Alert archive / Kansas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2017

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 116, NWS Wichita, KS

May 31, 20174 counties in Kansas

NWS Wichita, KS issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 31, 2017, 2:55 PM CDT for 4 counties in Kansas. It was in force for 37 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: May 31, 2017, 2:55 PM CDT (19:55 UTC)
Expired: May 31, 2017, 3:32 PM CDT
In force: 37 min
Issued by: NWS Wichita, KS
Area: Storm-based polygon
Hail: 1.5 in
Wind: 60.0 mph

Counties Butler County, KS, Harvey County, KS, Marion County, KS, Sedgwick County, KS

The radar

The Wichita radar (KICT), 49 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:58 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.

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 31, 2:10 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Topeka, KS (KFOE), launched 12:00Z, 7.9 hours before the alert went out and 168 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: 30 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -236 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1764 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 32 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 50 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 134 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

973 
WUUS53 KICT 311955
SVRICT
KSC015-079-115-173-312100-
/O.NEW.KICT.SV.W.0116.170531T1955Z-170531T2100Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service WICHITA KS
255 PM CDT WED MAY 31 2017

The National Weather Service in WICHITA has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  Northeastern Sedgwick County in south central Kansas...
  Southeastern Harvey County in south central Kansas...
  Northwestern Butler County in south central Kansas...
  Southeastern Marion County in central Kansas...

* Until 400 PM CDT

* At 254 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Whitewater,
  moving northeast at 15 mph.

  HAZARD...Ping pong ball size hail and 60 mph wind gusts. 

  SOURCE...Radar indicated. 

  IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail 
           damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Expect 
           wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees. 

* Locations impacted include...
  Whitewater, Potwin, Elbing and Burns. 

This includes Interstate 135 near Mile Marker 26.
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3782 9718 3797 9734 3809 9716 3809 9707
      3820 9685 3798 9684
TIME...MOT...LOC 1954Z 236DEG 12KT 3797 9719 

HAIL...1.50IN
WIND...60MPH
 
$$

COOK

3 follow-up statements

764 
WWUS53 KICT 312007
SVSICT

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wichita KS
307 PM CDT WED MAY 31 2017

KSC015-079-115-173-312100-
/O.CON.KICT.SV.W.0116.000000T0000Z-170531T2100Z/
Sedgwick KS-Harvey KS-Butler KS-Marion KS-
307 PM CDT WED MAY 31 2017

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM CDT
FOR NORTHEASTERN SEDGWICK...SOUTHEASTERN HARVEY...NORTHWESTERN BUTLER
AND SOUTHEASTERN MARION COUNTIES...

At 306 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Whitewater,
moving east at 10 mph.

HAZARD...Ping pong ball size hail and 60 mph wind gusts. 

SOURCE...Radar indicated. 

IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail 
         damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Expect wind 
         damage to roofs, siding, and trees. 

Locations impacted include...
Whitewater, Potwin, Elbing and Burns. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 3782 9718 3797 9734 3809 9716 3809 9707
      3820 9685 3798 9684
TIME...MOT...LOC 2006Z 271DEG 10KT 3795 9715 

HAIL...1.50IN
WIND...60MPH
 
$$

DARMOFAL

016 
WWUS53 KICT 312025
SVSICT

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wichita KS
325 PM CDT WED MAY 31 2017

KSC115-312034-
/O.CAN.KICT.SV.W.0116.000000T0000Z-170531T2100Z/
Marion KS-
325 PM CDT WED MAY 31 2017

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN MARION COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...
    
The severe thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out of 
the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

A severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect until 800 PM CDT for
south central Kansas.

LAT...LON 3782 9718 3796 9730 3806 9715 3807 9706
      3808 9684 3798 9684
TIME...MOT...LOC 2024Z 275DEG 13KT 3793 9708 

$$

KSC015-079-173-312100-
/O.CON.KICT.SV.W.0116.000000T0000Z-170531T2100Z/
Sedgwick KS-Harvey KS-Butler KS-
325 PM CDT WED MAY 31 2017

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM CDT
FOR NORTHEASTERN SEDGWICK...SOUTHEASTERN HARVEY AND NORTHWESTERN
BUTLER COUNTIES...

At 324 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 5 miles west of 
Potwin, or near Whitewater, moving east at 15 mph.

HAZARD...Ping pong ball size hail and 60 mph wind gusts. 

SOURCE...Radar indicated. 

IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail 
         damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Expect wind 
         damage to roofs, siding, and trees. 

Locations impacted include...
Whitewater, Potwin and Elbing. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 3782 9718 3796 9730 3806 9715 3807 9706
      3808 9684 3798 9684
TIME...MOT...LOC 2024Z 275DEG 13KT 3793 9708 

HAIL...1.50IN
WIND...60MPH
 
$$

DARMOFAL

167 
WWUS53 KICT 312032
SVSICT

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wichita KS
332 PM CDT WED MAY 31 2017

KSC015-079-173-312042-
/O.CAN.KICT.SV.W.0116.000000T0000Z-170531T2100Z/
Sedgwick KS-Harvey KS-Butler KS-
332 PM CDT WED MAY 31 2017

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN SEDGWICK...
SOUTHEASTERN HARVEY AND NORTHWESTERN BUTLER COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...
                
