Alert archive / Kansas / Tornado Warnings in 2012

Tornado Warning 29, NWS Wichita, KS

April 14, 2012Sumner County, Kansas

NWS Wichita, KS issued this tornado warning at Apr 14, 2012, 9:19 PM CDT for Sumner County, Kansas. It was in force for 41 min. 10 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, 2012, 9:19 PM CDT (02:19 UTC)
Expired
Apr 14, 2012, 10:00 PM CDT
In force
41 min
Issued by
NWS Wichita, KS
Area
Storm-based polygon
Emergency
Tornado emergency
Tornado
Observed
Damage threat
Significant
Hail
2.5 in

County Sumner County, KS

The radar

The Wichita radar (KICT), 34 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 02:23 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, 9:21 PM CDTTORNADO1 S Argonia, KSSPOTTER REPORTED SEEING POWER FLASHES
Apr 14, 9:23 PM CDTTORNADO1 Sw Argonia, KSWEDGE TORNADO ON THE GROUND WITH POWER FLASHES.
Apr 14, 9:29 PM CDTTORNADO2 Ne Argonia, KSTRAINED SPOTTERS REPORTED VERY LARGE TORNADO
Apr 14, 9:30 PM CDTTORNADO2 Nw Milan, KSA 1/2 MILE WIDE WEDGE ON THE GROUND.
Apr 14, 9:31 PM CDTTORNADO1 W Conway Springs, KSHOUSE DESTROYED WEST OF CONWAY SPRINGS.
Apr 14, 9:37 PM CDTTORNADO5 Se Conway Springs, KSUNCONFIRMED REPORT OF A HOUSE DESTROYED AT WEST 40TH STREET. EMERGENCY VEHICLES IN ROUTE.
Apr 14, 9:38 PM CDTTORNADO2 S Conway Springs, KSMULTI VORTEX TORNADO SOUTH OF CONWAY SPRINGS.
Apr 14, 9:39 PM CDTTORNADO1 Se Conway Springs, KSRAIN WRAPPED TORNADO. FROM MAYFIELD FIRE.
Apr 14, 9:42 PM CDTTORNADO2 N Mayfield, KSSTOVE PIPE TORNADO.
Apr 14, 9:48 PM CDTTORNADO6 E Conway Springs, KS1/4 TO 1/2 MILE WIDE TORNADO.

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, 5:24 PM CDTTornado Watch PDSSPC9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Lamont, OK (KLMN), launched 00:00Z, 2.3 hours before the alert went out and 82 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 2012-04-15Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2195 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 00:00Z on 2012-04-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 335 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
2195 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-11 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
863 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
61 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
335 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
436 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
5.9
Supercell composite
19.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

895 
WFUS53 KICT 150219
TORICT
KSC191-150300-
/O.NEW.KICT.TO.W.0029.120415T0219Z-120415T0300Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
919 PM CDT SAT APR 14 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  WESTERN AND NORTHERN SUMNER COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS...

* UNTIL 1000 PM CDT

* AT 915 PM CDT...A CONFIRMED LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO  
  WAS LOCATED JUST SOUTH OF ARGONIA...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

  THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION!

  HAZARD...DAMAGING TORNADO!

  SOURCE...SPOTTER CONFIRMED LARGE TORNADO!

  IMPACT...MAJOR HOUSE AND BUILDING DAMAGE LIKELY AND COMPLETE
           DESTRUCTION POSSIBLE. NUMEROUS TREES SNAPPED. MAJOR POWER
           OUTAGES IN PATH OF TORNADO HIGHLY LIKELY. SOME ROADS
           POSSIBLY BLOCKED BY TORNADO DEBRIS. COMPLETE DESTRUCTION
           OF VEHICLES LIKELY.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  WELLINGTON...CONWAY SPRINGS...BELLE PLAINE...MILAN...MAYFIELD...
  WELLINGTON AIRPORT AND RIVERDALE.

THIS INCLUDES THE KANSAS TURNPIKE BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 18 AND 33.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TO REPEAT...A LARGE...EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY 
TORNADO IS ON THE GROUND! TO PROTECT YOUR LIFE...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.

TORNADOES ARE DIFFICULT TO SEE AND CONFIRM AT NIGHT. TAKE COVER NOW!

&&

LAT...LON 3748 9781 3747 9715 3730 9715 3706 9780
TIME...MOT...LOC 0218Z 226DEG 34KT 3723 9772

TORNADO...OBSERVED
TORNADO DAMAGE THREAT...SIGNIFICANT
HAIL...2.50IN

$$

KLEINSASSER
2 follow-up statements
815 
WWUS53 KICT 150236
SVSICT

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
936 PM CDT SAT APR 14 2012

KSC191-150300-
/O.CON.KICT.TO.W.0029.000000T0000Z-120415T0300Z/
SUMNER KS-
936 PM CDT SAT APR 14 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHERN SUMNER COUNTY
UNTIL 1000 PM CDT...

...TORNADO EMERGENCY FOR CONWAY SPRINGS...

AT 932 PM CDT...A CONFIRMED LARGE...VIOLENT AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS
TORNADO WAS LOCATED 5 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CONWAY SPRINGS...AND MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

HAZARD...DEADLY TORNADO.

SOURCE...SPOTTER CONFIRMED TORNADO.

IMPACT...THIS IS A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. YOU COULD BE KILLED IF
         NOT UNDERGROUND OR IN A TORNADO SHELTER. COMPLETE
         DESTRUCTION OF ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOODS IS LIKELY. MANY WELL
         BUILT HOMES AND BUSINESSES WILL BE COMPLETELY SWEPT FROM
         THEIR FOUNDATIONS. DEBRIS WILL BLOCK MOST ROADWAYS. MASS
         DEVASTATION IS HIGHLY LIKELY MAKING THE AREA UNRECOGNIZABLE
         TO SURVIVORS.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
WELLINGTON...CONWAY SPRINGS...BELLE PLAINE...WELLINGTON AIRPORT AND
RIVERDALE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TO REPEAT...A LARGE...EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY
TORNADO IS ON THE GROUND. TO PROTECT YOUR LIFE...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.

