Tornadoes · United States · Kansas · 2003

F0 tornado, Cedar Vale to Sedan, Kansas, April 30, 2003

From Cedar Vale to Sedan, this F0 tornado ran 0.5 miles across Chautauqua County on April 30, 2003, touching down at 10:58 PM CDT and reaching 55 yards wide. It killed nobody.

The rating scale

Tracks are drawn in the color of the rating. The Fujita scale rates the damage rather than measuring the wind: the speeds are what that damage is taken to imply.

  1. F040 to 72 mphthis tornado

    Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.

  2. F173 to 112 mph

    Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.

  3. F2113 to 157 mph

    Considerable damage. Roofs torn off well-built houses, frame homes shifted on their foundations, mobile homes destroyed, large trees snapped or uprooted, cars lifted off the ground.

  4. F3158 to 206 mph

    Severe damage. Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned, trees debarked, heavy cars lifted and thrown.

  5. F4207 to 260 mph

    Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.

  6. F5261 to 318 mph

    Incredible damage. Strong frame houses swept off their foundations, car-sized missiles thrown more than 100 meters, steel-reinforced concrete badly damaged, high-rise buildings deformed.

  7. Unrated

    The survey recorded a tornado but could not put a number on it, most often because it crossed open country and damaged nothing a rating can be read from.

The record

Rating
F0
Date
April 30, 2003
Touchdown
10:58 PM CDT (03:58 UTC)
Path length
0.5 miles (0.8 km)
Path width
55 yards (50 m)
Deaths
0
Injuries
0
County
Chautauqua County
Touchdown point
37.220, -96.280
Lift-off point
37.220, -96.280
Record number
706

What the Weather Service recorded

Remained in the country.

Brief event in the country.

From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the tornado touched down, 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 tornado touched down at Apr 30, 7:35 PM CDT, 3 hours 23 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 30, 7:35 PM CDT, 3 hours 23 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
735 PM CDT WED APR 30 2003

WE HAVE ISSUED A QUICK UPDATE TO NARROW DOWN THE AREA WHERE THE
SEVERE WEATHER IS EXPECTED THIS EVENING. IT APPEARS MOST OF THE
ACTIVITY WILL TAKE PLACE ALONG AND EAST OF THE TURNPIKE. THE
REST OF THE FORECAST REMAINS UNCHANGED.

--------------------------------------------------------------------
COX

...MESO UPDATE...
LATEST LAPS SOUNDING SHOWD CAP WAS STILL HOLDING, BUT JUST BARELY.
VIS SATL SHOWD LN OF CU JUST S OF ICT AREA ACRS SUMNER/HARPER
COUNTIES. SUSPECT JUST A LTL MORE FORCING IS NEEDED TO ERODE CAP AND
RELEASE VRY UNSTABLE AIRMASS ACRS SCNTRL KS. THIS COULD COME FROM
INCREASED CONVERGENCE WITH SLGT BACKING OF NEAR SFC WNDS, AS USUALLY
OCCURS TWD 00Z. MID LVL COLD ADVCTN WITH APPROACHING TROF TO OUR W
COULD ALSO QUICKLY ERODE CAP AND ACT IN CONCERT, ALLOWING FOR RAPID
STM DVLPMT ACRS SCNTRL KS, PROBLY JUST S AND E OF ICT, BTWN 00Z-02Z.

POTNL FOR NEW TRIPLE POINT TO FORM ALG OKLA/KS BORDER AT DRYLN/CDFNT
INTERSECTION TO THE SW OF ICT THIS EVENING, SO SVR POTNL WITH
TORNADOES STILL A POSSIBILITY IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR.

WL CONT TO MONITOR SATL/RADAR AND MESO DATA AVBL.

KED

-----------------------------------------------------------
PREVIOUS DISCUSSION...
320 PM CDT WED APR 30 2003
MAIN CONCERN WITH THIS FORECAST PACKAGE WILL BE THE TIMING OF WHEN
THE CONVECTION WILL BREAK OUT THIS AFTERNOON AND PLACEMENT. NEXT
CONCERN IS FOR TOMORROW AFTERNOON IN SOUTHEAST KANSAS IF THAT
ACTIVITY WILL DEVELOP OR NOT.

