{"Bibliographic":{"Title":"Wichita/Andover, Kansas, Tornado, April 26, 1991","Authors":"","Publication date":"1991","Publisher":""},"Administrative":{"Date created":"08-16-2023","Language":"English","Rights":"CC 0","Size":"0000232323"},"Pages":["955.5\nU6\nW5\n1991\nOF\n*\n*\nSTATES\nOF\nNatural Disaster Survey Report\nWichita/Andover, Kansas, Tornado\nApril 26, 1991\nU.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE\nNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration\nNational Weather Service, Silver Spring, Maryland","ATMOSPHERIC\nNOAA\ncomments\nDEPARTMENT\nOF\nCover: Photograph of the Wichita/Andover tornado destroying the recreation facilities on\nMcConnell Air Force Base. Photograph courtesy of A1C Daniel L. Studebaker.","QC\n955.5\n, ub\nW5\nATMOSPHEAIC\nAND\nbecause\n1991\nNOAA\nUS\ncomments\nDEP\nPARTMENT\nOF\nNatural Disaster Survey Report\nWichita/Andover, Kansas, Tornado\nApril 26, 1991\nDecember 1991\nU.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE\nRobert A. Mosbacher, Secretary\nNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration\nDr. John A. Knauss, Administrator\nNational Weather Service\nLIBRARY\nDr. Elbert W. Friday, Jr., Assistant Administrator\nMAY 13 1993\nN.O.A.A.\nU.S. Dept. of Commerce","PREFACE\nTornadoes are one of the most destructive forces of nature. It is always a humbling\nexperience to view the devastation first hand and a difficult experience to interview\nindividuals that have lived through such a tragedy. Unfortunately, it is only through\ndisasters such as these that the National Weather Service and the hazards\ncommunity can fully assess its warning procedures and capabilities.\nI would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Disaster Survey Team for their\nefforts in producing this unbiased survey report on the performance of the National\nWeather Service during this tragic event. Furthermore, I applaud the efforts of all\nthose involved in the warning process, including the National Severe Storms Forecast\nCenter, the Wichita Office of the National Weather Service, local spotter groups, law\nenforcement officials, emergency managers, and the local media. Without such stellar\nefforts to communicate the danger to the public, the results from this tornado would\nhave been even more catastrophic.\nElbert W. Friday, Jr.\nDecember 1991\nii","FOREWORD\nThis survey report on the tornadoes which struck south-central Kansas on April 26,\n1991, was prepared by a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Disaster\nSurvey Team following a 4-day visit to the storm site. The report is based upon\ninformation gathered by the team through a series of visits to National Weather\nService offices and during interviews with members of other agencies; public utilities;\norganizations; state, county, and municipal governments; the broadcast and print\nmedia; and eyewitnesses. At the request of the survey team, an extensive aerial\nsurvey of the Wichita/Andover and Cowley County tornadoes was conducted by Brian\nSmith from the National Severe Storms Forecast Center.\nThe team thanks the county and municipal officials, including the Mayor of Andover,\nthe Mayor of Haysville, and numerous other officials from Butler, Cowley, and\nSedgwick Counties, who took time from their urgent disaster response duties to share\ntheir impressions of the event and interpretations of the effectiveness of National\nWeather Service watch and warning products. The team also thanks Major Mike\nHunsucker and the shift meteorologists of the McConnell Air Force Base Weather\nDetachment for their detailed and timely briefings on the tornado event at the base.\nSpecial thanks go to the Kansas Highway Patrol for their loan of a plane and pilot\nin support of the aerial survey. Thanks are also due to National Environmental\nSatellite, Data, and Information Service for supplying satellite interpretation and\nimages used in this report.\nThis document is not intended to chronicle the entire history of the tornado-producing\nthunderstorm system. It does assess the effectiveness of National Weather Service\nperformance and products before and during the tornadoes in south-central Kansas.\nThe report presents a number of findings, followed by related recommendations,\nbased upon the team's survey. The recommendations could lead to more effective\nsevere storm and tornado warning and forecasting procedures in south-central\nKansas.\nStrong thunderstorms and associated tornadoes also raged across northern Oklahoma\non April 26. Although this report does not formally examine those storms, it does\naddress certain information regarding that event. In particular, the performance of\nthe Weather Surveillance Radar 1988 Doppler (WSR-88D) in operation at the\nWeather Service Forecast Office in Norman, Oklahoma, is contrasted with equipment\nand techniques in use in the Wichita, Kansas, area. The WSR-88D system was not\nutilized in support of warnings or forecasts of the thunderstorm system which\nproduced the Wichita area tornadoes.\nThe Disaster Survey Team\niii","TABLE OF CONTENTS\nPage\nii\nPreface\niii\nForeword\nvi\nAcronyms\nviii\nThe Wichita/Andover Tornado Disaster Survey Team\nix\nExecutive Summary\n1\nDescription and Impact of the Event\nChapter 1\n7\nMeteorological Setting\nChapter 2\n21\nWarnings, Forecasts, and Guidance\nChapter 3\n29\nRadar Evaluation\nChapter 4\n35\nPreparedness\nChapter 5\n41\nDissemination and Communication\nChapter 6\n49\nPublic Response\nChapter 7\n53\nConclusion: Findings and Recommendations\nChapter 8\nA-1\nList of Severe Weather Reports\nAppendix A\nB-1\nFujita Tornado Intensity Scale\nAppendix B\nPreliminary Report on Aerial Damage Survey of the Wichita/\nAppendix C\nAndover Tornado and the Cowley County Tornado of\nC-1\nApril 26, 1991\nChronology of Releases Related to the Wichita/Andover\nAppendix D\nD-1\nTornado\nChronological Summary of Actions and Reports at\nAppendix E\nE-1\nWSO Wichita\niv","Page\nAppendix F\n1991 Spotters' Meetings Held by WSO Wichita\nF-1\nAppendix G\nNWWS Message Log for WSFO Topeka\nG-1\nAppendix H\nNWWS Subscribers in Kansas\nH-1\nV","ACRONYMS\nAutomation of Field Operations and Services\nAFOS\nAreal Outline\nAO\nAutomated Statewide Telecommunications Records Access\nASTRA\nCentral Daylight Time\nCDT\nCentral Program Control Station\nCPCS-1\nCitizens Radio Emergency Services Team\nCREST\nCounty Warning Area\nCWA\nEquivalent Reflectivity\ndBZe\nEmergency Broadcast System\nEBS\nEmergency Management Community\nEMC\nEmergency Operations Center\nEOC\nFederal Emergency Management Agency\nFEMA\nKansas Highway Patrol\nKHP\nKilometer\nkm\nLifted Index\nLI\nMillibar\nmb\nMesoscale Convective System\nMCS\nMegahertz\nMHz\nMeteorologist in Charge\nMIC\nMeters per second\nm/s\nNational Warning System\nNAWAS\nNational Centers\nNC\nNational Environmental, Satellite, Data, and Information Service\nNESDIS\nNext Generation Radar\nNEXRAD\nNested Grid Model\nNGM\nNautical Mile\nnm\nNational Meteorological Center\nNMC\nNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration\nNOAA\nNational Severe Storms Forecast Center\nNSSFC\nNOAA Weather Radio\nNWR\nNational Weather Service\nNWS\nNOAA Weather Wire Service\nNWWS\nPersonal Computer\nPC\nPublic Severe Weather Outlook\nPWO\nRadio Amateur Civil Emergency Service\nRACES\nRemote Plan Position Indicator\nRPPI\nState Forecast Discussion\nSFD\nSevere Local Storms\nSLS\nSpecial Weather Statement\nSPS\nvi","SSTO\nState Severe Thunderstorm Outlook\nSVS\nSevere Weather Statement\nSWIS\nSatellite Weather Information System\nTWC\nThe Weather Channel\nUTC\nCoordinated Universal Time\nVAS\nVISSR Atmospheric Sounder\nVDUC\nVAS Data Utilization Center\nVISSR\nVisible and Infrared Spin Scan Radiometer\nWFO\nWeather Forecast Office\nWRSAME\nNWR Specific Area Message Encoder\nWSFO\nWeather Service Forecast Office\nWSO\nWeather Service Office\nWSOM\nWeather Service Operations Manual\nWSR-57\nWeather Surveillance Radar 1957\nWSR-88D\nWeather Surveillance Radar 1988 Doppler\nZFP\nZone Forecast Product\nvii","THE WICHITA/ANDOVER TORNADO\nDISASTER SURVEY TEAM\nFollowing a major severe weather event in which there has been extensive damage\nor loss of life, a disaster survey team may be assigned by the National Oceanic and\nAtmospheric Administration (NOAA) to evaluate the role played by the National\nWeather Service (NWS), to provide an objective appraisal of the services, and to make\nfindings and recommendations for improving the service. Such a team was assembled\nto survey the Wichita/Andover, Kansas, tornado which struck south-central Kansas\non April 26, 1991.\nTeam Members\nLeader, Helen M. Wood, Director, Office of Satellite Data Processing and\nDistribution, National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service\n(NESDIS)\nTechnical Leader, John Sokich, Meteorologist, Warning and Forecast Branch, NWS\nHeadquarters\nCoordinator/Editor, Linda Kremkau, Program Assistant, Warning and Forecast\nBranch, NWS Headquarters\nMelvin R. McLaughlin, Chief, Meteorological Services Division, Southern Region\nHeadquarters, NWS\nAlbert W. Wheeler, Area Manager, Weather Service Forecast Office, Portland,\nMaine, NWS\nLynn P. Maximuk, Regional Transition Manager, Central Region Headquarters,\nNWS\nDavid A. Imy, Instructor, Operations Training Branch, Operational Support Facility,\nNorman, Oklahoma, NWS\nSteven Zubrick, Meteorologist, Services Development Branch, NWS Headquarters\nBasil R. Littin, Weather Service Public Affairs Officer, NOAA Public Affairs\nDr. Christopher R. Adams, Consulting Sociologist, Cooperative Institute for\nResearch in the Atmosphere, Colorado State University\nviii","EXECUTIVE SUMMARY\nEarly in the evening of April 26, 1991, a strong tornado tracked through the south\nand east suburbs of Wichita, Kansas. The synoptic weather situation that occurred\nwas typical of a springtime pattern in the central United States. Many tornadoes\ntouched down that day from Nebraska to Texas, but the most devastating twister\ntracked just south of Wichita and flattened the Golden Spur Mobile Home Park in\nAndover, Kansas, a town east of Wichita in Butler County.\nThe Wichita/Andover tornado was spawned by a supercell thunderstorm that moved\nnortheastward from northern Oklahoma into south-central Kansas. This\nthunderstorm produced four separate tornadoes along its path. The third and\nstrongest tornado caused tremendous damage and destruction in Sedgwick and Butler\nCounties. This tornado reached an intensity of F5, the highest rating on the Fujita\nTornado Intensity Scale, and was on the ground for approximately 46 miles from\nabout 20 miles southwest of Wichita, near Clearwater, to 10 miles northeast of\nWichita, near El Dorado.\nFarther south and east, a different supercell thunderstorm produced other violent\ntornadoes that moved through Cowley, Elk, Greenwood, and Woodson Counties.\nThese twisters moved through mostly rural areas SO damage totals were much less\nsevere than from the Wichita/Andover tornado.\nThirteen of the 19 deaths in Kansas occurred in the Golden Spur Mobile Home Park.\nThe deaths in Elk and Cowley Counties were in mobile homes. A total of 298 injuries\nwere reported. The devastation left by these tornadoes exemplifies the danger of\nremaining in a mobile home during a tornado. Sedgwick and Butler Counties were\nhardest hit by the tornadoes that affected south-central Kansas. At the time of this\nreport, total damage estimates from all the tornadoes that affected south-central\nKansas exceed $272 million, including approximately $62 million damage at\nMcConnell Air Force Base. A total of 1,728 homes were damaged or destroyed by the\ntornadoes, including the destruction of most of the 241 mobile homes in the Golden\nSpur Mobile Home Park in Andover.