Alert archive / Kansas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2019

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 155, NWS Wichita, KS

May 27, 20195 counties in Kansas

NWS Wichita, KS issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 27, 2019, 12:58 AM CDT for 5 counties in Kansas. It was in force for 32 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 27, 2019, 12:58 AM CDT (05:58 UTC)
Expired
May 27, 2019, 1:30 AM CDT
In force
32 min
Issued by
NWS Wichita, KS
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Possible
Hail
0.88 in
Wind
70.0 mph

Counties Ellsworth County, KS, Lincoln County, KS, McPherson County, KS, Rice County, KS, Russell County, KS

The radar

The Wichita radar (KICT), 132 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 06:01 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.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
May 26, 11:23 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Dodge City, (KDDC), launched 00:00Z, 6.0 hours before the alert went out and 179 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, Dodge City, at 00:00Z on 2019-05-27Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 739 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Dodge City, at 00:00Z on 2019-05-27The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 17 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
739 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-155 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
975 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
59 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
17 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
164 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.1
Supercell composite
0.6

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Wichita, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at May 27, 12:25 AM CDT, 33 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 27, 12:25 AM CDT, 33 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Wichita KS
1225 AM CDT Mon May 27 2019

.SYNOPSIS...
Issued at 324 PM CDT Sun May 26 2019

Thunderstorms will remain a concern over the next few days, but
especially focused on today/tonight and again Tuesday/Wednesday.
The risk of thunderstorms may return again by next weekend. For
those with Memorial Day plains, it looks to be breezy, warm, and
mostly dry (for a change). For today and Tuesday, strong to severe
storms will be possible as well as flash flooding. For those
interested, please see the "Climate" section below for monthly
rainfall record information for Wichita.

&&

.SHORT TERM...(This evening through Wednesday night)
Issued at 324 PM CDT Sun May 26 2019

Convection from last night/this morning laid out a well-defined
outflow boundary from SE KS/NE OK through southern MO. The 19z TOP
sounding shows much lower moisture quality in the wake of the
convection, indicative of quite a bit of overturning. The outflow
boundary has basically become an effective warm front/moisture
gradient that extends back to a surface low over SE CO. Meanwhile,
to the SW, water vapor imagery shows a well-defined s/w ejecting NE
out of the desert SW.

The large-scale forcing associated with that s/w is evidenced by
convection that has already begun to develop along the High Plains
from CO to WRN TX. Closer to home, a band of convection along the
outflow boundary has finally begun to weaken. With this boundary in
the area and continued moistening/daytime heating, cannot rule out a
few thunderstorms redeveloping later this afternoon. This potential
will be conditional on how quick low-level recovery can occur, which
would most likely be along and SW of the northward-advancing outflow
boundary/warm front. I kept some pops in this afternoon for this
potential. Should any storm develop along this boundary, the
shear/instability combo would support a strong/severe potential
(likely primarily a large hail/dmg wind threat).

Otherwise, the question is how does the High Plains convection
evolve. Recent radar trends haven't been overly impressive, but with
the s/w approaching, it does appear ongoing storms are intensifying
some. There also appears to be a fairly quick trend towards upscale
growth. With continued upscale growth expected, short term guidance
suggests one or two clusters/MCS' will propagate NE off the High
Plains, impacting at least part of our area. Forecast soundings show
some hodograph curvature, likely enhanced some by an increasing LLJ,
with stronger winds aloft compared to yesterday. Given the quicker
trend towards upscale growth, the primary threat may end up being
strong, damaging wind gusts. However, certainly cannot rule out some
large hail or a tornado with any discrete cell that may develop. A
brief tornado could also form with any embedded vorticity with
any MCS. With high PWat air in place, heavy rain/flash flooding
will continue to be a threat and the Flood Watch will continue
into Monday morning.

In the wake of tonight's convection, the area may once again start
out overturned on Monday with lingering low clouds and possibly
even a few thunderstorms. The dryline will likely remain back
across western Kansas. It should push east some during the day,
but there is no large scale forcing expected, making redevelopment
in the afternoon/evening much more conditional. Perhaps one or
two storms could develop where parcels can remain in the dryline
circulation longest. Given the shear/instability in place, a
severe threat could certainly exist with any storm, although this
may tend to be focused west of our local area.

On Tuesday, a stronger s/w will move across the Central Plains,
pushing the dryline further east. While model guidance differ on
where/how far south storms will initiate, the setup appears to be
favorable for initiation possibly as far south as the OK/KS border.
While there is still some uncertainty regarding initiation, the
shear/instability combo will be more than favorable for organized
convection, including supercells. The deep layer shear orientation
to the dryline looks to favor discrete or semi-discrete cells with
all hazards possible. Some significant severe potential may exist
given the forecast shear and instability, especially with more of a
discrete mode possible, so stay tuned as we refine the threat area.

