Alert archive / Kansas / Tornado Warnings in 2018

Tornado Warning 18, NWS Topeka, KS

May 2, 2018Ottawa County, Kansas

NWS Topeka, KS issued this tornado warning at May 2, 2018, 4:13 PM CDT for Ottawa County, Kansas. It was in force for 47 min. 1 report 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 2, 2018, 4:13 PM CDT (21:13 UTC)
Expired
May 2, 2018, 5:00 PM CDT
In force
47 min
Issued by
NWS Topeka, KS
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
1.5 in

County Ottawa County, KS

The radar

The Topeka radar (KTWX), 122 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:16 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 2, 4:30 PM CDTHAIL 0.886 N Wells, KS

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 2, 12:43 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Topeka, KS (KFOE), launched 12:00Z, 9.2 hours before the alert went out and 172 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 2018-05-02Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 633 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 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 2018-05-02The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 251 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
633 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-105 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
906 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
39 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
251 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
228 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.5
Supercell composite
3.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

937 
WFUS53 KTOP 022113
TORTOP
KSC143-022200-
/O.NEW.KTOP.TO.W.0018.180502T2113Z-180502T2200Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Topeka KS
413 PM CDT WED MAY 2 2018

The National Weather Service in Topeka has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Northeastern Ottawa County in north central Kansas...

* Until 500 PM CDT
    
* At 413 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located near Minneapolis, moving northeast at 40 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 tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
  northeastern Ottawa County.

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 3931 9774 3930 9737 3923 9737 3910 9766
      3927 9776
TIME...MOT...LOC 2113Z 245DEG 35KT 3916 9772 

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

$$

Cohen
2 follow-up statements
220 
WWUS53 KTOP 022119
SVSTOP

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Topeka KS
419 PM CDT WED MAY 2 2018

KSC143-022200-
/O.CON.KTOP.TO.W.0018.000000T0000Z-180502T2200Z/
Ottawa-
419 PM CDT WED MAY 2 2018

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 PM CDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN OTTAWA COUNTY...
    
At 415 PM CDT, a confirmed tornado was located 4 miles northeast of 
Minneapolis, moving northeast at 35 mph.

HAZARD...Damaging tornado and ping pong ball size hail. 

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. 

This tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
northeastern Ottawa County.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3931 9774 3930 9737 3923 9737 3910 9766
      3927 9776
TIME...MOT...LOC 2118Z 244DEG 30KT 3918 9767 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
HAIL...1.50IN

$$

Cohen
513 
WWUS53 KTOP 022136
SVSTOP

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Topeka KS
436 PM CDT WED MAY 2 2018

KSC143-022200-
/O.CON.KTOP.TO.W.0018.000000T0000Z-180502T2200Z/
Ottawa-
436 PM CDT WED MAY 2 2018

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 PM CDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN OTTAWA COUNTY...
    
At 435 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 6 miles southwest of Miltonvale, moving northeast at 40
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 tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
northeastern Ottawa County.

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 3931 9774 3930 9737 3923 9737 3910 9766
      3927 9776
TIME...MOT...LOC 2135Z 230DEG 34KT 3927 9750 

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

$$

Cohen

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 1, 7:00 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPCloud30 min
May 1, 7:24 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedTOPClay, Cloud, Republic, Washington36 min
May 1, 7:26 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPOttawa34 min
May 1, 7:52 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPClay, Riley, Washington38 min
May 1, 7:54 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedConsiderable damage threatTOPOttawa36 min
May 1, 8:01 PM CDTTornado Warning Considerable damage threatTOPClay, Riley, Washington34 min
May 1, 8:19 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPCloud, Ottawa41 min
May 1, 8:26 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPClay, Dickinson, Ottawa34 min
May 1, 8:26 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPCloud, Ottawa34 min
May 1, 8:33 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPMarshall, Riley, Washington57 min
May 1, 8:58 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedTOPClay32 min
May 1, 9:00 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPCloud, Ottawa45 min
May 1, 9:13 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPClay, Dickinson47 min
May 1, 9:25 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedTOPClay, Riley35 min
May 1, 9:27 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPClay33 min
May 1, 9:41 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPClay, Cloud, Ottawa34 min
May 1, 9:47 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPClay, Geary, Pottawatomie, Riley43 min
May 1, 9:54 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPPottawatomie, Riley36 min
May 1, 10:11 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPClay, Cloud, Ottawa34 min
May 1, 10:15 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPPottawatomie, Riley, Wabaunsee45 min
May 1, 10:19 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryTOPClay, Cloud, Ottawa3 hr
May 1, 10:24 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPCloud, Ottawa36 min
May 1, 10:27 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPMarshall, Nemaha, Pottawatomie33 min
May 1, 10:40 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPClay, Geary, Pottawatomie, Riley35 min
May 1, 10:55 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTOPJackson35 min
May 1, 11:08 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPPottawatomie, Riley37 min
May 1, 11:35 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPJackson, Pottawatomie25 min
May 1, 11:49 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPPottawatomie, Riley26 min
May 2, 12:11 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPPottawatomie34 min
May 2, 12:44 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTOPJackson31 min
May 2, 1:15 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTOPMarshall30 min
May 2, 1:20 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTOPJefferson40 min
May 2, 3:36 AM CDTFlash Flood WatchTOPAnderson, Clay, Cloud, Coffey, Dickinson, Douglas and 12 more18 hr
May 2, 3:18 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTOPOttawa12 min
May 2, 3:34 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTOPOttawa11 min
May 2, 3:41 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPOttawa64 min
May 2, 3:52 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPOttawa38 min
May 2, 4:08 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPCloud52 min
May 2, 4:11 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPCloud49 min
May 2, 4:21 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPOttawa39 min
May 2, 4:29 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPClay, Cloud, Washington46 min
May 2, 4:34 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryTOPCloud, Ottawa3 hr
May 2, 4:40 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPClay, Dickinson, Ottawa65 min
May 2, 4:47 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTOPDickinson43 min
May 2, 4:48 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPClay57 min
May 2, 4:58 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPClay, Marshall, Riley, Washington47 min
May 2, 5:08 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPGeary, Pottawatomie, Riley67 min
May 2, 5:22 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTOPGeary, Morris53 min
May 2, 5:34 PM CDTTornado WarningTOPMarshall, Pottawatomie, Riley41 min
May 2, 6:03 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPBrown, Jackson, Marshall, Nemaha, Pottawatomie57 min
May 2, 6:08 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTOPShawnee, Wabaunsee52 min
May 2, 6:41 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTOPBrown, Jackson, Jefferson64 min
May 2, 6:45 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTOPMorris30 min

Nearby

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