A dissipating thunderstorm produced a 62-knot/71 mph gust that was measured by the Great Bend AWOS.
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The episode as NWS ICT wrote it up.
A dissipating thunderstorm produced a 62-knot/71 mph gust that was measured by the Great Bend AWOS.
The local office's own words before the first event, 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 the first event at May 23, 5:43 PM CST, 4 hours 22 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Wichita KS 643 PM CDT Thu May 23 2019 .SYNOPSIS... Issued at 258 PM CDT Thu May 23 2019 Thunderstorms with heavy rain, flooding, and severe weather will continue to threaten the region through the Memorial Day weekend and possibly all the way into the middle of next week. Given the recent rains, some significant flash flooding will be possible at times. && .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Saturday night) Issued at 258 PM CDT Thu May 23 2019 Hand analysis and satellite imagery early this afternoon depict a surface low/triple point over the TX Panhandle, with a warm front extending to the east along the KS/OK border. Aloft, an upper low is spinning over the Great Basin, with an embedded s/w moving through WRN CO. Models differ on how far north the warm front will get through this evening, which will play an important role in the severe weather hazards. Just south of the warm front is a broad area of low to mid 70s dewpoints. Through this evening, the low-level jet will continue to increase, leading to increasing WAA and moisture transport. Of note, blended TPW products show an impressive surge of moisture riding north through TX at this time and is poised to reach Kansas by this evening. The increasing WAA/moisture transport combined with a glancing influence from the above-mentioned s/w should foster several rounds of thunderstorms through tonight. Storms that develop over/near the TX/OK Panhandles may have a tendency to build/propagate ENE along the northward-advancing warm front. North of the warm front, thinking the greatest threat will be large hail (with some significantly large hail possible near the warm front where instability will be maximized). Near and to the south of the warm front is where SFC- based convection will be possible. Backed SFC winds in this area combined with a general veering profile aloft should support a tornado threat into this evening. Given the low level shear/helicity forecast, a conditional threat of strong tornadoes may develop, especially if any discrete or semi-discrete cells can develop. Watch for meso-updates later if this threat becomes more likely. At this time, thinking the tornado risk will be focused over south-central KS. Regarding the storm mode, shear vectors will tend to be oriented more parallel with the frontal boundary, likely leading to more of a tendency for upscale growth with time. However, as the warm front continues to push north, it may begin to be oriented more SW to NE, and be oriented a bit more perpendicular to the deep layer shear. Should this occur, discrete or semi-discrete cells would be more probable. Regardless of initial storm mode, upscale growth into multiple clusters/small MCS' seems plausible overnight, with an increased risk of flash flooding. The Flash Flood Watch was expanded east some to account for a bit more eastward propagation of the zone of convection and we'll continue to refine this area if needed. Given the surge of moisture incoming and interacting with the frontal boundary in the area, enhanced rainfall rates/amounts are likely, potentially focused from near Medicine Lodge up through portions of central /south-central KS. Given the recent rainfall and wet soils, it won't take much for flash flooding. The setup could lead to some significant/higher-impact flash flooding. The convective evolution through tonight will play an important role in tomorrow's thunderstorm/severe threat. Favorable deep layer shear combined with modest instability within the frontal zone could favor some strong to severe storms, although the threat may tend to be more conditional based on early-day convection. Temperatures were cooled some on Friday as tonight's convection may tend to limit how much heating can occur. On Saturday, a stronger s/w is forecast to cross the region with a renewed potential of strong to severe thunderstorms and heavy rain. It could be that convection forms on the High Plains, then pushes E/SE across the area. We'll continue to refine the severe potential in the coming days. Martin .LONG TERM...