Alert archive / Kansas / Tornado Warnings in 2012

Tornado Warning 35, NWS Wichita, KS

April 14, 2012Butler County, Sedgwick County, Kansas

NWS Wichita, KS issued this tornado warning at Apr 14, 2012, 10:27 PM CDT for Butler County, Sedgwick County, Kansas. It was in force for 33 min. 6 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, 10:27 PM CDT (03:27 UTC)
Expired
Apr 14, 2012, 11:00 PM CDT
In force
33 min
Issued by
NWS Wichita, KS
Area
Storm-based polygon
Emergency
Tornado emergency
Tornado
Observed
Damage threat
Catastrophic
Hail
2.5 in

Counties Butler County, KS, Sedgwick County, KS

The radar

The Wichita radar (KICT), 18 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 03:26 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, 10:29 PM CDTTORNADO1 S South Wichita, KS55TH AND BROADWAY,TORNADO ON THE GROUND.
Apr 14, 10:32 PM CDTTSTM WND GST 76Mcconnell Air Force Bas, KS
Apr 14, 10:35 PM CDTTORNADOHaysville, KSDAMAGE AT 63RD AND HYDRALIC.
Apr 14, 10:39 PM CDTTORNADOMcconnell Air Force Bas, KSVISIBLE NEAR MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE.
Apr 14, 10:41 PM CDTTORNADOEast Wichita, KSON THE GROUND NEAR, SOUTH ROCK AND PAWNEE, FROM KWCH TV.
Apr 14, 10:43 PM CDTTORNADO1 E Oaklawn, KSDAMAGE REPORTED NEAR OLIVER AND EAST 47TH STREET AS WELL AS HANGAR DAMAGE TO THE WEST SIDE OF MCDONNELL AIR FORCE BASE.

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, 3.5 hours before the alert went out and 126 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.

535 
WFUS53 KICT 150327
TORICT
KSC015-173-150400-
/O.NEW.KICT.TO.W.0035.120415T0327Z-120415T0400Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
ISSUED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
1027 PM CDT SAT APR 14 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  WEST CENTRAL BUTLER COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS...
  EASTERN SEDGWICK COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS...

* UNTIL 1100 PM CDT

* AT 1019 PM CDT...TORNADO EMERGENCY FOR THE WICHITA METRO AREA. A 
CONFIRMED   LARGE...VIOLENT AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO WAS 
LOCATED NEAR   HAYSVILLE...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

  THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

  HAZARD...DEADLY TORNADO.

  SOURCE...RADAR 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...
  SOUTHERN AND EASTERN WICHITA METRO AREA...PARK CITY...BEL 
AIRE...ANDOVER...BENTON...EAST WICHITA...MCCONNELL AIR FORCE 
BASE...   AND KECHI.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO WITH COMPLETE DEVASTATION
LIKELY. YOU COULD BE KILLED IF NOT UNDERGROUND OR IN A TORNADO
SHELTER. DO NOT DELAY...SEEK SHELTER NOW! IF NO UNDERGROUND SHELTER
IS AVAILABLE SEEK SHELTER IN AN INTERIOR ROOM OF THE LOWEST LEVEL OF
A STRUCTURE...OR IF TIME ALLOWS...CONSIDER MOVING TO AN UNDERGROUND
SHELTER ELSEWHERE. MOBILE HOMES AND OUTBUILDINGS WILL OFFER NO
SHELTER FROM THIS TORNADO.

&&

LAT...LON 3791 9728 3773 9701 3753 9729 3761 9745
TIME...MOT...LOC 0326Z 230DEG 45KT 3763 9725

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

$$

GARGAN
1 follow-up statement
982 
WWUS53 KICT 150333
SVSICT

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
1033 PM CDT SAT APR 14 2012

KSC015-173-150400-
/O.CON.KICT.TO.W.0035.000000T0000Z-120415T0400Z/
SEDGWICK KS-BUTLER KS-
1033 PM CDT SAT APR 14 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR WEST CENTRAL BUTLER AND
EASTERN SEDGWICK COUNTIES UNTIL 1100 PM CDT...

...TORNADO EMERGENCY FOR EAST WICHITA...

AT 1031 PM CDT...A CONFIRMED LARGE...VIOLENT AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS
TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE...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...
PARK CITY...NORTHEAST WICHITA...ANDOVER...BEL AIRE...KECHI...JABARA
AIRPORT AND BENTON.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO WITH COMPLETE DEVASTATION
LIKELY. YOU COULD BE KILLED IF NOT UNDERGROUND OR IN A TORNADO
SHELTER. DO NOT DELAY...SEEK SHELTER NOW! IF NO UNDERGROUND SHELTER
IS AVAILABLE SEEK SHELTER IN AN INTERIOR ROOM OF THE LOWEST LEVEL OF
A STRUCTURE...OR IF TIME ALLOWS...CONSIDER MOVING TO AN UNDERGROUND
SHELTER ELSEWHERE. MOBILE HOMES AND OUTBUILDINGS WILL OFFER NO
SHELTER FROM THIS TORNADO.

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

&&

LAT...LON 3791 9728 3773 9701 3753 9729 3761 9745
TIME...MOT...LOC 0333Z 228DEG 29KT 3766 9724

TORNADO...OBSERVED
TORNADO DAMAGE THREAT...CATASTROPHIC
HAIL...2.75IN

$$

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, 9:19 PM CDTTornado Warning EmergencyTornado observedSignificant damage threatICTSumner41 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, 10:38 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.