Alert archive / Kansas / Tornado Warnings in 2017

Tornado Warning 15, NWS Wichita, KS

May 18, 2017Saline County, Kansas

NWS Wichita, KS issued this tornado warning at May 18, 2017, 5:59 PM CDT for Saline County, Kansas. It was in force for 61 min. 5 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
May 18, 2017, 5:59 PM CDT (22:59 UTC)
Expired
May 18, 2017, 7:00 PM CDT
In force
61 min
Issued by
NWS Wichita, KS
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
1.5 in

County Saline County, KS

The radar

The Topeka radar (KTWX), 129 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:00 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
May 18, 6:21 PM CDTTSTM WND GST 60Salina, KSWINDS OF 60 MPH REPORTED AT MILE POST 250 ON INTERSTATE 70.
May 18, 6:26 PM CDTTSTM WND GST 702 W Salina, KS
May 18, 6:31 PM CDTTORNADO1 W Salina Airport, KSRAIN WRAPPED TORNADO REPORTED TO BE HEADING EAST.
May 18, 6:32 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG2 Wsw Salina Airport, KSTREMENDOUS TREE DAMAGE WITH TWO FOOT DIAMETER TREES UPROOTED. ALL OF THE SHINGLES WERE BLOWN OFF OF A HOUSE. SEVERAL POWER POLES WERE DOWN AND BLOCKING ROADWAYS. TIME IS BASED OFF OF PREVIOUS REPORTS.
May 18, 6:38 PM CDTTSTM WND GST 732 Ne Salina, KSALONG INTERSTATE 70 AT MM253.

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
May 18, 3:21 PM CDTTornado Watch PDSSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Topeka, KS (KFOE), launched 12:00Z, 11.0 hours before the alert went out and 180 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, Topeka, KS at 12:00Z on 2017-05-18Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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, Topeka, KS at 12:00Z on 2017-05-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 204 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1033 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
45 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
204 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
335 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

649 
WFUS53 KICT 182259
TORICT
KSC169-190000-
/O.NEW.KICT.TO.W.0015.170518T2259Z-170519T0000Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Wichita KS
559 PM CDT THU MAY 18 2017

The National Weather Service in Wichita has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Saline County in central Kansas...

* Until 700 PM CDT
    
* At 559 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located near Brookville, or 13 miles east of Kanopolis, moving
  northeast at 45 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado and ping pong 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...
  Smolan around 610 PM CDT. 
  Salina around 625 PM CDT. 
  New Cambria around 630 PM CDT. 

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include Salina
Airport, Glendale and Falun.

# 
This includes the following highways...
 Interstate 135 between Mile Markers 81 and 95.
 Interstate 70 between Mile Markers 236 and 259.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3896 9748 3869 9751 3861 9786 3861 9793
      3896 9793
TIME...MOT...LOC 2259Z 231DEG 39KT 3873 9790 

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

$$

CARUSO
4 follow-up statements
940 
WWUS53 KICT 182311
SVSICT

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wichita KS
611 PM CDT THU MAY 18 2017

KSC169-190000-
/O.CON.KICT.TO.W.0015.000000T0000Z-170519T0000Z/
Saline KS-
611 PM CDT THU MAY 18 2017

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM CDT FOR SALINE
COUNTY...
    
At 610 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Brookville, or 8 miles west of Salina, moving east
at 25 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and golf 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...
  Smolan around 620 PM CDT. 
  Salina around 635 PM CDT. 
  New Cambria around 650 PM CDT. 

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include Salina
Airport, Glendale and Falun.

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.

Heavy rainfall may hide this tornado. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

&&

LAT...LON 3861 9786 3861 9792 3896 9792 3896 9748
      3869 9751
TIME...MOT...LOC 2310Z 250DEG 22KT 3878 9777 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...1.75IN

$$

KLEINSASSER
797 
WWUS53 KICT 182317
SVSICT

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wichita KS
617 PM CDT THU MAY 18 2017

KSC169-190000-
/O.CON.KICT.TO.W.0015.000000T0000Z-170519T0000Z/
Saline KS-
617 PM CDT THU MAY 18 2017

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM CDT FOR SALINE
COUNTY...
    