\nThe NWS did an excellent job warning and forecasting for the severe weather and\ntornadoes that stormed across Kansas on April 26. The tornado watch issued by the\nNational Severe Storms Forecast Center (NSSFC) in Kansas City, Missouri, provided\nnearly 6 hours of lead time before the killer tornadoes first touched down. Warning\nservices provided by the Wichita, Kansas, Weather Service Office (WSO) supplied\naccurate and timely information to the public and emergency management\ncommunity enabling them to take suitable actions.\nix","The warnings issued by the Wichita office were exceptionally well written and\ncontained appropriate call to action statements that effectively communicated the\nurgency of the situation. The majority of the warnings provided ample lead time for\nproper safety actions to be taken. The warning covering western Butler County\nexplicitly mentioned Andover and provided a 7-minute lead time before the tornado\ndevastated the mobile home park. The lead time provided by the NWS warning\nenabled the local police department to compensate for a failed local warning siren in\nAndover. Patrol cars drove through the town sounding their sirens to alert people\nto a potential threat. One patrolman drove his car, with siren sounding, through the\nmobile home park that was literally leveled just minutes later.\nAs the storm neared Wichita, it became masked by the ground clutter pattern of the\nNWS network radar (Weather Surveillance Radar 1957 [WSR-57]) making it virtually\nimpossible to detect and identify tornadic signatures in the radar data. This made\nspotter reports the primary source of tornado information for WSO Wichita.\nWSO Wichita has an active internal and external preparedness program. During the\npast year, the meteorologist in charge (MIC) at the Wichita office conducted spotter\ntraining and/or preparedness meetings in all of the 22 counties within the WSO\nWichita area of warning responsibility. On April 26, the spotter training proved\ninvaluable. All of the tornado warnings issued by the Wichita office were based on\nspotter reports.\nStrong thunderstorms also raged across northern Oklahoma on April 26. The\nWeather Surveillance Radar 1988 Doppler (WSR-88D) in operation at the Weather\nService Forecast Office (WSFO) in Norman, Oklahoma, enabled forecasters to see\nsignatures of a developing tornado within the structure of the thunderstorm before\nspotters reported any visual precursor indications of a developing tornado. Because\nof the WSR-88D, WSFO Norman was able to issue a tornado warning 24 minutes\nbefore one twister touched down. The experiences at both Wichita and Norman\nillustrate the importance of both the spotter networks and the Doppler radar\ntechnology in the detection and warning processes of the NWS.\nThe tornado warnings issued by the Wichita office were disseminated statewide to the\nemergency management community predominantly by the Automated Statewide\nTelecommunications Records Access (ASTRA) Law Enforcement Communications\nCircuit which uses NWS warnings transmitted on the NOAA Weather Wire Service\n(NWWS). Warnings were also disseminated on the NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) but\nreached a much smaller audience.\nThe local media played a vital role in alerting the public to the impending danger by\nrelaying NWS warnings. There is a close working relationship between the media\nand WSO Wichita. This close working relationship allowed the hazards community","to speak with one voice. The public heard the same message from different sources\nthat confirmed the danger and convinced people to take action.\nThe tornado struck in the early evening when most people were home preparing for\ndinner or watching television. Because of this, the warning messages reached a large\npercentage of the population at risk. Most people that were interviewed heard the\ntornado warning on radio or television and then went to \"assess their own risk\" by\nlooking outside to see the tornado. Only then did they take correct safety action. The\nextensive preparedness efforts by the hazards community in the Wichita area paid\noff. People knew the proper safety rules and took action.\nAerial view of the Golden Spur Mobile Home Park. Photograph courtesy of Brian\nSmith, NSSFC.\nxi","Photograph of F5 damage area west of the Golden Spur Mobile Home\nPark in Andover, Kansas. The tornado moved from left to right across\nthe picture. Notice how the debris from the destroyed homes blew\ntoward the mobile home park. Photograph courtesy of Paul Bowen.\nxii","CHAPTER 1\nDESCRIPTION AND IMPACT OF THE EVENT\nEarly in the evening of April 26, 1991,\nformed approximately 40 miles\na violent tornado tracked through the\nsouthwest of Wichita in Harper County\nsouth and east suburbs of Wichita,\nbetween the cities of Danville and\nKansas.\nThe synoptic weather\nFreeport about 5:20 p.m. This vortex\nsituation that occurred was typical of a\nlifted southwest of Conway Springs in\nspringtime pattern in the central\nSumner County.\nUnited States. Numerous severe\nthunderstorms occurred throughout the\nThe third tornado spawned by the\ncentral states from Texas to Nebraska.\nsupercell developed into the\nThere were 203 reports of severe\ndevastating tornado that caused most\nweather, including 113 reports of large\nof the damage and deaths in Kansas\nhail and 56 tornadoes (see appendix A\n(figure 2). At the request of the survey\nfor the list of severe weather reports).\nteam, an NSSFC meteorologist trained\nIn south-central Kansas alone there\nin aerial damage survey techniques\nwere numerous confirmed tornadoes,\nconducted an aerial damage survey to\none of which was on the ground for 46\nexamine the track of this third tornado.\nmiles. It was this long track tornado\nThe Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP)\nthat caused most of the damage and\nprovided use of one of their pilots and\ndeaths in south-central Kansas.\naircraft to perform the survey. The\naerial survey was conducted on May 1,\nThe Wichita/Andover tornado was one\n5 days after the tornado struck. By\nof a family of four tornadoes spawned\nthat time, much of the damage had\nby a thunderstorm with supercell\nbeen removed, and it was difficult to\ncharacteristics that developed over\nassess the intensity of the tornado.\nnorth-central Oklahoma and moved\nFortunately, aerial photographs that\nnortheast across south-central Kansas\nhad been taken the day after the storm\n(figure 1). A supercell is a strong\nwere obtained for analysis. It was\nthunderstorm that contains a deep,\ndetermined from these pictures that\npersistent rotation within the updraft.\nthe tornado reached an F5 on the\nThe first twister briefly touched down\nFujita Tornado Intensity Scale\njust after 5 p.m., Central Daylight\n(appendix B) as it moved through\nTime (CDT), near the city of Anthony\nAndover. A detailed aerial survey\nin Harper County. The second tornado\nreport is included in appendix C. A\n1 All times in the report are in Central Daylight Time unless otherwise noted.\n1","5150\n6)\nPyria\n6\n48\nCHASE\nBazaar\n5\nGoessel\n21\nan\nAulne\nCedar Pt.\nInman\n28\n46\nFlorence\n8\n260\n215\n10\n7.\nMatfield\n34\n24\n61\nMoundridge\n6\n15\nng\nGreen\nWônsevu\nNickerson\n40\n11\nBuhler\nPeabody\n9\n35\n5\nBethel\n4\nMedora\nCollege\n77\nHesston\n96\nSand Hills\n10\nEl\nN538\n9\nS.\nWalton\nBurns\nlowbrook\nHutchinson\nA\nR\nV\nE\nY\n34\n2\n5\n6\nNewton\n92\nN.\nNewton\n8\nHutchin on Mun. Arpt.\n3\n16\nuth\nHutchinson\nElbing\nTI\n30\n77\nCassoda\n50\n13\n34\n31\nBuriton\n2\n89\nDe Graff\nF2\n135\n81\nElmer\n5\nHalstead\n,\n4\nWhitewater\n25\n177\nGREEN\nlle\nPartridge\nPotwin\nr\n11\n196\nYoder\nPatterson\nSedgwick\n8\nENO\nDarlow\nEI Dorado\n5\n76\nLake\n22\n12\nFurley\nCastleton\nBentley\n18.\nHaven\n10\n5\nton\nEl Dorada\n5\nValley\nCenter\n17\nEu\nis. P.\nMt Hope\n4\nRosalia\n96\n19\nTowanda\n3\n7\n6\n22\nPretty\nPark City\nCheney S.P.\n296\n12\n10\nMaize\n254\n17\nEr Dorado\nPrairie\nColwich\n6)\nReece\nKechi\n10\n2\n71\nAndale\n12\n3\nMount\n3\nSenemap\nWichita\n54\nCheney\nBUTLER\nSt.Mark\n3\n2\n77\nVarner\nVerno\nbelow\nservoir\n10\n8\nEl. 1305\nft.8\nHaverhill\nLeon\n7\n251\nGarden Plain\n4\nAndover\nWaterloo\n6\nBeaumont\n76\n10\n5\nF5\n3\n96\n3\n3\n3\ngusta\n30\n6\nMidway\n8\n#9\n6\nGoddard\n5.\nCheney\nPiedmont\ncConnell A.F.B.\n5\n12\nButler St.\n235\n44\n6\nSchulte\nMurdock\nSEDGWICK\nFishing\nMAN\n42\nRose\nLake\nClonmel\n15\nHill\n77\nHaysvill\n7\n2\nDerby\nLatham\n14\nClearwal\n30\n42\n15\nBelmont\nDouglass\n53\n14\nViola\nPeck\nMulvane\nNorwich\nago\n6\n15\n6\n42\n33\n26\nRock\n9\nAdams 7\n14\nE K\nBelle\nMilton\n7\nMillerton\nBartlett\nAtlanta\ney\n32\nArboretam\nPlaine\n17\n3\n6\n5\nWilmot\n15\nn\n55\nRiverdale\n9\n22\n81\nConv ay\n4\n2\nUdall\nAnson\nCOWLEY\nuoin\n7\nSpanas\n8\nAkran\nNew\nGrer\n8\n5\nF0\n81\n35\nSalem\n49\nWe\nlington\nBurden\nOxford\n11\nCambridge\narper\n72\n14\nMilan\n3\n2\nSouthwestern\n5\nx\n7\n160\n3\n10\nDanville\n3\n10\nColl.\n9\n13\n3\nMayfield\n19\n10\n38\nArgonia\nDalton\n15\n20\nHARPER\nWinfield\nSUMNER\n8\n7\nC\n8\nFreeport\nPerth\n15\nDexter\n6\nFO\nRome\nGeuda\n14\n5\n44\nCowley St.\n15\n25\n12 Cedar Vale\nthony\nSprings\n7\nFishing Lake\nCorbin\nBluff\n7\n70\n49\n20\nSouth\n179\nAshtdh\nBlut City\n3\n9\nHaven\nMaple\n166\n17\nSilverdale\nCity\nET\n1120 ft\n15\nHewins\nCaldwell\n12\n4\nCherokee Strip\n4\nArkansas City\nHunnewell\ndron\n4\nLiving Mus.\n8\nFigure 1. Tracks of tornadoes produced by the supercell which spawned the Wichita/\nAndover tornado.\n2","El Dorado\n7:10 PM.\nMapping and Aerial Damage Survey by Brian E. Smith, NSSFC\n10 miles\nAugusta\nTowanda\n5\nMobile Home Park\nGolden Spur\n(Andover)\nO\n2\nWICHITA - ANDOVER TORNADO\n5\nAir Force Base\nMc Connell\nWichita\n3\nAPRIL 26, 1991\nHaysville\nMid Continent\nAirport\nF-SCALE\nCDT\nClearwater","tornado along the path from Haysville\nbrief aerial survey was also conducted\nto northeast of Andover.\nfor the Cowley County tornado.\nThe killer tornado finally began to\nThe third tornado, the Wichita/Andover\nweaken as it moved northwest of El\ntornado, touched down at approxi-\nDorado and dissipated approximately\nmately 5:57 p.m. in Sedgwick County,\n5 miles north of El Dorado. A fourth\n1 1/2 miles south-southeast of\ntornado spawned by the supercell\nClearwater, Kansas, and moved north-\nformed over El Dorado Lake and moved\neast through Haysville by 6:18 p.m.\nnortheast toward Cassoday. This\nThe tornado continued moving\ntornado lifted northeast of Cassoday\nnortheast and maintained between an\nand was on the ground for about 15 to\nF2 and F3 intensity on the Fujita scale\n20 miles, reaching F2 intensity on the\nand a path width of 200 to 300 feet as\nFujita scale.\nit crossed McConnell Air Force Base,\njust southeast of Wichita. The twister\nThe supercell that spawned the killer\nreached the Air Force Base by 6:25\nWichita/Andover tornado was the\np.m. and caused extensive damage to\nnorthern most member of a group of\nstructures on the base. The tornado\nfour supercells that tracked across\nnarrowly missed several parked B1-B\nsouth-central Kansas and Oklahoma.\nbombers as it passed 1,000 feet south\nAnother rotating thunderstorm\nof the flight line.\nproduced tornadoes that affected\nCowley, Elk, Greenwood, and Woodson\nThis tornado continued tracking\nCounties (figures 3a and 3b).