TONIGHT:
LATEST WATER VAPOR LOOP SHOWING A NICE SPEED MAX MOVING THROUGH THE
TEXAS PANHANDLE WITH ACARS AND PROFILER DATA SUPPORTING UPPER LEVEL
WINDS ON THE ORDER OF 70 TO 80KTS. THIS SPEED MAX IS PROGGED TO MOVE
THROUGH NORTHERN OK WHICH WILL AID IN PUSHING THE DRY LINE EASTWARD
ALONG WITH COOLING TEMPS ALOFT. AS A RESULT, WE SHOULD START TO SEE
STORMS FIRING ALONG THE DRY LINE AFTER 00Z. THE INITIAL CONVECTION
SHOULD START ACROSS NORTHEAST KANSAS NEAR THE WARM FRONTAL BOUNDARY
WHERE THE CAP IS WEAKER. HOWEVER, TOPS LATEST SOUNDING SHOWS
A VERY STRONG CAP OVER THAT REGION. FURTHER SOUTH IN SOUTH CENTRAL
KANSAS THE POTENTIAL LOOKS TO BE A LITTLE LATER STILL AS THE DRY
LINE PUSHES INTO THAT REGION LATER ON. WILL IT BE ENOUGH TO BREAK
THE CAP OVER US. IT IS HARD TO SAY. IF IT DOES BREAK, THEN MOST OF
THE ACTIVITY WILL BE MULTICELLULAR WITH SOME POTENTIAL FOR
SUPERCELLS ALONG THE WARM FRONT. ACTIVITY SHOULD LINGER THROUGH MUCH
OF THE EVENING AND THEN SLIDE INTO MISSOURI MAINLY AFTER MIDNIGHT.

TOMORROW:
MODELS SHOW THE SURFACE BOUNDARY SHIFTING TO SOUTHEAST KANSAS WITH
LITTLE IF ANY DRY AIR PUSHING IN. AS A RESULT, LARGE CAPES WILL ONCE
AGAIN BE IN PLACE TOMORROW AFTERNOON IN SOUTHEAST KANSAS. MODELS DO
SHOW MUCH WEAKER SHEAR IN PLACE WHICH WILL KEEP THE STORMS
MULTICELLULAR IN NATURE. THERE WILL BE A BOUNDARY IN PLACE IN THAT
REGION, BUT WILL IT BE THE INITIATOR OR WILL IT BE AN OUTFLOW
BOUNDARY. WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE. THE NEXT PROBLEM FOR AIRLINE
FOLKS WILL THE EXTENT OF THE LOW CLOUDS TOMORROW. WE SHOULD SEE THE
LOW CLOUDS ON THE ORDER AOB 1KFT IN CENTRAL KANSAS PUSH INTO SOUTH
CENTRAL KANSAS BY DAYBREAK. TEMPERATURES WILL BE ON THE COOL SIDE
WITH COOLEST SPOTS BEHIND THE FRONT IN RUSSELL AND SALINA.

TOMORROW NIGHT-FRIDAY:
HIGH PRESSURE WILL BEGIN BUILDING IN FROM THE NORTHERN PLAINS AND
ALLOW FOR CLEARING SKIES AND FAIRLY LIGHT WINDS. TEMPERATURES WILL
BE ALSO BE ON THE MILD SIDE WITH HIGHS MAINLY IN THE 70S.

SATURDAY-SUNDAY NIGHT:
ALL THREE MODELS SHOW THE NEXT UPPER LEVEL WAVE DIGGING OFF THE
COAST OF CALIFORNIA. THE GFS BRINGS THIS WAVE INTO THE CENTRAL
PLAINS BY SUNDAY MORNING. THIS IS THE QUICKEST MODEL WHICH LOOKS
PRETTY REASONABLE AT THE MOMENT AFTER LOOKING AT THE ENSEMBLE MEAN
AND CANADIAN SOLUTION. THE UKMET/ECMWF IS QUITE A BIT SLOWER, BUT
SINCE THE GFS IS THE MOST CONSISTENT MODEL SINCE THE LAST RUN WE ARE
GOING ALONG WITH ITS SOLUTION IN BRINGING SOME ELEVATED CONVECTION
TO THE CWFA SATURDAY. ON SUNDAY THE MODELS REALLY DIG AND CLOSE OFF
THIS UPPER LEVEL FEATURE IN NEBRASKA.  AS THIS SYSTEM DIGS, IT WILL
ALLOW FOR THE LOW LEVEL MOISTURE PUSH BACK INTO THE REGION AS THE
SURFACE LOW MOVES FROM THE SOUTHERN PLAINS INTO CENTRAL KANSAS. AS A
RESULT, WE WILL KEEP THE MENTION OF THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH MONDAY.

TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY:
MODELS SHOW THE UPPER LEVEL LOW PUSHING TO THE GREAT LAKES REGION.
THIS WILL ALLOW FOR COOL HIGH PRESSURE TO BUILD INTO THE PLAINS. AS
A RESULT, TEMPERATURES WILL BE ON THE MILD SIDE WITH DRY CONDITIONS
EXPECTED.

FCSTID =   18/COX
ICT   57  75  51  71 /  40  10   0   5
HUT   53  73  49  69 /  30  10   0   5
EWK   54  73  50  69 /  30  10   0   5
EQA   58  75  52  70 /  50  10   0   5
WLD   59  77  52  72 /  40  20   5   5
RSL   50  71  47  67 /  30   5   0   5
GBD   50  71  47  67 /  30   5   0   5
SLN   53  72  47  67 /  30   5   0   5
MPR   54  73  50  69 /  30  10   0   5
CFV   63  82  56  73 /  40  30   5   5
CNU   62  79  54  72 /  50  30   5   5
K88   60  76  52  70 /  60  20   5   5

.ICT...NONE
COX
Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 30, 3:48 PM CDT, 7 hours 10 minutes before
KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-011200-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...CORRECTED WORDING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
348 PM CDT WED APR 30 2003

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST KANSAS.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD DEVELOP ACROSS THE REGION THIS AFTERNOON AND
CONTINUE INTO TONIGHT. STORMS LOOK TO DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON ALONG
THE FRONT WHICH WILL BE DRAPED ACROSS CENTRAL KANSAS. THE AREA
GREATEST AT RISK WILL BE ALONG AND SOUTH OF A HOISINGTON TO
ELLSWORTH, TO SALINA LINE. MEANWHILE A DRY LINE WILL SURGE EASTWARD
ACROSS SOUTHWESTERN KANSAS, AND MOVE INTO SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS LATER
IN THE AFTERNOON. STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO FIRE ALONG THIS DRY LINE IN
THE AFTERNOON, MAINLY FOR AREAS ALONG AND EAST OF HUTCHINSON TO
KINGMAN, TO ANTHONY LINE. THE STORMS SHOULD MOVE EASTWARD INTO
SOUTHEASTERN KANSAS DURING THE EVENING HOURS. THESE STORMS WILL BE
CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL, HOWEVER ISOLATED
TORNADOES CANNOT BE RULED OUT.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS ANTICIPATED LATER THIS AFTERNOON INTO
TONIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

A FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL PUSH INTO SOUTHEAST KANSAS BY THURSDAY
AFTERNOON. AHEAD OF THIS FRONT, VERY UNSTABLE CONDITIONS WILL BE IN
PLACE ONCE AGAIN. A FEW THUNDERSTORMS COULD FIRE ALONG THIS FRONT
THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND HAVE THE POTENTIAL OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL
AND DAMAGING WINDS. THE BEST POTENTIAL FOR THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL
BE MAINLY ALONG AND EAST OF A EUREKA TO WINFIELD LINE.

ANOTHER STORM SYSTEM IS FORECAST TO BRING MORE SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS TO THE AREA AS SOON AS SATURDAY. THE THREAT FOR
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL PERSIST INTO EARLY MONDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED.

&&

FOR A GRAPHICAL VERSION OF THIS INFORMATION, SEE OUR
WEBPAGE AT HTTP://WWW.CRH.NOAA.GOV/ICT/HWO/HWOICT.HTM

CJ/COX

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 30, 9:38 PM CDT, 1 hour 20 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
0938 PM CDT WED APR 30 2003

TIME(CDT)   .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE      ...EVENT/REMARKS...
            ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0935 PM     3N WINFIELD              KS       1.00 INCH HAIL
04/30/2003  COWLEY

&&
Local storm report, Apr 30, 9:43 PM CDT, 1 hour 15 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
0943 PM CDT WED APR 30 2003