Martin

.LONG TERM...(Thursday through Sunday)
Issued at 324 PM CDT Sun May 26 2019

The upper level pattern looks to finally change from SW flow to more
of a zonal flow pattern. Initially, there may still be a threat of
thunderstorms over SE KS Wednesday as a cold front sweeps through
during peak heating. In the wake of that front, drier air looks
likely for Thursday. From Friday through the remainder of the
weekend, shortwaves embedded within the zonal flow may bring renewed
opportunities for showers/storms, some of which could be strong to
severe. Increasing moisture may, again, lead to a risk of heavy
rain/flooding.

Martin

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Monday night)
Issued at 1220 AM CDT Mon May 27 2019

A complex of strong and severe thunderstorms is now moving into
the region with severe level winds. This activity will move from
west to east and will likely move through all terminals with the
exception of CNU before sunrise. Some lingering showers and
thunderstorms will continue to be possible for the CNU area but
this activity will be non severe. By the late morning all areas
will be VFR for the remainder of the TAF period.

Metzger

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
Issued at 324 PM CDT Sun May 26 2019

The threat of flooding continues. Through tonight, the highest
rainfall amounts look to be focused over south-central and central
Kansas. For this reason, we'll keep the Flash Flood Watch going in
that area. It is unclear how far east tonight's thunderstorms will
get. Given the potentially less favorable thermodynamic environment
over southeast Kansas, thinking the threat of heavier rainfall
will be lower there and I have opted to keep that area out of the
Flash Flood Watch for now. We'll continue to re-evaluate this
threat through tonight. It is possible a Flash Flood Watch will be
needed again for Tuesday/Wednesday for part of the area as a
better threat of thunderstorms is expected then. In general,
another 1-2" of rain is expected through Wednesday, with amounts
up to 3 or 4" not out of the question.

Martin

&&

.CLIMATE...
Issued at 324 PM CDT Sun May 26 2019

As rainfall amounts continue to stack up, monthly records are
becoming increasingly threatened.

For Wichita, the total rainfall for May currently stands at 11.96"
(as of Sunday morning). This makes it the 2nd wettest May on
record and tied for the 7th wettest month all-time. For May, the
record is 13.14" (set in 2008). All-time, the highest monthly
rainfall total is 14.43" (set in June 1923).

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Wichita-KICT    61  82  69  80 /  90  30  20  40
Hutchinson      61  82  68  80 / 100  10  20  30
Newton          62  81  68  79 /  80  20  20  40
ElDorado        62  81  68  78 /  90  40  20  50
Winfield-KWLD   63  82  69  79 /  90  30  20  50
Russell         60  83  67  81 /  90  10  20  10
Great Bend      59  82  67  81 / 100  10  20  10
Salina          62  82  69  81 / 100  10  20  40
McPherson       61  82  68  80 / 100  10  20  40
Coffeyville     68  83  70  81 /  40  20  10  60
Chanute         63  83  69  80 /  70  30  10  60
Iola            64  82  69  79 /  70  70  10  60
Parsons-KPPF    67  83  70  81 /  50  50  10  60

&&

.ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Flash Flood Watch until 7 AM CDT this morning for KSZ032-033-
047>053-067>069-082-083-091>093.

&&

SYNOPSIS...RM
SHORT TERM...RM
LONG TERM...RM
AVIATION...ELM
HYDROLOGY...RM
CLIMATE...RM
Hazardous weather outlook, May 26, 9:09 PM CDT, 3 hours 49 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Wichita KS
909 PM CDT Sun May 26 2019

KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-280215-
Russell-Lincoln-Barton-Ellsworth-Saline-Rice-McPherson-Marion-Chase-
Reno-Harvey-Butler-Greenwood-Woodson-Allen-Kingman-Sedgwick-Harper-
Sumner-Cowley-Elk-Wilson-Neosho-Chautauqua-Montgomery-Labette-
909 PM CDT Sun May 26 2019

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of Central Kansas,
South Central Kansas and Southeast Kansas.

.DAY ONE...Tonight

Thunderstorms will move off the High Plains and across portions of
central and south-central Kansas through tonight. At this time,
damaging winds of 60 to 70 mph looks like the primary threat.
However, a tornado cannot be ruled out, along with large hail up to
half dollar size. Additionally, heavy rain and flash flooding will
remain a threat. Please see the Flash Flood Watch for specific
details.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday

A conditional threat of an isolated strong to severe thunderstorm
exists Monday evening. A greater threat of severe weather is
expected Tuesday afternoon and evening, with all severe weather
hazards possible, including some significant severe potential.