\nnortheastward and expanded its path\nwidth to between 500 and 600 feet.\nEyewitness accounts from county\nsheriff's offices indicated that these\nThe tornado strengthened to an F4\ntornadoes tracked in a discontinuous\nintensity and inflicted devastating\npath across the four counties. One\ndamage to the Greenwich Heights\ntornado reached at least an F4\nsubdivision. Continuing on its\nintensity and caused one death near\nnortheast track, the tornado headed\nWinfield in Cowley County with\ntoward the city of Andover in Butler\nanother tornado-related death\nCounty. It was along this path that\noccurring in Elk County. Fortunately,\nthe tornado inflicted incredible damage\nthese tornadoes tracked through rural\nand destruction.\nThe tornado\nstrengthened to F5 intensity and\nareas so damage was minimal.\nflattened homes in a subdivision just\nwest of the Golden Spur Mobile Home\nFifteen of the 19 deaths in Kansas\nPark. Data from the Kansas Gas and\noccurred in or around mobile homes.\nElectric Company indicated that the\nThe remaining four deaths occurred in\ntornado struck the mobile home park\nthe Greenwich Heights subdivision.\nThese individuals are believed to have\nat 6:40 p.m. The park sustained\ncatastrophic damage from the tornado.\nbeen caught outside while seeking\nmore sturdy shelter, presumably a\nMany homes and businesses were\nseverely damaged or destroyed by the\nhome with a basement. Seventeen\n4","5150\nUOIIIGU\nCHASE\n61\nJohn\nFarh\nsel\n21\nOlpe\nAND\nBazaar\nRSON\nAulne\nRedmond\nCedar Pt.\nFLINT\nLYON\nWestphalia\n10\nRes.\nCenter\nHILLS M.A\n15\nFlorence\n10\nMont Ida\nBush\n57\n24\n34\n15\nMatfield\n99\nBurlington\nCity\nWelda\nL\n40\nGreen\nWonsevu\n9\nPeabody\nMadison\nCOFFEY\nMour\nAliceville\nSelma\nBethel\n35\n27\n59\nCollege\n77\n13\n57\nKincaid\n3\nLone Elm\nWaltor\nBurns\nBlue\nLamont\n57\nGridley\nMoun\nLe Roy\n13\n10\nColony\non\nNewton\n92\n38\nMildred\nMaplet\n30\nElbing\nCassoday\nThrall\nx\nNeosho\n10\nCarlyle\n27\n13\n65\n2\n31\nVernon\nDe Graff\nBayard\nVirgil\n14\nFalls\nGeneralFunston\nXenia\n135\n5\n81\nWhitewater\nMemorial\n5\nHamilton\nx\nTola\n177\nGREENWOOD\n12\nMoran\nW\no\nDSON\n11\n196\nPotwin\nck\n19\nBionson\n2Gas\n1E1\nDorado\nLa Harpe\n76\nPiqua\n28\nQuin\n2\nFurley\n12\nLake\n10\nF3\n12\n269\nBourbon St.\nALLEN\nTonovay\nFishing Lake\nEl Dorada\nYates Center\nNeal\natesville\nter\n17\nUnionto\nEureka\n224\nHumboldt\nRosalia\n54\nTowanda\n19\nElsmore\nPark City\n5\n10\nT\n105\nRose\nant\nB\n254\nET Dorado\nWoodson St\nKechi\nReece\n71\nWilson St.\noronto\nFishing Lake\nSavonburg\n15\nSee map\nWichita\n54\nFishing Lake\nBUTLER\nLake\nFall River\n39\nClimax\nbelow\nToronto\nBuffalo\nLake\n5\nPorterville\n1305 11 8\nHaverhill\n13\nLeon\nCoyville\n39\n39\nAndover\nStark\nBeaumont\n46\nFall River\nRoper\nChanute\n579\n3\nHepler\nAugusta\n(96)\nS.P\nKimbali\n13\nF\n49\n30\nevery\n8\nVilas\n2\nShaw\nMcConnell A.F.B.\nPiedmont\n96\n146\n12\nBenedict\n35\n44\nButler St.\n11\nEarlton\nWalnut\n108\nFall River\nFishing\nF3\n49\n42\nNeosho\n6\nWILSON\nRose\nUrbana\nLake\n15\nErie\nWaterfowl\nHill\n77\nNew\nAltoona\nle\n10\n10\nRefuge\n99\n47\nDerby\nAlbany\n57\nLatham\n11\n15\n3\nNEOSH\nFredonia\nSt.Paut\n18\n53\nDouglass\nThaver/\nHoward\n8F\nMulvane\n75\nCR AW\nSoul Mound\nGalesburg\n26\nRock\nX\n169\n37\n15\nNeosho St\nflett\nBelle\nELK\n12\nAtlanta\nLafontaine\n96\nNeodesha\nitem\n32\nFishing Lake\nPlaine\nLongton\nMcC\n15\nWilmot\nMorehead\n55\nMoline\nOak Valley (39)\n(ii City\nParsons\n10\nUdall\nX\n16\nAirport\nMONTGOMERY\nCO\nWILEY\nElk Falls\n10\nAkran\nNew\nStrauss\nWes\nGrenola\nDennis 9\n35\nSalem\n160\nSycamore\nMinera\nBig Hill\nMontana\nOxford\n11\nBarden\nElk\nCity\nCambridge\nCherryvale\nElk\nCity\nLakel\n59\nSouthw\n5\nin\n10\nindependence\n10\nColl\nElk City\n10 Labette\n19\nMound\nDalton\n15\n38\n19\nLake\n20\nValley\n28\n10\nSher\nWinfield\n10\n96\nCHAUTAUQUA\n96\n5\nF4\nDexter\nBolton\nAltamont\nHa\nLiberty\n0\nswego\nGeud\n101\nCHE\n15\nCowley SE\nWayside\nMontgomery\nSprings\nSt. Fishing Lake\nFishing Lake\n12 Cedar Vale\n10\nSedan\nHavan\n13\n10L ABET TE\nFa\nAngola\n70\nLittle House Jefferson\nWauneta\nNiotaze\n20\nBartlett\n134)\nAshtd\non the Plairie\nValeda\n27\n3\nPeru\nDearing\nMaple\n166\n3\nT4\n166\n17\nEdna\nCanev\n(166)\nChetopa\nLET 120\nSilverdale\nCity\n15\nHewins\nCaffessville\nFigure 3a. Tornado tracks across Cowley, Elk, Greenwood, and Woodson Counties.\nCOWLEY COUNTY TORNADO\nAPRIL 26, 1991\nBurden\nmicroburs?\nOxford\nWinfield\n2\n2\n2\nStrother\nAirport\nN\nmicroburst\nD\nMapping and Damage Survey by\n3\nBrian E. Smith, NSSFC\n3\n2\nArkansas\nCity\nO\n5\n10 miles\nFigure 3b. Path of the tornado across Cowley County.\n5","Finding 1.2a: An NSSFC meteorolo-\ndeaths are attributed to the Wichita/\ngist trained in aerial damage survey\nAndover tornado with 13 in the city of\ntechniques conducted an aerial damage\nAndover, all in the Golden Spur Mobile\nsurvey to examine the tornado track.\nHome Park. Most of the deaths were\nThe survey was conducted 5 days after\nelderly people with the average age of\nthe tornado, long after many of the\n65. A total of 298 injuries were\nareas had been cleaned up. Most of\nreported in south-central Kansas.\nthe destroyed homes and buildings\nwere already removed making it\nAccording to damage statistics provided\ndifficult to ascertain the exact strength\nby the Federal Emergency\nof the tornado. Fortunately, aerial\nManagement Agency (FEMA), total\nphotos were obtained that had been\ndamage estimates from all the\ntaken on the morning of April 27, the\ntornadoes which affected south-central\nday after the storm. The damage in\nKansas exceed $272 million, including\nthese pictures supported a tornado\napproximately $62 million to\nintensity rating of F5.\nMcConnell Air Force Base. A total of\n1,728 homes were damaged or\nFinding 1.2b: The Wichita/Andover\ndestroyed by the Wichita/Andover\ntornado was surveyed in detail and\ntornado, including the destruction of\nmuch important data has been\nmost of the 241 mobile homes in the\nobtained from the aerial survey.\nGolden Spur Mobile Home Park in\nHowever, the opportunity to gather\nAndover. Of the counties in south-\nmore tornado research data covering\ncentral Kansas hit by the tornadoes,\nthe remainder of this multiple state\nSedgwick and Butler Counties\ntornado outbreak was lost. The\nsustained the most damage.\nOperational Support Facility in\nNorman would also have greatly\nOn April 28, Kansas Governor Joan\nbenefited from an aerial survey of the\nFinney requested that Sedgwick and\nentire outbreak over Oklahoma.\nButler Counties be declared a major\ndisaster by the President. On Monday,\nRecommendation 1.2: Establish the\nApril 29, President George Bush\ncapability to conduct quick response\ndeclared a major disaster in the State\naerial and ground surveys after all\nof Kansas. Butler and Sedgwick\nsignificant (F4 or F5) tornadic events.\nCounties, and later Cowley County,\nSurveys are necessary whenever there\nwere declared eligible for public\nis severe damage or significant loss of\nassistance programs.\nlife resulting from significant tornadic\nevents. Timely tornado surveys are\nFinding 1.1: The Wichita/Andover\nalso needed to obtain data for tornado\ntornado was one of four tornadoes\nresearch and Storm Data. Detailed\nspawned from a supercell that tracked\nanalyses of aerial data will provide\nfrom north-central Oklahoma across\ninvaluable information as the results\nsouth-central Kansas into eastern\nare compared to what is observed in\nKansas before weakening. There were\nthe WSR-88D velocity data, reflectivity\nother strong tornadoes in Kansas and\ndata, and all derived products.\nOklahoma from different\nthunderstorms, but these tornadoes\ntracked mostly across rural areas.\n6","CHAPTER 2\nMETEOROLOGICAL SETTING\nThe meteorological conditions over the\nsoutheastward into south-eastern Utah\nCentral Plains on April 26 were\nby the morning of April 26 (figure 5).\nextremely favorable for the\nEven though the strongest jet stream\ndevelopment of strong thunderstorms\nwinds remained on the west side of the\nand tornadoes. The meteorological\nsystem, the leading edge of the\npattern was a \"classic\" severe weather\nmaximum winds had rounded the base\nsituation with a strong middle level\nof the trough and had turned\n(500 millibar [mb]] trough of low\nnorthward (figure 6).\npressure combined with favorable jet\nstream winds and integral strong low-\nThe tornado outbreak of April 26 was\nlevel boundaries to form and enhance\ntypical of major outbreaks as several\nsynoptic scale and mesoscale features\nthe thunderstorms.\ncombined to produce the extensive\nThe prevalent long wave, middle level\nsevere weather. At 1300 UTC\n(500 mb) pattern that had persisted for\n(Coordinated Universal Time) on April\nmost of April consisted of a large low\n26, a surface low pressure system was\npressure system anchored over the Gulf\nlocated in southwestern Nebraska\nof Alaska and a ridge of higher\n(figure 7) with a dry line extending\npressure over the central and eastern\nsouthward into west Texas. Dew\nUnited States. The pattern began\npoints in the lower to middle 60s\nchanging during the week before April\ncovered much of Oklahoma and\n26 as a series of low pressure systems\nKansas, while dew points lowered into\nmigrated from the Gulf of Alaska upper\nthe 20s behind the dry line. A warm\nlevel low into the western United\nfront extended from the low in\nStates. The middle level low pressure\nNebraska south-eastward through\nsystem responsible for the April 26\nKansas and into extreme northeastern\noutbreak moved into the Pacific\nOklahoma. During the morning, the\nNorthwest the morning of April 25\ndry line moved rapidly eastward into\n(figure 4). A strong flow of northwest\nwestern Oklahoma and central Kansas\nwinds on the backside of the upper\nbut slowed its eastward progression\nlevel low resulted in a northwest-\nconsiderably during the afternoon.\nsoutheast tilt, or negative tilt, of the\nNormally, the dry line moves eastward\nlow pressure trough that extended\nas dry westerly winds erode the low\nsouthward into southwestern Arizona.\nlevel moisture and the air mass warms\nfrom daytime heating. The winds\nJet stream winds in excess of 110 knots\nbehind the dry line were westerly in\non the west side of the system caused\nthe morning but backed to the south\nthe trough of low pressure to move\nand southwest during the afternoon.\n7","25 551\n-23.546\n-30\n25\n550\n+00\n10\n11+02\n90\n549\n+03\n-23.543\nun21\n23.55\n159-0546\n+02\n-33.537\n51.81\n15-0-2\n20\n23.557\n24.554\n32 539\n12 +07\n169+01\nR\n10 LV\n23.554\n-33-5373\n21 559\nR-01\nU.22.561\n24_557\n99-02\n10 +01\n8-+04\n14,+03)\n-31.541\n9 554\n61-03\n23.549\n421.564\n11 - 04\n18\"+08\n5°-05\n-19.557\n34\n539\n558\n-21.561\n-20-565\n552\n16-01\nUL20-5652\n22.561\n-03\n17-02\n15-+02\n+06\n163+11\n566\n-19.559\n566\n88+0418\n543\n-27.5456\n1-18 560\n-02\n-1\n5--05\n-08\n11 -01\n19 569\n-19.556\n16°+06\n-18.567\n2-05\n-19.562\nFF-170571\n157571\n7-01\n28.546\n19 562\nX\n+08\nx. +05\n553\nm15.573\n9 +00\n10558\n+07\nAll\n-23 553\n-18.564\n-17 564\n-13.576\n-19-559\n-16/571\n19.561 0-01\n15*-03\n10 -05\nM\n1-015-574\n00-05\n+02.00\n17 567\n16.566\n576 mm3 579\n13\nthe\n+02\n119.559\n3--04\n5.402\n6\n+02\n17,-08\n564\n582\n-13.571\n-16.56\n-15\n11.567\n-1111.570\n-x-04\n14.578\n8 um\n15.570\n12.582\n15\n5\n566\n-13.569\n72381\n-01\n+03\nWH\n571\n11\n-05\n-14\n1-1-01\n15\n13.569\n570\nUIID 586\n12 577\nX--55\n11\n583\n-12 576 -02\n-02\n-12.572\n13.575\nM11-587-883589\n1411 575\n111-80-03\nW14 +01\n+00 x9+01\n-11 582\nXX-01\n72273\n+00\n50 00\n576\nn.10.580\n12Z25\n12 577\n-08.590\nLFM.