Alert archive / Kansas / Tornado Warnings in 2015

Tornado Warning 62, NWS Dodge City, KS

November 16, 20154 counties in Kansas

NWS Dodge City, KS issued this tornado warning at Nov 16, 2015, 7:15 PM CST for 4 counties in Kansas. It was in force for 45 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
Nov 16, 2015, 7:15 PM CST (01:15 UTC)
Expired
Nov 16, 2015, 8:00 PM CST
In force
45 min
Issued by
NWS Dodge City, KS
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Damage threat
Considerable
Hail
1.25 in

Counties Finney County, KS, Ford County, KS, Gray County, KS, Hodgeman County, KS

The radar

The Dodge City radar (KDDC), 22 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:15 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
Nov 16, 7:39 PM CSTTORNADO11 Ese Kalvesta, KSLAW ENFORCEMENT AND A FIRE UNIT REPORTED TWO BRIEF ROPE TORNADOES.

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.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Nov 16, 1:00 PM CSTTornado WatchSPC8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Dodge City, (KDDC), launched 00:00Z, 1.3 hours before the alert went out and 27 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, Dodge City, at 00:00Z on 2015-11-17Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 994 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Dodge City, at 00:00Z on 2015-11-17The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 351 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
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.

385 
WFUS53 KDDC 170115
TORDDC
KSC055-057-069-083-170200-
/O.NEW.KDDC.TO.W.0062.151117T0115Z-151117T0200Z/

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DODGE CITY HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  EASTERN FINNEY COUNTY IN SOUTHWESTERN KANSAS...
  NORTHEASTERN GRAY COUNTY IN SOUTHWESTERN KANSAS...
  NORTHWESTERN FORD COUNTY IN SOUTHWESTERN KANSAS...
  SOUTHWESTERN HODGEMAN COUNTY IN SOUTHWESTERN KANSAS...

* UNTIL 800 PM CST
    
* AT 714 PM CST...A LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO WAS LOCATED
  VERY NEAR HOWELL...MOVING NORTH AT 35 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...
  KALVESTA AROUND 740 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.

TORNADOES ARE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SEE AND CONFIRM AT NIGHT. DO NOT
WAIT TO SEE OR HEAR THE TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW.

&&

LAT...LON 3772 10013 3772 10035 3815 10031 3810 9994
TIME...MOT...LOC 0114Z 187DEG 31KT 3780 10020 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
TORNADO DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
HAIL...1.25IN

$$

GERARD
2 follow-up statements
229 
WWUS53 KDDC 170137
SVSDDC

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

KSC055-057-069-170146-
/O.CAN.KDDC.TO.W.0062.000000T0000Z-151117T0200Z/
FINNEY KS-GRAY KS-FORD KS-

737 PM CST MON NOV 16 2015

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EASTERN FINNEY...NORTHEASTERN GRAY AND
NORTHWESTERN FORD COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...
    
THE TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED OUT
OF THE WARNED AREA. THEREFORE THE WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM CST FOR SOUTHWESTERN
KANSAS.

LAT...LON 3813 10018 3810 9994 3791 10004 3791 10022
TIME...MOT...LOC 0136Z 202DEG 33KT 3800 10003 

$$

KSC083-170200-
/O.CON.KDDC.TO.W.0062.000000T0000Z-151117T0200Z/
HODGEMAN KS-
737 PM CST MON NOV 16 2015

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CST FOR
SOUTHWESTERN HODGEMAN COUNTY...
    
AT 736 PM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO
WAS LOCATED 9 MILES SOUTHWEST OF JETMORE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40
MPH.

HAZARD...TORNADO AND QUARTER SIZE HAIL. 

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. 

THIS TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM WILL REMAIN OVER MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF
SOUTHWESTERN HODGEMAN COUNTY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

TORNADOES ARE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SEE AND CONFIRM AT NIGHT. DO NOT
WAIT TO SEE OR HEAR THE TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW.

&&

LAT...LON 3813 10018 3810 9994 3791 10004 3791 10022
TIME...MOT...LOC 0136Z 202DEG 33KT 3800 10003 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...1.00IN

$$

GERARD
049 
WWUS53 KDDC 170144
SVSDDC

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

KSC083-170200-
/O.CON.KDDC.TO.W.0062.000000T0000Z-151117T0200Z/
HODGEMAN KS-
744 PM CST MON NOV 16 2015

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CST FOR
SOUTHWESTERN HODGEMAN COUNTY...
    
AT 744 PM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO
WAS LOCATED 6 MILES SOUTHWEST OF JETMORE...MOVING NORTH AT 30 MPH.

HAZARD...TORNADO AND QUARTER SIZE HAIL. 

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. 

THIS TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM WILL REMAIN OVER MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF
SOUTHWESTERN HODGEMAN COUNTY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

TORNADOES ARE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SEE AND CONFIRM AT NIGHT. DO NOT
WAIT TO SEE OR HEAR THE TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW.

&&

LAT...LON 3812 10016 3810 9994 3794 10002 3795 10016
TIME...MOT...LOC 0144Z 196DEG 25KT 3803 9999 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...1.00IN

$$

GERARD

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Nov 16, 6:05 PM CSTTornado Warning Considerable damage threatDDCGray, Meade, Seward40 min
Nov 16, 6:15 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDDCHamilton, Kearny, Stanton60 min
Nov 16, 6:17 PM CSTTornado Warning Considerable damage threatDDCNess, Trego43 min
Nov 16, 6:42 PM CSTTornado Warning Tornado observedConsiderable damage threatDDCFord, Gray33 min
Nov 16, 6:42 PM CSTTornado WarningDDCEllis, Ness, Trego48 min
Nov 16, 6:56 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDDCFinney, Grant, Hamilton, Kearny, Lane, Scott64 min
Nov 16, 7:03 PM CSTTornado WarningDDCScott27 min
Nov 16, 7:19 PM CSTTornado WarningDDCEllis, Trego26 min
Nov 16, 7:33 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDDCFinney, Grant, Haskell, Kearny, Meade, Seward and 2 more57 min
Nov 16, 7:54 PM CSTTornado WarningDDCHodgeman, Ness19 min
Nov 16, 8:12 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDDCEllis, Trego36 min
Nov 16, 8:56 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDDCClark, Ford, Gray, Hodgeman, Meade34 min
Nov 16, 9:24 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDDCClark, Ford, Hodgeman34 min
Nov 16, 9:50 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDDCEdwards, Ford, Hodgeman, Ness, Pawnee, Rush42 min
Nov 16, 9:55 PM CSTTornado WarningDDCBarber, Comanche50 min
Nov 16, 10:10 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDDCClark, Comanche65 min
Nov 16, 10:22 PM CSTSpecial Weather StatementDDCEllis, Pawnee, Rush68 min
Nov 16, 10:31 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDDCEllis, Rush28 min
Nov 16, 10:33 PM CSTTornado WarningDDCBarber, Comanche, Kiowa, Pratt42 min
Nov 16, 10:49 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDDCClark, Comanche, Kiowa56 min
Nov 16, 11:19 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDDCBarber, Comanche, Kiowa, Pratt41 min
Nov 16, 11:48 PM CSTSpecial Weather StatementDDCBarber, Pratt42 min
Nov 17, 3:42 AM CSTWinter Weather AdvisoryDDCGrant, Hamilton, Kearny, Lane, Morton, Scott and 2 more20 hr
Nov 17, 11:21 AM CSTHigh Wind WarningDDCFinney, Hamilton, Kearny, Scott5 hr

Nearby

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