Alert archive / Kansas / Tornado Warnings in 2012

Tornado Warning 38, NWS Wichita, KS

April 14, 2012Ellsworth County, Rice County, Kansas

NWS Wichita, KS issued this tornado warning at Apr 14, 2012, 10:47 PM CDT for Ellsworth County, Rice County, Kansas. It was in force for 43 min. 3 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, 10:47 PM CDT (03:47 UTC)
Expired: Apr 14, 2012, 11:30 PM CDT
In force: 43 min
Issued by: NWS Wichita, KS
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Radar indicated
Hail: 1.25 in

Counties Ellsworth County, KS, Rice County, KS

The radar

The Wichita radar (KICT), 126 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 03:50 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
Apr 14, 11:18 PM CDT	TORNADO	5 W Kanopolis State Par, KS	DAMAGE TO A HOUSE NEAR KANOPOLIS...TIME ESTIMATED
Apr 14, 11:22 PM CDT	TORNADO	4 Se Ellsworth, KS	OFF DUTY NCAR METEOROLOGIST.
Apr 14, 11:25 PM CDT	TORNADO	8 Se Ellsworth, KS	TORNADO ILLUMINATED BY LIGHTNING.

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
Apr 14, 5:24 PM CDT	Tornado Watch PDS	SPC	9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Dodge City, (KDDC), launched 00:00Z, 3.8 hours before the alert went out and 166 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: 2712 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -59 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1140 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 84 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 369 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 445 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 6.0
Supercell composite: 30.6

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

046 
WFUS53 KICT 150347
TORICT
KSC053-159-150430-
/O.NEW.KICT.TO.W.0038.120415T0347Z-120415T0430Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
1047 PM CDT SAT APR 14 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  ELLSWORTH COUNTY IN CENTRAL KANSAS...
  NORTHWESTERN RICE COUNTY IN CENTRAL KANSAS...

* UNTIL 1130 PM CDT

* AT 1045 PM CDT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A
  TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR BUSHTON...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.

  HAZARD...DEVELOPING TORNADO AND HALF DOLLAR SIZE HAIL.

  SOURCE...RADAR INDICATED ROTATION.

  IMPACT...SIGNIFICANT HOUSE AND BUILDING DAMAGE POSSIBLE. MOBILE
           HOMES COMPLETELY DESTROYED IF HIT. SOME TREES UPROOTED OR
           SNAPPED. VEHICLES WILL LIKELY BE THROWN BY TORNADIC WINDS.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  ELLSWORTH...HOLYROOD...LORRAINE...GENESEO...FREDERICK...ELLSWORTH
  AIRPORT AND KANOPOLIS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

HEAVY RAINFALL MAY HIDE THIS TORNADO. DO NOT WAIT TO SEE OR HEAR THE
TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW.

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

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER CONTACT YOUR NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.
THEY WILL SEND YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN
WICHITA.

&&

LAT...LON 3879 9821 3858 9797 3833 9839 3841 9849
      3852 9848
TIME...MOT...LOC 0347Z 227DEG 47KT 3847 9837

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...1.25IN

$$

SCHMINKE

3 follow-up statements

400 
WWUS53 KICT 150414
SVSICT

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
1114 PM CDT SAT APR 14 2012

KSC053-159-150430-
/O.CON.KICT.TO.W.0038.000000T0000Z-120415T0430Z/
RICE KS-ELLSWORTH KS-
1114 PM CDT SAT APR 14 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ELLSWORTH AND NORTHWESTERN
RICE COUNTIES UNTIL 1130 PM CDT...

AT 1109 PM CDT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A LARGE 
TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR GENESEO...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.

HAZARD...DEVELOPING TORNADO AND GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL.

SOURCE...RADAR INDICATED ROTATION.

IMPACT...SIGNIFICANT HOUSE AND BUILDING DAMAGE POSSIBLE. MOBILE HOMES
         COMPLETELY DESTROYED IF HIT. SOME TREES UPROOTED OR SNAPPED.
         VEHICLES WILL LIKELY BE THROWN BY TORNADIC WINDS.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
ELLSWORTH...ELLSWORTH AIRPORT AND KANOPOLIS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER CONTACT YOUR NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.
THEY WILL SEND YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN
WICHITA.

&&

LAT...LON 3879 9821 3858 9797 3833 9839 3841 9849
      3852 9848
TIME...MOT...LOC 0413Z 227DEG 47KT 3861 9812

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...1.75IN

$$

SCHMINKE

968 
WWUS53 KICT 150417
SVSICT

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
1117 PM CDT SAT APR 14 2012

KSC159-150427-
/O.CAN.KICT.TO.W.0038.000000T0000Z-120415T0430Z/
RICE KS-
1117 PM CDT SAT APR 14 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN RICE COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

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

LAT...LON 3858 9797 3852 9809 3853 9841 3879 9821
TIME...MOT...LOC 0417Z 246DEG 30KT 3862 9811

$$

KSC053-150430-
/O.CON.KICT.TO.W.0038.000000T0000Z-120415T0430Z/
ELLSWORTH KS-
1117 PM CDT SAT APR 14 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL ELLSWORTH COUNTY
UNTIL 1130 PM CDT...