\n-02\n-11.578\n-01\n-11.584\n09.585\n130-03\nJ\n-10\nro\nFigure 4. 500 mb analysis for April 25, 1991, 1200 UTC.\nh21.557\n\"U\nJ LV\n12 +03\n22.558\n-27 541\n-20 553\n28 542\n+04\n19/-02\n190+\n3-03\nG-24-560\n11 +05\n30 543m\n-21.564\n-22-564\nto\n210,402\n-25.5477\nX1+045\n141+04\n15\n19.560\n82\n566\n-22.563\n-22.562\n-33 (542)\n15402\n+06\n-19\n546\n121-03\n5\n--01\n-25.545\n-06\n-2\n-24-552\n-02\n-20.569\n-17_551\n+06\n127-08\n-18.562\n-19.563\n18\n5,570\n15 +00\n3.565\n15-01-11\n-20-570\nID\n-02\n22.557\n99+02\n30.544\n-17.559\n18.569\n-17.550\n22+06\n\\11 +00\n107-02\n57\n2-+0018\n18.573\n-09\n1+00\n17\n568\n-08\n-22.551\n-15_570\nX°+00\n-17.564\n3412\n+03\n417-405\n-315'543\n-18.555\n-01\n-18.576\nX+Q1\n(10/-07\n1\n-05\n1550\n-27.548\n-16,568\n21\n548\n138-01\n-18.568\n<<+02\n-28\n546\n2/+00\n-14 574\n11-08\n15,564\n-16.561\nX +03\n15/-06\n5781 12 580\nX +03.\nml\n-12-521\n+01\n2-01\n552\n-14.576\n582\n-14.570\n23301\n29 557\n-19,565\nX-0\n19.558\n12.579\n16 -0855\nm11582\n15-05\n1\n-09\n-11,572\n-1\n12_580\nX-+00\n3 +00\n13.577\n564\nIII\n-18 586\n111114 569\n9711583\n1\n-02\n18\n12\n573\n-03\n+00\n-14.569\n1111 -03\n09\n58610.588\n7-16-06\n-09.581\n570\n11\n-10_587\n588\n50 00\n12 579\n12726\n+00\nLFM.\n-09_591\n-10'581\n16 +01\n576\n-04\n09 585\nP21\n19-02\ne\n10\nFinn\n500 mb analysis for April 26, 1991, 1200 UTC.\nFigure 5.\n8","8--03\n0P-50 913\n46\n330\n50 891\n157704-50K\n-51 912\n909\n49 910\n9)\n891\n13/-03\n12/+02\n30K\n50K\nF\n130K\n48\n889\n30K\n70K\nf3\n$33\n917\n900\n-50\nOK\n49.919\n(+03\n90K-1+00\n-888\n111\nT30K\n17\n920\n49\n921\n16,888\n-50 920\n+02\n148\n924\n1+06\n-50 905\nL-02\n+00\n50K\n52 898\n+04.\n924\n48 908\n-03\n(7'928\n47 913\n10K\n+03\nOK\n1-08\n-46.924.\n45 924-50K5\n310\n30K\n$46.925\n+00\n-47.929\n-03\n471917\n21 310\n897\n-46.921\n9+00\n48.930\n<+05\n-46.911\n+05\n932\n934\n-50 893\n50\n-45-932\n50K\n910\n16\n18\n1010\n936\n44.934\n44\n928\n+12\n107\n30936\n-49.914\n-01\n939\n+04\n-13\n-05\n93-35\n46\n906\nNr37. 952\n80\n901\n06\n-45.931\n14\n895\n20\n43 941\n-50.\n330\n57435942\n46.927\n948\n900\n117K\n925\n+04,\n43\n320\n-12\n3+07\n9486 401 950\na\n-41\n11\n+02\n8-03\n940\n912\n41 944\n-44-936\n-501340\n44 917\n50K-\n931\n-02-\n920\n12'\n-05\n40-949\n-07\n38\n954\n43.941\n924\n38.951\n2005\n+00\n-39 946\nNII 38 957\n33 9600\n935\n9-03\n43\n940\nhave -03\n04\n43 -936\n36.958\n-05\n7+00\n33 962,36 963\n-36.957\n-36.963\nX-+01\n30 00\n-40 38 950\n12Z26\n01\nLFM..\n536967\n-37 955\n05\n948\n-35\nFigure 6.\n300 mb analysis for April 26, 1991, 1200 UTC.\n31\n00\n32\n96\n54 235-96\n00 5\n04\n08\n12\n44\n=\n44\nSBN\n**\n**\n45\n0\n30\n\"\nMDW\n50\n129\n04\nALD\n30\nR1\n51\n34\n13\n52\nFWA\n195\nb\nLADD\nCPA\n51\n60\nCDR\n174\nADG\n43\n3a\n27\n50\n013\n56\n134\n075\n948\n105\n48\n12756\n3\n44\n54\n44\n44\n45\n152\n54\n016\n6\n51\n56\n57\n***\n33\n45\n&\n27\n950\nDFK\nDSM\nLAF\n44\n24\n42\n48\n949\n599278\nPIA\nKS\n964\n56\n932\n51\n1034\n50\nOJ\nBRL\n60\nRWL\n45\nIND\n09649\n112\n1\n56\nDMA\nH9\n49\n22\n46\n30\n44\n56\nBBW\n006\n58\nyou\nLAR\nCYS\n301\nHUP\n1)\nSNT\nDEC\nLBF\n42\n10\n946\n62\n56\nUIN\n97\n54\nIPX\n51\n65-120\n50\n32 01\n931\n30\n972\n050\n143\nH5\nN\n4\n095\n62\nM\n52\n1010\nPO\nKO\n943\n=\n957\n38\n061\n055\n44\n62\n987\n60\nA6\n60\n5P\n55\n935\n22\n66\n54\n45\n55\n099\nEYY\nDCH\n4 965\n40\nMCI\n53\nTOU\n61\n54\nEGE\n64\n24\n24\nHLC\n35\nGLD\nFRI\n64018\nSZL\n47\n134\nLIC\n61\n1\nVIH\n954\n65\n\"\nas\nL52\nRSL\n68\n61\n65\n25\n050\n954\n56\n56\n49\n65\n23\n007e\n83\n976\nMTJ\n0658\nDRY\nCGI\n61\n63\n61\nHOP\n57\n30\n>B\nH\n005\nHUT\n62\n56\n34\nBNA\n66\n984\n52\nCNU\n50\nDD\nH5\n58\nLINE\n066136\n16\nCT61\n02\n084\n124\n20\nJLN\n61\n8\n13\n36\nALS\nR\n27\n041\n58\nDYR\n63\n31\n45\n950\n980\n61\n53\nHRO\nLBR\n68\nMKL\nE\nPNC\n68\n975\n63\n50\n078\n66\n139\n071\nCAO\nGAG\n66\n028\n28\n69\n4\n62\n8\n63\nDH\n996\n69056\n34\n\"SM\n68 094\n65\nn\n50\n69 009 66\nTUP\n4310\n69\nLVS\n24\n991\n70\n66\n&\n64\n66\n56\n65\n001\nMLC\nCBM\n6\nHOT\n65\ndo\n003\n(4.BR\nPBF\n17\n04\n58\nTC\n029\n+70\n93\n28\n65\n69\n69\n67\n13\n30\nCVS\nCDS\n001\n68\n64\n108\n70\n=\n67\n4CR\n68\n096\n65\n012\n983\nSPS\n70\n\"\n56\n66\n60\n052\n71\nMEI\n1\n71\n70\n23\n041\n23\nLBB\n68\nJAN\n60\nMLU\nRO\n69\n69\n55\n42\n70 030\nDFW\nSHY\nL50\n22\n71087\nHMN\n1\n04\n12\n66\n08\n29\n018\n030\n72 048\nFigure 7.\nSurface analysis for April 26, 1991, 1300 UTC.\n9","was the 850 mb wind from the\nThis change in wind direction behind\nNorman, Oklahoma, sounding. NSSFC\nthe dry line slowed the eastward\nused the wind information from the\nmovement of the dry line during the\nprofiler station in Lamont, Oklahoma,\nafternoon.\nto supplement the missing data.\nProfiler data was used throughout the\nA low-level (850 mb) jet of 35 to 50\nday by NWS forecasters to assess how\nknots was evident on the 26/1200 UTC\nthe atmospheric wind patterns were\ndata (figure 8) and extended from\nsouth-central Kansas northward into\nchanging.\ncentral North Dakota. The moist air,\nVertical wind shear in the atmosphere\n10° Celsius or greater dew points,\nis an important ingredient for tornadic\nextended from southwestern Texas into\ndevelopment. Storm-relative helicity is\ncentral Kansas. Drier air in western\nused by NWS meteorologists to\nTexas and southwestern Kansas was\nquantify this vertical wind shear. In\nbeginning to push east and northeast\nparticular, the measure of helicity in\non the heels of brisk west to southwest\nthe lowest 3 kilometers of the\nwinds. A jet maximum of 40 to 50\natmosphere (3 kilometer [km] helicity)\nknots at 700 mb also stretched from\nis used extensively. In general, 3 km\nthe Texas Panhandle into central\nhelicity values below 300 m²/s2 (meters\nNorth Dakota (figure 9) and was\nsquared per second squared) correlate\nadvecting drier air into this layer of the\nto weak tornadoes, values from 300 to\natmosphere. By this time, a 500 mb\n449 m²/s2 indicate the potential for\nshort wave trough had rotated to the\nstrong tornadoes, and values 450 m²/s2\nbase of the negatively tilted long wave\nor greater are often associated with\ntrough (figure 5).\nviolent tornadoes. The 26/1200 UTC 3\nkm storm-relative helicity at Topeka\nThe atmosphere over the central\nwas 313 m²/s2 (figure 11). By 27/0000\nUnited States was extremely unstable\nUTC, the 3 km storm relative helicity\nwith a strongly sheared environment.\nhad increased to nearly 600 m²/s2 at\nSounding-based stability indices\nthe Lamont, Oklahoma, profiler site in\nindicated very unstable conditions and\nnorthern Oklahoma. This increase was\nsupported severe thunderstorm\ndue to strengthening winds throughout\ndevelopment. For example, 26/1200\nthe lower portions of the atmosphere.\nUTC surface-based lifted index values\n(LI) ranged from -5 to -7 (figure 10).\nOn the morning of April 26, a large\nHeat from the sun warmed the lower\nsevere thunderstorm moved northeast-\nlayers of the atmosphere and by\nward from north-central Oklahoma into\nafternoon, LIs reached -12 with the\nsouthern Kansas. This storm combined\naxis of greatest instability extending\nwith other thunderstorms to develop\nfrom central Oklahoma into central\ninto a mesoscale convective system\nKansas.\n(MCS) as it moved across the\nsoutheastern third of Kansas, then\nThe 26/1200 UTC upper air sounding\nweakened shortly after noon. This\nfrom Monet, Missouri, was missing as\n10","o\n1 + 0\nMOU\n011446\n031485 477\n01.359\n+03\n104.442\n03 384\n-04-413\n12\n8-+02\n40-03\nQ +05\n07-02\n135\n02 493\n0188703\n+05\n-01 424,\n135\n05/510\n02.519\n-03-440\n05-51-01\n22-01\n11_+02\n08 434\n04-527\nE\n03.514\n400.428\n05 496\n1+04\ndo\n74,533\n8-703\n02 1329\n12\n16.00\n91+00\n03_377\n11/+01)\n1\n1-03\nI+05\n-04 463\n148-01\n10 319\n07.530\n+00\n6 -04\n109/00\n06.435\n05/490\n+1\n3\n1-02\n06.505\n7.50\nQ5.543\n7-01\n703 484\n-02-945\n09\n35\n+03.\n2-+101\n10\n520\n04.302\n+02\n-03\n543\n14)\n10003\n-04\n551\n05 3491\nT\n02\n09 506\n(+02\n+03\n00\n468\nx\n08.474\n79+00.\n02\n12 391\n+03\nto\n-01\n02\n424\n12.307\n<11.512\n130\n-05\nto 550 156\nTo\n14 +00\n+02\n11-07\n138\n22/02.\n+1\n497\n03 453\n0.5515\n11.558\n15 316\n-01\n+03\n19.408\n13\n06 393\n+01\n239-04\n+05\n11\n492\n31815\nof\n44016509\n17.355\n06.456\n+01\nE\n17/-05\n13-+03\nK\n10 528\n12.551\n02\n1480\n462\n#01\n100\n15\n8.479\n141\n15 421\n172301\n05,\n436\n17\n381\nXY-O\n16396\n-03\n+1\n14 512\n+06\n22\n12.529\n+02\n08 468\n3 +01\n13--01\n16\n6.496\n2/+00\n18, 66\n-17 544\n11.450\n1-02\n527\n14\n-01\n20 415\n434\n7222\n498\n12 +01\n144\n111\n21 -02\n520\n400\n1+00\n16.536\n476\n550\n17.550\n-02\n050\n85 00\n12nd\n19 438\n12726\n2/-\n-02\n0\nLFM.\n20 1564\n21 454\n21+00\n13-03\n147\n23 469\n81+00\nFigure 8. 850 mb analysis for April 26, 1991, 1200 UTC.\nup\n3 +00\nLUI\nHT 05 994\n1.07\n-09.888\n01+04\n04.005\n-02-949\n-12 923\n2 +00\n+03\n87+00\nC-05-042\n/17-704\n18 943\n306\nT-05.068\n+01\n03.071\n-11-954\n05-16-02\nXY+03\n15:+00\nLr\n03 004\n-04.083\n-05.060\n-13.946\n03 051\n5 +03\n087\nx +04\n-04.876\n15\n1,401\nXC-OP\n-09\n917\n+01 309\n-05\n-02\n976\n-01\n-01 903\n02.093\n+00\n2 -07\n19 +00\n00.019\n-05-045\n129-01\n04 062\n1-02\n-03 103\n®\n-07.0091\n13 960\n02.954\n199+02\nQ3.094\n(1-+02\n13 +01\n20.00\n879\n0-04\n11\n28%\n2 + 0001\n1-08\nE\n12012\n++0\n-08_894\n-01 085\n12 992\n-02\n03.064\n10+00\n05/004\n+02\n291\nx +01\n12 950\n01.097\n06\n913\n1/-03\nwho.136\n1\n+01\nW-08\n+00\n+02\n-01 1067\n-11.984\n03 151\n-03.902\n+02\n+01\n06 1035\n16)\n08 239-10-05\n04094\n-03.893\n16\n103\n07 986\n05\n012\n+01\n16\n-05\n+0\n+00\n03 129 03 .151\n315\n011059\n001050\n5.++00\n297\n+01\n15\n07.104\n07 044\n2301\n-04 993\n05.999\nUT02.992\n+00\n19-03\n403_124\nE\n-0\n11168-05\n104.138\n-03\n03.059\n300\n5 +00\n20-+00\n09\n128\n+05\n+02\n09.104\n06.169\n01\n.043\nW5006154\n303\n-03\n08.054\n03.043\n02\n.138\n+00\nnill\n138-04\n18-03\n72273\n15 +00\n07\n16808 179\n11\n118\n(-011898\n08,181\n306\n16--02\n70 00\n096\nof\n12726\n-01\nLFM.,\n10 204\n11.112\n11\nLV\n309\n-03\nR\n13.135\n15\n-01\n829\nD\nFigure 9.\n700 mb analysis for April 26, 1991, 1200 UTC.\n11","-70\n-60\n-50\n-40\n-100\n-90\n-80\n245/ 06\n100\n50/68\n330\n340\n350\n360\n370\n380)\n390\n240/ 47\n50\n15\n3200\n255/ 46\nWill\n245! 68\nSHOWALTER INDEX =\n-06\n310\nLIFTED INDEX =\n-07\n13\nK INDEX\n=\n23\n245/ 58\nPRECIP WATER(IN)=\n+\n1.11\n40\n245/ 34\n28\n30\n32\n08\n10\n12\n,14\n16\n18\n20x\n22\n24\n25\n200\nCROSS TOTALS\n27\n103/53\n245/ 54\nVERTICAL TOTALS\n28\n300\nTOTAL TOTALS\n=\n55\n11\nMob\nSWEAT INDEX=\n0572\n255/ 55\n+\n250/ 78\n+\n230\n2554 40\n+\n2631 35\n30\n+\n300\n09\n245/ 61\n280\n235/ 60\n+\n230/ 51\n400\n0\n250/ 34\n270\n20\n245/ 41\n+\n500\n05\n245/ 46\n600\n2607\n1\n10\n03\n700\n250\n800\n195/ 195/\n+\n01\n900\n185/\nF\n170/\n13\n1000\nI)\n0\n-30\n-29\n-10\n10\n20\n30\n40\n1050\nDIR/KTS DIR/KTS\n80\n90\n100\n-30\n-20\n-10\n0\n10\n20\n30\n40\n50\n60\n70\n110\nKM/KFT\nOUN\n12Z/AP\n91\n26\nFigure 10. Upper air sounding from Norman, Oklahoma, April 26, 1991, 1200 UTC.\nTOP / 04/26/91 / 18Z\n180\nMean Wind\nMODIFIED\n0-3km. 200/35\n090\n270\n0-6km. 207/32\n56\n360\nPositive Shear\n0-2km. 12.9\n0-3km. 6.8\nSR Helicity\n42\n0-2km. 554\n0-3km. 527\nStorm Motion\n237/24+\n28\no\nCURSOR DATA\n170/ 21kts\n0-3km\nSR Helicity\n14\n313(M/S) 2\nOPTIONS\nF1 Zoom\nF2 Edit Wind\n42\n28\n14\n14\n28\n42\n56\n70\nF3 Speed Rings\nF4 Storm Inflow\nF5 Hel/Shr\nF6 Reset\nF7 Help\nLEFT EDIT MOTION\nRIGHT RE-DRAW\nF8 Save\nF9 EXIT\nFigure 11. Hodograph for Topeka, Kansas, April 26, 1991, 1200 UTC.