Alert archive / Kansas / Tornado Warnings in 2012

Tornado Warning 47, NWS Wichita, KS

May 19, 2012Harper County, Kingman County, Kansas

NWS Wichita, KS issued this tornado warning at May 19, 2012, 6:42 PM CDT for Harper County, Kingman County, Kansas. It was in force for 33 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: May 19, 2012, 6:42 PM CDT (23:42 UTC)
Expired: May 19, 2012, 7:15 PM CDT
In force: 33 min
Issued by: NWS Wichita, KS
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Observed
Hail: 1.75 in

Counties Harper County, KS, Kingman County, KS

The radar

The Vance AFB radar (KVNX), 55 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:43 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 19, 6:45 PM CDT	TORNADO	3 Wnw Harper, KS	MODERATE DAMAGE TO A MOBILE HOME
May 19, 6:45 PM CDT	TORNADO	5 W Harper, KS	FARMSTEAD WAS HIT BY TORNADO. EXTENT OF DAMAGE IS UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.
May 19, 6:45 PM CDT	TORNADO	5 W Harper, KS	TWO HOMES DAMAGED WITH ONE HAVING ROOF RIPPED OFF. HEAVY TREE DAMAGE WITH UPROOTED TREES.
May 19, 6:46 PM CDT	TORNADO	5 Se Spivey, KS
May 19, 6:49 PM CDT	HAIL 1.25	13 Wnw Anthony, KS	CORRECTION. LOCATION IS WNW NOT WSW.
May 19, 6:49 PM CDT	HAIL 1.25	13 Wsw Anthony, KS
May 19, 6:52 PM CDT	HAIL 1.5	13 Wnw Anthony, KS
May 19, 6:52 PM CDT	HAIL 1.5	13 Wsw Anthony, KS
May 19, 6:58 PM CDT	TORNADO	2 Wnw Harper, KS	TORNADO DAMAGE PATH IS 300 YARDS WIDE. SOME HOMES WERE DAMAGED. POWERLINES WERE DOWN.
May 19, 7:02 PM CDT	TORNADO	1 Nw Harper, KS	SPOTTER REPORTED TORNADO ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE OF HARPER.

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
May 19, 3:25 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Lamont, OK (KLMN), launched 12:00Z, 11.7 hours before the alert went out and 90 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: 450 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -768 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1247 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 11 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 330 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 445 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

902 
WFUS53 KICT 192342
TORICT
KSC077-095-200015-
/O.NEW.KICT.TO.W.0047.120519T2342Z-120520T0015Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
642 PM CDT SAT MAY 19 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  HARPER COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS...
  SOUTHEASTERN KINGMAN COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS...

* UNTIL 715 PM CDT

* AT 637 PM CDT...A LINE OF TORNADO PRODUCING STORMS WAS LOCATED
  ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 7 MILES WEST OF NORWICH TO HAZELTON...
  AND MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH.

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

  SOURCE...WEATHER SPOTTERS CONFIRMED TORNADO. 

  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.

SEVERAL TORNADOES HAVE BEEN REPORTED WITH THIS STORM SYSTEM.  THE 
STRONGEST INDICATION BY RADAR WAS LOCATED NEAR CRYSTAL SPRINGS AND 6 
MILES SOUTHEAST OF SPIVEY. 

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  HARPER...NORWICH AND RUNNYMEDE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TO REPEAT...A TORNADO IS ON THE GROUND. 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.

&&

LAT...LON 3703 9836 3716 9835 3750 9802 3750 9781
      3742 9781 3703 9820
TIME...MOT...LOC 2340Z 270DEG 22KT 3748 9795 3708 9831

TORNADO...OBSERVED
HAIL...1.75IN

$$

COOK

4 follow-up statements

758 
WWUS53 KICT 192353
SVSICT

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
653 PM CDT SAT MAY 19 2012

KSC077-095-200015-
/O.CON.KICT.TO.W.0047.000000T0000Z-120520T0015Z/
KINGMAN KS-HARPER KS-
653 PM CDT SAT MAY 19 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR WESTERN HARPER AND
SOUTHEASTERN KINGMAN COUNTIES UNTIL 715 PM CDT...

AT 650 PM CDT...A CONFIRMED TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR HARPER...AND
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

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

SOURCE...WEATHER SPOTTERS CONFIRMED TORNADO.

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.

