Alert archive / Kansas / Tornado Warnings in 2018

Tornado Warning 12, NWS Topeka, KS

May 1, 2018Clay County, Kansas

NWS Topeka, KS issued this tornado warning at May 1, 2018, 8:58 PM CDT for Clay County, Kansas. It was in force for 32 min. 2 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 1, 2018, 8:58 PM CDT (01:58 UTC)
Expired: May 1, 2018, 9:30 PM CDT
In force: 32 min
Issued by: NWS Topeka, KS
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Observed
Hail: 2.0 in

County Clay County, KS

The radar

The Topeka radar (KTWX), 90 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:59 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 1, 9:13 PM CDT	FUNNEL CLOUD	4 Ese Idana, KS	9TH AND HACKBERRY ROAD.
May 1, 9:18 PM CDT	TORNADO	4 Ssw Clay Center, KS	TORNADO ON THE GROUND.

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.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
May 1, 2:47 PM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Topeka, KS (KFOE), launched 00:00Z, 2.0 hours before the alert went out and 139 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: 543 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -73 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1230 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 39 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 213 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 334 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.5
Supercell composite: 11.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

526 
WFUS53 KTOP 020158
TORTOP
KSC027-020230-
/O.NEW.KTOP.TO.W.0012.180502T0158Z-180502T0230Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Topeka KS
858 PM CDT TUE MAY 1 2018

The National Weather Service in Topeka has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Southern Clay County in north central Kansas...

* Until 930 PM CDT

* At 857 PM CDT, a confirmed tornado was located over Oak Hill,
  moving east at 30 mph.

  HAZARD...Damaging tornado and hail up to two inches in diameter. 

  SOURCE...Weather spotters 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. 

* The tornado will be near...
  Idana around 905 PM CDT. 
  Clay Center around 920 PM CDT. 
  Wakefield around 930 PM CDT. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

Tornadoes are extremely difficult to see and confirm at night. Do not
wait to see or hear the tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

&&

LAT...LON 3918 9737 3933 9736 3945 9698 3922 9697
TIME...MOT...LOC 0157Z 255DEG 26KT 3926 9731 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
HAIL...2.00IN

$$

Skow

2 follow-up statements

429 
WWUS53 KTOP 020207
SVSTOP

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Topeka KS
907 PM CDT TUE MAY 1 2018

KSC027-020230-
/O.CON.KTOP.TO.W.0012.000000T0000Z-180502T0230Z/
Clay-
907 PM CDT TUE MAY 1 2018

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 930 PM CDT FOR CENTRAL
CLAY COUNTY...
    
At 906 PM CDT, a confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado was
located 5 miles southeast of Idana, moving east at 30 mph.

This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. TAKE COVER NOW!

HAZARD...Damaging tornado. 

SOURCE...Weather spotters confirmed tornado. 

IMPACT...You are in a life-threatening situation. Flying debris may 
         be deadly to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes 
         will be destroyed. Considerable damage to homes, 
         businesses, and vehicles is likely and complete destruction 
         is possible. 

The tornado will be near...
  Clay Center around 915 PM CDT. 
  Green around 930 PM CDT. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

Tornadoes are extremely difficult to see and confirm at night. Do not
wait to see or hear the tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

&&

LAT...LON 3924 9726 3935 9729 3945 9698 3925 9697
TIME...MOT...LOC 0206Z 253DEG 26KT 3929 9721 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
TORNADO DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
HAIL...2.00IN

$$

Skow

710 
WWUS53 KTOP 020219
SVSTOP

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Topeka KS
919 PM CDT TUE MAY 1 2018

KSC027-020230-
/O.CON.KTOP.TO.W.0012.000000T0000Z-180502T0230Z/
Clay-
919 PM CDT TUE MAY 1 2018

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 930 PM CDT FOR EAST
CENTRAL CLAY COUNTY...
    
At 919 PM CDT, a confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado was
located near Clay Center, moving northeast at 30 mph.

This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. TAKE COVER NOW!

HAZARD...Damaging tornado. 

SOURCE...Law enforcement confirmed tornado. 

IMPACT...You are in a life-threatening situation. Flying debris may 
         be deadly to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes 
         will be destroyed. Considerable damage to homes, 
         businesses, and vehicles is likely and complete destruction 
         is possible. 

