Alert archive / Kansas / Tornado Warnings in 2024

Tornado Warning 41, NWS Wichita, KS

April 30, 2024Butler County, Kansas

NWS Wichita, KS issued this tornado warning at Apr 30, 2024, 6:14 PM CDT for Butler County, Kansas. It was in force for 16 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued: Apr 30, 2024, 6:14 PM CDT (23:14 UTC)
Expired: Apr 30, 2024, 6:30 PM CDT
In force: 16 min
Issued by: NWS Wichita, KS
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Radar indicated
Hail: 1.5 in

County Butler County, KS

The radar

The Wichita radar (KICT), 58 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:17 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.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this tornado warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

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
Apr 30, 3:28 PM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Topeka, KS (KTOP), launched 12:00Z, 11.2 hours before the alert went out and 188 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: 5 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -192 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1578 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 26 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 40 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 87 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

186 
WFUS53 KICT 302314
TORICT
KSC015-010015-
/O.NEW.KICT.TO.W.0041.240430T2314Z-240501T0015Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Wichita KS
614 PM CDT Tue Apr 30 2024

The National Weather Service in Wichita has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Southern Butler County in south central Kansas...

* Until 715 PM CDT.

* At 614 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located near Douglass, moving northeast at 35 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 dangerous storm will be near...
  Leon around 630 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Rosalia.

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 3760 9704 3789 9660 3749 9652 3748 9652
      3747 9681 3748 9699
TIME...MOT...LOC 2314Z 242DEG 32KT 3755 9698 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.50 IN

$$

JAKUB

2 follow-up statements

007 
WWUS53 KICT 302326
SVSICT

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wichita KS
626 PM CDT Tue Apr 30 2024

KSC015-010015-
/O.CON.KICT.TO.W.0041.000000T0000Z-240501T0015Z/
Butler KS-
626 PM CDT Tue Apr 30 2024

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 715 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN BUTLER COUNTY...

At 623 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 8 miles south of Leon, moving east at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and quarter 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
southeastern Butler County, including the following locations...
Rosalia.

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 3763 9695 3789 9660 3749 9652 3748 9652
      3747 9681 3748 9693
TIME...MOT...LOC 2323Z 252DEG 25KT 3758 9684 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN

$$

JAKUB

381 
WWUS53 KICT 302330
SVSICT

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wichita KS
630 PM CDT Tue Apr 30 2024

KSC015-302339-
/O.CAN.KICT.TO.W.0041.000000T0000Z-240501T0015Z/
Butler KS-
630 PM CDT Tue Apr 30 2024

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN BUTLER COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

The storm which prompted the warning has weakened with the rotation 
and no longer appears capable of producing a tornado.
Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.  However, small hail is
still possible with this thunderstorm.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for south central
and southeastern Kansas.

&&

LAT...LON 3763 9695 3789 9660 3749 9652 3748 9652
      3747 9681 3748 9693
TIME...MOT...LOC 2327Z 242DEG 32KT 3761 9678 

$$

JAKUB

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado 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 tornado warning went out at Apr 30, 2:54 PM CDT, 3 hours 20 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

Late afternoon evening storms possible along and especially east of I-135. Severe storms likely with any storm that develops along the front.
Evening storms may add to the ongoing flooding issues from the Flint Hills into southeast KS.
Additional storms likely on Wed with severe storms again possible, especially west of I-135.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 30, 2:54 PM CDT, 3 hours 20 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Wichita KS
254 PM CDT Tue Apr 30 2024

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Late afternoon evening storms possible along and especially
  east of I-135. Severe storms likely with any storm that
  develops along the front.

- Evening storms may add to the ongoing flooding issues from the
  Flint Hills into southeast KS.

- Additional storms likely on Wed with severe storms again
  possible, especially west of I-135.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 254 PM CDT Tue Apr 30 2024

Water vapor imagery currently shows some shortwave energy
lifting across Eastern Nebraska with the main upper trough still
back over the Northern Intermountain. At the surface, Pacific
front/dryline extends from eastern Nebraska to near KSLN and
just northwest of KHUT.

