Alert archive / Kansas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2020

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 27, NWS Dodge City, KS

May 21, 2020Hamilton County, Kearny County, Kansas

NWS Dodge City, KS issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 21, 2020, 5:49 PM MDT for Hamilton County, Kearny County, Kansas. It was in force for 56 min. 4 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 21, 2020, 5:49 PM MDT (23:49 UTC)
Expired: May 21, 2020, 6:45 PM MDT
In force: 56 min
Issued by: NWS Dodge City, KS
Area: Storm-based polygon
Hail: 2.0 in
Wind: 60.0 mph

Counties Hamilton County, KS, Kearny County, KS

The radar

The Dodge City radar (KDDC), 117 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:50 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 21, 5:51 PM MDT	HAIL 1.25	3 W Lakin, KS	REPORT FROM MPING: HALF DOLLAR (1.25 IN.).
May 21, 5:52 PM MDT	HAIL 2.75	Kendall, KS
May 21, 5:53 PM MDT	HAIL 1.5	Lakin, KS
May 21, 5:56 PM MDT	HAIL 1	Lakin, KS

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

Did it verify

Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched 4 storm reports to this severe thunderstorm warning; the first came 2 minutes after it went out.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

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 21, 2:15 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Dodge City, (KDDC), launched 12:00Z, 11.8 hours before the alert went out and 123 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: 275 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -409 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 690 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 9 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: -64 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 186 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: -0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

678 
WUUS53 KDDC 212349
SVRDDC
KSC075-093-220045-
/O.NEW.KDDC.SV.W.0027.200521T2349Z-200522T0045Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
649 PM CDT Thu May 21 2020

The National Weather Service in Dodge City has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  Southeastern Hamilton County in southwestern Kansas...
  Kearny County in southwestern Kansas...

* Until 745 PM CDT/645 PM MDT/.

* At 648 PM CDT/548 PM MDT/, a severe thunderstorm was located near 
  Kendall, moving north at 25 mph.  Another severe storm was located 
  near Lakin moving north at 25 mph.

  HAZARD...Two inch hail and 60 mph wind gusts.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail 
           damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Expect 
           wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...
  Lakin, Deerfield and Kendall. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

&&

LAT...LON 3823 10154 3818 10111 3796 10110 3783 10110
      3783 10109 3776 10109 3774 10166
TIME...MOT...LOC 2348Z 196DEG 20KT 3785 10148 

HAIL...2.00IN
WIND...60MPH
 
$$

Tatro

1 follow-up statement

338 
WWUS53 KDDC 212353
SVSDDC

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
653 PM CDT Thu May 21 2020

KSC075-093-220045-
/O.CON.KDDC.SV.W.0027.000000T0000Z-200522T0045Z/
Hamilton KS-Kearny KS-
653 PM CDT Thu May 21 2020

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 745 PM
CDT/645 PM MDT/ FOR SOUTHEASTERN HAMILTON AND KEARNY COUNTIES...

At 652 PM CDT/552 PM MDT/, a severe thunderstorm was located very
near Kendall, moving northeast at 25 mph.

This is a very dangerous storm.

HAZARD...Baseball size hail and 60 mph wind gusts.

SOURCE...Trained weather spotters 1 mile WNW Kendall at 6:52 PM CDT.

IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be severely injured. 
         Expect shattered windows, extensive damage to roofs, 
         siding, and vehicles.

Locations impacted include...
Lakin, Deerfield and Kendall. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

&&

LAT...LON 3823 10154 3818 10111 3796 10110 3783 10110
      3783 10109 3776 10109 3774 10166
TIME...MOT...LOC 2352Z 212DEG 23KT 3794 10154 

HAIL...2.75IN
WIND...60MPH
 
$$

Tatro

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 Dodge City, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at May 21, 4:55 PM MDT, 54 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 21, 4:55 PM MDT, 54 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
555 PM CDT Thu May 21 2020

...updated aviation...

