Alert archive / Kansas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2017

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 61, NWS Hastings, NE

May 16, 2017Smith County, Kansas

NWS Hastings, NE issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 16, 2017, 5:54 PM CDT for Smith County, Kansas. It was in force for 51 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: May 16, 2017, 5:54 PM CDT (22:54 UTC)
Expired: May 16, 2017, 6:45 PM CDT
In force: 51 min
Issued by: NWS Hastings, NE
Area: Storm-based polygon
Hail: 1.0 in
Wind: 70.0 mph

County Smith County, KS

The radar

The Grand Island radar (KUEX), 67 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:57 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
May 16, 6:04 PM CDT	TSTM WND GST 54	1 Ssw Smith Center, KS	MEASURED AT AIRPORT.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this severe thunderstorm warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
May 16, 4:57 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

N. Platte/Lee Bi, NE (KLBF), launched 12:00Z, 10.9 hours before the alert went out and 205 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: 89 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -399 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 991 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 56 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 204 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 254 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

548 
WUUS53 KGID 162254
SVRGID
KSC183-162345-
/O.NEW.KGID.SV.W.0061.170516T2254Z-170516T2345Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Hastings NE
554 PM CDT TUE MAY 16 2017

The National Weather Service in Hastings has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  Smith County in north central Kansas...

* Until 645 PM CDT

* At 554 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
  extending from near Kensington to Harlan, moving northeast at 45
  mph.

  HAZARD...70 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail. 

  SOURCE...Radar indicated. 

  IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect considerable 
           tree damage. Wind damage is also likely to mobile homes, 
           roofs, and outbuildings. 

* Locations impacted include...
  Smith Center, Kensington, Gaylord, Athol, Harlan, Cedar and
  Bellaire.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

&&

LAT...LON 4000 9907 4000 9857 3957 9868 3957 9907
TIME...MOT...LOC 2254Z 205DEG 38KT 3980 9907 3960 9877 

HAIL...1.00IN
WIND...70MPH
 
$$

Heinlein

1 follow-up statement

721 
WWUS53 KGID 162336
SVSGID

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Hastings NE
636 PM CDT TUE MAY 16 2017

KSC183-162346-
/O.EXP.KGID.SV.W.0061.000000T0000Z-170516T2345Z/
Smith KS-
636 PM CDT TUE MAY 16 2017

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR SMITH COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT
645 PM CDT...
    
The storms which prompted the warning have moved out of the area.
Therefore the warning will be allowed to expire.  However gusty winds
are still possible with these thunderstorms.

A severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect until midnight CDT for
north central Kansas.

LAT...LON 4000 9907 4000 9857 3957 9868 3957 9907
TIME...MOT...LOC 2336Z 205DEG 38KT 4019 9884 3999 9853 

$$

Heinlein

What forecasters said that day

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

NWS Hastings, NE wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at May 16, 5:18 PM CDT, 36 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 16, 5:18 PM CDT, 36 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Hastings NE
518 PM CDT Tue May 16 2017

.UPDATE...
Issued at 506 PM CDT Tue May 16 2017

Thunderstorms are continuing to develop and intensify across the
local area this afternoon. After coordination with surrounding
offices and the storm prediction center, a severe thunderstorm
watch is now in effect for much of the area through midnight.

&&

.SHORT TERM...(This evening through Wednesday)
Issued at 339 PM CDT Tue May 16 2017

The ingredients are in place for an active evening and
potentially overnight period across the local area today with
multiple rounds of convection possible.

With clear skies this morning and through the early afternoon
hours...instability was able to build and the CIN has mostly
eroded over the past couple of hours...which means only weak
forcing will likely be needed to get some explosive convection
initiated this evening...and with a surface trough tracking
across the western fringes of the local area this afternoon and
an upper level disturbance emerging out of the southwest
overnight...forcing should be no problem. In addition...with good
shear and instability values already present in the atmosphere...
expect the potential for organized convection with a few
supercells across the local area...capable of producing large hail
and strong thunderstorm wind gusts. Can also not rule out an
isolated tornado or two through the early evening hours as 0-6 KM
shear values upwards of 50KTs are forecast through around 06Z.

After the initial round of convection propagates northeastward
across the local area this evening...expect an additional round of
thunderstorms to potentially roll in from the west as convection
across the high plains gets enhanced by the approaching shortwave
out of the southwest. This should keep the radar active through
the early morning hours Wednesday...although the greatest
potential for significant severe thunderstorms appears to be over
the remainder of the afternoon hours through this evening.

As the surface and upper level low track across the heart of the
local area tomorrow...expect a mostly cloudy day with additional
chances for some showers and thunderstorms...although the severe
potential looks fairly low at this time.

.LONG TERM...(Wednesday night through Tuesday)
Issued at 339 PM CDT Tue May 16 2017

Expect multiple chances for showers and thunderstorms across the
local area through the extended periods as an upper level low
meanders across the intermountain west sending multiple impulses
across the local area from time to time. With relatively cooler
air in place across the region...expect instability and severe
thunderstorm chances to be somewhat limited with temperatures
hovering near to just below seasonal norms each day.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 18Z KGRI/KEAR TAFS through 18Z Wednesday)
Issued at 1230 PM CDT Tue May 16 2017

Plenty of uncertainty in the afternoon TAFs today. Expect showers
and thunderstorms to develop over the next couple of hours ahead
of an upper level wave across northeastern New Mexico. As these
storms propagate northeastward...expect mid level clouds to
increase with SHRA's and TSRA's overspreading much of the local
area by around 17/00Z. Winds ahead of this wave will generally be
out of the southwest...with multiple rounds of thunderstorms then
becoming possible during the evening and overnight hours. For the
time being...kept prevailing VFR conditions with a CB and a mention
of a VCTS through much of the time period...with chances tapering
off during the morning hours Wednesday. That said...expect MVFR
or lower CIGS/VSBYS...along with very gusty winds...with any
TSRAs that impact either terminal.

