Alert archive / Kansas / Special Weather Statements in 2013

Special Weather Statement, NWS Topeka, KS

October 4, 2013Brown County, Kansas

NWS Topeka, KS issued this special weather statement at Oct 4, 2013, 6:13 PM CDT for Brown County, Kansas. It was in force for 32 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Oct 4, 2013, 6:13 PM CDT (23:13 UTC)
Expired
Oct 4, 2013, 6:45 PM CDT
In force
32 min
Issued by
NWS Topeka, KS

County Brown County, KS

The radar

The Topeka radar (KTWX), 108 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:16 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.

The nearest sounding before it

Topeka, KS (KFOE), launched 12:00Z, 11.2 hours before the alert went out and 89 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, Topeka, KS at 12:00Z on 2013-10-04Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1889 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Topeka, KS at 12:00Z on 2013-10-04The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 238 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
1889 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-90 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
629 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
43 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
238 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
182 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
1.6
Supercell composite
11.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

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What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this special weather statement went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Topeka, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before this special weather statement went out at Oct 4, 5:25 PM CDT, 48 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Oct 4, 5:25 PM CDT, 48 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
525 PM CDT Fri Oct 4 2013

.MESOSCALE DISCUSSION...
Issued at 517 PM CDT FRI OCT 4 2013

As expected, line of thunderstorms has formed in strong
convergence along cold front. Vertical wind profile ahead of front
shows winds from the southwest through a deep layer and thus
unidirectional shear. Dry mid-level air is helping to enhance
downdrafts and several reports of winds of 50 to 65 mph have been
received.

Expect this trend to continue with the potential for 50 to 70 mph
winds being the main threat this evening, although some of the
stronger updraft cores could briefly produce hail to quarter size
or a little larger. Gust fronts have recently started outrunning
the storms so it may be difficult for segments along the line to
persist with damaging winds for very long.

Shear in the 0-1 km layer in the warm sector ahead of the cold
front is expected to increase this evening, but with storm motions
along the line, and no directional shear, 0-1 km storm- relative
helicity should remain small. Still, given increase in low-level
shear this evening, will watch line for possible mesovortex
development.

60

&&

.SHORT TERM...(This Evening through Saturday)
Issued at 318 PM CDT FRI OCT 4 2013

Latest surface analysis at 19Z had the cold front extending from
east of Concordia through Salina and into northwest Oklahoma. Dew
points and temperatures have dropped back into the 40s and 50s
behind the front. Visible satellite loop shows cu field along the
front which had developed since 18Z.

Surface based CAPE is in the 2500 to 4000 J/kg range. 18Z TOP
sounding still showed a Cap in place, but is expected to erode by
21Z.

0-6 km shear is forecast to be in the 30 to 40 kt range. Low level
helicity is highest near the Nebraska border in far northeast
Kansas. Across the rest of the area values are lower and low level
winds from VAD and profilers should little turning with height in
the low levels with the best low level shear in Nebraska. As the
front continues to move through have adjusted where convective
initiation is expected to occur which is from near Abilene through
Marysville, so have lowered or eliminated chances of thunderstorms
across north central Kansas. Shear and instability are favorable for
severe storms late this afternoon and evening with damaging winds
and hail the main hazards, but an isolated tornado cannot be ruled
out. Initial cells forming along the front will become linear in
nature as they move east across the cwa with bowing segments owning
to the wind threat.

Precipitation should come to an end by sunrise Saturday with skies
clearing out during the morning hours. Cold advection tonight and
Saturday will bring an abrupt drop in temperatures with lows in the
40s tonight and highs in the 50s to lower 60s Saturday.

.LONG TERM...(Saturday Night through Friday)
Issued at 318 PM CDT FRI OCT 4 2013

Upper low will progress eastward through the mid MO and MS valleys
Sat night through Sunday night. As it does...the cyclonic
circulation around it will likely clip the northern cwa with
stratocu deck. However it remains a challenge this far out to
determine how extensive the cloud cover and period of time the
clouds will linger. Either way...decent mixing should persist
through the night into Sunday morning...which along with any clouds
should help to keep overnight lows up a bit. Will keep lows in the
upper 30s to around 40 degrees for now...but if clouds are more
extensive than current fcst...then lows may need to be increased
slightly. Clouds on Sunday should be most extensive across the
northeast corner in better proximity to exiting upper low and will
keep highs in the upper 50s in that with low to mid 60s elsewhere
with more sunshine.

