Tornado Watch 239

Issued

May 18, 2017, 3:21 PM CDT (20:21 UTC)

Expired

May 18, 2017, 9:51 PM CDT

In force

7 hr

Issued by

the Storm Prediction Center

Particularly dangerous situation

Yes

Largest hail expected

4 in

Strongest gust expected

60 kt

The Dodge City radar (KDDC), 108 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:24 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.

Two or more tornadoes

90%

One or more EF2 to EF5 tornadoes

80%

Ten or more severe wind reports

50%

One or more gusts of 65 knots or more

20%

Ten or more severe hail reports

50%

One or more hailstones of 2 inches or more

50%

Six or more combined severe hail and wind reports

95%

• Mesoscale Discussion 758May 18, 2:00 PM CDT
• Mesoscale Discussion 759May 18, 2:16 PM CDT
• Mesoscale Discussion 765May 18, 5:15 PM CDT
• Mesoscale Discussion 768May 18, 7:06 PM CDT

730 
WWUS20 KWNS 182017
SEL9  
SPC WW 182017
KSZ000-190400-

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Tornado Watch Number 239
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
320 PM CDT Thu May 18 2017

The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

* Tornado Watch for portions of 
  portions of central and southern Kansas

* Effective this Thursday afternoon and evening from 320 PM until
  1100 PM CDT.

* Primary threats include...
  A few tornadoes likely with a couple intense tornadoes possible
  Scattered large hail and isolated very large hail events to 4
    inches in diameter possible
  Scattered damaging wind gusts to 70 mph possible

SUMMARY...Thunderstorms are forecast to develop across/spread into
southern portions of Kansas over the next 1-2 hours, with attendant
increase in significant severe risk -- including very
large/destructive hail, damaging winds, and the potential for
several strong tornadoes.

The tornado watch area is approximately along and 60 statute miles
north and south of a line from 25 miles west of Dodge City KS to 65
miles east northeast of Wichita KS. For a complete depiction of the
watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU9).

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

REMEMBER...A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for
tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch
area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for
threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements
and possible warnings.

&&

OTHER WATCH INFORMATION...CONTINUE...WW 235...WW 236...WW
237...WW 238...

AVIATION...Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail
surface and aloft to 4 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind
gusts to 60 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean
storm motion vector 24035.

...Goss

Tornado Watches in Kansas, 2017Every tornado watch in 2017

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.