ DOUGLAS-FRANKLIN- 1008 PM CDT SAT MAY 21 2011 ...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM CDT FOR NORTHERN FRANKLIN AND SOUTHERN DOUGLAS COUNTIES... AT 1006 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH STRONG ROTATION CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED 4 MILES WEST OF POMONA...OR 14 MILES WEST OF OTTAWA...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... POMONA...GLOBE...CENTROPOLIS...OTTAWA...BALDWIN CITY...RANTOUL AND WELLSVILLE. THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 35 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 176 AND 198. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... HEAVY RAINFALL MAY OBSCURE THIS TORNADO MAKING IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE. TAKE COVER NOW! IF YOU WAIT TO SEE OR HEAR IT COMING...IT MAY BE TOO LATE TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE. THIS STORM HAS A HISTORY OF PRODUCING TORNADOES. TAKE COVER IN A BASEMENT OR STORM SHELTER NOW...AND PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS! STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS FOR THE LATEST SEVERE WEATHER INFORMATION. && LAT...LON 3853 9550 3879 9550 3885 9506 3854 9506 TIME...MOT...LOC 0308Z 262DEG 33KT 3861 9551 HAIL 1.25IN $$ PHILLIPS
514 WWUS53 KTOP 220323 SVSTOP SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS 1023 PM CDT SAT MAY 21 2011 KSC045-059-220400- /O.CON.KTOP.TO.W.0016.000000T0000Z-110522T0400Z/ DOUGLAS-FRANKLIN- 1023 PM CDT SAT MAY 21 2011 ...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM CDT FOR NORTHERN FRANKLIN AND SOUTHERN DOUGLAS COUNTIES... AT 1020 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH STRONG ROTATION CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED 4 MILES NORTH OF POMONA...OR 11 MILES WEST OF OTTAWA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... CENTROPOLIS...WELLSVILLE AND BALDWIN CITY. THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 35 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 177 AND 198. 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. IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE...SEEK SHELTER IN A NEARBY BUILDING. AS A LAST RESORT...SEEK SHELTER IN A CULVERT...DITCH OR LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD. TORNADOS ARE DIFFICULT TO SEE AT NIGHT. TAKE COVER NOW! IF YOU WAIT TO SEE OR HEAR IT COMING...IT MAY BE TOO LATE TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS FOR THE LATEST SEVERE WEATHER INFORMATION. && LAT...LON 3853 9550 3879 9550 3885 9506 3854 9506 TIME...MOT...LOC 0323Z 243DEG 18KT 3867 9545 HAIL 1.75IN $$ PHILLIPS
662 WWUS53 KTOP 220339 SVSTOP SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS 1039 PM CDT SAT MAY 21 2011 KSC045-059-220400- /O.CON.KTOP.TO.W.0016.000000T0000Z-110522T0400Z/ DOUGLAS-FRANKLIN- 1039 PM CDT SAT MAY 21 2011 ...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM CDT FOR NORTHERN FRANKLIN AND SOUTHERN DOUGLAS COUNTIES... AT 1033 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO TRACK A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED 10 MILES WEST OF POMONA... OR 12 MILES SOUTHEAST OF OSAGE CITY...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... POMONA AND OTTAWA. ANOTHER SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH A POSSIBLE TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR CENTROPOLIS AND WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH TOWARD BALDWIN CITY. THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 35 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 177 AND 198. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... FOR YOUR SAFETY...GO TO A STORM SHELTER OR BASEMENT NOW! STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS FOR THE LATEST SEVERE WEATHER INFORMATION. && LAT...LON 3853 9550 3879 9550 3885 9506 3854 9506 TIME...MOT...LOC 0338Z 259DEG 30KT 3857 9557 HAIL 2.00IN $$ PHILLIPS