The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and no longer poses an immediate threat to life or property.
Therefore the warning has been cancelled.  However small hail, gusty
winds and heavy rain are still possible with this thunderstorm.

A severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect until 800 PM CDT for
south central Kansas.

LAT...LON 3782 9718 3796 9730 3806 9715 3807 9706
      3808 9684 3798 9684
TIME...MOT...LOC 2031Z 236DEG 12KT 3795 9705 

$$

DARMOFAL

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 Wichita, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at May 31, 2:44 PM CDT, 11 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 31, 2:44 PM CDT, 11 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Wichita KS
244 PM CDT Wed May 31 2017

.SHORT TERM...(This evening through Saturday night)
Issued at 243 PM CDT Wed May 31 2017

Forecast highlights focus around thunderstorm chances throughout
the next 7 days.

Convectively reinforced frontal zone currently extends from
central into east-central and southeast Kansas. Moderate
instability along with modest deep layer shear is promoting
scattered strong to severe storms in the vicinity of the boundary.
Main threats will be hail up to golfballs and winds up to 60-70
mph, along with locally heavy rain. Tornado threat is low,
although cannot rule out a brief funnel or touchdown for any storm
that can remain anchored along the frontal boundary. Thinking
activity will continue to fester through the evening as the low-
level jet ramps up, with a continued threat of marginally severe
hail and damaging winds, along with locally heavy rain. Better
storm chances should gradually shift north and east overnight as
the frontal zone shifts north.

Cannot rule out a few lingering showers/storms Thursday morning
over eastern KS. Otherwise, thinking thunderstorm chances will be
low to zero Thursday afternoon and night, as the frontal zone
shifts north of the region.

Shower and thunderstorm chances should gradually increase from
the west/southwest Friday afternoon, and persist off-and-on Friday
night through Saturday night, as a pair of weak mid/upper troughs
approach from the west and southwest. Given weak flow aloft, not
looking at widespread organized severe weather, although modest
instability may promote a few isolated strong to marginally severe
storms Friday afternoon through Saturday evening, with the main
threats 50-60 mph winds and locally heavy rain.

.LONG TERM...(Sunday through Wednesday)
Issued at 243 PM CDT Wed May 31 2017

Due to short-term severe weather concerns, did not spend much
time on the forecast from Sunday and beyond. Model consensus
suggests a cool down by Monday as a cool front attempts to back
door from the northeast, and a longwave trough carves out across
the eastern CONUS. Other than the potential for a few storms
Sunday night- Monday, it appears the best storm chances through at
least mid-week will remain over western KS, with tranquil high
pressure dominating weather across the eastern half of KS.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Thursday afternoon)
Issued at 1242 PM CDT Wed May 31 2017

Convection is expected to develop along and south of a surface
front which has sagged across central Kansas at midday. Scattered
to numerous showers and storms are expected by late afternoon and
should continue into the evening. A complex of storms is possible
overnight somewhere across central and eastern Kansas. For now
have VCTS in most terminals for the window of greatest opportunity
and will AMD with TEMPO as needed. Outside of convection, some
MVFR cigs will be possible early Thursday morning along and east
of I-135, though for now have kept forecast mainly VFR.

KED

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Wichita-KICT    64  87  66  84 /  50  10  10  30
Hutchinson      63  87  65  84 /  50  10  10  30
Newton          63  85  65  83 /  50  10  10  30
ElDorado        64  85  65  83 /  50  10  10  20
Winfield-KWLD   65  87  66  84 /  30  10  10  30
Russell         62  88  64  86 /  40  10  10  30
Great Bend      62  87  64  84 /  40  10  10  30
Salina          64  88  66  86 /  40  10  10  30
McPherson       63  87  65  84 /  50  10  10  30
Coffeyville     63  86  65  84 /  40  20   0  20
Chanute         63  85  64  84 /  50  20   0  20
Iola            63  84  64  84 /  50  30   0  20
Parsons-KPPF    64  86  65  84 /  50  20   0  20

&&

.ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...None.

&&

SHORT TERM...ADK
LONG TERM...ADK
AVIATION...KED

Hazardous weather outlook, May 31, 1:47 PM CDT, 1 hour 8 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Wichita KS
147 PM CDT Wed May 31 2017

KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-011900-
Russell-Lincoln-Barton-Ellsworth-Saline-Rice-McPherson-Marion-Chase-
Reno-Harvey-Butler-Greenwood-Woodson-Allen-Kingman-Sedgwick-Harper-
Sumner-Cowley-Elk-Wilson-Neosho-Chautauqua-Montgomery-Labette-
147 PM CDT Wed May 31 2017

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of Central Kansas,
South Central Kansas and Southeast Kansas.

