Alert archive / Kansas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2024

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 38, NWS Wichita, KS

April 27, 2024Chautauqua County, Cowley County, Kansas

NWS Wichita, KS issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Apr 27, 2024, 4:30 PM CDT for Chautauqua County, Cowley County, Kansas. It was in force for 45 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
Apr 27, 2024, 4:30 PM CDT (21:30 UTC)
Expired
Apr 27, 2024, 5:15 PM CDT
In force
45 min
Issued by
NWS Wichita, KS
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.0 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Chautauqua County, KS, Cowley County, KS

The radar

The Wichita radar (KICT), 95 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:30 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
Apr 27, 11:51 AM CDTTornado WatchSPC8 hr

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 Apr 27, 3:19 PM CDT, 1 hour 11 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Thunderstorms likely through tonight, some of which will be severe. All severe hazards are possible.
  • Slight risk of a few severe storms eastern KS Sunday PM.
  • Off-and-on thunderstorm chances return Tuesday afternoon through Thursday night.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 27, 3:19 PM CDT, 1 hour 11 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Wichita KS
319 PM CDT Sat Apr 27 2024

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Thunderstorms likely through tonight, some of which will be
  severe. All severe hazards are possible.

- Slight risk of a few severe storms eastern KS Sunday PM.

- Off-and-on thunderstorm chances return Tuesday afternoon
  through Thursday night.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 316 PM CDT Sat Apr 27 2024

Thunderstorm mode has ended up being rather messy so far given
meridional component to mid-upper flow, multiple storms on the
scope, and multiple storm mergers. This should tend to limit how
many storms are capable of "higher-end" severe weather. However,
strong low and deep layer shear coupled with moderate to strong
instability will continue to favor a severe weather threat,
especially over southeast Kansas were the airmass has been
relatively undisturbed (outside of dense anvil debris). In this
area, favorable low-level shear, low-level instability, and low
cloud bases will support tornadoes with any embedded supercell or
QLCS structures. Damaging winds are also possible. The large hail
threat (anything greater than golfballs or so) will likely be
confined to cells that remain more discrete.

Another area of concern is north-central Kansas, where a slowly
northward retreating boundary is situated. Any cells that can become
rooted along this boundary will ingest rich low-level shear
along/just north of the boundary, and be capable of all severe
hazards (including tornadoes).

Additional storms may develop this afternoon-evening up and down the
dryline across western portions of KS-OK, with this activity then
tracking rapidly northeast. There's some concern that current
widespread storm coverage and associated dense anvil cirrus east of
the dryline will limit instability and associated storm potential
along the dryline. However, if storms are able to form, CAPE/shear
combination will support all severe hazards with this activity,
especially if storms can remain more discrete.

A third round of storms may develop by later this evening over
western and central portions of KS-OK, ahead of approaching upper
forcing and mid-level cooling. The primary threat with this activity
would likely be 60+ mph winds (if storms are able to become severe)
given the stronger forcing and increasingly unfavorable hodographs.

Another threat we don't want to forget this afternoon through
tonight is heavy rainfall and localized flooding, especially from
roughly the KS Turnpike corridor on southeast, as numerous
thunderstorms continue to train northeast. Pockets of 1-3+ inches
are likely, and may fall in a short period. Consequently, areas of
street and low-land flooding are likely, along with modest to sharp
rises in area streams and rivers, again mainly along and southeast
of the KS Turnpike.

For Sunday, a few strong to severe thunderstorms will remain
possible over eastern KS, generally along and east of the Flint
Hills corridor, as the dryline continues to advance east. If a storm
or two is able to form (they may struggle due to decreasing
forcing), hail and wind would be the primary threats.

Taking a look ahead...an off-and-on active weather pattern
thunderstorm-wise looks to take shape once again Tuesday
afternoon/evening through Thursday night. Stay tuned, as we continue
to refine forecast details the next several days.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SUNDAY/...
Issued at 1231 PM CDT Sat Apr 27 2024

Plenty of concerns with the terminals as return flow ahead of a wavy
nearby frontal system and Rockies upper low were supplying
ammunition for the potential for severe thunderstorms this afternoon
and tonight. Non-convective low level wind shear along with
gusts to 35 mph away from thunderstorms are also possible
tonight along with poor flying conditions in convection. In
addition, winds of over 50 knots, large hail and tornadoes are
also possible.

&&

.ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Flood Watch through Sunday afternoon for KSZ052-053-068>072-
083-091>096-098>100.

&&

DISCUSSION...ADK
AVIATION...MK
Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 27, 3:23 AM CDT, 13 hours 7 minutes before
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In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 27, 3:32 PM CDT, 58 minutes before
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Local storm report, Apr 27, 3:33 PM CDT, 57 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wichita KS
333 PM CDT Sat Apr 27 2024

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

0325 PM     Hail             Caldwell                37.03N 97.62W
04/27/2024  M0.50 Inch       Sumner             KS   Public

            Report from mPING: Half-inch (0.50 in.).