TIME(CDT)   .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE      ...EVENT/REMARKS...
            ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0929 PM     7N EL DORADO             KS       0.88 INCH HAIL
04/30/2003  BUTLER

&&
Local storm report, Apr 30, 9:45 PM CDT, 1 hour 13 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
0945 PM CDT WED APR 30 2003

TIME(CDT)   .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE      ...EVENT/REMARKS...
            ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0943 PM     1W WINFIELD              KS       0.88 INCH HAIL
04/30/2003  COWLEY

&&
Local storm report, Apr 30, 10:14 PM CDT, 44 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
1014 PM CDT WED APR 30 2003

TIME(CDT)   .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE      ...EVENT/REMARKS...
            ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0912 PM     3E CAMBRIDGE             KS       WALL CLOUD
04/30/2003  COWLEY                            WALL CLOUD REPORTED BY ELK
                                              CO. SHERIFFS OFFICER 4-5
                                              MILES WEST OF ELK/COWLEY
                                              LINE.

&&
Local storm report, Apr 30, 10:27 PM CDT, 31 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
1027 PM CDT WED APR 30 2003

TIME(CDT)   .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE      ...EVENT/REMARKS...
            ....COUNTY LOCATION....

1024 PM     CAMBRIDGE                KS       TORNADO
04/30/2003  COWLEY                            CQ COUNTY SPOTTERS REPORTED
                                              TORNADO ON THE GROUND 3
                                              MILES SOUTHEAST OF
                                              CAMBRIDGE. CURRENTLY WORKING
                                              ON CONFIRMATION AND ANY
                                              REPORTS OF DAMAGE.

&&
Local storm report, Apr 30, 10:38 PM CDT, 20 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
1038 PM CDT WED APR 30 2003

TIME(CDT)   .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE      ...EVENT/REMARKS...
            ....COUNTY LOCATION....

1015 PM     IOLA                     KS       1.50 INCH HAIL
04/30/2003  ALLEN

&&

The surface observations

Bartlesville/Philli (BVO), 56 km from the path, in the two hours either side.

Time (UTC)Temp (°F)Dew point (°F)WindGust (kt)Pressure (mb)Weather
00:00 UTC

From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.

The radar

The Wichita radar (KICT), 113 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 03:56 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment, over the track

Reflectivity and velocity, decoded from the Level II archive in the browser. Volumes take a few seconds to open the first time.

This ground now

The live radar over the trackEvery 2003 tornado in KansasEvery tornado in Kansas since 1950Warnings in force in Kansas nowThe forecast where you are

The other tornadoes of April 30, 2003

21 more were confirmed in the United States that day.

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
April 301:09 AM CDTF1Hidalgo, TX0.310011$1.5 million
April 304:00 PM MDTF0Weld, CO0.150
April 304:21 PM MDTF0Weld, CO0.150
April 306:30 PM CDTF0Monroe, IA2.525
April 306:35 PM CDTF0Louisa, IA16.0880$200,000
April 306:42 PM CDTF1Mercer, IL0.075$500,000
April 306:45 PM CDTF0Wapello, IA0.220
April 306:57 PM CDTF0Mercer, IL0.820$50,000
April 307:04 PM CDTF0Harrison, MO2.050
April 307:08 PM CDTF1Mercer, IL0.150$500,000
April 307:11 PM CDTF0Mercer, IL0.525$250,000
April 307:12 PM CDTF1Mercer, IL0.575$300,000
April 307:15 PM CDTF0Platte, MO1.050
April 307:22 PM CDTF0Harrison, MO10.0100$3,000
April 307:29 PM CDTF0Henry, IL0.050
April 307:35 PM CDTF0Platte, MO0.225
April 308:30 PM CDTF0Knox, IL1.010
April 308:55 PM CDTF0Putnam, MO2.050
April 309:53 PM CDTF0Schuyler, MO6.0300
April 3010:17 PM CDTF0Cowley, KS2.0110
April 3010:37 PM CDTF0Chautauqua, KS1.0110

What this means

Ratings are the survey's, read off the damage rather than measured; the rating scale is above. Tornado counts rise through the record as reporting improved, so a year in the 1950s is not comparable with one today except for the strongest tornadoes, which were always noticed.

Sources

NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, 1950-2025, the official record kept by NOAA's Storm Prediction Center.