.SHORT TERM...(This evening through Friday)
Issued at 226 PM CDT Thu May 21 2020

MSAS showing weak surface low pressure centered over the western
Oklahoma panhandle with attendant cold front from wet of Syracuse
into southwest Nebraska this afternoon. Also a dryline and warmfront
extended south from near LBL into the Texas Panhandle. Ahead and
east of these features has been a stubborn field of stratus clouds
that has created a large temperatures difference from the upper 60s
to low 70s under the cloud cover and contrasted by low 80s over the
Sunny Syracuse-Johnson-Elkhart area. Latest HRRR initiate these
convective elements at 21 UTC along the cold front along the highway
25 corridor with organized elements reaching the highway 83 corridor
by around 10 pm. In addition to a hail and 60-70 mph wind threat, a
sizable area of 1 to 2 inch rain is likely with more localized areas
of 3 and 4 inches just as likely.  Increased Pops over the area as
widespread trailing stratiform precipitation is likely beyond
midnight even as the overall severe risk should be decreasing.
Uncertainty with respect to  and additional marginally elevated
severe pulse hail storms in the southeast will revolve around mid
level wave that will be moving into the area during the overnight
hours. Lows are forecast from the mid 50s west to more mild
summerlike 60s across south central Kansas.

.LONG TERM...(Friday night through Thursday)
Issued at 226 PM CDT Thu May 21 2020

Potential exists for thunderstorms to be ongoing early Friday
morning across the eastern and especially south central Kansas
counties as models show a mid level trough/weak pvu anomaly moving
though the area with still conditionally unstable air. This
should clear out though with sky becoming sunny area wide by
afternoon resulting in temperatures warming into the 80s all the
way to Hays. It will likely remain inactive later in the day
Friday with respect to convection, however the 850 wind field
transitions from weak easterly flow Friday to veering and
increasing winds though Saturday, with stronger south winds, and
better moisture transport ahead of a dryline for Saturday late
afternoon and Saturday evening. As a result , convection is
possible Saturday across the eastern counties. The southwest winds
will make temperatures much warmer on Saturday, before a cold
front tempers highs and focuses severe weather chances once again
along a southward propagating cold front through Sunday night.
This will setup Monday to likely be cooler and cloudy and perhaps
showery with diurnal thunderstorms.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Friday evening)
Issued at 555 PM CDT Thu May 21 2020

The main concern for the TAF forecast is +TSRA for the terminals this
evening. All modes of severe threats will be possible with this activity...
landspouts, large hail, and severe outflow winds of 50+kt. Mid to late
evening is the most likely time of impacts to the terminals. This activity
will eventually evolve into a line and move out of the terminal space
by 06Z. Tranquil weather is expected thereafter. With continued moisture
advection, MVFR cigs may be possible once again by 12Z.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
DDC  56  81  59  91 /  60  20   0   0
GCK  53  81  56  91 /  80  10   0   0
EHA  54  84  56  91 /  40  10   0   0
LBL  54  83  58  93 /  50  20   0   0
HYS  57  80  56  88 /  80  20  10  10
P28  61  81  61  90 /  70  60  10  10

&&

.DDC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NONE.
&&

SHORT TERM...Russell
LONG TERM...Russell
AVIATION...Sugden

Hazardous weather outlook, May 21, 2:45 AM MDT, 15 hours 4 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
345 AM CDT Thu May 21 2020

KSZ030-031-043>046-061>066-074>081-084>090-221000-
Trego-Ellis-Scott-Lane-Ness-Rush-Hamilton-Kearny-Finney-Hodgeman-
Pawnee-Stafford-Stanton-Grant-Haskell-Gray-Ford-Edwards-Kiowa-
Pratt-Morton-Stevens-Seward-Meade-Clark-Comanche-Barber-
345 AM CDT Thu May 21 2020 /245 AM MDT Thu May 21 2020/

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of central...south
central...southwest and west central Kansas.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Day 1 Discussion
----------------

There will be a chance for severe thunderstorms late today and
early tonight. The main hazards will be hail 2 inches and larger,
strong damaging winds greater up to 70 mph and periods of heavy
rainfall. An isolated tornado can not be ruled out.

Day 1 Hazards
-------------
* Tornado: Limited risk
* Hail: Limited risk
* Thunderstorm wind damage: Limited risk
* Lightning: Significant risk
* Non-thunderstorm wind: Limited risk

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.

Days 2-7 Discussion
-------------------

There will be a chance for strong to severe thunderstorms Sunday
night. Large hail and periods of heavy rainfall currently appear
to be the main hazards from these storms.