&&

JAS
Local storm report, Apr 27, 3:39 PM CDT, 51 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wichita KS
339 PM CDT Sat Apr 27 2024

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

0338 PM     Hail             2 N Dexter              37.21N 96.71W
04/27/2024  M1.00 Inch       Cowley             KS   Trained Spotter

&&
Local storm report, Apr 27, 3:55 PM CDT, 35 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Apr 27, 4:00 PM CDT, 30 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wichita KS
400 PM CDT Sat Apr 27 2024

KSZ069-083-092-093-272145-
Butler KS-Cowley KS-Sumner KS-Sedgwick KS-
400 PM CDT Sat Apr 27 2024

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN COWLEY...
SOUTHEASTERN SEDGWICK...SOUTHERN BUTLER AND NORTHEASTERN SUMNER
COUNTIES THROUGH 445 PM CDT...

At 358 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Mulvane, moving northeast at 60 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and half inch hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Wichita, Derby, El Dorado, Andover, Haysville, Augusta, Mulvane, Rose
Hill, Douglass, Belle Plaine, Towanda, Oxford, Udall, Leon, Mcconnell
Air Force Base, South Wichita, Rock, Santa Fe Lake, Augusta Municipal
Airport, and Oaklawn.

This includes Interstate 35 between Mile Markers 26 and 41, and
between Mile Markers 50 and 76.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 700 PM CDT for south central
Kansas.

&&

LAT...LON 3723 9719 3749 9746 3793 9690 3775 9664
TIME...MOT...LOC 2058Z 219DEG 53KT 3743 9721

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

METZGER
Local storm report, Apr 27, 4:09 PM CDT, 21 minutes before
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 27, 11:47 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatICTCowley, Sumner58 min
Apr 27, 12:43 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTButler, Cowley, Sumner62 min
Apr 27, 12:56 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTButler49 min
Apr 27, 1:32 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTButler, Elk, Greenwood43 min
Apr 27, 1:46 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementICTLincoln14 min
Apr 27, 2:03 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatICTSumner57 min
Apr 27, 2:22 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementICTRussell38 min
Apr 27, 2:39 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTButler, Chase, Greenwood66 min
Apr 27, 2:40 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTChase30 min
Apr 27, 2:49 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTCowley56 min
Apr 27, 2:50 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementICTLincoln25 min
Apr 27, 2:55 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedICTCowley35 min
Apr 27, 2:59 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementICTRussell31 min
Apr 27, 3:20 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTHarper, Sumner40 min
Apr 27, 3:20 PM CDTTornado WarningICTChautauqua, Cowley40 min
Apr 27, 3:27 PM CDTTornado WarningICTChautauqua, Cowley, Elk48 min
Apr 27, 3:36 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTRussell24 min
Apr 27, 3:59 PM CDTTornado WarningICTChautauqua, Cowley31 min
Apr 27, 4:00 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementICTButler45 min
Apr 27, 4:04 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTCowley56 min
Apr 27, 4:07 PM CDTTornado WarningICTCowley18 min
Apr 27, 4:14 PM CDTTornado WarningICTElk61 min
Apr 27, 4:34 PM CDTTornado WarningICTChautauqua, Cowley21 min
Apr 27, 4:52 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTCowley53 min
Apr 27, 4:54 PM CDTTornado WarningICTElk36 min
Apr 27, 4:57 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedICTGreenwood, Wilson, Woodson48 min
Apr 27, 4:58 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementICTSumner47 min
Apr 27, 5:02 PM CDTAreal Flood WarningICTCowley4 hr
Apr 27, 5:07 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTChautauqua, Elk53 min
Apr 27, 5:10 PM CDTTornado WarningICTElk12 min
Apr 27, 5:17 PM CDTTornado WarningICTWilson28 min
Apr 27, 5:19 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTChautauqua, Cowley56 min
Apr 27, 5:28 PM CDTTornado WarningICTChautauqua, Cowley32 min
Apr 27, 5:29 PM CDTAreal Flood WarningICTChautauqua, Cowley, Elk, Greenwood6 hr
Apr 27, 5:43 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTWilson, Woodson47 min
Apr 27, 5:52 PM CDTTornado Warning Considerable damage threatICTChautauqua38 min
Apr 27, 5:56 PM CDTTornado WarningICTWilson, Woodson20 min
Apr 27, 6:09 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTAllen, Neosho51 min
Apr 27, 6:13 PM CDTTornado WarningICTChautauqua32 min
Apr 27, 6:30 PM CDTTornado WarningICTMontgomery30 min
Apr 27, 6:50 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningICTMontgomery, Wilson55 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Kansas, 2024Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2024

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.