\n12","MCS reinforced the cool air north of\nsoutheastern Colorado into\nthe warm frontal boundary. This\nnorthwestern Texas. This trough of\nboundary of rain cooled air remained\nlow pressure increased the diffluence\nnearly stationary through the\nover northern Oklahoma and southern\nafternoon from northwest of Wichita,\nKansas as evidenced by the differences\nKansas, to south of Joplin, Missouri.\nin wind speed and direction at\nThunderstorms formed mainly on the\nOklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Dodge\ndry line but became tornadic during\nCity, Kansas. This was one meteoro-\nthe late afternoon and evening of April\nlogical feature that supported the\n26 as they approached the outflow\nupward motion needed to lift the air to\nboundary/warm front lying across\nproduce thunderstorms.\nsouth-central Kansas. By 26/2300 UTC\n(6 p.m.), the surface analysis indicated\nThe final ingredient which appeared to\nthat the dry line had pushed eastward\ninitiate this severe weather outbreak\ninto central Kansas and Oklahoma\nwas a band of maximum winds near\n(figure 12).\nthe top of the troposphere. This area\nof strong winds is referred to as the jet\nAt 27/0000 UTC, the axis of warmest\nstream. Within the jet stream, there\n850 mb temperatures extended from\nare regions of maximum winds referred\nwestern Texas into western Kansas,\nto as a jet streak or a jet max. One\neast of Dodge City (figure 13). The\nsuch jet max was evident on satellite\nmoist axis was located across central\nimagery throughout the day of April 26\nOklahoma and eastern Kansas, just\n(figures 16a-f). A jet max was rotating\neast of the warm air. The 850 mb dew\nnortheastward through western\npoints ranged from 13° to 17°C, an\nKansas and the Oklahoma/Texas\nincrease from the morning 1200 UTC\nPanhandles around the upper level low\ndata. The axis of maximum winds at\nlocated in Wyoming.\n850 mb extended from north-central\nOklahoma through eastern Kansas. At\nAlthough the air mass was primed for\n700 mb (figure 14), the maximum\nthunderstorm development, most\nwinds had intensified to 60 knots and\ncumulus clouds along the dry line were\nextended from the Texas Panhandle\nunable to develop into thunderstorms\nacross north-central Oklahoma into\nduring the early afternoon. Convection\neastern Kansas. These strengthening\ndeveloped rapidly once the upper level\nwinds at low levels in the atmosphere\njet streak moved into a favorable\nprovided one of the necessary\nposition to support the upward motion.\ningredients for the formation of the\nJet streak signatures are often\ntornadoes.\nobserved in satellite imagery. Detailed\ndigital satellite data are available at\nData from 27/0000 UTC indicated that\nthe national centers (NC), such as\nthe middle level (500 mb [figure 15]),\nNSSFC and the National Meteoro-\nshort-wave trough had rotated north-\nlogical Center (NMC), through the VAS\neastward from the base of the long\n(VISSR [Visible and Infrared Spin Scan\nwave trough and extended from\nRadiometer] Atmospheric Sounder)\n13","27\n08\n76\n12\n60\n00\n95:96\nJO\n00\n04\n04\nCDR\n96\n92\n92\nPIA\n33\nDSM\n000\n980\n34\n4DG\n28\n56\nBFL\n60\n27\n4\n50\n79\n906\n60\n74\nMHN\n77\n78\n30\n49\n8\n59\n94\n78\n35,008\nMA\n979\n6\n60\n60\n975\n57\n47\n301\n70\nnot\n26\n32\n50\nof\n145\n11H\nRK\nUIN\n062\n(SDP\nBBW\n24\nGRI\nB\n77\nRUL\n23\n78\n14\n12\n6\nL55\n6\n022\n,\n970\nLAR\nCYS\n61\n79.\n35\n978\n73\n121\nRO\n905\n99474\nSTL\n51\n6\n77\n6\n61\n78\n22\n44\n01\n50 977 11\n920\n65\nCOU\n80\nMCI\n61\n60\nCAG\n49\n4094\n118\n981\n41\nthe\nAK\n77\n-0\n022\n56\n77\n77\nSZL\n13\n24\n00\n941\n10\nVIH\n17\n63\n12\n6H\n090\n42\n).(f\n74\nNLC\nH\n33\nHOP\n2\nCO\nDEN\n29\n32\n63\n966\n021\nEGE\nGU\n72\n71\nMP\nLIC\nRBL\n73950\n9\n72\n83\n45\n65\n6A\n80\n108\nW57\n74\n941\n56\n69\n972\n60\nGHN\nHUT\n59\n3GF\n07\n94\n24\n73\n\"\n44\nCO\n160\nDYR\n68\n8\nJLN\nMTJ\n77\n67\nDRY\n=\n69\n948\n77\n62\n67\n39 040\n089\n61\n63\n995\n2\nDDC\n986\n72\n8\nJBR\n1016\n78\nHRO\n69\n112\n70\n9\n946\n67\nPNC\n18\n032\nMIM\n\"\n1\n988\n80\n72064\nALS\n9\nLINE\nTUL\n78\n6670\nUSS\nus2\n003\n68\n969\nTUP\n72\n69\n4\n13161\n55\nGAG\n67\n80\n002\n73\nCAC\nCBM\n26\n70\n50\n950\n70\n72\nDHT\n99D\n68\nto\n87\n6'\n71\n966\nPBF\nHOT\n48\n89\nMLC\n58\n25\n84\n73\n69\n951\n56\n73\nAMA\n10266\n74\n92\n164\n1.]\n72\n=\n999\n\"27\n069\nMEI\n21\n73\n64\n65\n77\n42\nABQ\nCUS\nTXK\n39\n42\nJAN\n68\n12\n1664\n:\nar\nHe\n990\nCVS\nMLU\nof\n85\n8\n68103\n83\n27\n73\n964\n71\n064\nLBB\n8\n74\nR\n993\n81\nSHV\nDFW\n71\n74\no\n74\n979\n8\n66\n04\n11\n30\n\"\n009\nO\n90\nTYR\n046\n097\n78\n76\nROW\n83\n028\n71\n38\n996\n84\nESF\n10\n86\n40\n'18\n70\n982\n8\n73\n8\n090\nHM't\nHOL\n74\n76\n73\n67\nPOE\n99980\n73\n57806168\n012\n982\n_K\n26\nU87\nMSY\n72\n28\nACT\n797\n92,\n012\n00&6\n048\n08\n051\n00\n45\n16\nMAF\nFigure 12. Surface analysis for April 26, 1991, 2300 UTC.\nLU503 473\nwas\n144\n138\n030\n03\n464\n08\n377\n¥03\n-01-465\n09-453\n+05\n23-+02\nJ47\nT06 486\n02 434\n030\n12-01\n030\n+01\n22\n-01.4595\n08 492\n150\n21+02\n030\n02\n+05\n10 424\n22\n02 435\noz 497\n06 515\n12,401\n00.317\n09\n07\n383\n11,700\n520\n1\n-01\n01\n482,\n12-01\n21 +01\n153\n+02\n28\nQ8.515\nQ30\n129\n08 392\n22\n08\n2483\n-02\n138\n-04\n09\n498\n02.517\n030\n63 452\n07 537\n4-403\n14 +01\n04-324\n65-01\n537\n+02\n030\n09\n08\n03 394\n08,552\n22\n07.465\n14+05\n508\n+00\n05\n9 +00\n15 462\n11 332\n39+00\n05 453\n10 322\n12\n-01\n-06\n146510\n16 +03\n156\n3 +0\n+07.552\n530\n07.470\n010\n+00\n22\n-4-400\n11.349\n+03\n10 552\n030\n+02\n08\n5\n426\n440\n+03\n2\n22\n++3\n3 484\n24-013 504\n14,471\n16 341\n+02\n-01\n09\n501\n30\n12\n532\n12 551\n+15\n+00\n400\n6\n-17-434-\n462\n19 382\nor\n7239\nT6 414\n17.376\n1\n1-02\n400\n-04\n14 506\n+02\n11/477\n71-01\n16-+01\n17\n486\n020\n18\n439\n-0\n16.462\n21\n416\n-03\n16.553\n22\n24-407\n428\n030\n2 + 01\n499\n030\nX-01\n-01\n100\n2\n20\n17\n466\n030\n85 00\n22\n030\n23.437\n155\n16\n00227\n700\n030\nLFM.\n030\n122 442\n19.550\n22\n70-01\n2\n147\n21\n-0125\n27\n454\n030\n24\n-02\n22\n030\nE2\nFigure 13. 850 mb analysis for April 27, 1991, 0000 UTC.\n14","US 040\n150\n-13.976\n02 957\n2 + 05\n-04-010\n+05\n+01\n21 +01\n+0003\n04 050\n11.964\n30/A+01\n291\n-10 982\n306\n-03.057\n8°\n+03\n02-068\n16-01\n171+00\n-12.962\nE\n'O 006\n16\n4,402\n-071857\n+00\n04 063\n02\n2.086\n-09.933\n1-01-090\n6,401\nXX+00\n1\n13 002\n-02\n18 +02\n-+003\n+03\n291\n02.086\n8\n04.993\n23-01\n02/07/19\n141-03\n-06.054\n285\n19 +03\n-01.075\n-12.982\n00 108\n1-+05\nto\n+02\n-05 870\n197+0\n00\n12\n21-01\n118\n-08-935\n124.20.129\n-07-024\n38704\n-05\n00 099\n+01\n+03\n205 078\n80+01\n-005994\n/\n704.890\n14\n+04\n01.110\n00\n107\n-07.024\n2 -02\n02.140\n297\n6401\n+04\n+04\n-04-924\n5 +00\n4477\n00.144\n983\n04 058\n16\n+02\n2315\n12 +04\n097\n-01.064\n02 949\n4004,109\n+05\n031093\n300\n18-04\n+01\n19\n+\n04 138 04.160\n100\n22\n+00\nto\n7.401\n72391\n01.037\n06 085\n06 016\n44101 009.\n02 985\n142+0\n8,-02\n2,-03\n3011 +02\n144-01\n05.081\n05.125\n21-+02\n9 LV\n08.121\n+05\n11 085\n12/-0\n02.069\n110\n10 062-\n6 +03.3\n06 063\n08\n.052\n95.\n106.181\n09.136\n14 +02 11121+00\n3+1013\nM\n5e+00\n10.116\n7.179,07 189\n8,+00\nstoto\n+01\n10.093\n70 00\n309\n17:00\n00Z27\nLFM\n12.115\n8\n+10\n07.187\n1113-400\n-0219\n-15,136\n+10\n312\n1119\n+00\n+15\nFigure 14. 700 mb analysis for April 27, 1991, 0000 UTC.\n$30293\n-31.547\n546\n558\n16\n-19.555\n149+06\n22.558\n-22.559\n21+02\n18 +00\n+01\n22\n29\n546\n562\nin\n3-403\n+02\n546\n-30.548\nf564\n-22 563\n6100\n21.565\n11 -01\n169401\n-32.544\n17,563\n-19 544\nX +03\n-18.566\n21 567\n6.545\n-20,568\n2-704\n-28.549\n+01\n+00\n-9-+\n-03\n-17\n544\n-18.568\n-15 563\nXL\n16.569\n570\n-25\nXT+01\n-24.561\n-20\n++66 1111 16 570\n-28,548\n18.571\n12<+04\n+05\n+04\n23\n543,\n92+01\n-15\n54211\n-07\n57\n26.546\nI\n5.575\n-25-556\n3 +03\n-05-200\n-14 574\nxx+02\n1+05\n546\nI\n15.571\n12°+06\n23\n576\n-26,549\n-21.547\n5+01\nH-140575\n10\n+06\n-16.572\n2/-08\n-23.556\n14 578\n17-704\n14 +04\nHove\n10 +08\n726-547\n+02\n-28\n12.579\n78,190\n550\n18\n10 -01\n570\n+04\n-13 576\n552-\n-14,566\n-18 556\n23,577\n12-++55\n-14.574\nW.-08\n13 +02\n-20\n1798\n582\n-15,579 -12 582\n558\n+010\n12+02\n- o\n15 565\n-12.575\n7239\n-12.569\n12-08-16 NT16 560\n-14 5631\n21-0\nX-01\n+02\n-12\nr12.580\n-111574\n564\nX-+02\n+01\n11.580\n412 571\n578\n\"+00\n570\n-12.575\n++101\n16 +02\n-12.573\n09\n-09_587\n-13.572\n09 583\n18 +03\n<+01\nwas +00\n100\n-10,582\n-11\n586\n2-588\n2.+01\n576\nmm9975\n50 00\n-01\n00Z27\n-10\nLFM.\n-09.583\n1-08 590\n11.5.+02\n13-01\n06.587\n+02\n582\n-05\nFigure 15. 500 mb analysis for April 27, 1991, 0000 UTC.\n15","Jet\nStreak\n\"Clouds\"\nd. 2101 UTC\na. 1701 UTC\nBeginning\nConvection\ne. 2201 UTC\nb. 1901 UTC\nf. 2301 UTC\nC. 2001 UTC\nFigures 16a-f. Sequence of satellite water vapor images showing the jet\nstreak approaching the Kansas/Oklahoma area and the subsequent\nthunderstorm development. The jet streak approaches from the\nsouthwest (figure 16a), reaches Kansas and initiates the convection in\n16b. Figures 16c-f show the continued development of the convection.\n16","Data Utilization Center (VDUC)\nsignature of severe weather.\nsystem. Satellite data is available up\nto five times per half hour during\nFinding 2.1: The synoptic weather\nselected 2-hour periods at the NCs.\nsituation that occurred on Friday,\nThe data include infrared, visible, and\nApril 26, was a classic tornado\nwater vapor (VAS) imagery. This\noutbreak pattern.\ndetailed data was only available to the\nNCs. WSFO Topeka had only 30-\nFinding 2.2: The 3 km helicity values\nminute imagery available in a mix of\nwere supportive of violent tornadic\nvisible and infrared enhancements\nformation.\nthrough the Satellite Weather\nInformation System (SWIS). WSO\nFinding 2.3: Satellite information\nWichita did not have any real-time\navailable at the NCs is far superior to\nsatellite imagery available. Infrared\nthat which is currently available at\nimagery (figures 17a-f) show the\nWSFOs or WSOs. The digital data\napproach of the jet streak and the\navailable on the VDUC system dwarfs\nrapid generation of the convection.\nthe information available on SWIS.\nOne kilometer resolution visible\nsatellite imagery (figures 18a-f) show\nRecommendation 2.3: The NWS\nthe explosive development of the\nshould implement its modernization\nconvection across Oklahoma and\nplan including provision of state of the\nKansas. A strong dry intrusion\nart digital satellite data to all field\n(dissipating clouds) can be noted on the\noffices. This information is vital for\n2330 UTC visible image (figure 18e)\nforecasting initiation and dissipation of\njust west of Andover (located by the +).\nmesoscale convective events.\nThis \"dry punch\" is a distinct satellite\nLarge metal projectile imbedded in a telephone pole (McConnell Air Force Base).\nPhotograph courtesy of John Sokich, NWS.\n17","IS WICHITA, KS\nIS WICHI\nIS ANDOVER, KS\nIS ANDOVER,\nd. 2301 UTC\na. 2001 UTC\nIS WICHITA\nIS WICHITA,\nKS\nIS ANDO\nIS ANDOVER,\ne. 2331 UTC\nb. 2101 UTC\nIS WICHITA,\nKS\nIS WICHITA,\nIS ANDOVER, KS\nIS ANDOVE\nf. 0001 UTC\n2201 UTC\nC.\nInfrared satellite imagery from April 26, 1991, showing the rapid\nFigures 17a-f.\nthunderstorm development as the jet streak approached.\n18","a. 2231 UTC\nd. 2316 UTC\nb. 2246 UTC\ne. 2331 UTC\nc. 2301 UTC\nf. 2346 UTC\n18a-f. One kilometer visible satellite imagery every 15 minutes from 2231 UTC\nFigures\nto 2346 UTC on April 26, 1991. The town of Andover is designated by the +. The active\nportion of the supercell is located to the north-northeast of Andover on the 2346 UTC image,\nabout 6 minutes after the mobile home park was leveled.