Days 2-7 Hazards
----------------
* Friday
  - Lightning: Elevated risk
  - Severe thunderstorm: Limited risk

* Saturday
  - Lightning: Limited risk
  - Non thunderstorm wind: Limited risk
  - Fire weather: Elevated risk

* Sunday
  - Lightning: Elevated risk
  - Non thunderstorm wind: Limited risk

* Monday
  - Lightning: Limited risk

* Tuesday
  - Lightning: Limited risk

* Wednesday
  - Lightning: Limited risk

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be required after 4 pm, especially south
of a Garden City to Dodge City line.

&&

For more details visit our webpage
https://weather.gov/crh/ghwo?sid=ddc

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 21, 5:27 PM MDT, 22 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY KS
627 PM CDT THU MAY 21 2020

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

0606 PM     TORNADO          10 S SYRACUSE           37.84N 101.75W
05/21/2020                   HAMILTON           KS   STORM CHASER

            POSSIBLE TORNADO REPORTED BY MEDIA - SMALL
            CIRCULATION EVIDENCED BY FIELD DUST.

&&

MR

Local storm report, May 21, 5:37 PM MDT, 12 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY KS
637 PM CDT THU MAY 21 2020

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

0635 PM     HAIL             2 N KENDALL             37.96N 101.54W
05/21/2020  E1.75 INCH       HAMILTON           KS   LAW ENFORCEMENT

&&

Local storm report, May 21, 5:41 PM MDT, 8 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY KS
641 PM CDT THU MAY 21 2020

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

0635 PM     HAIL             5 S SYRACUSE            37.91N 101.75W
05/21/2020  E1.00 INCH       HAMILTON           KS   STORM CHASER

&&

MR

Special weather statement, May 21, 5:41 PM MDT, 8 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
641 PM CDT Thu May 21 2020

KSZ086-220030-
Seward KS-
641 PM CDT Thu May 21 2020

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN SEWARD COUNTY
UNTIL 730 PM CDT...

At 641 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 10
miles northeast of Woods, moving north at 15 mph.

Penny size hail will be possible with this storm.

This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of northern Seward
County.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT for
southwestern Kansas.

LAT...LON 3721 10104 3738 10104 3739 10069 3739 10066
      3719 10078
TIME...MOT...LOC 2341Z 200DEG 11KT 3724 10093

UMSCHEID

Local storm report, May 21, 5:43 PM MDT, 6 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY KS
643 PM CDT THU MAY 21 2020

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

0641 PM     HAIL             6 S SYRACUSE            37.90N 101.76W
05/21/2020  E1.00 INCH       HAMILTON           KS   PUBLIC

&&

Local storm report, May 21, 5:44 PM MDT, 5 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY KS
644 PM CDT THU MAY 21 2020

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

0641 PM     HAIL             8 SSW KENDALL           37.83N 101.60W
05/21/2020  E1.50 INCH       HAMILTON           KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 21, 3:23 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	DDC	Hamilton	37 min
May 21, 3:46 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	DDC	Hamilton	44 min
May 21, 3:54 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	DDC	Seward	51 min
May 21, 4:09 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DDC	Seward, Stevens	51 min
May 21, 4:16 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	DDC	Hamilton	29 min
May 21, 4:19 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DDC	Hamilton	41 min
May 21, 4:22 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	DDC	Hamilton	38 min
May 21, 4:28 PM MDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	DDC	Hamilton	32 min
May 21, 4:38 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	DDC	Grant	37 min
May 21, 4:48 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DDC	Grant, Haskell, Seward, Stevens	42 min
May 21, 4:53 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DDC	Hamilton	52 min
May 21, 4:57 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DDC	Seward, Stevens	48 min
May 21, 5:04 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	DDC	Grant	26 min
May 21, 5:06 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	DDC	Kearny	24 min
May 21, 5:09 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DDC	Hamilton, Kearny	51 min
May 21, 5:13 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DDC	Grant, Hamilton, Kearny, Stanton	47 min
May 21, 5:37 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DDC	Hamilton	38 min
May 21, 5:41 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	DDC	Seward	49 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Kansas, 2020 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2020

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.