Upper level ridging will develop across the central plains as the
first trough exits to the east and a second upper trough digs into
the western coast. Will slowly but steadily increase high temps
through the 70s next week while warming lows from the lower 40s
Monday...to the middle and upper 50s by Thursday. Will include low
chances for showers and thunderstorms west to east across the cwa
Thursday night into Friday as the western trough begins to eject
out into the plains.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFs through 18Z Saturday Afternoon)
Issued at 1243 PM CDT FRI OCT 4 2013

Winds will slowly veer to the southwest prior to frontal passage.
Winds will gust to around 30 kts. Timing of convection still a
little tricky this afternoon, but current thinking is storms will
initiate toward MHK around 22Z with MVFR cigs and vsbys between 23Z
and 03Z, while at TOP and FOE between 01Z and 03Z. Left VCTS in
for a few hours at each terminal as some post frontal
precipitation may occur. Winds are expected to shift to the west
at MHK around 01Z with TOP and FOE around 03Z. Will keep a watch
on timing through the day.

&&

.TOP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NONE.
&&

MESOSCALE...60
SHORT TERM...53
LONG TERM...63
AVIATION...53
Hazardous weather outlook, Oct 4, 3:40 PM CDT, 2 hours 33 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
340 PM CDT FRI OCT 4 2013

KSZ008>012-020>024-026-034>040-054>056-058-059-052045-
REPUBLIC-WASHINGTON-MARSHALL-NEMAHA-BROWN-CLOUD-CLAY-RILEY-
POTTAWATOMIE-JACKSON-JEFFERSON-OTTAWA-DICKINSON-GEARY-MORRIS-
WABAUNSEE-SHAWNEE-DOUGLAS-LYON-OSAGE-FRANKLIN-COFFEY-ANDERSON-
340 PM CDT FRI OCT 4 2013

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL...NORTH
CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST KANSAS.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

A LINE OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE THROUGH THE
OUTLOOK AREA THIS EVENING...WITH SOME LINGERING STORMS OVERNIGHT
IN EAST CENTRAL KANSAS. THE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO MAINLY
AFFECT COUNTIES EAST OF AN ABILENE TO MARYSVILLE LINE. DAMAGING
STRAIGHT LINE WINDS AND HAIL WILL BE THE MAIN HAZARDS. AN ISOLATED
TORNADO IS ALSO POSSIBLE ESPECIALLY IN FAR NORTHEAST KANSAS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Oct 4, 5:51 PM CDT, 22 minutes before
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Local storm report, Oct 4, 5:57 PM CDT, 16 minutes before
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Local storm report, Oct 4, 6:05 PM CDT, 8 minutes before
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Local storm report, Oct 4, 6:08 PM CDT, 5 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Oct 4, 6:09 PM CDT, 4 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Oct 4, 6:13 PM CDT, 0 minutes before
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Oct 4, 3:43 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTOPDickinson, Riley32 min
Oct 4, 4:15 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTOPGeary, Riley30 min
Oct 4, 4:29 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPDickinson, Geary, Marshall, Morris, Pottawatomie, Riley46 min
Oct 4, 5:07 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPGeary, Jackson, Pottawatomie, Riley, Wabaunsee38 min
Oct 4, 5:15 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTOPMorris45 min
Oct 4, 5:29 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPLyon, Morris, Wabaunsee46 min
Oct 4, 5:41 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPJackson, Pottawatomie49 min
Oct 4, 5:44 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPWabaunsee31 min
Oct 4, 6:09 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTOPWabaunsee36 min
Oct 4, 6:18 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTOPWabaunsee27 min
Oct 4, 6:43 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTOPShawnee47 min

Nearby

Special Weather Statements in Kansas, 2013Every special weather statement in 2013

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.