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight

Strong to severe thunderstorms are expected this afternoon into the
early evening across parts of central, south central and southeast
Kansas. The greatest risk for large hail to quarter size and 60 mph
winds will exist along and northeast of an Ellsworth to Wichita to
Sedan line. The severe threat may evolve into a damaging wind
threat as the thunderstorms congeal into a complex of storms late
this evening. Heavy rainfall and localized flooding will also
increase late tonight.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday

Periodic shower and thunderstorm chances will prevail across the
region Friday afternoon through the weekend, and into next week.
Highest chances will generally be during the evening and overnight
hours. While organized severe weather appears unlikely, a handful
of strong storms are possible, along with locally heavy rain.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is possible late this afternoon and early
evening, mainly northeast of a line from Ellsworth to Wichita to
Sedan.

&&

For a graphical version of this information, see our webpage at:
http://weather.gov/wichita/hwo/

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 31, 1:29 PM CDT, 1 hour 26 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
129 PM CDT WED MAY 31 2017

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

0126 PM     TSTM WND GST     2 NNW PARSONS           37.36N 95.28W
05/31/2017  E50 MPH          LABETTE            KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

KED

Special weather statement, May 31, 2:00 PM CDT, 55 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service WICHITA KS
200 PM CDT WED MAY 31 2017

KSZ068-311930-
Harvey KS-
200 PM CDT WED MAY 31 2017

The National Weather Service in WICHITA has issued a

* Significant Weather Advisory for...
  Harvey County in south central Kansas...

* Until 230 PM CDT

* At 158 PM CDT...National Weather Service meteorologists were
  tracking a strong thunderstorm over Newton...moving northeast at 15
  mph.

hail up to the size of nickels...and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be
possible with this storm.

* Locations impacted include...
  Newton, Hesston, Halstead, North Newton, Sedgwick, Walton and
  Newton Airport.

LAT...LON 3792 9717 3792 9754 3805 9767 3817 9768
      3817 9716
TIME...MOT...LOC 1900Z 228DEG 13KT 3803 9734

COOK

Local storm report, May 31, 2:04 PM CDT, 51 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
204 PM CDT WED MAY 31 2017

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

0200 PM     HAIL             NEWTON                  38.04N 97.34W
05/31/2017  E1.75 INCH       HARVEY             KS   LAW ENFORCEMENT

&&

KED

Special weather statement, May 31, 2:05 PM CDT, 50 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service WICHITA KS
205 PM CDT WED MAY 31 2017

KSZ052-053-069-311930-
Butler KS-Marion KS-Chase KS-
205 PM CDT WED MAY 31 2017

The National Weather Service in WICHITA has issued a

* Significant Weather Advisory for...
  Northeastern Butler County in south central Kansas...
  Southeastern Marion County in central Kansas...
  Southwestern Chase County in east central Kansas...

* Until 230 PM CDT

* At 203 PM CDT...National Weather Service meteorologists were
  tracking a strong thunderstorm near Burns, or 11 miles southeast of
  Florence...moving east at 15 mph.

hail up to the size of nickels...and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be
possible with this storm.

* Locations impacted include...
  Burns, Cassoday, Matfield Green and Wonsevu.

LAT...LON 3801 9693 3819 9691 3821 9656 3794 9659
TIME...MOT...LOC 1905Z 275DEG 12KT 3810 9683

COOK

Local storm report, May 31, 2:07 PM CDT, 48 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
207 PM CDT WED MAY 31 2017

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

0204 PM     HAIL             NEWTON                  38.04N 97.34W
05/31/2017  E0.88 INCH       HARVEY             KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HAIL FOR 5 TO 10 MINUTES.

&&

KED

Local storm report, May 31, 2:19 PM CDT, 36 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
219 PM CDT WED MAY 31 2017

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

0218 PM     HAIL             5 ENE NEWTON            38.07N 97.26W
05/31/2017  E1.25 INCH       HARVEY             KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

KED

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 30, 7:13 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Wilson	26 min
May 31, 12:32 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	ICT	Neosho	58 min
May 31, 12:48 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Neosho, Wilson	57 min
May 31, 1:14 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	ICT	Chase	31 min
May 31, 1:15 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Labette	45 min
May 31, 2:00 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	ICT	Harvey	30 min
May 31, 2:03 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Harvey	57 min
May 31, 2:05 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	ICT	Chase	25 min
May 31, 2:27 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Butler, Chase, Greenwood	32 min
May 31, 2:33 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	ICT	Butler, Greenwood	13 min
May 31, 2:38 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Marion	23 min
May 31, 3:28 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	ICT	Elk	47 min
May 31, 3:30 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	ICT	Butler	60 min
May 31, 3:54 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Chautauqua, Cowley, Elk	40 min
May 31, 3:56 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	ICT	Reno	49 min
May 31, 4:20 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	ICT	Elk	40 min
May 31, 4:23 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	ICT	Harvey	52 min
May 31, 4:34 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	ICT	Chautauqua	41 min
May 31, 5:01 PM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	ICT	Butler, Harvey, Sedgwick	6 hr
May 31, 5:08 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	ICT	Elk	52 min
May 31, 5:15 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	ICT	Chautauqua, Montgomery	60 min
May 31, 5:42 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Labette, Montgomery	35 min
May 31, 5:56 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	ICT	Labette	49 min
May 31, 6:26 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	ICT	Marion	34 min
May 31, 6:58 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	ICT	Saline	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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.