Alert archive / Kansas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2012

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 136, NWS Wichita, KS

May 30, 2012Butler County, Kansas

NWS Wichita, KS issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 30, 2012, 7:21 PM CDT for Butler County, Kansas. It was in force for 27 min. 1 report 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 30, 2012, 7:21 PM CDT (00:21 UTC)
Expired: May 30, 2012, 7:48 PM CDT
In force: 27 min
Issued by: NWS Wichita, KS
Area: Storm-based polygon
Hail: 1.0 in
Wind: 60.0 mph

County Butler County, KS

The radar

The Wichita radar (KICT), 68 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:21 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 30, 7:25 PM CDT	HAIL 1	Leon, 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 4 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
May 30, 3:57 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Lamont, OK (KLMN), launched 00:00Z, 0.4 hours before the alert went out and 139 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: 1367 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -49 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1816 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 49 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 61 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 158 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.1
Supercell composite: 3.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

101 
WUUS53 KICT 310021
SVRICT
KSC015-310115-
/O.NEW.KICT.SV.W.0136.120531T0021Z-120531T0115Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
721 PM CDT WED MAY 30 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHEASTERN BUTLER COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS...

* UNTIL 815 PM CDT

* AT 717 PM CDT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR LEON...AND
  MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.

  HAZARD...QUARTER SIZE HAIL AND 60 MPH WIND GUSTS.

  SOURCE...RADAR INDICATED.

  IMPACT...MINOR DAMAGE TO VEHICLES...ROOFS AND WINDOWS. MINOR TREE
           DAMAGE...WITH LIMBS UP TO ONE INCH IN DIAMETER BROKEN.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  LATHAM AND ROSALIA.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
BUILDING.

THIS SEVERE WARNING REPLACES THE PREVIOUS WARNING IN AFFECT FOR THE 
WARNED AREA.

&&

LAT...LON 3786 9652 3749 9653 3752 9689 3773 9689
TIME...MOT...LOC 0021Z 271DEG 17KT 3763 9677

HAIL...1.00IN
WIND...60 MPH

$$

JAKUB

2 follow-up statements

227 
WWUS53 KICT 310032
SVSICT

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
732 PM CDT WED MAY 30 2012

KSC015-310115-
/O.CON.KICT.SV.W.0136.000000T0000Z-120531T0115Z/
BUTLER KS-
732 PM CDT WED MAY 30 2012

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHEASTERN
BUTLER COUNTY UNTIL 815 PM CDT...

AT 731 PM CDT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 8 MILES NORTH OF
LATHAM...AND MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.

HAZARD...PING PONG BALL SIZE HAIL AND 60 MPH WIND GUSTS.

SOURCE...RADAR INDICATED.

IMPACT...DAMAGE TO VEHICLES...ROOFS AND WINDOWS. MINOR TREE DAMAGE...
         WITH LIMBS UP TO ONE INCH IN DIAMETER BROKEN.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF EASTERN BUTLER COUNTY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

PREPARE IMMEDIATELY FOR LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. PEOPLE OUTSIDE
SHOULD MOVE TO A SHELTER...INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING AND AWAY FROM
WINDOWS.

&&

LAT...LON 3786 9652 3749 9653 3752 9689 3773 9689
TIME...MOT...LOC 0032Z 273DEG 35KT 3764 9664

HAIL...1.50IN
WIND...60 MPH

$$

ES

855 
WWUS53 KICT 310048
SVSICT

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
748 PM CDT WED MAY 30 2012

KSC015-310058-
/O.CAN.KICT.SV.W.0136.000000T0000Z-120531T0115Z/
BUTLER KS-
748 PM CDT WED MAY 30 2012

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN BUTLER COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

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

ADDITIONAL SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE STILL POSSIBLE...AND A SEVERE 
THUNDERSTORM WATCH...NUMBER 323...REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM CDT.