At 616 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 7 miles northeast of Brookville, or 7 miles west of
Salina, moving east to northeast at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and golf 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...
  Salina around 630 PM CDT. 
  New Cambria around 640 PM CDT. 

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include Salina
Airport, Glendale and Falun.

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.

Heavy rainfall may hide this tornado. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

&&

LAT...LON 3861 9786 3861 9792 3896 9792 3896 9748
      3869 9751
TIME...MOT...LOC 2316Z 226DEG 28KT 3884 9776 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...1.75IN

$$

KLEINSASSER
607 
WWUS53 KICT 182334
SVSICT

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wichita KS
634 PM CDT THU MAY 18 2017

KSC169-190000-
/O.CON.KICT.TO.W.0015.000000T0000Z-170519T0000Z/
Saline KS-
634 PM CDT THU MAY 18 2017

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM CDT FOR NORTHERN
SALINE COUNTY...
    
At 633 PM CDT, a confirmed tornado was located 1 mile west of 
Salina airport, moving northeast at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Damaging tornado and quarter size hail. 

SOURCE...Emergency management 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...
  New Cambria around 645 PM CDT. 

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include Salina
Airport.

This tornado was indicated to be rain wrapped and very 
difficult...if not impossible to see. 

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.

Heavy rainfall may hide this tornado. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

&&

LAT...LON 3875 9776 3881 9781 3896 9786 3896 9748
      3875 9750
TIME...MOT...LOC 2333Z 227DEG 25KT 3890 9766 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
HAIL...1.00IN

$$

CARUSO
549 
WWUS53 KICT 182352
SVSICT

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wichita KS
652 PM CDT THU MAY 18 2017

KSC169-190002-
/O.EXP.KICT.TO.W.0015.000000T0000Z-170519T0000Z/
Saline KS-
652 PM CDT THU MAY 18 2017

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHERN SALINE COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT 700
PM CDT...
        
The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and has exited the warned area. Therefore, the warning will
be allowed to expire.  However gusty winds are still possible with
this thunderstorm.

A tornado watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for central
Kansas.

LAT...LON 3875 9776 3881 9781 3896 9786 3896 9748
      3875 9750
TIME...MOT...LOC 2352Z 231DEG 39KT 3902 9746 

$$

CARUSO

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 18, 9:44 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningICTLincoln55 hr
May 18, 9:58 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningICTLincoln6 days
May 18, 1:45 PM CDTFlash Flood WatchICTAllen, Barton, Butler, Chase, Chautauqua, Cowley and 20 more38 hr
May 18, 1:51 PM CDTRiver Flood WarningICTCowley4 days
May 18, 3:38 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementICTChase52 min
May 18, 4:17 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTBarton58 min
May 18, 4:38 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTBarton, Ellsworth, Rice67 min
May 18, 4:51 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTSaline54 min
May 18, 4:53 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedICTBarton52 min
May 18, 4:57 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTHarvey, McPherson, Reno45 min
May 18, 5:01 PM CDTTornado WarningICTBarton59 min
May 18, 5:02 PM CDTAreal Flood WarningICTBarton6 hr
May 18, 5:07 PM CDTTornado WarningICTBarton, Ellsworth, Rice53 min
May 18, 5:16 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTChase, Marion29 min
May 18, 5:38 PM CDTTornado WarningICTEllsworth44 min
May 18, 5:42 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTSaline21 min
May 18, 5:45 PM CDTTornado WarningICTBarton35 min
May 18, 6:05 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTHarvey, McPherson, Reno, Rice23 min
May 18, 6:35 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTSedgwick, Sumner33 min
May 18, 6:50 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTSaline21 min
May 18, 6:55 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementICTButler35 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Kansas, 2017Every tornado warning in 2017Tornadoes 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.