Thunderstorms may linger over southeast Kansas through Wednesday
with a continued threat of strong thunderstorms and heavy rain.
The threat of thunderstorms may increase again over the weekend,
with a renewed threat of strong to severe storms and heavy
rain/flooding.

River flooding will continue to be a long-term concern well into
the
upcoming week. Please continue to monitor River Flood Warnings and
Statements for the latest information.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is possible through tonight and again on
Tuesday.

&&

For a graphical version of this information, see our webpage at:
http://weather.gov/wichita/hwo/

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 26, 10:08 PM CDT, 2 hours 50 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
1008 PM CDT SUN MAY 26 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0957 PM     HAIL             3 S LINCOLN             39.00N 98.15W
05/26/2019  M1.75 INCH       LINCOLN            KS   STORM CHASER

            ALONG HIGHWAY K14

1001 PM     HAIL             LINCOLN                 39.04N 98.15W
05/26/2019  M1.00 INCH       LINCOLN            KS   EMERGENCY MNGR

&&

BDK
Special weather statement, May 26, 10:20 PM CDT, 2 hours 38 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wichita KS
1020 PM CDT Sun May 26 2019

KSZ033-270345-
Lincoln KS-
1020 PM CDT Sun May 26 2019

The National Weather Service in Wichita has issued a

* Significant Weather Advisory for...
  Northwestern Lincoln County in central Kansas...

* Until 1045 PM CDT.

* At 1019 PM CDT...National Weather Service meteorologists were
  tracking a strong thunderstorm near Hunter, or 14 miles northwest
  of Lincoln...moving northeast at 55 mph.

hail up to the size of dimes...and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be
possible with this storm.

* Locations impacted include...
  Sylvan Grove and Ash Grove.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until midnight CDT for
central Kansas.

LAT...LON 3922 9816 3895 9832 3904 9848 3922 9849
TIME...MOT...LOC 0319Z 203DEG 49KT 3919 9834

KETCHAM
Local storm report, May 26, 10:27 PM CDT, 2 hours 31 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
1027 PM CDT SUN MAY 26 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1022 PM     HAIL             1 W BARNARD             39.19N 98.06W
05/26/2019  M0.88 INCH       LINCOLN            KS   AMATEUR RADIO

&&

BDK
Local storm report, May 27, 12:26 AM CDT, 32 minutes before
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 26, 7:38 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTBarton39 min
May 26, 8:03 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTBarton, Ellsworth, Lincoln, Rice, Russell38 min
May 26, 8:40 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementICTBarton65 min
May 26, 8:42 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementICTLincoln63 min
May 26, 9:20 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementICTEllsworth55 min
May 26, 9:46 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTEllsworth, Lincoln32 min
May 26, 10:20 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementICTLincoln25 min
May 26, 11:40 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTBarton, Ellsworth, Lincoln, McPherson, Reno, Rice and 1 more80 min
May 26, 11:51 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTHarper, Kingman, Sedgwick, Sumner69 min
May 27, 12:38 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTEllsworth, Lincoln, McPherson, Saline67 min
May 27, 12:54 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTHarper, Harvey, Kingman, Reno, Sedgwick, Sumner81 min
May 27, 1:35 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTMcPherson, Marion55 min
May 27, 1:43 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTButler, Chase, Chautauqua, Cowley, Elk, Greenwood and 4 more77 min
May 27, 2:36 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTElk, Greenwood, Wilson, Woodson69 min
May 27, 2:38 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementICTSumner37 min
May 27, 2:41 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningICTHarper, Sumner4 hr
May 27, 3:10 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningICTButler, Cowley, Sedgwick4 hr
May 27, 3:17 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementICTCowley28 min
May 27, 3:39 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementICTAllen51 min
May 27, 4:31 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementICTHarper29 min
May 27, 4:33 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementICTKingman27 min
May 27, 4:56 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementICTChautauqua34 min
May 27, 4:58 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementICTSedgwick32 min
May 27, 5:00 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementICTSumner30 min
May 27, 5:23 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementICTAllen, Neosho, Wilson37 min
May 27, 5:35 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementICTCowley, Sumner25 min
May 27, 5:38 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementICTHarvey37 min
May 27, 5:49 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementICTCowley, Sedgwick26 min
May 27, 6:18 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementICTChautauqua, Elk42 min
May 27, 7:05 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementICTChautauqua, Montgomery, Wilson, Woodson25 min
May 27, 7:43 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningICTLabette, Neosho, Wilson107 min
May 27, 8:12 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementICTLabette33 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Kansas, 2019Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2019

Sources

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.