AT 1114 PM CDT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO
WAS LOCATED 6 MILES NORTH OF GENESEO...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35
MPH.

HAZARD...DEVELOPING TORNADO AND GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL.

SOURCE...RADAR INDICATED ROTATION.

IMPACT...SIGNIFICANT HOUSE AND BUILDING DAMAGE POSSIBLE. MOBILE HOMES
         COMPLETELY DESTROYED IF HIT. SOME TREES UPROOTED OR SNAPPED.
         VEHICLES WILL LIKELY BE THROWN BY TORNADIC WINDS.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF CENTRAL ELLSWORTH COUNTY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER CONTACT YOUR NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.
THEY WILL SEND YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN
WICHITA.

&&

LAT...LON 3858 9797 3852 9809 3853 9841 3879 9821
TIME...MOT...LOC 0417Z 246DEG 30KT 3862 9811

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...1.75IN

$$

HOWERTON

058 
WWUS53 KICT 150433
SVSICT

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
1133 PM CDT SAT APR 14 2012

KSC053-150440-
/O.EXP.KICT.TO.W.0038.000000T0000Z-120415T0430Z/
ELLSWORTH KS-
1133 PM CDT SAT APR 14 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR CENTRAL ELLSWORTH COUNTY HAS EXPIRED...

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

HOWEVER! A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHEAST AND EAST 
CENTRAL ELLSWORTH COUNTY...AS WELL AS FOR SOUTHEAST LINCOLN AND 
NORTHWEST SALINE COUNTIE UNTIL 1215 AM CDT!

ADDITIONAL STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE STILL POSSIBLE...AND A TORNADO 
WATCH...NUMBER 170...REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM CDT.

LAT...LON 3858 9797 3852 9809 3853 9841 3879 9821
TIME...MOT...LOC 0417Z 246DEG 30KT 3862 9811

$$

SCHMINKE

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 14, 7:12 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	ICT	Reno	37 min
Apr 14, 7:34 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Harvey, McPherson, Marion, Reno	41 min
Apr 14, 7:43 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	ICT	Russell	32 min
Apr 14, 7:45 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	ICT	Harper	28 min
Apr 14, 7:47 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	ICT	Harvey, McPherson, Marion	28 min
Apr 14, 7:54 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Russell	20 min
Apr 14, 7:54 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Barton	36 min
Apr 14, 8:10 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	ICT	McPherson, Marion	50 min
Apr 14, 8:14 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Barton, Ellsworth, Lincoln, Russell	46 min
Apr 14, 8:22 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	ICT	Harper	38 min
Apr 14, 8:32 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	ICT	Lincoln, Russell	28 min
Apr 14, 8:40 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	ICT	Marion	31 min
Apr 14, 8:47 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observedSignificant damage threat	ICT	Harper, Sumner	43 min
Apr 14, 9:19 PM CDT	Tornado Warning EmergencyTornado observedSignificant damage threat	ICT	Sumner	41 min
Apr 14, 9:30 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observedSignificant damage threat	ICT	Sedgwick	45 min
Apr 14, 9:32 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	ICT	Barton, Reno, Rice	43 min
Apr 14, 10:09 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observedSignificant damage threat	ICT	Sedgwick	51 min
Apr 14, 10:10 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observedSignificant damage threat	ICT	Ellsworth, McPherson, Rice	32 min
Apr 14, 10:13 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	ICT	Ellsworth, McPherson, Rice, Saline	37 min
Apr 14, 10:27 PM CDT	Tornado Warning EmergencyTornado observedCatastrophic damage threat	ICT	Butler, Sedgwick	33 min
Apr 14, 10:38 PM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	ICT	Sedgwick	3 hr
Apr 14, 10:40 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observedSignificant damage threat	ICT	McPherson, Saline	50 min
Apr 14, 10:41 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observedSignificant damage threat	ICT	Butler	49 min
Apr 14, 11:03 PM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	ICT	Butler	3 hr
Apr 14, 11:12 PM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	ICT	Barton, Ellsworth, Rice, Saline	4 hr
Apr 14, 11:24 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	ICT	Butler, Chase, Greenwood	51 min
Apr 14, 11:27 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	ICT	Ellsworth, Lincoln, Saline	48 min
Apr 15, 12:11 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	ICT	Ellsworth, Rice	34 min
Apr 15, 12:33 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Rice	27 min
Apr 15, 12:48 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Harper	42 min
Apr 15, 1:02 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Kingman	43 min
Apr 15, 1:29 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Harvey, Reno, Sedgwick, Sumner	46 min
Apr 15, 2:36 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	ICT	Butler	39 min
Apr 15, 3:40 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	ICT	Cowley	35 min
Apr 15, 4:03 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	ICT	Chautauqua, Elk, Greenwood, Montgomery, Wilson, Woodson	27 min
Apr 15, 4:03 AM CDT	Wind Advisory	ICT	Allen, Barton, Butler, Chase, Chautauqua, Cowley and 20 more	16 hr
Apr 15, 5:01 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Allen, Labette, Montgomery, Neosho, Wilson, Woodson	59 min
Apr 15, 6:03 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Labette, Montgomery	42 min

Nearby

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