LAT...LON 3786 9652 3749 9653 3752 9689 3773 9689
TIME...MOT...LOC 0048Z 273DEG 35KT 3763 9644

$$

ES

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 May 30, 3:43 PM CDT, 3 hours 38 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 30, 3:43 PM CDT, 3 hours 38 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
343 PM CDT WED MAY 30 2012

.DISCUSSION...

FORECAST CONCERNS ARE SEVERE STORM CHANCES THIS EVENING/TONIGHT.
THEN COOLER TEMPS FOR THU/FRI.

THIS EVENING-TONIGHT:
A RATHER COMPLICATED SEVERE THREAT IS DEVELOPING ACROSS KANSAS LATE
THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING. AXIS OF UNSTABLE AIR CURRENTLY IS
OVER THE HIGH PLAINS FROM KDDC TO KGLD. JUST TO THE NORTH OF THIS
AXIS IS A FAIRLY POTENT SHORTWAVE AND COLD FRONT OVER SW NEB.  THE
COMBINATION OF THE ABOVE SYSTEMS WILL COMBINE FOR A POTENTIAL ONE-
TWO PUNCH OF SEVERE WEATHER FOR THE FORECAST AREA THIS EVENING AND
TONIGHT.

EXPECT INITIAL STORM DEVELOPMENT OVER THE HIGH PLAINS...POSSIBLY
INTO CEN KS...AS THIS AREA BECOMES UNCAPPED. BULK SHEAR OF 60 KTS
AND VERY UNSTABLE AIR SUGGESTS THAT SOME DISCRETE SUPERCELLS WILL
DEVELOP IN THE HIGH PLAINS WITH SBCAPES OF 3500-4000 J/KG. ONCE THE
SUPERCELLS GET GOING...PREVAILING FLOW...SUGGESTS THAT A FEW
SUPERCELLS WILL MOVE EAST-SOUTHEAST TOWARDS CENTRAL AND SOUTH
CENTRAL KS LATER THIS EVENING. THIS COMBINATION OF SHEAR/INSTABILITY
SUGGESTS VERY LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS WILL BE THE FIRST THREAT
FOR SOUTH CENTRAL KS.

NEXT CONCERN WILL BE A STRONG COLD FRONT EXPECTED TO PUSH SOUTH INTO
CEN KS LATE THIS EVENING/OVERNIGHT.  EXPECTING ANOTHER ROUND OF
CONVECTION TO DEVELOP ACROSS NRN/CEN KS ALONG THIS FRONTAL BOUNDARY
AS IT DROPS SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA...AS CONVERGENCE
INCREASES.  THIS CONVECTION WILL THEN RAPIDLY DROP SOUTH ALONG OR
JUST WEST OF INTERSTATE 135...PRODUCING A POSSIBLE DAMAGING WIND
THREAT AS IT TURNS INTO A COMPLEX OF STORMS.  COLD POOL ASSOCIATED
WITH THIS SYSTEM...WILL BE KEY TO HOW STRONG THE DOWNBURST WINDS ARE
WITH THIS CONVECTION. CERTAINLY LOOKS LIKE STRONG POSSIBLY SEVERE
STORMS AND GOOD SOAKING RAINS FOR A GOOD PORTION OF THE AREA AS IT
DIVES SOUTH-SOUTHEAST LATE THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT.

THU-FRI:
COULD SEE SOME CONVECTION LINGER OVER SOUTHEAST KS FOR THE EARLY
PORTION OF THE DAY...AS CONVECTIVE COMPLEX WILL PROBABLY BE EITHER
MOVING STRAIGHT EAST OR SOUTHEAST OF THE AREA. SO WILL HOLD ONTO
SOME MORNING POPS IN ERN KS FOR THE MORNING HOURS.

THE MAIN DIFFERENCE FOR THU-FRI WILL BE THE NOTICEABLY COOLER AND
DRIER AIR TO MOVE ACROSS THE AREA.  COULD ACTUALLY SEE SOME GUSTY
NORTHEAST WINDS FOR THU AFTERNOON ACROSS ERN KS AS MAIN SHORTWAVE
STILL MOVES ACROSS THIS AREA.  COULD ALSO SEE SOME DIURNALLY DRIVEN
SHOWERS ACROSS NERN KS AS WELL WITH THE STEEP LAPSE RATES...BUT
THINK MOST OF THIS WILL REMAIN NORTH OF SOUTHEAST KS.

