Alert archive / Kansas / Tornado Warnings in 2015

Tornado Warning 59, NWS Dodge City, KS

November 16, 2015Ford County, Gray County, Kansas

NWS Dodge City, KS issued this tornado warning at Nov 16, 2015, 6:42 PM CST for Ford County, Gray County, Kansas. It was in force for 33 min. 7 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: Nov 16, 2015, 6:42 PM CST (00:42 UTC)
Expired: Nov 16, 2015, 7:15 PM CST
In force: 33 min
Issued by: NWS Dodge City, KS
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Observed
Damage threat: Considerable
Hail: 1.75 in

Counties Ford County, KS, Gray County, KS

The radar

The Dodge City radar (KDDC), 34 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:40 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
Nov 16, 6:42 PM CST	HAIL 1	1 Wnw The Haggard Elev, KS
Nov 16, 6:42 PM CST	HAIL 1	5 Wsw Ensign, KS
Nov 16, 6:45 PM CST	TORNADO	4 E Montezuma, KS	SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO A BARN REPORTED.
Nov 16, 6:45 PM CST	TORNADO	4 Wsw The Haggard Elev, KS	SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO A BARN REPORTED.
Nov 16, 6:53 PM CST	HAIL 1.75	3 Wnw The Haggard Elev, KS
Nov 16, 7:05 PM CST	TORNADO	3 Nne Ensign, KS
Nov 16, 7:11 PM CST	TORNADO	1 Wsw Howell, KS	A RESIDENCE WAS DAMAGED, AND POWER LINES ARE DOWN.

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
Nov 16, 1:00 PM CST	Tornado Watch	SPC	8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Dodge City, (KDDC), launched 00:00Z, 0.7 hours before the alert went out and 40 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: 994 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -42 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 812 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 63 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 351 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 399 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 2.5
Supercell composite: 11.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

170 
WFUS53 KDDC 170042
TORDDC
KSC057-069-170115-
/O.NEW.KDDC.TO.W.0059.151117T0042Z-151117T0115Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY KS
642 PM CST MON NOV 16 2015

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DODGE CITY HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHEASTERN GRAY COUNTY IN SOUTHWESTERN KANSAS...
  WEST CENTRAL FORD COUNTY IN SOUTHWESTERN KANSAS...

* UNTIL 715 PM CST

* AT 641 PM CST...A CONFIRMED LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO
  WAS LOCATED 6 MILES SOUTHEAST OF MONTEZUMA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40
  MPH.

  THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. 

  HAZARD...DAMAGING TORNADO. 

  SOURCE...LAW ENFORCEMENT CONFIRMED TORNADO. 

  IMPACT...FLYING DEBRIS WILL BE DANGEROUS TO THOSE CAUGHT WITHOUT 
           SHELTER. MOBILE HOMES WILL BE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED. 
           DAMAGE TO ROOFS...WINDOWS AND VEHICLES WILL OCCUR.  TREE 
           DAMAGE IS LIKELY. 

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  THE HAGGARD ELEV AROUND 650 PM CST.
  ENSIGN AROUND 700 PM CST.
  HOWELL AROUND 710 PM CST.
  DODGE CITY AROUND 715 PM CST.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TO REPEAT...A LARGE...EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY
TORNADO IS ON THE GROUND. TO PROTECT YOUR LIFE...TAKE COVER NOW! MOVE
TO A BASEMENT OR 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.

A LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO IS ON THE GROUND. TAKE
IMMEDIATE TORNADO PRECAUTIONS. THIS IS AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.

&&

LAT...LON 3748 10036 3753 10051 3787 10020 3767 9996
      3747 10034
TIME...MOT...LOC 0041Z 220DEG 34KT 3753 10037 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
TORNADO DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
HAIL...1.75IN

$$

GERARD

2 follow-up statements

343 
WWUS53 KDDC 170059 RRA
SVSDDC

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY KS
659 PM CST MON NOV 16 2015

KSC057-069-170115-
/O.CON.KDDC.TO.W.0059.000000T0000Z-151117T0115Z/
GRAY KS-FORD KS-
659 PM CST MON NOV 16 2015

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 715 PM CST FOR
SOUTHEASTERN GRAY AND WEST CENTRAL FORD COUNTIES...
    
AT 659 PM CST...A LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO WAS LOCATED
VERY NEAR ENSIGN...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

HAZARD...DAMAGING TORNADO. 

SOURCE...RADAR INDICATED ROTATION. 

IMPACT...FLYING DEBRIS WILL BE DANGEROUS TO THOSE CAUGHT WITHOUT 
         SHELTER. MOBILE HOMES WILL BE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED. DAMAGE 
         TO ROOFS...WINDOWS AND VEHICLES WILL OCCUR.  TREE DAMAGE IS 
         LIKELY. 

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  HOWELL AROUND 710 PM CST.
  DODGE CITY AROUND 715 PM CST.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TO REPEAT...A LARGE...EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY
TORNADO IS DEVELOPING. TO PROTECT YOUR LIFE...TAKE COVER NOW! MOVE TO
A BASEMENT OR 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.

A LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO IS ON THE GROUND. TAKE
IMMEDIATE TORNADO PRECAUTIONS. THIS IS AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.

&&

LAT...LON 3761 10043 3787 10020 3767 9996 3754 10032
TIME...MOT...LOC 0059Z 225DEG 36KT 3765 10020 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
TORNADO DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
HAIL...1.50IN

$$

GERARD

405 
WWUS53 KDDC 170108 RRA
SVSDDC

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY KS
708 PM CST MON NOV 16 2015

KSC057-069-170115-
/O.CON.KDDC.TO.W.0059.000000T0000Z-151117T0115Z/
GRAY KS-FORD KS-
708 PM CST MON NOV 16 2015

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 715 PM CST FOR EAST
CENTRAL GRAY AND WEST CENTRAL FORD COUNTIES...
    
AT 706 PM CST...A LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO WAS LOCATED 3
MILES SOUTH OF HOWELL...MOVING NORTH AT 45 MPH.

THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

HAZARD...DAMAGING TORNADO. 

SOURCE...RADAR INDICATED ROTATION. AT 705 PM A LARGE TORNADO WAS
REPORTED 3 MILES SOUTH OF HOWELL.

IMPACT...FLYING DEBRIS WILL BE DANGEROUS TO THOSE CAUGHT WITHOUT 
         SHELTER. MOBILE HOMES WILL BE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED. DAMAGE 
         TO ROOFS...WINDOWS AND VEHICLES WILL OCCUR.  TREE DAMAGE IS 
         LIKELY. 

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  HOWELL AROUND 710 PM CST.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TO REPEAT...A LARGE...EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY
TORNADO IS DEVELOPING. TO PROTECT YOUR LIFE...TAKE COVER NOW! MOVE TO
A BASEMENT OR 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.

A LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO IS ON THE GROUND. TAKE
IMMEDIATE TORNADO PRECAUTIONS. THIS IS AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.

&&

LAT...LON 3766 10038 3787 10020 3771 10004 3759 10028
TIME...MOT...LOC 0106Z 194DEG 42KT 3774 10020 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
TORNADO DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
HAIL...1.50IN

$$

GERARD

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Nov 16, 6:05 PM CST	Tornado Warning Considerable damage threat	DDC	Gray, Meade, Seward	40 min
Nov 16, 6:15 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DDC	Hamilton, Kearny, Stanton	60 min
Nov 16, 6:17 PM CST	Tornado Warning Considerable damage threat	DDC	Ness, Trego	43 min
Nov 16, 6:42 PM CST	Tornado Warning	DDC	Ellis, Ness, Trego	48 min
Nov 16, 6:56 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DDC	Finney, Grant, Hamilton, Kearny, Lane, Scott	64 min
Nov 16, 7:03 PM CST	Tornado Warning	DDC	Scott	27 min
Nov 16, 7:15 PM CST	Tornado Warning Considerable damage threat	DDC	Finney, Ford, Gray, Hodgeman	45 min
Nov 16, 7:19 PM CST	Tornado Warning	DDC	Ellis, Trego	26 min
Nov 16, 7:33 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DDC	Finney, Grant, Haskell, Kearny, Meade, Seward and 2 more	57 min
Nov 16, 7:54 PM CST	Tornado Warning	DDC	Hodgeman, Ness	19 min
Nov 16, 8:12 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DDC	Ellis, Trego	36 min
Nov 16, 8:56 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DDC	Clark, Ford, Gray, Hodgeman, Meade	34 min
Nov 16, 9:24 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DDC	Clark, Ford, Hodgeman	34 min
Nov 16, 9:50 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DDC	Edwards, Ford, Hodgeman, Ness, Pawnee, Rush	42 min
Nov 16, 9:55 PM CST	Tornado Warning	DDC	Barber, Comanche	50 min
Nov 16, 10:10 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DDC	Clark, Comanche	65 min
Nov 16, 10:22 PM CST	Special Weather Statement	DDC	Ellis, Pawnee, Rush	68 min
Nov 16, 10:31 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DDC	Ellis, Rush	28 min
Nov 16, 10:33 PM CST	Tornado Warning	DDC	Barber, Comanche, Kiowa, Pratt	42 min
Nov 16, 10:49 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DDC	Clark, Comanche, Kiowa	56 min
Nov 16, 11:19 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DDC	Barber, Comanche, Kiowa, Pratt	41 min
Nov 16, 11:48 PM CST	Special Weather Statement	DDC	Barber, Pratt	42 min
Nov 17, 3:42 AM CST	Winter Weather Advisory	DDC	Grant, Hamilton, Kearny, Lane, Morton, Scott and 2 more	20 hr
Nov 17, 11:21 AM CST	High Wind Warning	DDC	Finney, Hamilton, Kearny, Scott	5 hr

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Kansas, 2015 Every tornado warning in 2015 Tornadoes in 2015

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.