917 WWUS53 KTOP 220344 SVSTOP SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS 1044 PM CDT SAT MAY 21 2011 KSC045-059-220400- /O.CON.KTOP.TO.W.0016.000000T0000Z-110522T0400Z/ DOUGLAS-FRANKLIN- 1044 PM CDT SAT MAY 21 2011 ...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM CDT FOR NORTHERN FRANKLIN AND SOUTHERN DOUGLAS COUNTIES... AT 1043 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO TRACK A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED 4 MILES NORTHEAST OF CENTROPOLIS...OR 6 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BALDWIN CITY...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... BALDWIN CITY. ANOTHER TORNADIC STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR QUENEMO...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH DIRECTLY FOR THE TOWN OF POMONA. THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 35 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 177 AND 198. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... FOR YOUR SAFETY...GO TO A STORM SHELTER OR BASEMENT NOW! STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS FOR THE LATEST SEVERE WEATHER INFORMATION. && LAT...LON 3853 9550 3879 9550 3885 9506 3854 9506 TIME...MOT...LOC 0344Z 244DEG 23KT 3874 9527 HAIL 1.50IN $$ PHILLIPS
620 WWUS53 KTOP 220349 SVSTOP SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS 1049 PM CDT SAT MAY 21 2011 KSC045-059-220400- /O.CON.KTOP.TO.W.0016.000000T0000Z-110522T0400Z/ DOUGLAS-FRANKLIN- 1049 PM CDT SAT MAY 21 2011 ...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM CDT FOR NORTHERN FRANKLIN AND SOUTHERN DOUGLAS COUNTIES... AT 1047 PM CDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED 3 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BALDWIN CITY...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... BALDWIN CITY AND WELLSVILLE. ANOTHER TORNADIC STORM WAS AT QUENEMO MOVING DIRECTLY TOWARD THE TOWN OF POMONA AT 25 MPH. PEOPLE IN POMONA SHOULD BE IN A SHELTER NOW! THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 35 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 177 AND 198. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... FOR YOUR SAFETY...GO TO A STORM SHELTER OR BASEMENT NOW! HEAVY RAINFALL MAY OBSCURE THIS TORNADO MAKING IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE. TAKE COVER NOW! IF YOU WAIT TO SEE OR HEAR IT COMING...IT MAY BE TOO LATE TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS FOR THE LATEST SEVERE WEATHER INFORMATION. && LAT...LON 3853 9550 3879 9550 3885 9506 3854 9506 TIME...MOT...LOC 0348Z 255DEG 25KT 3875 9522 HAIL 1.75IN $$ PHILLIPS
The office that day
Everything else NWS Topeka, KS issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 21, 7:01 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TOP | Pottawatomie, Wabaunsee | 14 min |
| May 21, 7:26 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TOP | Jackson, Jefferson | 34 min |
| May 21, 7:28 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TOP | Jackson, Jefferson | 32 min |
| May 21, 7:35 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TOP | Jackson, Shawnee | 25 min |
| May 21, 7:41 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | TOP | Jefferson | 49 min |
| May 21, 7:56 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TOP | Brown, Jackson, Jefferson | 49 min |
| May 21, 8:03 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | TOP | Lyon | 42 min |
| May 21, 8:20 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TOP | Lyon, Morris | 55 min |
| May 21, 8:22 PM CDT | River Flood Warning | TOP | Ottawa, Saline | 30 hr |
| May 21, 8:30 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TOP | Jackson, Jefferson | 45 min |
| May 21, 8:34 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | TOP | Shawnee | 56 min |
| May 21, 8:41 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TOP | Jackson, Jefferson, Shawnee | 33 min |
| May 21, 8:52 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | TOP | Lyon | 39 min |
| May 21, 9:08 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | TOP | Osage | 52 min |
| May 21, 9:13 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TOP | Jefferson | 47 min |
| May 21, 9:23 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | TOP | Osage | 52 min |
| May 21, 9:34 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | TOP | Jefferson | 56 min |
| May 21, 9:43 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TOP | Lyon | 32 min |
| May 21, 10:12 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | TOP | Osage | 48 min |
| May 21, 10:55 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TOP | Coffey, Franklin, Osage | 35 min |
| May 21, 10:57 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | TOP | Douglas, Franklin | 63 min |
| May 21, 11:13 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | TOP | Coffey, Franklin, Osage | 47 min |
| May 21, 11:58 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TOP | Franklin | 33 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.