(Sunday through Thursday) Issued at 258 PM CDT Thu May 23 2019 Beyond Saturday, SW flow aloft will continue across the Plains with embedded shortwaves traversing the area with a continued risk of thunderstorms and heavy rainfall. Each wave will be able to tap into an unstable and very moist environment, which will likely keep a continued risk of flooding and severe weather going through at least early next week. A stronger s/w may finally push through Tuesday or Wednesday with at least a temporary break in the active weather. The main takeaway here is the active pattern continues and flooding will only worsen, with not much of a break in the rain. Martin && .AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Friday evening) Issued at 637 PM CDT Thu May 23 2019 Main aviation concerns: TSRA, low clouds, and LLWS A broad zone of TSRA extends from the TX Panhandle northeast through southern Nebraska. This axis may shift east some through the night, with TSRA impacts likely along the I-135 corridor, and possible east of there. For now, we'll handle the KCNU and vicinity with VCTS as confidence is lower in whether or not TSRA will get that far overnight. Elsewhere, TSRA with sudden reductions in VIS, gusty winds, and hail will be possible. There will also be a conditional tornado threat, primarily along the Kansas Turnpike corridor. TSRA may weaken some by Friday morning, with renewed development possible in the afternoon. The focus in the afternoon may tend to be southeast Kansas, but that will depend on how far east the storms get tonight. Low clouds will plague much of the area over the next 24 hours, although the clouds may trend a bit more SCT tomorrow afternoon in the wake of early day storms. Martin && .HYDROLOGY... Issued at 258 PM CDT Thu May 23 2019 A heightened flash flood risk may develop this evening through the overnight hours as multiple rounds of thunderstorms move over the same general area. There is still some uncertainty regarding the convective evolution, but given the recent rains, wet soils, and high moisture content, the potential of very efficient rainfall exists. Where storms train over the same area, we could be looking at 3-5"+. If storms end up more progressive, the amounts could be lower overall. But, with very low flash flood guidance, it won't take much to cause flooding. Aside from the flash flood threat, river flooding will continue to be a significant and long-lasting threat well into next week. Martin && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Wichita-KICT 65 75 67 81 / 90 70 50 30 Hutchinson 62 75 66 81 / 90 40 50 30 Newton 64 75 67 81 / 90 60 50 30 ElDorado 66 76 69 80 / 80 70 50 30 Winfield-KWLD 67 78 69 80 / 80 80 40 30 Russell 55 77 64 82 / 80 20 40 20 Great Bend 56 77 64 82 / 80 30 30 30 Salina 62 77 66 83 / 90 40 60 30 McPherson 61 76 66 81 / 90 40 60 30 Coffeyville 71 83 69 82 / 10 30 20 20 Chanute 70 81 69 81 / 30 40 30 40 Iola 70 81 69 81 / 40 50 40 40 Parsons-KPPF 71 82 69 82 / 30 30 30 30 && .ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Flash Flood Watch through Saturday morning for KSZ032-033- 047>053-067>070-082-083-091>093. && SYNOPSIS...RM SHORT TERM...RM LONG TERM...RM AVIATION...RM HYDROLOGY...RM
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Wichita KS 339 PM CDT Thu May 23 2019 KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-242045- 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- 339 PM CDT Thu May 23 2019 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of Central Kansas, South Central Kansas and Southeast Kansas. .DAY ONE...Tonight Scattered to numerous thunderstorms are expected to move across central and south-central Kansas through tonight, possibly reaching as far east as western sections of southeast Kansas. Some storms will be severe with large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes. At this time, the greatest tornado threat looks to be focused over south-central Kansas. In that area, a conditional threat for a few strong tornadoes is possible. Elsewhere, hail of golf ball or larger is possible, along with wind gusts to 70 mph. Additionally, a flash flood threat is expected to develop as thunderstorms may tend to train over the same areas, especially this evening through tonight. The potential exists for some significant and life-threatening flash flooding to develop. Please see the Flash Flood Watch for additional information. Significant river flooding will continue to be a threat as well. Please see the latest River Flood Warnings for the latest information. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday Thunderstorms with heavy rain, flooding, and severe weather will continue to threaten the area at times through the Memorial Day weekend and potentially all the way into the middle of next week. Please continue to monitor later forecasts as we refine the threat areas for each day. Significant and high-impact river flooding will continue well into next week. Please see the latest River Flood Warnings for the latest information. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is likely through tonight. && For a graphical version of this information, see our webpage at: http://weather.gov/wichita/hwo/ Martin
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
703 PM CDT THU MAY 23 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0658 PM HAIL KANOPOLIS 38.71N 98.16W
05/23/2019 M1.00 INCH ELLSWORTH KS TRAINED SPOTTER
&&Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wichita KS
703 PM CDT Thu May 23 2019
KSZ033-240030-
Lincoln KS-
703 PM CDT Thu May 23 2019
The National Weather Service in Wichita has issued a
* Significant Weather Advisory for...
