EF0 tornado, Seward, Kansas, May 18, 2017

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
158 PM CDT Thu May 18 2017

...Updated Short Term and Long Term Sections...

.SHORT TERM...(This evening through Friday)
Issued at 156 PM CDT Thu May 18 2017

This afternoon through mid evening...

Numerous severe thunderstorms, including supercells with tornadoes,
the main concern. Convective-allowing models are showing an
interesting signal of blowing up convection all across the very
unstable warm, moist sector, and not just in the convergence zones
along the warm front and dryline. Even though the tornado risk is
high just about everywhere southeast of a Meade to Dodge City to La
Crosse line, it appears to be particularly high along the slowly
retreating warm front, which as of 1750z extended from roughly Meade
to just south of Dodge City to somewhere between Great Bend and
Pratt. The front will likely not move very much farther north by the
time convection fires. There may be multiple rounds of severe storms
over any one location, too, and the entire severe weather threat
should continue through about 01-02z (8 or 9pm CDT) when a wave
along the surface front finally pushes far enough east allowing to
push southeast, effectively pushing any remaining severe weather
threat off into central and south central KS.

Late tonight into tomorrow...
The cold front will stall out late tonight into tomorrow along
roughly a Hutchinson to Coldwater to Gage line, as it awaits another
jet streak rounding the base of the slow-moving upper trough.
Development of another severe weather episode appears likely just
east of this front again tomorrow early to mid afternoon. South
central Kansas zones would have the greatest risk, most likely
Coldwater to Pratt and points east of there. Elsewhere, there will
likely be numerous other showers and thunderstorms west and north of
the surface front with a significant amount of lift tied to the
upper low as it finally comes out during the day tomorrow.
Temperatures have been lowered some to account for abundance of
clouds, showers, and thunderstorms west of the front. East of the
front, afternoon temperatures should still reach upper 70s to around
80, which will build fairly high instability for aggressive surface-
based storms, including a supercell or two.

.LONG TERM...(Friday night through Thursday)
Issued at 156 PM CDT Thu May 18 2017

We enter a quieter period severe weather wise this weekend going
into next week. Mean trough axis over the central CONUS will keep
effective surface front well to the south of Kansas. A northwest
flow perturbation early next week may produce some showers and
thunderstorms late Sunday/Sunday Night, but there will be only
very marginal moisture in place. Monday, a more organized
thunderstorm threat exists, although mainly just south of Kansas.
Overall, generally cooler and drier going into the last week of
May.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Friday afternoon)
Issued at 1216 PM CDT Thu May 18 2017

Severe storms will affect terminals, especially DDC and HYS, late
this afternoon through the mid evening hours. After that, the cold
front will push south and IFR ceilings will develop late tonight,
affecting all terminals (earlier and longer farther north at HYS).
The front will not push very far east tomorrow with more
thunderstorms expected at DDC and HYS in the early to mid
afternoon hours.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
DDC  78  55  70  44 /  60  60  60  40
GCK  72  52  65  41 /  20  30  50  40
EHA  76  48  66  41 /  20  10  50  40
LBL  80  52  73  43 /  20  10  50  30
HYS  67  54  63  43 /  70  70  80  60
P28  80  61  78  49 /  70  80  80  50

&&

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

SHORT TERM...Umscheid
LONG TERM...Umscheid
AVIATION...Umscheid

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
405 AM CDT Thu May 18 2017

KSZ030-031-043>046-061>066-074>081-084>090-190915-
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-
405 AM CDT Thu May 18 2017 /305 AM MDT Thu May 18 2017/

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

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

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

Thunderstorms are expected to develop east of a dry line this
afternoon and trek eastward into the evening hours. The strongest
storms will be capable of producing hail around 2 inches, winds
over 60 mph, and an occasional tornado. This threat could extend
as far west as highway 83. Other storms are expected across west
central Kansas but look to be not as dangerous.

Day 1 Hazards
-------------
* Tornado: Significant risk
* Hail: Extreme risk
* Thunderstorm wind damage: Significant risk
* Flooding: Elevated risk
* Lightning: Significant risk
* Fire weather: Limited risk

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

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

Another chance of severe storms will be possible across central
and south central Kansas Friday. The main concern with these
storms will be large hail and damaging winds.

Isolated thunderstorms will then be possible Sunday night into
Monday.

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

* Saturday
  No hazards.

* Sunday
  - Lightning: Limited risk

* Monday
  - Lightning: Limited risk

* Tuesday
  - Lightning: Limited risk

* Wednesday
  - Lightning: Limited risk

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will be needed through tonight.

&&

For more details visit our webpage http://weather.gov/ddc/ehwo

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY KS
1019 AM CDT THU MAY 18 2017

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

0759 PM     TORNADO          5 ENE LARNED            38.20N 99.02W
05/16/2017                   PAWNEE             KS   NWS STORM SURVEY

            PIVOT FLIPPED/TWISTED. THIS IS THE INITIAL
            TOUCHDOWN OF LONG-TRACK EF3 TORNADO STARTING
            IN PAWNEE COUNTY AND ENDING IN BARTON
            COUNTY.

&&

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
339 PM CDT THU MAY 18 2017

KSZ065-066-182145-
Stafford KS-Pawnee KS-
339 PM CDT THU MAY 18 2017

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EASTERN PAWNEE AND STAFFORD
COUNTIES UNTIL 445 PM CDT...

At 338 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a developing
strong thunderstorm 3 miles south of Saint John, moving
north at 35 mph.

Nickel size hail will be possible with this storm, early on. Much
larger hail is possible if it continues to grow

Locations impacted include...
Larned, Saint John, Stafford, Macksville, Hudson, Seward, Radium,
Dillwyn, Little Salt Marsh at Quivira Refuge and Big Salt Marsh at
Quivira Refuge.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

&&

A tornado watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for south central
Kansas.

LAT...LON 3789 9855 3784 9893 3829 9915 3832 9903
      3826 9903 3826 9847 3815 9847
TIME...MOT...LOC 2038Z 171DEG 29KT 3795 9875

UMSCHEID