Alert archive / Kansas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2012

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 40, NWS Topeka, KS

April 15, 2012Clay County, Riley County, Washington County, Kansas

NWS Topeka, KS issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Apr 15, 2012, 1:38 AM CDT for Clay County, Riley County, Washington County, Kansas. It was in force for 37 min. 1 report 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 15, 2012, 1:38 AM CDT (06:38 UTC)
Expired: Apr 15, 2012, 2:15 AM CDT
In force: 37 min
Issued by: NWS Topeka, KS
Area: Storm-based polygon
Hail: 1.25 in
Wind: 70.0 mph

Counties Clay County, KS, Riley County, KS, Washington County, KS

The radar

The Topeka radar (KTWX), 64 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 06:40 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 15, 1:50 AM CDT	HAIL 1	6 S Clay Center, KS	MINOR CROP DAMAGE ALSO REPORTED. ESTIMATED 3 TO 4 INCHES OF RAINFALL ALSO.

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
Apr 15, 1:37 AM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	5 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Topeka, KS (KTOP), launched 00:00Z, 6.6 hours before the alert went out and 109 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: 1788 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -2 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 665 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 58 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 401 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 443 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 5.2
Supercell composite: 17.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

563 
WUUS53 KTOP 150638
SVRTOP
KSC027-161-201-150715-
/O.NEW.KTOP.SV.W.0040.120415T0638Z-120415T0715Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
138 AM CDT SUN APR 15 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TOPEKA HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  CLAY COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS...
  NORTHWESTERN RILEY COUNTY IN NORTHEAST KANSAS...
  SOUTHEASTERN WASHINGTON COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS...

* UNTIL 215 AM CDT

* AT 135 AM CDT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR IDANA...AND
  MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.

  HAZARD...HALF DOLLAR SIZE HAIL AND 70 MPH WIND GUSTS.

  SOURCE...RADAR INDICATED.

  IMPACT...MINOR DAMAGE TO VEHICLES...ROOFS AND WINDOWS. TREE
           BRANCHES UP TO THREE INCHES IN DIAMETER BROKEN. POSSIBLE
           MINOR DAMAGE TO SHINGLE ROOFS AND METAL OUTBUILDINGS.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  CLAY CENTER...MORGANVILLE...GREEN...RILEY...LEONARDVILLE AND
  RANDOLPH.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA. TORNADOES CAN
DEVELOP QUICKLY FROM SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. ALTHOUGH ONE IS 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.

FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
BUILDING.

&&

LAT...LON 3943 9672 3942 9673 3941 9671 3940 9672
      3937 9668 3936 9669 3932 9665 3931 9665
      3928 9662 3922 9689 3922 9696 3920 9696
      3915 9719 3939 9735 3970 9689
TIME...MOT...LOC 0638Z 229DEG 50KT 3934 9717

HAIL...1.25IN
WIND...70 MPH

$$

2 follow-up statements

131 
WWUS53 KTOP 150701
SVSTOP

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
201 AM CDT SUN APR 15 2012

KSC027-161-201-150715-
/O.CON.KTOP.SV.W.0040.000000T0000Z-120415T0715Z/
RILEY KS-CLAY KS-WASHINGTON KS-
201 AM CDT SUN APR 15 2012

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHEASTERN
WASHINGTON...EASTERN CLAY AND NORTHWESTERN RILEY COUNTIES UNTIL 215
AM CDT...

AT 159 AM CDT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 6 MILES NORTH OF
WAKEFIELD...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

HAZARD...TENNIS BALL SIZE HAIL AND 60 MPH WIND GUSTS.

SOURCE...RADAR INDICATED.

IMPACT...DAMAGE TO VEHICLES...ROOFS AND WINDOWS. MINOR TREE DAMAGE...
         WITH LIMBS UP TO ONE INCH IN DIAMETER BROKEN.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
GREEN...RILEY...LEONARDVILLE AND RANDOLPH.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA. TORNADOES CAN
DEVELOP QUICKLY FROM SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. ALTHOUGH ONE IS 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.

FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
BUILDING.

