Tornado Watch 61

Issued

May 2, 2018, 12:43 PM CDT (17:43 UTC)

Expired

May 2, 2018, 9:18 PM CDT

In force

9 hr

Issued by

the Storm Prediction Center

Largest hail expected

3 in

Strongest gust expected

70 kt

The Wichita radar (KICT), 78 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 17:48 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

70%

One or more EF2 to EF5 tornadoes

60%

Ten or more severe wind reports

80%

One or more gusts of 65 knots or more

70%

Ten or more severe hail reports

80%

One or more hailstones of 2 inches or more

80%

Six or more combined severe hail and wind reports

95%

• Mesoscale Discussion 313May 2, 11:36 AM CDT
• Mesoscale Discussion 315May 2, 2:47 PM CDT
• Mesoscale Discussion 318May 2, 5:08 PM CDT
• Mesoscale Discussion 319May 2, 5:18 PM CDT
• Mesoscale Discussion 322May 2, 7:14 PM CDT
• Mesoscale Discussion 325May 2, 8:00 PM CDT

084 
WWUS20 KWNS 021741
SEL1  
SPC WW 021741
KSZ000-030300-

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Tornado Watch Number 61
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
1245 PM CDT Wed May 2 2018

The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

* Tornado Watch for portions of 
  A large part of Kansas

* Effective this Wednesday afternoon and evening from 1245 PM
  until 1000 PM CDT.

* Primary threats include...
  A few tornadoes and a couple intense tornadoes likely
  Widespread large hail and scattered very large hail events to 3
    inches in diameter likely
  Widespread damaging winds and isolated significant gusts to 80
    mph likely

SUMMARY...Numerous to widespread severe storms will develop from
southwest into central and northeast Kansas this afternoon. Damaging
winds, very large hail, and tornadoes are expected.

The tornado watch area is approximately along and 90 statute miles
east and west of a line from 30 miles southwest of Medicine Lodge KS
to 50 miles west northwest of Saint Joseph MO. For a complete
depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline update
(WOUS64 KWNS WOU1).

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.

&&

AVIATION...Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail
surface and aloft to 3 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind
gusts to 70 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean
storm motion vector 24045.

...Grams

Tornado Watches in Kansas, 2018Every tornado watch in 2018

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.