A WEAK MID LEVEL FEATURE LOOKS TO DIVE SOUTH ACROSS THE AREA BY FRI
AFTERNOON...AS MID LEVEL WARM ADVECTION INCREASES.  THIS LOOKS TO
INCREASE MID LEVEL MOISTURE AS IT DROPS SOUTH...WITH 305-310K
ISENTROPIC LIFT INCREASING.  NOT SURE IF MOST OF THIS WILL BE VIRGA
OR SPRINKLES AS IT MOVES ACROSS AS LOW LAYERS REMAIN VERY DRY...BUT
WILL KEEP A SLIGHT POP IN FOR THIS CHANCE.

SAT-SUN:
RETURN SFC FLOW LOOKS TO CONTINUE FOR SAT INTO SUN...ESPECIALLY FOR
AREAS ACROSS THE HIGH PLAINS.  SOME UNCERTAINLY ON POPS FOR THIS
TIME FRAME...AS GFS TRYS TO DEVELOP CONVECTION OVER THE HIGH
PLAINS....WITH THIS CONVECTION PROPAGATING EAST INTO THE AREA BOTH
SAT INTO SUN.

REST OF THE EXTENDED:
MEDIUM RANGE MODELS SUGGEST THAT THE MID LEVEL RIDGE WILL BUILD OVER
THE ROCKIES OR INTO THE NRN PLAINS FOR THE BEGINNING OF THE WORK
WEEK.  SOME DIFFERENCES ON HOW THE SFC FEATURES WILL PLAY OUT...WITH
PLACEMENT OF THE RIDGE AFFECTING THIS SOMEWHAT.  BUT CURRENT
CONSENSUS SUGGESTS THAT SOME DIURNAL STORM CHANCES FOR MON NIGHT
THROUGH WED.

KETCHAM

&&

.AVIATION...18Z TAFS KRSL/KSLN/KHUT/KICT/KCNU

MAINTAINED VFR THROUGH THE TAF PERIOD ACROSS THE AREA WITH VCTS
MENTIONED ACROSS CENTRAL KANSAS THIS AFTERNOON INTO THE EARLY
EVENING HOURS GRADUALLY SPREADING SOUTH AND EAST ACROSS SOUTH
CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST KANSAS TOWARD MORNING. ALTHOUGH WITH MORE
WIDESPREAD COVERAGE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...MVFR CIGS MAY
BE MORE PREVALENT TOWARD MORNING ESPECIALLY ACROSS SOUTHEAST
KANSAS.

MWM

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
WICHITA-KICT    59  71  50  74 /  70  10  10  20
HUTCHINSON      56  71  49  75 /  70  10  10  20
NEWTON          56  68  48  72 /  70  10  10  20
ELDORADO        58  70  48  73 /  70  10  10  20
WINFIELD-KWLD   61  73  49  75 /  70  10  10  20
RUSSELL         52  70  48  77 /  70  10  10  20
GREAT BEND      53  71  49  78 /  70  10  10  20
SALINA          55  71  48  75 /  70  10  10  20
MCPHERSON       55  69  49  74 /  70  10  10  20
COFFEYVILLE     64  73  50  73 /  70  30  10  20
CHANUTE         61  70  48  73 /  70  30  10  20
IOLA            61  68  48  73 /  70  30  10  20
PARSONS-KPPF    63  72  49  72 /  70  30  10  20

&&

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

Hazardous weather outlook, May 30, 4:24 PM CDT, 2 hours 57 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
424 PM CDT WED MAY 30 2012

KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-312130-
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-
424 PM CDT WED MAY 30 2012