\n19","Wide angle view towards the east showing residential area west of the Golden Spur\nMobile Home Park where the tornado reached F5. The mobile home park is located in\nthe upper left-hand corner. Photograph courtesy of Paul Bowen.\n20","CHAPTER 3\nWARNINGS, FORECASTS, AND GUIDANCE\nCurrent NWS forecast procedures begin\nthe development of strong\nwith the centrally produced computer\nthunderstorms, including severe\nguidance at NMC in Camp Springs,\nweather and possibly tornadoes, for\nMaryland. National severe weather\nFriday, April 26. The primary short-\nguidance is prepared at NSSFC using\nrange (through 48 hours) operational\nthe computer guidance. WSFOs, in\nmodel used by NWS forecasters is the\nturn, refine the guidance and issue\nNested Grid Model (NGM).\ndetailed state forecasts while WSOs are\nresponsible for issuing local forecasts,\nThe NGM model accurately forecast the\nstatements, and short-fused warnings.\nsynoptic environment which was\npresent on Friday, April 26. Numerical\nThe warning and forecast process of\nmodels are not expected to predict the\nthe NWS worked exceptionally well\nexact location of thunderstorm\nduring the April 26 outbreak of\ndevelopment. The NGM did, however,\ntornadoes. Computer guidance from\nan excellent job forecasting the\nNMC, national outlook and watch\npotential for extensive convection\nproducts issued by NSSFC, state\nacross the Plains on April 26. Figure\nproducts and forecasts issued by WSFO\n19 shows the NGM 24-hour forecast\nTopeka, and local products issued by\nvalid April 27, 0000 UTC.\nWSO Wichita all highlighted the\npotentially dangerous weather\nNSSFC\nsituation for that day. All messages\nwere well written and contained\nThe potential for severe weather in\nappropriate information emphasizing\nKansas on Friday, April 26, was\nthe potential hazards of the weather\ninitially identified in the Day 2 Severe\nfor April 26.\nWeather Outlook issued by NSSFC at\n3 a.m. (25/0800 UTC) on Thursday,\nNMC\nApril 25 (see appendix D for products\nand messages issued by NSSFC). This\nThe large outbreak of severe weather\noutlook stated that tornadic activity\nthat occurred on April 26 came as no\nwas likely ahead of a cold front that\nsurprise to NWS forecasters at both the\nwas forecast to move eastward across\nnational and local levels. The three\nthe Central and Southern Plains\ncomputer guidance forecast models\nFriday afternoon and evening. On\ngenerated at NMC indicated for several\nThursday afternoon at 1:08 p.m.\ndays that the weather pattern over the\n(25/1808 UTC), NSSFC updated the\nCentral Plains would be favorable for\nDay 2 Severe Weather Outlook and\n21","TIE\n100\nboxy\n@\nfrom\n104\nm\nuse\n409\nRH\nJF\n100\n120\nWE\n20\nis\nV1691 24HR FCST SFC PRECIP (12HR ACCUM) 700M8 VERT VEL VT 00Z SAT\nV1422 24HR FCST 700 HEIGHT/REL HUMIDITY VALID 00Z SAT 27 APR 91\nV\nRED\nsed\nIII\nan\nhas\n520\n3357\n330\nNY\nan\nand\non\n.\nSF 24\n411\n00127\ncon\nID\nII\n008\nof\n30\nV1420. 24HR FCST 500MB HEIGHTS/VORTICITY VALID 00Z SAT 27 APR 91\n24HR FCST SFC/1000-500 THICKNESS VALID 002\nV1419\nFigure 19. 24-hour NGM forecast valid April 27, 1991, 0000 UTC.\n22","again emphasized the potential for a\nemphasize the threat for \"destructive\"\nsignificant tornado outbreak in the\ntornadoes to occur within the \"high\ncentral United States on Friday,\nrisk\" area outlined for the Central\nApril 26.\nPlains.\nOn the morning of April 26, NSSFC\nAt 12:10 p.m. (26/1710 UTC), NSSFC\nissued the Day 1 Convective Outlook at\nissued Tornado Watch No. 183,\n2 a.m. (26/0700 UTC). This outlook\neffective until 8 p.m. (26/0000 UTC) for\nindicated a \"high risk\" of severe\nparts of central and eastern Kansas.\nweather Friday afternoon and evening\nThe watch was strongly worded,\nover parts of the Plains, including\nemphasizing this was a dangerous\ncentral and eastern Kansas. The\nweather situation and \"very damaging\noutlook emphasized that an outbreak of\ntornadoes\" could develop.\nsevere thunderstorms and tornadoes\nwas expected in the high risk area.\nNumerous mesoscale convective\nThe \"high risk\" designation is seldom\ndiscussions were issued by NSSFC\nissued by NSSFC and reserved for\nthroughout the day to keep field offices\nwhen a major severe weather outbreak\napprised of the current meteorological\nis anticipated.\nconditions as analyzed by NSSFC.\nWatch status messages were also\nNSSFC issued a Public Severe Weather\nissued by NSSFC to keep the watch\nOutlook (PWO) at 4 a.m. (26/0900\ninformation current.\nUTC) stressing that an outbreak of\nsevere thunderstorms and tornadoes\nNSSFC issued a total of 24 watches on\nwas expected Friday afternoon and\nApril 26. The 14 watches issued\nevening in parts of the Plains,\nduring the evening shift was a record\nincluding central and eastern Kansas.\nhigh number for any single shift.\nThe PWO is a special product that\nNSSFC issues when an especially\nWSFO Topeka\nsignificant and widespread outbreak of\nsevere weather and tornadoes is\nForecasters at WSFO Topeka\nexpected. This product is used very\nhighlighted the severe weather\ninfrequently and is a strong stimulus\npotential in their State Forecast\nemphasizing the severity of the event.\nDiscussion (SFD) issued at 3:06 p.m.\n(25/2006 UTC), Thursday, and included\nNSSFC updated the Day 1 Convective\na 50 to 60 percent chance of thunder-\nOutlook at 9:38 a.m. (26/1438 UTC)\nstorms in the zone forecast for the\nand updated the PWO at approxi-\nWichita area (Kansas Zone 12) for\nmately 11 a.m. (26/1508 UTC). (Any\nFriday and Friday night. SFDs are\ndifferences between the CDT and the\nintended as internal NWS products\nUTC result from the delay in writing\nused to coordinate the forecast among\nthe message and final transmission.\nadjacent WSFOs and local WSOs\nThe dissemination time is the UTC\nwithin a WSFO's area of responsibility.\ntime.) The messages continued to\nDue to the inherent uncertainty in\n23","WSFO Topeka issued the Kansas Areal\nforecasting severe weather, it is usually\nOutline (AO) for NSSFC Tornado\nimpractical to mention severe weather\nWatch No. 183 at 12:15 p.m. (26/1715\nin state forecasts and zone forecast\nUTC). An AO, or redefining statement\nproducts (ZFP) outside the 24-hour\n(Automation of Field Operations and\ntime frame. WSFO Topeka concurred\nServices [AFOS] category severe local\nwith the NSSFC \"high risk\"\nstorms [SLS]) is issued by the WSFO\nassessment in their SFD issued at 3:08\nfor its area of responsibility whenever\na.m. (26/0808 UTC) and forecast\nNSSFC issues a watch affecting the\n\"SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS\nWSFO. The AO lists the counties that\nSOME POSSIBLY SEVERE\" in the\nare in the watch. The AO issued by\nKansas Zone 12 forecast issued at 3:48\nWSFO Topeka identified Sedgwick and\na.m. (26/0848 UTC). The Wichita area\nButler Counties, including the city of\nis covered by Kansas Zone 12. The\nWichita, as being within the tornado\nforecasts issued by WSFO Topeka\nfollowed NWS policy to highlight\nwatch area.\nimportant weather in ZFPs. However,\nWSO Wichita\nthe wording in the ZFPs did not convey\nthe potential severity of the event.\nAs the severe weather episode began to\nevolve, the WSO Wichita staff was\nOn days when unusual weather is\naugmented to handle the additional\nexpected, NWS offices are encouraged\nworkload. A staff of five was used\nto issue a special weather statement\nthrough most of the late afternoon and\n(SPS) to alert the user community to\nthe possibility of the unusual weather.\nevening. Normally, only two employees\nAt 4:50 a.m. (26/0949 UTC), WSFO\nwould be on duty during that time.\nTopeka issued such an SPS\nLocal warnings, forecasts, and\nemphasizing the severe weather threat\nstatements issued by WSO Wichita\nand further defining the NSSFC \"high\nwere well written, action provoking,\nrisk\" area within the state of Kansas.\nspecific, and contained appropriate call\nAnother SPS issued by WSFO Topeka\nto action statements and safety rules.\nat 10:39 a.m. (26/1539 UTC) re-\nWSO Wichita also issued an SPS (5:22\nemphasized specific information on\na.m., 26/1022 UTC), emphasizing the\nsevere thunderstorm development in\npotential for severe weather for their\nKansas. This alerted emergency\ncounty warning area (CWA).\nmanagers and spotter groups that an\nactive severe weather day was\nIn an effort to more accurately define\nexpected. Taken together, the ZFP and\nthe chronology of the Wichita/Andover\nthe SPS products provided sufficient\ntornado, the survey team contacted the\nsevere weather information for the\nKansas Gas and Electric Company for\npublic and for the emergency\nassistance. The failure of high voltage\nmanagement community to make\nelectrical transmission lines provides\nexcellent time confirmation of the\nappropriate preparations.\n24","tornado passage. Power companies can\nmost accurate way to assess the lead\nlocate not only the site of such failures,\ntime that was given to the users. For\nbut can pinpoint, with great accuracy,\nHarper County, warning lead times\nthe time the power was disrupted. The\nranged from zero minutes at the initial\nfollowing tornado chronology was\ntouchdown point to as much as 15\ndeveloped by using power company\nminutes at the point where the tornado\ndata, radar data, and spotter reports.\nexited the county. For Sumner County,\nwarning lead times varied from 15\nThe first tornado produced by the\nminutes at the point where the tornado\nthunderstorm touched down briefly\nentered the county to 28 minutes\napproximately 6 miles northeast of\nwhere the tornado exited the county.\nAnthony in Harper County between\nFor Sedgwick County, warning lead\n5:10 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. on Friday,\ntimes ranged from 7 minutes at the\nApril 26, 1991. The second twister\npoint where the tornado entered the\nformed in eastern Harper County at\ncounty to 47 minutes where the\n5:20 p.m. (approximately 5 miles west-\ntornado exited the county. For Butler\nsouthwest of Argonia), moved\nCounty, warning lead times varied\nnortheastward, and lifted northeast of\nfrom 4 minutes at the point where the\nConway Springs in Sumner County.\ntornado entered the county to 47\nThe third and most destructive tornado\nminutes where the tornado dissipated\ntouched down just south of Clearwater\nin the northeast part of the county.\nin Sedgwick County approximately 5:57\nNote: The 4-minute lead time for\np.m. and was in the western part of\nButler County was computed using the\nHaysville (71st St. and Meridian) at\n6:33 p.m. issuance time and the time\n6:16 p.m. The tornado reached\nthe tornado first moved into Butler\nMcConnell AFB by 6:25 p.m. It crossed\nCounty.\nAndover Road and entered the Golden\nSpur Mobile Home Park at 6:40 p.m.\nWSO Wichita issued its first warning\nIt continued northeast and at 7:00 p.m.\nof the day at 6:42 a.m. (26/1147 UTC).\nwas just west of El Dorado near the\nOn April 26, severe weather occurred\nKansas Turnpike and dissipated\nin 17 of 22 counties of Wichita's CWA.\nshortly thereafter. The fourth tornado\nA total of 17 tornado warnings, 33\nformed over El Dorado Lake and moved\nsevere thunderstorm warnings, and 44\nnortheast. It dissipated around 7:20\nsevere or special weather statements\np.m. northeast of Cassoday.