Alert archive / Kansas / Tornado Warnings in 2015

Tornado Warning 12, NWS Wichita, KS

April 24, 2015Russell County, Kansas

NWS Wichita, KS issued this tornado warning at Apr 24, 2015, 5:38 PM CDT for Russell County, Kansas. It was in force for 67 min. 8 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
Apr 24, 2015, 5:38 PM CDT (22:38 UTC)
Expired
Apr 24, 2015, 6:45 PM CDT
In force
67 min
Issued by
NWS Wichita, KS
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
2.5 in

County Russell County, KS

The radar

The Grand Island radar (KUEX), 147 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:41 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
Apr 24, 5:40 PM CDTHAIL 1.757 N Russell, KS
Apr 24, 5:40 PM CDTHAIL 2.58 N Russell, KS
Apr 24, 5:46 PM CDTTSTM WND GST 805 N Russell, KS
Apr 24, 6:00 PM CDTHAIL 0.88Nw Waldo, KSDIME SIZE HAIL COVERING THE GROUND.
Apr 24, 6:18 PM CDTHAIL 0.88Lucas, KS
Apr 24, 6:34 PM CDTHAIL 1.5Lucas, KS
Apr 24, 6:40 PM CDTHAIL 1.5Lucas, KSEMERGENCY MANAGER REPORTS THAT VIRTUALLY EVERY CAR AND ROOF SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT HAIL DAMAGE IN THE TOWN OF LUCAS. ALL SKYLIGHTS IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL WERE BROKE OUT.
Apr 24, 6:40 PM CDTHAIL 2.5Lucas, KS

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
Apr 24, 3:41 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Dodge City, (KDDC), launched 12:00Z, 10.6 hours before the alert went out and 173 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 12:00Z on 2015-04-24Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 411 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 12:00Z on 2015-04-24The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 181 square meters per square second.1939587897117136Sfc1 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
411 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-169 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
608 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
50 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
181 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
154 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.1
Supercell composite
1.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

249 
WFUS53 KICT 242238
TORICT
KSC167-242345-
/O.NEW.KICT.TO.W.0012.150424T2238Z-150424T2345Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
538 PM CDT FRI APR 24 2015

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHERN RUSSELL COUNTY IN CENTRAL KANSAS...

* UNTIL 645 PM CDT
    
* AT 538 PM CDT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A
  TORNADO WAS LOCATED 9 MILES NORTH OF RUSSELL...MOVING EAST AT 25
  MPH.

  HAZARD...TORNADO AND TENNIS BALL 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 DANGEROUS STORM WILL BE NEAR...
  LURAY AROUND 600 PM CDT.
  LUCAS AROUND 615 PM CDT.

OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM INCLUDE WILSON
STATE PARK...PARADISE...WALDO AND WILSON LAKE.

# 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS STORM HAS A HISTORY OF PRODUCING TORNADOES. TAKE COVER IN A
BASEMENT OR STORM SHELTER NOW!

&&

LAT...LON 3913 9897 3913 9849 3891 9848 3886 9849
      3892 9889
TIME...MOT...LOC 2238Z 274DEG 23KT 3902 9887 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...2.50IN

$$

MCGUIRE
3 follow-up statements
176 
WWUS53 KICT 242250
SVSICT

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
550 PM CDT FRI APR 24 2015

KSC167-242345-
/O.CON.KICT.TO.W.0012.000000T0000Z-150424T2345Z/
RUSSELL KS-
550 PM CDT FRI APR 24 2015

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 645 PM CDT FOR NORTHERN
RUSSELL COUNTY...
    
AT 549 PM CDT...A CONFIRMED TORNADO WAS LOCATED 6 MILES SOUTH OF
LURAY...OR 11 MILES NORTHEAST OF RUSSELL...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.

HAZARD...DAMAGING TORNADO...TWO INCH HAIL AND 70 TO 80 MPH WINDS. 

SOURCE...WEATHER SPOTTERS 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. 

THIS TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  LUCAS AROUND 605 PM CDT.

OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM INCLUDE WILSON
STATE PARK...PARADISE...WALDO AND WILSON LAKE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TO REPEAT...A TORNADO IS ON THE GROUND! TAKE COVER NOW! MOVE TO A 
BASEMENT OR AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A STURDY 
BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS...IN A MOBILE HOME...OR 
IN A VEHICLE...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT 
YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

MOTORISTS SHOULD NOT TAKE SHELTER UNDER HIGHWAY OVERPASSES. IF YOU
CANNOT SAFELY DRIVE AWAY FROM THE TORNADO...AS A LAST RESORT...EITHER
PARK YOUR VEHICLE AND STAY PUT...OR ABANDON YOUR VEHICLE AND LIE DOWN
IN A LOW LYING AREA AND PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

IF A TORNADO OR OTHER SEVERE WEATHER IS SPOTTED...REPORT IT TO THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OR YOUR LOCAL NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY
WHO WILL SEND YOUR REPORT. THIS ACT MAY SAVE LIVES OF OTHERS IN THE
PATH OF DANGEROUS WEATHER.

