Alert archive / Kansas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2012

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 9, NWS Wichita, KS

February 28, 2012Chautauqua County, Cowley County, Kansas

NWS Wichita, KS issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Feb 28, 2012, 8:52 PM CST for Chautauqua County, Cowley County, Kansas. It was in force for 53 min. 4 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: Feb 28, 2012, 8:52 PM CST (02:52 UTC)
Expired: Feb 28, 2012, 9:45 PM CST
In force: 53 min
Issued by: NWS Wichita, KS
Area: Storm-based polygon
Hail: 0.75 in
Wind: 80.0 mph

Counties Chautauqua County, KS, Cowley County, KS

The radar

The Wichita radar (KICT), 91 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 02:52 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

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Feb 28, 9:07 PM CST	TSTM WND GST 65	Dexter, KS
Feb 28, 9:20 PM CST	TSTM WND DMG	Cedar Vale, KS	POWER LINES DOWN, 10 INCH TREES SNAPPED, AND A ROOF BLOWN OFF OF AN ANNOUNCERS BOX AT THE ARENA.
Feb 28, 9:22 PM CST	TSTM WND GST 80	Cedar Vale, KS	HAIL TO 1.5 INCH IN DIAMETER ALSO ACCOMPANIED THE SEVERE WIND GUSTS.
Feb 28, 9:22 PM CST	HAIL 1.5	Cedar Vale, KS	WIND GUSTS TO 80 MPH ACCOMPANIED THE LARGE HAIL.

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
Feb 28, 8:10 PM CST	Tornado Watch	SPC	5 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Lamont, OK (KLMN), launched 00:00Z, 2.9 hours before the alert went out and 95 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: 386 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -76 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 660 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 77 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 369 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 461 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.8
Supercell composite: 2.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

236 
WUUS53 KICT 290252
SVRICT
KSC019-035-290345-
/O.NEW.KICT.SV.W.0009.120229T0252Z-120229T0345Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
852 PM CST TUE FEB 28 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  WESTERN CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST KANSAS...
  SOUTHERN COWLEY COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS...

* UNTIL 945 PM CST

* AT 847 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE
  TRACKING A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DESTRUCTIVE    
  WINDS AROUND MPH.  THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR ARKANSAS CITY...OR  
  15 MILES SOUTH OF WINFIELD...AND MOVING EAST AT 60 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  DEXTER...CEDAR VALE...ELGIN AND MAPLE CITY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA. TORNADOES CAN
DEVELOP QUICKLY FROM SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. ALTHOUGH NOT IMMEDIATELY
LIKELY...IF A TORNADO IS SPOTTED...ACT QUICKLY AND MOVE TO A PLACE OF
SAFETY INSIDE A STURDY STRUCTURE SUCH AS A BASEMENT OR SMALL 
INTERIOR ROOM.

IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM...PREPARE IMMEDIATELY FOR 
DAMAGING WINDS. PEOPLE OUTSIDE SHOULD MOVE TO A SHELTER...PREFERABLY 
INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING AND AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

THIS STORM HAS A HISTORY OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS ACROSS 
SOUTHWEST COWLEY COUNTY. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. 
SEEK SHELTER NOW INSIDE A STURDY STRUCTURE AND STAY AWAY FROM 
WINDOWS.

THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH TORNADO LIKE WIND
SPEEDS EXPECTED. MOBILE HOMES AND HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES ARE
ESPECIALLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO WINDS OF THIS MAGNITUDE AND MAY BE
OVERTURNED. FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE
LOWEST FLOOR OF YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS. THIS STORM HAS THE POTENTIAL
TO CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY AND SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO PROPERTY.

&&

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 100 AM CST WEDNESDAY MORNING
FOR SOUTHEASTERN KANSAS.

LAT...LON 3715 9704 3730 9628 3730 9627 3700 9620
      3699 9701
TIME...MOT...LOC 0250Z 260DEG 51KT 3707 9696
WIND...HAIL 80MPH <.75IN

$$

ES

3 follow-up statements

286 
WWUS53 KICT 290310
SVSICT

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
910 PM CST TUE FEB 28 2012

KSC019-035-290345-
/O.CON.KICT.SV.W.0009.000000T0000Z-120229T0345Z/
CHAUTAUQUA KS-COWLEY KS-
910 PM CST TUE FEB 28 2012

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHERN
COWLEY AND WESTERN CHAUTAUQUA COUNTIES UNTIL 945 PM CST...

AT 908 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE TRACKING
A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PING PONG BALL 
SIZE HAIL...AND DESTRUCTIVE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 70 MPH. THESE STORMS 
WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 6 MILES EAST OF BURDEN...TO 
DEXTER...TO HARDY...MOVING EAST AT 55 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  CEDAR VALE AND ELGIN.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA. TORNADOES CAN
DEVELOP QUICKLY FROM SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. ALTHOUGH NOT IMMEDIATELY
LIKELY...IF A TORNADO IS SPOTTED ACT QUICKLY AND MOVE TO A PLACE OF
SAFETY INSIDE A STURDY STRUCTURE...SUCH AS A BASEMENT OR SMALL
INTERIOR ROOM.

THIS STORM HAS A HISTORY OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL AND 70 TO 80 MPH 
WINDS. SEEK SHELTER NOW INSIDE A STURDY STRUCTURE AND STAY AWAY FROM 
WINDOWS.