TORNADOES ARE DIFFICULT TO SEE AND CONFIRM AT NIGHT. TAKE COVER NOW.

&&

LAT...LON 3748 9781 3747 9715 3730 9715 3706 9780
TIME...MOT...LOC 0235Z 213DEG 30KT 3735 9768

TORNADO...OBSERVED
TORNADO DAMAGE THREAT...CATASTROPHIC
HAIL...2.50IN

$$

KLEINSASSER
819 
WWUS53 KICT 150247
SVSICT

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
947 PM CDT SAT APR 14 2012

KSC191-150300-
/O.CON.KICT.TO.W.0029.000000T0000Z-120415T0300Z/
SUMNER KS-
947 PM CDT SAT APR 14 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHERN SUMNER COUNTY
UNTIL 1000 PM CDT...

AT 943 PM CDT...A CONFIRMED LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO WAS
LOCATED JUST EAST OF CONWAY SPRINGS...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

HAZARD...DAMAGING TORNADO.

SOURCE...RADAR CONFIRMED TORNADO.

IMPACT...MAJOR HOUSE AND BUILDING DAMAGE LIKELY AND COMPLETE
         DESTRUCTION POSSIBLE. NUMEROUS TREES SNAPPED. MAJOR POWER
         OUTAGES IN PATH OF TORNADO HIGHLY LIKELY. SOME ROADS
         POSSIBLY BLOCKED BY TORNADO DEBRIS. COMPLETE DESTRUCTION OF
         VEHICLES LIKELY.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
BELLE PLAINE AND RIVERDALE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TO REPEAT...A LARGE...EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY
TORNADO IS ON THE GROUND. TO PROTECT YOUR LIFE...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.

TORNADOES ARE DIFFICULT TO SEE AND CONFIRM AT NIGHT. TAKE COVER NOW.

&&

LAT...LON 3748 9781 3747 9715 3730 9715 3706 9780
TIME...MOT...LOC 0247Z 213DEG 30KT 3743 9755

TORNADO...OBSERVED
TORNADO DAMAGE THREAT...SIGNIFICANT
HAIL...2.50IN

$$

KLEINSASSER

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 14, 7:12 PM CDTTornado WarningICTReno37 min
Apr 14, 7:34 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTHarvey, McPherson, Marion, Reno41 min
Apr 14, 7:43 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementICTRussell32 min
Apr 14, 7:45 PM CDTTornado WarningICTHarper28 min
Apr 14, 7:47 PM CDTTornado WarningICTHarvey, McPherson, Marion28 min
Apr 14, 7:54 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTRussell20 min
Apr 14, 7:54 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTBarton36 min
Apr 14, 8:10 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedICTMcPherson, Marion50 min
Apr 14, 8:14 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTBarton, Ellsworth, Lincoln, Russell46 min
Apr 14, 8:22 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedICTHarper38 min
Apr 14, 8:32 PM CDTTornado WarningICTLincoln, Russell28 min
Apr 14, 8:40 PM CDTTornado WarningICTMarion31 min
Apr 14, 8:47 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedSignificant damage threatICTHarper, Sumner43 min
Apr 14, 9:30 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedSignificant damage threatICTSedgwick45 min
Apr 14, 9:32 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedICTBarton, Reno, Rice43 min
Apr 14, 10:09 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedSignificant damage threatICTSedgwick51 min
Apr 14, 10:10 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedSignificant damage threatICTEllsworth, McPherson, Rice32 min
Apr 14, 10:13 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedICTEllsworth, McPherson, Rice, Saline37 min
Apr 14, 10:27 PM CDTTornado Warning EmergencyTornado observedCatastrophic damage threatICTButler, Sedgwick33 min
Apr 14, 10:38 PM CDTAreal Flood WarningICTSedgwick3 hr
Apr 14, 10:40 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedSignificant damage threatICTMcPherson, Saline50 min
Apr 14, 10:41 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedSignificant damage threatICTButler49 min
Apr 14, 10:47 PM CDTTornado WarningICTEllsworth, Rice43 min
Apr 14, 11:03 PM CDTAreal Flood WarningICTButler3 hr
Apr 14, 11:12 PM CDTAreal Flood WarningICTBarton, Ellsworth, Rice, Saline4 hr
Apr 14, 11:24 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedICTButler, Chase, Greenwood51 min
Apr 14, 11:27 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedICTEllsworth, Lincoln, Saline48 min
Apr 15, 12:11 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementICTEllsworth, Rice34 min
Apr 15, 12:33 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTRice27 min
Apr 15, 12:48 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTHarper42 min
Apr 15, 1:02 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTKingman43 min
Apr 15, 1:29 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTHarvey, Reno, Sedgwick, Sumner46 min
Apr 15, 2:36 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementICTButler39 min
Apr 15, 3:40 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementICTCowley35 min
Apr 15, 4:03 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementICTChautauqua, Elk, Greenwood, Montgomery, Wilson, Woodson27 min
Apr 15, 4:03 AM CDTWind AdvisoryICTAllen, Barton, Butler, Chase, Chautauqua, Cowley and 20 more16 hr
Apr 15, 5:01 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTAllen, Labette, Montgomery, Neosho, Wilson, Woodson59 min
Apr 15, 6:03 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTLabette, Montgomery42 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Kansas, 2012Every tornado warning in 2012Tornadoes 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.