\nwere issued. The staff at WSO Wichita\ndid an excellent job providing\nBased on the tornado chronology, the\ninformation to the public. The office\nfollowing warning lead times have been\nreceived severe weather and tornado\ndetermined. In calculating the lead\nreports and immediately issued\ntimes, the time the warning was\nappropriate warnings and statements.\ntransmitted for distribution has been\nSee appendix E for a detailed\nused instead of the time appearing in\nchronology of the actions taken by\nthe mass media header. This is the\nWSO Wichita on April 26.\n25","Data from WSFO Topeka and WSO\nresponsible for issuing warnings must\nsift through large amounts of often\nWichita indicated that commercial\nconflicting information, and yet make\npower was interrupted at WSO Wichita\nsplit-second warning decisions.\nfor approximately 10 minutes at about\nNevertheless, the staff at Wichita\n6:45 p.m. The staff had planned to\nhandled this episode expertly.\nswitch to emergency power at 5:30\np.m., but tornadoes were already\nThe spotter networks in Sedgwick\nreported by that time. Switching to\nCounty were activated at 4:45 p.m.\nbackup power would mean that the\nThe Citizens Radio Emergency Services\nWSO Wichita WSR-57 radar unit\nTeam (CREST) and Radio Amateur\nwould be off line for approximately\nCivil Emergency Service (RACES) both\n15 minutes. The staff determined that\nestablished base station operations in\nit was inappropriate to switch to\nthe Wichita office which relayed severe\nemergency power with tornadoes\nweather reports from the spotters to\noccurring within the WSO CWA. No\nwarnings or statements were delayed\nthe WSO Wichita staff. These spotter\nreports were used to issue warnings;\nby the outage.\nwarnings which, in most cases,\nprovided sufficient lead time for people\nThe Wichita/Andover storm spawned\nfour separate tornadoes that were\nto take necessary safety actions.\nvisible from a large distance. This may\nhave contributed to the confusion\nFor comparison, the WSFO in Norman,\nsurrounding the apparently conflicting\nOklahoma, used the WSR-88D, with\nspotter reports. Spotters could see the\nDoppler velocities and better\ntornadoes from relatively long\nreflectivity resolution, to detect\ndistances possibly resulting in errors\nambient conditions that are precursors\nestimating the location of the tornado.\nto tornado formation and to issue\nMultiple vortices produced by the\nwarnings. On the same day of the\nparent storm probably contributed to\nWichita/Andover tornado, Oklahoma\nalso had an extensive outbreak of\nthe seemingly contradictory reports\nregarding the location of the tornado.\nsevere weather. Using the WSR-88D,\nSome spotters may have been looking\nthe Norman office was able to provide\nat the dissipating tornado while others\ntornado warnings for sections of\nwere viewing a developing vortex.\nOklahoma in many cases before the\nAlso, in the excitement of the event,\ntornado touched down. In one case, the\nspotters may have reported a tornado\nwarning was issued with a 24-minute\ngiving their viewing location instead of\nlead time before the tornado touched\nthe estimated location of the storm\ndown. These tornadoes, recognized on\nitself. Such confusion is not uncommon\nthe WSR-88D by the forecasters, were\nduring an ongoing event and is similar\nsubsequently confirmed by spotters.\nto the \"fog of war\" phenomenon which\noccurs during military operations. This\nFinding 3.1:\nSynoptic\nscale\nphenomenon complicates warning\nparameters were exceptionally well\noperations as the individuals\nforecast by the numerical models.\n26","Finding 3.2:\nNational Weather\nwhen \"high risk\" areas are outlined by\nService forecasters were well aware of\nNSSFC. For example, instead of\nthe potential for damaging\n\"...50% CHANCE OF THUNDER-\nthunderstorms on Friday, April 26. As\nSTORMS SOME POSSIBLY\nearly as Thursday morning, forecasters\nSEVERE\" the recommended wording\nwere highlighting the potential for\ncould b e\nS EVERE\ntornado development on Friday across\nTHUNDERSTORMS LIKELY SOME\nthe central and southern Plains.\nMAY PRODUCE TORNADOES.\"\nFinding 3.3a:\nNSSFC\nprovided\nFinding\n3.4b:\nOn Thursday\nexcellent outlook and watch services for\nafternoon, April 25, WSFO Topeka\nthis event.\nThe Day 2 Outlook\nrecognized the potential for significant\nidentified the potential for tornadoes\nsevere weather and highlighted the\nmore than 37 hours in advance. PWOs\npotential in the internal NWS SFD\nissued by NSSFC provided extensive\nproduct. This information was not\nlead time and highlighted the severity\nincluded in the ZFP issued that same\nof this event. Tornado Watch No. 183\nafternoon.\nwas issued more than 6 hours prior to\nthe time that the tornado moved\nRecommendation 3.4b: On days\nthrough Andover.\nwhen the potential for severe weather\nis highlighted for the next day in the\nFinding 3.3b: NSSFC issued a total\nSFD, the NWS should encourage use of\nof 24 watches on April 26. The 14\nsevere weather terminology in the\nwatches issued during the evening shift\nZFPs issued at the same time. This\nwas a record high number for any\nmay enable emergency managers to\nsingle shift.\nbetter plan staffing for the severe\nweather episode. Highlighting the\nFinding 3.4a: WSFO Topeka followed\npotential of a big event will also\nestablished procedures to highlight the\nprovide the public with more advanced\npotential for severe weather in\nnotification to prepare for the event.\nstatements and forecasts. Products\nissued by WSFO Topeka were timely\nFinding 3.5: WSFO Topeka issued\nand informative. The wording of the\nSPSs to emphasize specific information\nZFP follows the policy established in\non severe thunderstorm development in\nWeather Service Operations Manual\nKansas.\n(WSOM) Chapter C-40 \"Severe Local\nStorm Warnings.\" The ZFPs issued by\nFinding 3.6: WSO Wichita provided\nthe Topeka WSFO did not differentiate\ngood warning services during an\nthis day from any other severe\nextremely active severe weather\nthunderstorm day.\noutbreak.\nMultiple events were\noccurring simultaneously in Wichita's\nRecommendation 3.4a: Change\narea of responsibility, yet the tornado\nWSOM Chapter C-40 to encourage\nwarnings for Sedgwick and Butler\nstronger wording in zone forecasts\nCounties were timely and effective.\n27","indicate the time the observation was\nFinding 3.7: Severe weather occurred\ntaken and whether the location\nin 17 of 22 counties in WSO Wichita's\nreference is an estimate of the storm\nCWA. WSO Wichita issued a total of\nlocation or the spotter's location.\n17 tornado warnings, 33 severe\nWhenever possible, the radar film\nthunderstorm warnings, and 44 severe\nshould be used to assist in the\nor special weather statements.\nreconstruction of the post-storm\ntornado path and timing.\nWarnings and\nFinding 3.8:\nstatements issued by WSO Wichita\nFinding 3.11: Commercial power was\nwere well written, timely, action\ninterrupted at WSO Wichita during the\nprovoking, specific, and contained\nevent. The staff had planned to switch\nappropriate call to action statements\nto emergency power at 5:30 p.m., but\nand safety rules.\nby that time a tornado was already\nreported southwest of Wichita.\nFinding 3.9: All of the tornado\nWichita's Station Duty Manual\nwarnings issued by WSO Wichita were\nrecommends switching to emergency\nbased on spotter reports.\npower when thunderstorms are within\n25 miles of the station.\nFinding 3.10: Conflicting spotter\nreports, which placed the tornado in\nRecommendation 3.11:\nWhen\ndifferent locations at the same time,\npractical, consideration should be given\nintroduced confusion into the warning\nto switching to emergency power early\nprocess and into the reconstruction of\non days when severe weather is\nthe post-storm tornado track and\nexpected. Factors, such as the high\ntiming.\nrisk outlook, the tornado watch, and\navailable fuel supply for the emergency\nSpotter\nRecommendation 3.10:\ngenerator should be given consideration\ntraining should emphasize not only\nin this decision. The Station Duty\nproper storm identification procedures\nManual should be worded to allow for\nbut proper reporting procedures as\nthis flexibility.\nwell, i.e., spotter reports should clearly\n28","CHAPTER 4\nRADAR EVALUATION\nDuring convective events, forecasters\nwas evident. From this distance and\nrely on radar and spotter reports to\nwithout the benefit of more detailed tilt\ndetermine if the thunderstorms are\nsequences, it was not possible to\nsevere or tornadic. The Wichita WSR-\ndetermine the storm structure features\n57 is part of the NWS network radar\nassociated with this storm.\nand is located at the Wichita Mid-\nContinent Airport.\nAt 5:05 p.m., this same storm was\nlocated about 30 nm southwest of\nThe WSR-57 radar provides only\nWichita. The tilt sequence revealed the\nreflectivity data. The radar beam\npresence of a large mid-level overhang\nwidth is 2.0 degrees and the range of\nextending more than 10 miles to the\nthe radar is 250 nautical miles (nm) in\nsouth and southeast of the low-level\nall directions. High reflectivities\nreflectivity gradient. An overhang on\nindicate stronger storms with heavy\nradar indicates that heavy rain or hail\nrainfall. Other radar signatures, such\nis not able to reach the ground due to\nas pendants or hook echoes, indicate\na very strong updraft. A storm\nthe potential that the thunderstorm is\npossessing an extensive mid-level\nproducing severe weather or possibly\noverhang is usually indicative of a\ntornadoes. The April 26 radar film\nsevere thunderstorm. The radar film\nfrom the Remote Plan Position\nshowed a pendant with this storm\nIndicator (RPPI) on the Wichita WSR-\nabout 20 nm south-southwest of\n57 radar was examined. The RPPI\nWichita 35 minutes later. This storm\nfollowed general NWS guidelines and\nspawned two weak tornadoes in\nremained on the 250 nm range for the\nextreme eastern Harper County and\nduration of the event.\nnorthwestern Sumner County between\n5:10 p.m. and 5:45 p.m.\nOn April 26, the radar film showed the\nthunderstorm that would later produce\nThe third tornado with this storm was\nthe Wichita/Andover tornado\nreported on the ground near\ndeveloping about 100 miles southwest\nClearwater in southwest Sedgwick\nof Wichita around 3 p.m. This storm\nCounty at 5:57 p.m. The storm was in\ndeveloped into a supercell, and at 4:40\nthe ground clutter of the Wichita radar\np.m., a pendant was evident in the\nas it moved northeast through eastern\nreflectivity field with the storm located\nSedgwick County and into western\nabout 50 nm southwest of Wichita.\nButler County. This tornado was most\nThe Wichita radar had been operating\nintense prior to and while it moved\nwith an automatic tilt sequence prior to\nthrough the small town of Andover,\nthis time but not while the pendant\nKansas.\n29","The second supercell, as observed by\nstruck Andover, the reflectivity field\nthe Wichita radar, developed in\nindicated an intense storm with\nreflectivities greater than 50 dBZe\nnorthwest Oklahoma about 120 nm\n(equivalent reflectivity). When this\nsouth-southwest of Wichita at 4:40 p.m.\nsame storm was located farther\nThis storm produced a killer tornado in\nsouthwest in Harper County, Kansas,\nCowley and Elk Counties in\nsoutheastern Kansas between 6:30\nor about 120 nm northwest of the radar\np.m. and 7:30 p.m. The quality of the\nsite, the Doppler velocities indicated a\nradar film, radar range of 250 nm, and\nstrong mesocyclone was associated with\nthe distance of the storm from the\nthe storm. The presence of a\nradar prevented recognition of\nmesocyclone, a strong cyclonic\ncirculation, in a thunderstorm is\nsignificant low-level or storm structure\nfeatures indicative of a tornadic storm.