Front/dryline will continue tracking east this afternoon and by
21z is expected to extend generally along or just west of I-135.
Storms are expected to develop along the boundary generally in
the 20-23z time frame. Confidence on the more widespread
activity is still higher further north, closer to the better
upper dynamics and further away from weak high rises. However,
almost all of the CAMs are developing storms in our forecast
area, which makes sense given the extreme instability and
minimal capping. With an abundance of instability and modest
deep layer shear, still looking for supercells with large hail
and damaging winds possible. Can't rule out a brief tornado,
given the presence of decent 0-3km CAPE and a sharp boundary,
especially if a storm can remain anchored on it for a period of
time. As the storms track off to the east this evening, they
will be moving into an area that has already seen extreme
rainfall the last several days, so flooding would become more
likely. So the current flood watch looks on track.

Low level jet will increase as the evening hours progress which
will impinge on the front as it starts to lay out more east-
west. This should lead to continued storm development and
potential back-building which may lead to additional flooding,
especially over the Flint Hills along and south of Highway 400.
Starting to feel more confident that showers and storms will
linger across at least south central and southeast KS throughout
much of Wed morning as 850-700mb moisture transport persists.
In addition, a tight 700mb baroclinic zone will move through
during the morning hours which should help showers and storms
continue. With CAPE above 850mb in the 1,000-2,000J/KG range,
some large hail will remain possible with any of the storms Wed
morning.

The main question will be if and how many storms develop on the
dryline/triple point Wed afternoon/early evening. The model
trends have been to push the warm front/dryline further to the
southwest with the triple point now expected to be between Pratt
and Dodge City where yesterday at this time it looked like it
would be west of Great Bend. With the better upper forcing still
back to the west and northwest, current thinking is that we will
not get numerous storms to develop along it with just a few
storms likely. All severe hazards will be possible with any
storm that develops along the dryline late Wed afternoon/early
evening and will track off the east. So for surfaced based
convection Wed, feel areas west of I-135 will have the best
chance, generally after 22z as storms move-in from the west.
Another round of elevated storms will be possible Wed
evening/night as the better upper forcing moves out of the
Rockies and into the High Plains. Locations along and north of
I-70 will have the best chance to see this activity.

Storm chances will remain over the area on Thursday as the
front moves back through the forecast area with southeast KS
having the only chance for storms on Thu night. By 12z Fri, the
upper low will be lifting across the Upper Mississippi Valley
with westerly mid and upper flow across the Plains. Meanwhile,
the surface boundary is expected to stretch from southern MO
into southeast OK, which is where the better storm chances will
also be located. We should see a break in storm activity during
the day Fri with additional development Fri night as a fast
moving impulse slides across Nebraska, which will push another
cold front through the forecast area. Storms are expected to be
moving off to the east Sat morning with most of Sat dry.
However, both ECMWF and GFS still agree on lifting a southern
stream impulse out of the Desert Southwest and across the
Southern Plains for late Sat night into Sun which may bring a
round of showers and storms to mainly southern KS on Sun.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 1249 PM CDT Tue Apr 30 2024

A number of aviation concerns are expected over the next 24
hours.

SCT to BKN MVFR cigs are slowly moving eastward across south-
central Kansas early this afternoon, but shouldn't affect TAF
sites from here on out. VFR conditions should prevail at most
TAF sites until about 22Z.

A weak frontal boundary/dry line sliding across the area, and a
pronounced wind shift from southerly to northwest/westerly.
Sustained winds are generally around 15 to 20 knots with gusts
up to 30 to 35 knots on both sides of the boundary.

By 22Z, thunderstorm development is anticipated along the
boundary, and a line of broken strong to severe storms will
gradually slide eastward through the late afternoon and evening
hours along and east of the Kansas Turnpike. The main concerns
will be very large hail, damaging wind gusts, and perhaps a
tornado or two. These storms may impact KICT, but it's
difficult to go with more than a PROB30 at this time given
coverage may be isolated. Storms are expected to continue moving
eastward tonight, and KCNU may also be impacted later tonight.
Additional thunderstorm development is expected during the
nighttime hours into Wednesday morning, but this activity is not
expected to be severe. However, frequent lightning and heavy
rainfall may accompany these storms Wednesday morning.

&&

.ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Flood Watch from 8 PM CDT this evening through Wednesday
morning for KSZ069>072-093>096-098>100.

&&

DISCUSSION...RBL
AVIATION...JC

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 30, 5:25 PM CDT, 49 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Wichita KS
525 PM CDT Tue Apr 30 2024

KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-011030-
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-
525 PM CDT Tue Apr 30 2024

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

.DAY ONE...This evening and Tonight

Pockets of areal flooding and river flooding are ongoing over
southeast Kansas, especially along the Neosho and Verdigris Rivers.
See latest flood warnings for additional details.