&&

LAT...LON 3716 9700 3730 9628 3730 9627 3700 9620
      3699 9701
TIME...MOT...LOC 0310Z 260DEG 50KT 3733 9661 3718 9661
          3703 9670
WIND...HAIL 70MPH 1.50IN

$$

KLEINSASSER

824 
WWUS53 KICT 290321
SVSICT

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
921 PM CST TUE FEB 28 2012

KSC019-035-290345-
/O.CON.KICT.SV.W.0009.000000T0000Z-120229T0345Z/
CHAUTAUQUA KS-COWLEY KS-
921 PM CST TUE FEB 28 2012

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHERN
COWLEY AND WESTERN CHAUTAUQUA COUNTIES UNTIL 945 PM CST...

AT 918 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE TRACKING
A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING GOLF BALL SIZE 
HAIL...AND DESTRUCTIVE WINDS OF 70 TO 80 MPH. THESE STORMS WERE 
LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 8 MILES SOUTHEAST OF 
GRENOLA...TO CEDAR VALE...TO GRAINOLA...MOVING EAST AT 55 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  ELGIN.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA. TORNADOES CAN
DEVELOP QUICKLY FROM SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. ALTHOUGH NOT IMMEDIATELY
LIKELY...IF A TORNADO IS SPOTTED ACT QUICKLY AND MOVE TO A PLACE OF
SAFETY INSIDE A STURDY STRUCTURE...SUCH AS A BASEMENT OR SMALL
INTERIOR ROOM.

THIS STORM HAS A HISTORY OF PRODUCING 70 TO 80 MPH WINDS AND LARGE 
HAIL. SEEK SHELTER NOW INSIDE A STURDY STRUCTURE AND STAY AWAY FROM 
WINDOWS.

&&

LAT...LON 3716 9700 3730 9628 3730 9627 3700 9620
      3699 9701
TIME...MOT...LOC 0320Z 260DEG 50KT 3725 9635 3711 9644
          3700 9657
WIND...HAIL 80MPH 1.75IN

$$

KLEINSASSER

598 
WWUS53 KICT 290337
SVSICT

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
937 PM CST TUE FEB 28 2012

KSC035-290346-
/O.CAN.KICT.SV.W.0009.000000T0000Z-120229T0345Z/
COWLEY KS-
937 PM CST TUE FEB 28 2012

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR SOUTHERN COWLEY COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

THE LINE OF STORMS WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAVE MOVED OUT OF THE 
WARNED AREA.

LAT...LON 3702 9653 3725 9652 3730 9627 3700 9620
      3701 9652
TIME...MOT...LOC 0336Z 261DEG 51KT 3728 9606 3714 9615
          3703 9628

$$

KSC019-290345-
/O.CON.KICT.SV.W.0009.000000T0000Z-120229T0345Z/
CHAUTAUQUA KS-
937 PM CST TUE FEB 28 2012

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR WESTERN
CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY UNTIL 945 PM CST...

AT 932 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE TRACKING
A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING GOLF BALL SIZE 
HAIL...AND DESTRUCTIVE WINDS OF 70 TO 80 MPH. THESE STORMS WERE 
LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 7 MILES WEST OF HALE...TO 
SEDAN...TO ELGIN...MOVING EAST AT 60 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF SOUTHERN CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA. TORNADOES CAN
DEVELOP QUICKLY FROM SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. ALTHOUGH NOT IMMEDIATELY
LIKELY...IF A TORNADO IS SPOTTED ACT QUICKLY AND MOVE TO A PLACE OF
SAFETY INSIDE A STURDY STRUCTURE...SUCH AS A BASEMENT OR SMALL
INTERIOR ROOM.

THIS STORM HAS A HISTORY OF PRODUCING 70 TO 80 MPH WINDS AND LARGE 
HAIL. SEEK SHELTER NOW INSIDE A STURDY STRUCTURE AND STAY AWAY FROM 
WINDOWS.

&&

LAT...LON 3702 9653 3725 9652 3730 9627 3700 9620
      3701 9652
TIME...MOT...LOC 0336Z 261DEG 51KT 3728 9606 3714 9615
          3703 9628
WIND...HAIL 80MPH 1.75IN

$$

KLEINSASSER

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Feb 28, 6:18 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Kingman, Reno	42 min
Feb 28, 6:30 PM CST	Tornado Warning	ICT	Reno	30 min
Feb 28, 6:58 PM CST	Tornado Warning	ICT	Harvey, McPherson, Reno	32 min
Feb 28, 7:25 PM CST	Tornado Warning	ICT	McPherson, Marion	50 min
Feb 28, 7:52 PM CST	Tornado Warning	ICT	Chase, Marion	38 min
Feb 28, 8:07 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Cowley, Sumner	53 min
Feb 28, 8:52 PM CST	Special Weather Statement	ICT	Butler, Chase	28 min
Feb 28, 9:01 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Butler, Chase, Elk, Greenwood	59 min
Feb 28, 9:31 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Chautauqua, Elk, Montgomery, Wilson	59 min
Feb 28, 10:08 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Labette, Montgomery	22 min
Feb 28, 10:26 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Labette	9 min
Feb 29, 3:21 AM CST	Red Flag Warning	ICT	Allen, Barton, Butler, Chase, Chautauqua, Cowley and 20 more	14 hr
Feb 29, 12:12 PM CST	Wind Advisory	ICT	Ellsworth, Lincoln, Russell, Saline	3 hr
Feb 29, 3:47 PM CST	Fire Weather Watch	ICT	Allen, Chautauqua, Elk, Greenwood, Labette, Montgomery and 3 more	12 hr

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.