THE CIRCULATION IS INCREASING IN STRENGTH 3.5 MILES NORTHWEST OF 
HARPER.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
HARPER...NORWICH AND RUNNYMEDE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TO REPEAT...A TORNADO IS ON THE GROUND. 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.

&&

LAT...LON 3703 9836 3716 9835 3750 9802 3750 9781
      3742 9781 3703 9820
TIME...MOT...LOC 2353Z 243DEG 19KT 3731 9807

TORNADO...OBSERVED
HAIL...1.75IN

$$

COOK

458 
WWUS53 KICT 192355
SVSICT

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
655 PM CDT SAT MAY 19 2012

KSC077-095-200015-
/O.CON.KICT.TO.W.0047.000000T0000Z-120520T0015Z/
KINGMAN KS-HARPER KS-
655 PM CDT SAT MAY 19 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR WESTERN HARPER AND
SOUTHEASTERN KINGMAN COUNTIES UNTIL 715 PM CDT...

AT 654 PM CDT...A CONFIRMED TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR HARPER...AND
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

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

SOURCE...RADAR CONFIRMED TORNADO.

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.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA CAN SEE DEBRIS FROM THE TORNADO ON 
RADAR.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
HARPER...NORWICH AND RUNNYMEDE.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3703 9836 3716 9835 3750 9802 3750 9781
      3742 9781 3703 9820
TIME...MOT...LOC 2355Z 243DEG 19KT 3731 9806

TORNADO...OBSERVED
HAIL...1.75IN

$$

COOK

057 
WWUS53 KICT 200003
SVSICT

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
703 PM CDT SAT MAY 19 2012

KSC077-095-200015-
/O.CON.KICT.TO.W.0047.000000T0000Z-120520T0015Z/
KINGMAN KS-HARPER KS-
703 PM CDT SAT MAY 19 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR WESTERN HARPER AND
SOUTHEASTERN KINGMAN COUNTIES UNTIL 715 PM CDT...

AT 658 PM CDT...A CONFIRMED TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR HARPER...AND
MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH.

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

SOURCE...WEATHER SPOTTERS CONFIRMED TORNADO.

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.

A TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTED A TORNADO 2 MILES NORTHWEST OF HARPER.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
HARPER...NORWICH AND RUNNYMEDE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TO REPEAT...A TORNADO IS ON THE GROUND. 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.

&&

LAT...LON 3703 9836 3716 9835 3750 9802 3750 9781
      3742 9781 3703 9820
TIME...MOT...LOC 0002Z 263DEG 14KT 3730 9804

TORNADO...OBSERVED
HAIL...1.75IN

$$

COOK

049 
WWUS53 KICT 200012
SVSICT

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
712 PM CDT SAT MAY 19 2012

KSC077-095-200021-
/O.EXP.KICT.TO.W.0047.000000T0000Z-120520T0015Z/
KINGMAN KS-HARPER KS-
712 PM CDT SAT MAY 19 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR WESTERN HARPER AND SOUTHEASTERN KINGMAN
COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 715 PM CDT...

RADAR AND SPOTTERS INDICATE THAT THE TORNADO HAS LIFTED WITH THIS 
STORM.  THIS WARNING WILL BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE AND WILL BE REPLACED 
WITH A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING.

LAT...LON 3703 9836 3716 9835 3750 9802 3750 9781
      3742 9781 3703 9820
TIME...MOT...LOC 0011Z 263DEG 14KT 3730 9800

$$

COOK

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 19, 3:26 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	ICT	Barton	34 min
May 19, 3:32 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Barton	43 min
May 19, 4:01 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Barton, Ellsworth, Lincoln, Russell	44 min
May 19, 4:16 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Reno	44 min
May 19, 4:36 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Lincoln	39 min
May 19, 4:54 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	ICT	Ellsworth	36 min
May 19, 4:59 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Reno	46 min
May 19, 5:02 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Ellsworth	28 min
May 19, 5:29 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Kingman	46 min
May 19, 5:46 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	ICT	Kingman	29 min
May 19, 5:58 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Ellsworth, Lincoln, Saline	32 min
May 19, 6:12 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	ICT	Kingman	33 min
May 19, 6:13 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Harper, Kingman	47 min
May 19, 6:19 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	ICT	Harper, Kingman	26 min
May 19, 6:20 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Kingman, Reno	30 min
May 19, 6:21 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Rice	39 min
May 19, 6:47 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Ellsworth, McPherson, Saline	35 min
May 19, 6:54 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	ICT	Sedgwick	36 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.