Severe thunderstorms are likely this eveninG into the overnight
hours, mainly along and east of Interstate 135. The strongest storms
will be capable of large hail up to golf ball size, damaging winds
up to 70 mph, and a tornado or two. As the evening progresses the
threats will shift to damaging winds up to 60 mph and heavy rainfall
resulting in additional flooding. See latest flood watch for
additional details.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday

Scattered storms will be possible Wednesday morning, especially
across southern Kansas. Hail up to quarter size will be possible
with this activity. Additional storms are expected to develop late
Wednesday afternoon over west-central Kansas and track east,
possibly affecting locations west of I-135 after 5 pm. All severe
weather hazards will be possible with this activity.

Periodic thunderstorm chances will remain in the forecast for
Thursday through the weekend. Strong to severe thunderstorms are
possible, along with additional heavy rainfall and localized
flooding. Stay tuned, as we continue to refine the forecast the next
few days.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed tonight.

&&

For a graphical version of this information, see our webpage at:
https://www.weather.gov/erh/ghwo?wfo=ict

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 30, 5:55 PM CDT, 19 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wichita KS
555 PM CDT Tue Apr 30 2024

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

0534 PM     Hail             5 WSW Newton            38.03N 97.43W
04/30/2024  E1.00 Inch       Harvey             KS   Public

            Picture received via Facebook.

&&

JC

Local storm report, Apr 30, 5:56 PM CDT, 18 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wichita KS
556 PM CDT Tue Apr 30 2024

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

0556 PM     Hail             2 W Whitewater          37.97N 97.19W
04/30/2024  M1.00 Inch       Harvey             KS   NWS Employee

&&

JC

Local storm report, Apr 30, 5:58 PM CDT, 16 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wichita KS
558 PM CDT Tue Apr 30 2024

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

0557 PM     Hail             4 S Whitewater          37.91N 97.15W
04/30/2024  E1.00 Inch       Butler             KS   Trained Spotter

&&

Local storm report, Apr 30, 6:04 PM CDT, 10 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wichita KS
604 PM CDT Tue Apr 30 2024

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

0540 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     3 E Sedgwick            37.91N 97.37W
04/30/2024                   Sedgwick           KS   Emergency Mngr

            Delayed report. Power poles down at 125th
            and Meridian. Time estimated by radar.

&&

JC

Local storm report, Apr 30, 6:06 PM CDT, 8 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wichita KS
606 PM CDT Tue Apr 30 2024

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

0605 PM     Hail             Douglass                37.52N 97.01W
04/30/2024  M1.00 Inch       Butler             KS   Trained Spotter

            Quarter sized hail with up to 50 mph winds.

&&

JC

Local storm report, Apr 30, 6:14 PM CDT, 0 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wichita KS
614 PM CDT Tue Apr 30 2024

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

0614 PM     Hail             1 WNW Benton            37.80N 97.13W
04/30/2024  E1.00 Inch       Butler             KS   Emergency Mngr

&&

JC

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 30, 2:47 AM CDT	Flood Watch	ICT	Allen, Butler, Chautauqua, Cowley, Elk, Greenwood and 5 more	25 hr
Apr 30, 4:15 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	ICT	Kingman	30 min
Apr 30, 4:27 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	ICT	Harvey	33 min
Apr 30, 4:34 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Harvey	41 min
Apr 30, 4:47 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	ICT	Reno	13 min
Apr 30, 5:07 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Chase, Marion	68 min
Apr 30, 5:10 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Harvey, Sedgwick	65 min
Apr 30, 5:15 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Harvey	45 min
Apr 30, 5:30 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Kingman, Sedgwick	45 min
Apr 30, 5:36 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	ICT	Harvey	13 min
Apr 30, 5:51 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Butler	54 min
Apr 30, 5:53 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Harvey	23 min
Apr 30, 5:54 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Butler, Sedgwick	96 min
Apr 30, 6:15 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Harper, Kingman, Sedgwick, Sumner	30 min
Apr 30, 6:20 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Sedgwick	9 min
Apr 30, 6:21 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Butler, Cowley	54 min
Apr 30, 6:35 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Cowley, Sumner	55 min
Apr 30, 6:38 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	ICT	Cowley	23 min
Apr 30, 6:46 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Butler, Greenwood	22 min
Apr 30, 6:52 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ICT	Harper, Sumner	53 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Kansas, 2024 Every tornado warning in 2024 Tornadoes 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.