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

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THIS EVENING OVER CENTRAL AND
SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS. WHILE MOST OF THE AREA WILL HAVE A CHANCE
TO EXPERIENCE SEVERE STORMS TONIGHT...LOCATIONS ALONG AND WEST OF
A LINE FROM HOISINGTON TO ELDORADO TO SEDAN WILL HAVE A CHANCE FOR
A MORE SIGNIFICANT SEVERE THREAT. IN THESE LOCATIONS THE STRONGER
STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING 2 INCH DIAMETER HAIL ALONG
WITH 70 MPH WINDS. IN ADDITION AN ISOLATED TORNADOES WILL ALSO BE
POSSIBLE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

ISOLATED TO WIDELY SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE FRIDAY
THROUGH SATURDAY...BUT WIDESPREAD STRONG OR SEVERE STORMS ARE NOT
ANTICIPATED. CHANCES FOR ISOLATED...HIT AND MISS THUNDERSTORMS
WILL REMAIN POSSIBLE FROM SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY.
WIDESPREAD SEVERE WEATHER APPEARS UNLIKELY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL BE NEEDED LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND
THIS EVENING ACROSS THE REGION...ESPECIALLY OVER CENTRAL AND SOUTH
CENTRAL KANSAS.

&&

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

ADK/LAWSON/MWM/KETCHAM

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 30, 7:03 PM CDT, 18 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
703 PM CDT WED MAY 30 2012

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

0702 PM     TSTM WND GST     2 N HUTCHINSON          38.09N 97.91W
05/30/2012  E60.00 MPH       RENO               KS   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            ON THE NORTH SIDE OF TOWN.

&&

BDK

Local storm report, May 30, 7:05 PM CDT, 16 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
705 PM CDT WED MAY 30 2012

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

0703 PM     TSTM WND GST     1 NW HUTCHINSON         38.08N 97.93W
05/30/2012  E60 MPH          RENO               KS   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            NEAR 23RD AND MAIN STREET AT FIRE STATION NUMBER 2.

&&

SGS

Local storm report, May 30, 7:06 PM CDT, 15 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
706 PM CDT WED MAY 30 2012

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

0703 PM     TSTM WND DMG     HUTCHINSON              38.07N 97.91W
05/30/2012                   RENO               KS   AMATEUR RADIO

             POWER LINES AND POWER POLES DOWN. WINDS ESTIMATED AT 60
            MPH.

&&

BDK

Local storm report, May 30, 7:07 PM CDT, 14 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
707 PM CDT WED MAY 30 2012

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

0550 PM     HAIL             5 S MARQUETTE           38.48N 97.82W
05/30/2012  E1.00 INCH       MCPHERSON          KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

BDK

Local storm report, May 30, 7:09 PM CDT, 12 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
709 PM CDT WED MAY 30 2012

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

0707 PM     TSTM WND GST     3 N HUTCHINSON          38.10N 97.92W
05/30/2012  E60 MPH          RENO               KS   EMERGENCY MNGR

&&

SGS

Local storm report, May 30, 7:12 PM CDT, 9 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
712 PM CDT WED MAY 30 2012

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

0707 PM     TSTM WND DMG     HUTCHINSON              38.07N 97.91W
05/30/2012                   RENO               KS   EMERGENCY MNGR

            THERE ARE REPORTS OF POWER POLES AND POWER LINES DOWN
            WITH POWER OUTAGES IN A LARGE PORTION OF HUTCHINSON.

&&

SGS

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 30, 7:07 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Harvey, Reno, Sedgwick	53 min
May 30, 7:33 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Butler, Cowley, Harper, Kingman, Sedgwick, Sumner	57 min
May 30, 7:44 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Butler, Cowley	46 min
May 30, 8:25 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Butler, Cowley, Harper, Kingman, Reno, Sedgwick and 1 more	65 min
May 30, 9:20 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	ICT	Chautauqua, Elk	40 min
May 30, 9:24 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Cowley, Harper, Sumner	39 min
May 30, 10:27 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	ICT	Montgomery, Wilson	48 min
May 30, 10:51 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	ICT	Labette, Neosho	54 min
May 30, 11:38 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	ICT	Neosho	37 min
May 31, 1:08 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	ICT	Labette	37 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Kansas, 2012 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2012

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.