&&

LAT...LON 3943 9672 3940 9672 3937 9669 3928 9662
      3922 9689 3922 9696 3920 9697 3915 9716
      3956 9706 3970 9689
TIME...MOT...LOC 0701Z 233DEG 41KT 3932 9697

HAIL...2.50IN
WIND...60 MPH

$$

628 
WWUS53 KTOP 150708
SVSTOP

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
208 AM CDT SUN APR 15 2012

KSC027-201-150718-
/O.CAN.KTOP.SV.W.0040.000000T0000Z-120415T0715Z/
CLAY KS-WASHINGTON KS-
208 AM CDT SUN APR 15 2012

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN WASHINGTON AND
EASTERN CLAY COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...

THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED OUT OF CLAY COUNTY 
AND THE STRONGEST PART WAS STAYING SOUTH OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM CDT.

LAT...LON 3943 9672 3942 9673 3941 9672 3940 9672
      3937 9668 3936 9669 3928 9662 3922 9689
      3922 9696 3957 9696 3956 9680
TIME...MOT...LOC 0708Z 233DEG 41KT 3936 9688

$$

KSC161-150715-
/O.CON.KTOP.SV.W.0040.000000T0000Z-120415T0715Z/
RILEY KS-
208 AM CDT SUN APR 15 2012

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHWESTERN
RILEY COUNTY UNTIL 215 AM CDT...

AT 203 AM CDT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 5 MILES SOUTHWEST
OF LEONARDVILLE...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

HAZARD...GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL AND 60 MPH WIND GUSTS.

SOURCE...RADAR INDICATED.

IMPACT...DAMAGE TO VEHICLES...ROOFS AND WINDOWS. MINOR TREE DAMAGE...
         WITH LIMBS UP TO ONE INCH IN DIAMETER BROKEN.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
LEONARDVILLE AND RANDOLPH.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA. TORNADOES CAN
DEVELOP QUICKLY FROM SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. ALTHOUGH ONE IS 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.

FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
BUILDING.

&&

LAT...LON 3943 9672 3942 9673 3941 9672 3940 9672
      3937 9668 3936 9669 3928 9662 3922 9689
      3922 9696 3957 9696 3956 9680
TIME...MOT...LOC 0708Z 233DEG 41KT 3936 9688

HAIL...1.75IN
WIND...60 MPH

$$

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 14, 7:24 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	TOP	Clay, Dickinson	51 min
Apr 14, 8:01 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	TOP	Clay, Riley	29 min
Apr 14, 8:43 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	TOP	Dickinson, Morris	47 min
Apr 14, 9:22 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	TOP	Geary, Morris, Wabaunsee	38 min
Apr 14, 11:08 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	TOP	Dickinson	37 min
Apr 14, 11:31 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Ottawa	29 min
Apr 14, 11:36 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Clay, Dickinson, Geary, Riley	20 min
Apr 14, 11:48 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	TOP	Lyon	42 min
Apr 15, 12:00 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Clay, Dickinson, Ottawa	45 min
Apr 15, 12:41 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Clay, Dickinson, Geary, Riley	49 min
Apr 15, 12:47 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	TOP	Clay, Dickinson, Geary, Riley	28 min
Apr 15, 12:52 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Brown, Marshall, Nemaha, Pottawatomie	38 min
Apr 15, 1:15 AM CDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	TOP	Pottawatomie, Riley	15 min
Apr 15, 1:30 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	TOP	Marshall, Nemaha, Pottawatomie	30 min
Apr 15, 1:51 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Jackson, Marshall, Nemaha, Pottawatomie	34 min
Apr 15, 2:13 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Marshall, Pottawatomie, Riley	24 min
Apr 15, 3:15 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	TOP	Wabaunsee	15 min
Apr 15, 3:24 AM CDT	Wind Advisory	TOP	Anderson, Brown, Clay, Cloud, Coffey, Dickinson and 17 more	17 hr
Apr 15, 3:30 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	TOP	Jackson, Shawnee	30 min
Apr 15, 3:59 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	TOP	Jefferson	31 min
Apr 15, 4:13 AM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	TOP	Nemaha	3 hr
Apr 15, 4:22 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	TOP	Riley	15 hr
Apr 15, 5:06 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	TOP	Anderson, Coffey, Douglas, Franklin, Osage	54 min
Apr 15, 7:40 AM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	TOP	Clay, Dickinson, Ottawa	2 hr
Apr 15, 7:53 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	TOP	Clay	7 hr
Apr 15, 8:32 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	TOP	Marshall	7 hr
Apr 15, 9:29 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	TOP	Cloud	4 hr
Apr 15, 9:45 AM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	TOP	Clay	3 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.