Northeastern Lincoln County in central Kansas...
* Until 730 PM CDT.
* At 701 PM CDT...National Weather Service meteorologists were
tracking a strong thunderstorm near Lincoln...moving northeast at
45 mph.
Hail up to the size of nickels...and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be
possible with this storm.
* Locations impacted include...
Barnard.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT for
central Kansas.
LAT...LON 3922 9794 3921 9793 3908 9793 3908 9816
3901 9819 3906 9833 3922 9828
TIME...MOT...LOC 0002Z 202DEG 38KT 3910 9822
VAUGHANPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
706 PM CDT THU MAY 23 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0701 PM HAIL 6 E ELLSWORTH 38.74N 98.12W
05/23/2019 M1.00 INCH ELLSWORTH KS TRAINED SPOTTER
&&Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Wichita KS 851 PM CDT Thu May 23 2019 KSZ032-047-240230- Russell KS-Barton KS- 851 PM CDT Thu May 23 2019 The National Weather Service in Wichita has issued a * Significant Weather Advisory for... Russell County in central Kansas... Barton County in central Kansas... * Until 930 PM CDT. * At 848 PM CDT...National Weather Service Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm with locally heavy rainfall over Pfeifer... moving northeast at 35 mph. Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm. * Locations impacted include... Great Bend, Russell, Hoisington, Ellinwood, Wilson, Claflin, Lucas, Gorham, Pawnee Rock, Luray, Dorrance, Albert, Olmitz, Milberger, Bunker Hill, Paradise, Galatia, Susank, Waldo and Great Bend Airport. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Be prepared to take shelter in the event the storms intensify and become severe...or a warning is issued by the National Weather Service. Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. && A Tornado Watch remains in effect until midnight CDT for central Kansas. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT for central Kansas. LAT...LON 3913 9904 3913 9848 3826 9848 3826 9903 TIME...MOT...LOC 0150Z 216DEG 32KT 3871 9912 VAUGHAN
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wichita KS
934 PM CDT Thu May 23 2019
KSZ049-240300-
Saline KS-
934 PM CDT Thu May 23 2019
The National Weather Service in Wichita has issued a
* Significant Weather Advisory for...
Saline County in central Kansas...
* Until 1000 PM CDT.
* At 931 PM CDT...National Weather Service Doppler radar was tracking
a strong thunderstorm with locally heavy rainfall near Brookville,
or 10 miles southwest of Salina...moving northeast at 35 mph.
Hail up to the size of dimes will be possible with this storm.
* Locations impacted include...
Salina, Assaria, Brookville, Smolan, New Cambria, Falun, Glendale,
Bridgeport, Salina Airport and Kipp.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until midnight CDT for central
Kansas.
LAT...LON 3896 9737 3892 9738 3890 9737 3862 9753
3861 9785 3875 9792 3896 9789
TIME...MOT...LOC 0233Z 216DEG 32KT 3875 9780
VAUGHANSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wichita KS
1059 PM CDT Thu May 23 2019
KSZ052-240430-
Marion KS-
1059 PM CDT Thu May 23 2019
The National Weather Service in Wichita has issued a
* Significant Weather Advisory for...
Northern Marion County in central Kansas...
* Until 1130 PM CDT.
* At 1057 PM CDT...National Weather Service meteorologists were
tracking a strong thunderstorm 6 miles south of Carlton, or 15
miles northeast of Canton...moving northeast at 45 mph.
Hail up to the size of nickels...and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be
possible with this storm.
* Locations impacted include...
Lincolnville, Ramona, Durham, Tampa, Lost Springs, Pilsen and
Marion Lake.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until midnight CDT for central
Kansas.
LAT...LON 3852 9693 3852 9682 3851 9682 3841 9715
3838 9737 3861 9737 3861 9693
TIME...MOT...LOC 0358Z 223DEG 38KT 3859 9731
VAUGHANThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The 62-knot gust was measured by the Great Bend (KGBD) AWOS. No damage was reported.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kansas in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Kansas, May 2019
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 825524.