&&

LAT...LON 3913 9897 3913 9849 3891 9848 3886 9849
      3892 9889
TIME...MOT...LOC 2249Z 271DEG 30KT 3903 9873 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
HAIL...2.00IN

$$

ES
622 
WWUS53 KICT 242300
SVSICT

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
600 PM CDT FRI APR 24 2015

KSC167-242345-
/O.CON.KICT.TO.W.0012.000000T0000Z-150424T2345Z/
RUSSELL KS-
600 PM CDT FRI APR 24 2015

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 645 PM CDT FOR NORTHERN
RUSSELL COUNTY...
    
AT 558 PM CDT...A CONFIRMED TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR LURAY...OR 13
MILES NORTHEAST OF RUSSELL...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH.

HAZARD...DAMAGING TORNADO...TENNIS BALL SIZED HAIL AND 80 MPH WINDS.

SOURCE...WEATHER SPOTTERS 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. 

THIS TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  LUCAS AROUND 625 PM CDT.

OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM INCLUDE WILSON
STATE PARK...PARADISE...WALDO AND WILSON LAKE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TO REPEAT...A TORNADO IS ON THE GROUND! TAKE COVER NOW! MOVE TO A 
BASEMENT OR AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A STURDY 
BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS...IN A MOBILE HOME...OR 
IN A VEHICLE...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT 
YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

MOTORISTS SHOULD NOT TAKE SHELTER UNDER HIGHWAY OVERPASSES. IF YOU
CANNOT SAFELY DRIVE AWAY FROM THE TORNADO...AS A LAST RESORT...EITHER
PARK YOUR VEHICLE AND STAY PUT...OR ABANDON YOUR VEHICLE AND LIE DOWN
IN A LOW LYING AREA AND PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

IF A TORNADO OR OTHER SEVERE WEATHER IS SPOTTED...REPORT IT TO THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OR YOUR LOCAL NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY
WHO WILL SEND YOUR REPORT. THIS ACT MAY SAVE LIVES OF OTHERS IN THE
PATH OF DANGEROUS WEATHER.

&&

LAT...LON 3913 9897 3913 9849 3891 9848 3886 9849
      3892 9889
TIME...MOT...LOC 2258Z 271DEG 17KT 3905 9871 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
HAIL...2.50IN

$$

ES
883 
WWUS53 KICT 242320
SVSICT

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
620 PM CDT FRI APR 24 2015

KSC167-242345-
/O.CON.KICT.TO.W.0012.000000T0000Z-150424T2345Z/
RUSSELL KS-
620 PM CDT FRI APR 24 2015

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 645 PM CDT FOR NORTHERN
RUSSELL COUNTY...
    
AT 618 PM CDT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO
WAS LOCATED NEAR LUCAS...OR 19 MILES NORTH OF WILSON...MOVING EAST AT
20 MPH.

HAZARD...TORNADO AND PING PONG BALL SIZED 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
NORTHERN RUSSELL COUNTY...INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...WILSON
STATE PARK...PARADISE...WALDO AND WILSON LAKE.

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 YOU ARE OUTDOORS...IN A
MOBILE HOME...OR IN A VEHICLE...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL
SHELTER AND PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

MOTORISTS SHOULD NOT TAKE SHELTER UNDER HIGHWAY OVERPASSES. IF YOU
CANNOT SAFELY DRIVE AWAY FROM THE TORNADO...AS A LAST RESORT...EITHER
PARK YOUR VEHICLE AND STAY PUT...OR ABANDON YOUR VEHICLE AND LIE DOWN
IN A LOW LYING AREA AND PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

IF A TORNADO OR OTHER SEVERE WEATHER IS SPOTTED...REPORT IT TO THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OR YOUR LOCAL NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY
WHO WILL SEND YOUR REPORT. THIS ACT MAY SAVE LIVES OF OTHERS IN THE
PATH OF DANGEROUS WEATHER.

&&

LAT...LON 3913 9897 3913 9849 3891 9848 3886 9849
      3892 9889
TIME...MOT...LOC 2318Z 255DEG 21KT 3909 9859 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...1.50IN

$$

ES

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 24, 3:52 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementICTRussell38 min
Apr 24, 5:03 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedICTRussell57 min
Apr 24, 6:25 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTLincoln65 min
Apr 24, 6:36 PM CDTTornado WarningICTLincoln54 min
Apr 24, 6:42 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTRussell33 min
Apr 24, 6:58 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementICTBarton32 min

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.