The tornado will be near...
  Green around 930 PM CDT. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

Tornadoes are extremely difficult to see and confirm at night. Do not
wait to see or hear the tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

&&

LAT...LON 3927 9720 3936 9724 3945 9698 3927 9697
TIME...MOT...LOC 0219Z 253DEG 26KT 3933 9709 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
TORNADO DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
HAIL...2.00IN

$$

Skow

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 1, 7:00 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Cloud	30 min
May 1, 7:24 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	TOP	Clay, Cloud, Republic, Washington	36 min
May 1, 7:26 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	TOP	Ottawa	34 min
May 1, 7:52 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	TOP	Clay, Riley, Washington	38 min
May 1, 7:54 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observedConsiderable damage threat	TOP	Ottawa	36 min
May 1, 8:01 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Considerable damage threat	TOP	Clay, Riley, Washington	34 min
May 1, 8:19 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Cloud, Ottawa	41 min
May 1, 8:26 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	TOP	Clay, Dickinson, Ottawa	34 min
May 1, 8:26 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	TOP	Cloud, Ottawa	34 min
May 1, 8:33 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Marshall, Riley, Washington	57 min
May 1, 9:00 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Cloud, Ottawa	45 min
May 1, 9:13 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Clay, Dickinson	47 min
May 1, 9:25 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	TOP	Clay, Riley	35 min
May 1, 9:27 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Clay	33 min
May 1, 9:41 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Clay, Cloud, Ottawa	34 min
May 1, 9:47 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Clay, Geary, Pottawatomie, Riley	43 min
May 1, 9:54 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	TOP	Pottawatomie, Riley	36 min
May 1, 10:11 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Clay, Cloud, Ottawa	34 min
May 1, 10:15 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Pottawatomie, Riley, Wabaunsee	45 min
May 1, 10:19 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	TOP	Clay, Cloud, Ottawa	3 hr
May 1, 10:24 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Cloud, Ottawa	36 min
May 1, 10:27 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	TOP	Marshall, Nemaha, Pottawatomie	33 min
May 1, 10:40 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Clay, Geary, Pottawatomie, Riley	35 min
May 1, 10:55 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	TOP	Jackson	35 min
May 1, 11:08 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Pottawatomie, Riley	37 min
May 1, 11:35 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Jackson, Pottawatomie	25 min
May 1, 11:49 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Pottawatomie, Riley	26 min
May 2, 12:11 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Pottawatomie	34 min
May 2, 12:44 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	TOP	Jackson	31 min
May 2, 1:15 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	TOP	Marshall	30 min
May 2, 1:20 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	TOP	Jefferson	40 min
May 2, 3:36 AM CDT	Flash Flood Watch	TOP	Anderson, Clay, Cloud, Coffey, Dickinson, Douglas and 12 more	18 hr
May 2, 3:18 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	TOP	Ottawa	12 min
May 2, 3:34 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	TOP	Ottawa	11 min
May 2, 3:41 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Ottawa	64 min
May 2, 3:52 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	TOP	Ottawa	38 min
May 2, 4:08 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Cloud	52 min
May 2, 4:11 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	TOP	Cloud	49 min
May 2, 4:13 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	TOP	Ottawa	47 min
May 2, 4:21 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	TOP	Ottawa	39 min
May 2, 4:29 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	TOP	Clay, Cloud, Washington	46 min
May 2, 4:34 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	TOP	Cloud, Ottawa	3 hr
May 2, 4:40 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Clay, Dickinson, Ottawa	65 min
May 2, 4:47 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	TOP	Dickinson	43 min
May 2, 4:48 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Clay	57 min
May 2, 4:58 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	TOP	Clay, Marshall, Riley, Washington	47 min
May 2, 5:08 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Geary, Pottawatomie, Riley	67 min
May 2, 5:22 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	TOP	Geary, Morris	53 min
May 2, 5:34 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	TOP	Marshall, Pottawatomie, Riley	41 min
May 2, 6:03 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Brown, Jackson, Marshall, Nemaha, Pottawatomie	57 min
May 2, 6:08 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	TOP	Shawnee, Wabaunsee	52 min
May 2, 6:41 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Brown, Jackson, Jefferson	64 min
May 2, 6:45 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	TOP	Morris	30 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Kansas, 2018 Every tornado warning in 2018 Tornadoes in 2018

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.