Alert archive / Kansas / Tornado Warnings in 2018

Tornado Warning 4, NWS Topeka, KS

May 1, 2018Cloud County, Kansas

NWS Topeka, KS issued this tornado warning at May 1, 2018, 6:53 PM CDT for Cloud County, Kansas. It was in force for 37 min. 3 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, 6:53 PM CDT (23:53 UTC)
Expired: May 1, 2018, 7:30 PM CDT
In force: 37 min
Issued by: NWS Topeka, KS
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Radar indicated
Hail: 2.0 in

County Cloud County, KS

The radar

The Grand Island radar (KUEX), 119 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:52 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, 7:04 PM CDT	TORNADO	7 Ne Glasco, KS	TORNADO WAS VERIFIED BY LIVE VIDEO FEED. HE WAS NEAR HIGHWAY 81, APPROX. 5 MILES SOUTH OF CONCORDIA.
May 1, 7:11 PM CDT	TORNADO	8 W Aurora, KS	VIA SOCIAL MEDIA: THE TORNADO CROSSED HIGHWAY 81 5 MINUTES AGO. POWER POLES WERE SNAPPED.
May 1, 7:17 PM CDT	TORNADO	6 S Concordia, KS	SPOTTER WAS ON HIGHWAY 81 REPORTING A MULTI-VORTEX TORNADO.

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 12:00Z, 11.9 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-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: 9 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -558 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1172 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 23 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 215 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 193 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

347 
WFUS53 KTOP 012353
TORTOP
KSC029-020030-
/O.NEW.KTOP.TO.W.0004.180501T2353Z-180502T0030Z/

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

The National Weather Service in Topeka has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Central Cloud County in north central Kansas...

* Until 730 PM CDT
    
* At 653 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located near Glasco, moving northeast at 30 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado and hail up to two inches in diameter. 

  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...
  Aurora around 725 PM CDT. 

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 3944 9788 3962 9752 3942 9737 3941 9737
      3934 9785
TIME...MOT...LOC 2353Z 241DEG 24KT 3939 9779 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...2.00IN

$$

Baerg

4 follow-up statements

998 
WWUS53 KTOP 020004
SVSTOP

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

KSC029-020030-
/O.CON.KTOP.TO.W.0004.000000T0000Z-180502T0030Z/
Cloud-
704 PM CDT TUE MAY 1 2018

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 730 PM CDT FOR CENTRAL
CLOUD COUNTY...
    
At 703 PM CDT, a confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado was
located 8 miles northeast of Glasco, moving northeast 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...
  Aurora around 725 PM CDT. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

To repeat, a large, extremely dangerous and potentially deadly
tornado is on the ground. To protect your life, 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 3944 9788 3962 9752 3942 9737 3941 9737
      3934 9785
TIME...MOT...LOC 0003Z 241DEG 24KT 3943 9771 

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

$$

Baerg

938 
WWUS53 KTOP 020007
SVSTOP

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

KSC029-020030-
/O.CON.KTOP.TO.W.0004.000000T0000Z-180502T0030Z/
Cloud-
707 PM CDT TUE MAY 1 2018

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 730 PM CDT FOR CENTRAL
CLOUD COUNTY...
    
At 707 PM CDT, a confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado was
located 8 miles west of Aurora, moving northeast 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...
  Aurora around 725 PM CDT. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

To repeat, a large, extremely dangerous and potentially deadly
tornado is on the ground. To protect your life, 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 3947 9782 3962 9752 3942 9737 3941 9737
      3935 9778
TIME...MOT...LOC 0007Z 241DEG 24KT 3944 9768 

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

$$

Baerg

814 
WWUS53 KTOP 020015
SVSTOP

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

KSC029-020030-
/O.CON.KTOP.TO.W.0004.000000T0000Z-180502T0030Z/
Cloud-
715 PM CDT TUE MAY 1 2018

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 730 PM CDT FOR CENTRAL
CLOUD COUNTY...
    
At 713 PM CDT, a confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado was 
located 5 miles west of Aurora, moving northeast at 30 mph. At 711 
PM the tornado crossed Highway 81, approximately 8 miles west Aurora 
with several power poles snapped. 

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...
  Aurora around 725 PM CDT. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

To repeat, a large, extremely dangerous and potentially deadly
tornado is on the ground. To protect your life, 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 3962 9752 3942 9737 3941 9737 3938 9768
      3949 9778
TIME...MOT...LOC 0013Z 241DEG 24KT 3946 9763 

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

$$

Baerg

397 
WWUS53 KTOP 020019
SVSTOP

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

KSC029-020030-
/O.CON.KTOP.TO.W.0004.000000T0000Z-180502T0030Z/
Cloud-
719 PM CDT TUE MAY 1 2018

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 730 PM CDT FOR EASTERN
CLOUD COUNTY...
    
At 719 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Aurora, moving northeast at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and two inch 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
eastern Cloud 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 3944 9738 3938 9766 3938 9767 3952 9772
      3962 9752
TIME...MOT...LOC 0019Z 241DEG 24KT 3947 9759 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...2.00IN

$$

Baerg

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 1, 6:28 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	TOP	Douglas	32 min
May 1, 5:04 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Republic	41 min
May 1, 5:43 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Republic	47 min
May 1, 5:58 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	TOP	Republic	17 min
May 1, 6:00 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Cloud, Ottawa	45 min
May 1, 6:08 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Republic, Washington	52 min
May 1, 6:10 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	TOP	Cloud, Ottawa	50 min
May 1, 6:59 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TOP	Marshall, Washington	13 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.