&&

.GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NE...None.
KS...None.
&&

UPDATE...Rossi
SHORT TERM...Rossi
LONG TERM...Rossi
AVIATION...Rossi

Hazardous weather outlook, May 16, 3:22 PM CDT, 2 hours 32 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Hastings NE
322 PM CDT Tue May 16 2017

KSZ005>007-017>019-NEZ039>041-046>049-060>064-072>077-082>087-
172030-
Phillips-Smith-Jewell-Rooks-Osborne-Mitchell-Valley-Greeley-Nance-
Sherman-Howard-Merrick-Polk-Dawson-Buffalo-Hall-Hamilton-York-
Gosper-Phelps-Kearney-Adams-Clay-Fillmore-Furnas-Harlan-Franklin-
Webster-Nuckolls-Thayer-
322 PM CDT Tue May 16 2017

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for south central Nebraska and
portions of north central Kansas.

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight.

Severe thunderstorms are possible across the entire forecast area
this afternoon through tonight. At this time, the best chances
look to come after 6 PM, with the primary hazards being hail up
to 2 inches in diameter and wind gusts near 70 MPH. In addition...
localized heavy rain and flooding, as well as an isolated
tornado, cannot be ruled out.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday.

Thunderstorm chances linger across the outlook area through
Wednesday, then intermittent thunderstorms are possible Thursday
through Friday night. Severe thunderstorms are not expected at
this time.

Another chance for thunderstorms returns next Monday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will likely be needed late this afternoon
through tonight.

&&

More information may be obtained at the following web page:
   https://www.weather.gov/hastings

Rossi

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 16, 5:35 PM CDT, 19 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Hastings NE
535 PM CDT TUE MAY 16 2017

KSZ005-006-017-162315-
Rooks KS-Phillips KS-Smith KS-
535 PM CDT TUE MAY 16 2017

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN ROOKS...SMITH AND
PHILLIPS COUNTIES UNTIL 615 PM CDT...

At 535 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Smith Center to 8 miles south of Edmond.
Movement was north at 30 mph.

Penny size hail and wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with
these storms.

Locations impacted include...
Phillipsburg, Smith Center, Logan, Kensington, Agra, Kirwin, Long
Island, Prairie View, Gaylord, Glade, Athol, Speed, Harlan, Cedar,
Woodruff and Bellaire.

A severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect until midnight CDT for
north central Kansas.

LAT...LON 3957 9960 3957 9963 4000 9962 4000 9854
      3961 9868 3957 9887 3957 9904 3952 9905
      3939 9960
TIME...MOT...LOC 2235Z 193DEG 28KT 3973 9879 3952 9987

Heinlein

Local storm report, May 16, 5:45 PM CDT, 9 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
545 PM CDT TUE MAY 16 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0528 PM     TSTM WND GST     4 SSW STOCKTON          39.38N 99.29W
05/16/2017  M54 MPH          ROOKS              KS   PUBLIC

            MEASURED AT STOCKTON AIRPORT.

&&

KELLEY

Local storm report, May 16, 5:50 PM CDT, 4 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
550 PM CDT TUE MAY 16 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0528 PM     TSTM WND GST     4 SSW STOCKTON          39.38N 99.29W
05/16/2017  M54 MPH          ROOKS              KS   AWOS

            MEASURED AT STOCKTON AIRPORT. CORRECTED
            SOURCE.

&&

KELLEY

Local storm report, May 16, 5:51 PM CDT, 3 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
551 PM CDT TUE MAY 16 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0504 PM     HAIL             1 S ALTON               39.46N 98.95W
05/16/2017  E0.88 INCH       OSBORNE            KS   LAW ENFORCEMENT

&&

Local storm report, May 16, 5:53 PM CDT, 1 minute before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
553 PM CDT TUE MAY 16 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0539 PM     HAIL             BURR OAK                39.87N 98.31W
05/16/2017  M1.00 INCH       JEWELL             KS   CO-OP OBSERVER

&&

Local storm report, May 16, 5:54 PM CDT, 0 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
554 PM CDT TUE MAY 16 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0538 PM     TSTM WND GST     1 W LOGAN               39.66N 99.58W
05/16/2017  M71 MPH          PHILLIPS           KS   MESONET

            PKWND 75 MPH 543 PM.

&&

KELLEY

The office that day

Everything else NWS Hastings, NE issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 15, 7:30 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	GID	Phillips	45 min
May 15, 7:54 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GID	Phillips	22 min
May 15, 9:09 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GID	Phillips, Smith	51 min
May 15, 9:23 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	GID	Phillips	52 min
May 15, 9:57 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	GID	Smith	48 min
May 16, 2:21 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	GID	Mitchell	39 min
May 16, 3:38 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GID	Jewell, Smith	37 min
May 16, 3:57 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	GID	Jewell	33 min
May 16, 4:11 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GID	Jewell	33 min
May 16, 4:14 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	GID	Jewell	46 min
May 16, 4:37 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	GID	Osborne, Rooks	38 min
May 16, 4:43 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GID	Osborne, Rooks	47 min
May 16, 4:52 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GID	Jewell, Osborne, Smith	38 min
May 16, 5:10 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GID	Jewell	50 min
May 16, 5:28 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GID	Jewell, Smith	47 min
May 16, 5:35 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	GID	Phillips, Smith	40 min
May 16, 5:50 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GID	Phillips	40 min
May 16, 5:58 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GID	Jewell	47 min
May 16, 6:58 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	GID	Mitchell	47 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Kansas, 2017 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2017

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.