\nanother good indication of possible\ntornadic activity. These circulations\nOn April 26, strong thunderstorms and\ncan only be observed with Doppler\ntornadoes also occurred in northern\nradar.\nOklahoma. Three of the twisters\nreached F4 intensity. The WSR-88D,\nThe supercell moving over Cowley\nlocated near Oklahoma City,\nCounty was also evident on the\nOklahoma, was operating during the\nOklahoma City WSR-88D.\nThe\ntornado outbreak of April 26. The\nWSR-88D velocities indicated a\nWSR-88D has both reflectivity and\nmesocyclone with the Cowley County\nDoppler velocity capabilities. The\nstorm at 6:33 p.m., approximately the\nreflectivity range of this radar is 248\nsame time a tornado touched down\nnm while the Doppler velocity\n(6:30 p.m.) in Cowley County. This\ncapability is 124 nm. The azimuthal\nthunderstorm was about 110 nm away\nbeam width of the WSR-88D is\nfrom the Oklahoma radar site.\napproximately .95 degrees compared\nwith 2.0 degrees for the WSR-57. This\nThe WSR-88D velocity and reflectivity\nmeans the WSR-88D provides twice the\nfields suggested that supercells in\nazimuthal resolution of the WSR-57,\nnorthern Oklahoma were also tornadic.\nallowing for better observations of\nThe storms, which were between 60\nstorm-scale features. An example of\nand 125 nm away, displayed large hook\nthe output from the WSR-88D is shown\nechoes in the reflectivity patterns.\nin figure 20 and output from the WSR-\nThis hook echo signature was not\n57 archive tape is in figure 21. As can\nevident on the radar film from Wichita,\nbe seen from the figures, the WSR-88D\neven though the storm was about the\nreflectivity image provides much more\nsame distance from the Wichita and\ndetail than the WSR-57.\nOklahoma City radars. WSR-88D\nmesocyclone algorithm triggered\nSince Andover is located about 140 nm\nmesocyclone signatures for both storms\nnorth of the Oklahoma City radar site,\nin northern Oklahoma.\nthe velocity pattern associated with\nthis storm was not available on the\nThe data from the Oklahoma WSR-88D\nWSR-88D. However, when the tornado\nwas not available to WSO Wichita\n30","Figure 20. Color hardcopy of the Norman, Oklahoma, WSR-88D reflectivity data taken directly from the display screen.\n248 NM 1.1 NM RES\nRDA KOKO 35/19/58N\n1277 FT 97/16/37W\nONM\nA/R (RDA) 216 DEG\nCONNECTION PENDING\nMAG=1X FL= 1 COM=1\n300 NM\n20 R\n30/1855 HARDCOPY\nHARDCOPY REQUEST\nDED. RPG LINE 1\n08/30/91 19:10\n04/26/91 23:39\nELEV= 0.5 DEG\nMODE A / 21\nND DBZ\nCNTR 0DEG\nMAX= 65 DBZ\nQUEUE EMPTY\nUNAVAILABLE\nBASE REF\nHARDCOPY\nACCEPTED\n10\n15\nThe time of the image is 2339 UTC, approximately the same time the tornado struck Andover, Kansas.\n20\n25\n30\n35\n40\n45\n50\n55\n60\n65\n70\n75\n5\n82898FT\nKL\nKSGF\nKSHV\nKTUL\nKTOP\n& KDFW\nKI\nKENDE\nWichita/Andover\nKFDR\nx KDYS\nTornado\nKDDC\nKAMA\nx KLBB\nx","","ICT\n10\n4\n9\nFigure 21. Photograph of the Wichita, Kansas, WSR-57 radar PPI scope at 2333\nUTC, 6 minutes before the WSR-88D image in figure 20. Note how the thunderstorm\nthat produced the Wichita/Andover tornado is masked by the ground clutter pattern.\n33","Next Generation Radar (NEXRAD)\nstaff. Data from the WSR-88D was\nnetwork across the Nation. This event\nused in the post-analysis of the tornado\nillustrates the usefulness of the WSR-\noutbreak to reconstruct the event and\n88D velocity fields and better\nwas not used to issue warnings or\nazimuthal resolution reflectivity data.\nstatements for Kansas.\nFinding 4.2: The archive film of the\nFinding 4.1: Examination of the\nNetwork WSR-57 Radar at WSO\nWichita WSR-57 and Oklahoma City\nWichita remained on the 250 nm range\nWSR-88D data revealed that storm-\nsetting for the duration of the storm.\nscale reflectivity features were\nThe record film of the event is\nobserved with more detail on the WSR-\naccordingly very difficult to analyze\n88D than the Wichita radar due to\nand cannot be used as a research tool.\nbetter azimuthal resolution. The\nWSR-88D storm relative velocity data\nRecommendation 4.2: Whenever\nand mesocyclone algorithm provided\npossible during severe weather events,\ntimely and highly detailed information\nthe archive screen of NWS radars\non the storm-scale rotation to help\nshould be switched to the 125 nm\nlocate the most intense and potentially\nrange. This information will be useful\ntornadic storms.\nfor local staff case studies as well as\nresearch quality recorded data.\nRecommendation 4.1: The NWS\nshould continue to implement the\nAerial photograph of damaged homes in the Springdale Subdivision southwest of\nAndover. Photograph courtesy of Brian Smith, NSSFC.\n34","CHAPTER 5\nPREPAREDNESS\nThe primary mission of the NWS is the\nextensive community preparedness\nissuance of watches and warnings to\nplans to address severe weather and\nprotect life and property. It is not\ntornado events. The combined\nsufficient to simply issue warnings to\npreparedness effort was well rewarded\nthe public; citizens must know what to\nin the Wichita area. Of all those\ndo once the warning has been issued.\ninterviewed, nearly everyone affected\nThe NWS is only one member of the\nby the Wichita/Andover tornado was\nhazards community which consists of\naware of the warning and knew which\nall organizations involved in the\nsafety actions to take.\nwarning process. These organizations\ninclude Federal, state, and local\nNWS WSO Wichita Preparedness\nagencies; emergency managers; elected\nActivities\nofficials; the media; volunteer groups;\nand private sector meteorologists.\nWSO Wichita has an active internal\nEducating the public to the hazards of\nand external preparedness program.\nsevere weather is a vital part of the\nInternally, the office completed three\nlifesaving mission of the NWS.\nsevere weather operations drills during\nJanuary and February 1991. These\nThe NWS recognizes the need to\ndrills reviewed severe weather\neducate the public and the hazards\nprocedures, radar identification\ncommunity and performs this service\ntechniques, message composition, and\nthrough preparedness. Preparedness\ndissemination. All employees on\nactivities include recommending safety\nstation completed the drills\nactions to be taken during severe\nsuccessfully. In addition, each\nweather events. Local NWS offices\nWednesday the NWR tone alert test is\nalso manage extensive spotter training\ndone live to ensure proficiency in\nand preparedness programs to educate\nproviding live broadcasts during severe\nemergency management officials and\nweather situations. The office switches\nthe public to the hazards of severe\nto emergency power each Thursday to\nweather.\nensure proficiency in that task and to\ncheck the status of the emergency\nThe NWS is by no means alone in its\ngenerator. The office staff was well\npreparedness efforts. The entire\nprepared to handle the severe weather\nhazards community in the Plains of the\nsituation.\nUnited States is particularly sensitive\nto the threat of severe weather.\nComprehensive external tornado\nCounties in south-central Kansas have\npreparedness was also accomplished\n35","The spotter sightings allowed personnel\nduring the past year. The Wichita MIC\nin the Wichita office to closely track\nconducted numerous spotter training\nthe progression of the tornadoes in the\nand/or preparedness meetings reaching\nall 22 counties in the WSO Wichita\narea.\nCWA area from January 1991 to April\nDuring severe weather events, ham\n1991 (see appendix F for a complete\nradio operators staff a base station in\nlist of spotter training and\npreparedness meetings). The MIC felt\nthe Wichita WSO to receive reports and\nmanage the spotter network. This\nthat the office staff should become\narrangement works exceptionally well\nmore involved in the external\nin the immediate Wichita area,\npreparedness program, and this year\nhowever, there are no provisions for\neach staff member accompanied him on\nradio relay of spotter reports from\nat least one county preparedness visit.\noutlying counties. Reporting networks\nin outlying counties report to a central\nThe publicity of the Hesston tornado in\nlocation in each county which then\nthe spring of 1990 heightened tornado\ntelephones reports into the Wichita\nawareness for the 1991 season in WSO\noffice. The one phone line used for\nWichita's area of warning responsi-\nsevere weather reports is currently\nbility. Due to this increased\ninadequate. However, additional phone\nawareness, attendance at preparedness\nlines would not alleviate this problem.\nmeetings this year was higher than\nusual. The Wichita MIC presented\nOne more phone line would not double\nspotter training to all of the Sedgwick\nthe answered calls due to limited\nCounty Sheriff officers at a specially\nstaffing. Any arrangement using\nscheduled session in early April 1991.\nphone lines is prone to break down\nSpotter training was also given to the\nduring severe weather situations when\nMcConnell Air Force Base Weather\ntelephone communications are\nDetachment in late March 1991.\nfrequently interrupted.\nDue to the high incidence of tornadoes\nExternal preparedness efforts by WSO\nin Kansas, spotter networks and\nWichita and the local media\ntornado preparedness have historically\nundoubtedly saved lives and reduced\nbeen an important part of the\ninjuries during the storm. The Wichita\npreparedness efforts of WSO Wichita.\nstaff conducted several safety talks in\nThe spotter network in the WSO\nthe area and provided safety\nWichita warning area is excellent.\ninformation to schools. Interviews with\nDuring the April 26 tornado event, the\nvictims of the storm showed that most\noffice logged over 100 spotter reports.\npeople knew which safety actions to\nMany severe thunderstorm warnings\ntake when the tornado struck. The\nand all tornado warnings were issued\nefforts of the Wichita office and strong\nbased on the spotter reports. These\nemphasis on severe weather safety by\nreports were vital as the path of the\nthe local news media played a crucial\nWichita/Andover tornado moved into\nrole in the high level of tornado\nthe ground clutter of the Wichita radar.\npreparedness by the general public.\n36","Community Preparedness\npotential severe weather as early as\nThursday, April 25. Local officials\nActivities\nrecalled watching local and national\nAll of the counties in the Wichita area\ncable television weather forecasts the\nhave some form of local emergency\nnight of April 25, highlighting the\noperations plan. Most of the counties\npotential for severe weather. Three of\nthat were surveyed have plans that\nthe four local Emergency Operations\naddress detailed severe weather\nCenters (EOC) that were surveyed\nactions, including interaction with\nwere partially or fully staffed during\nWSO Wichita. These plans were\nthe morning of April 26 in anticipation\ninstrumental in guiding the response of\nof the severe weather that was forecast\nlocal officials during the severe weather\nto develop later that day.\noutbreak of April 26. Butler, Cowley,\nHarvey, and Sedgwick Counties have\nSevere weather spotter networks were\nsevere weather spotters who work with\nactivated during the day as the\nlocal officials to monitor severe weather\nweather in Oklahoma and south-\nin their counties. Some of these\ncentral Kansas worsened. On the\nspotter networks coordinate directly\nafternoon of April 26, both RACES and\nwith WSO Wichita.\nCREST volunteers arrived at WSO\nWichita at 5:15 p.m. to staff the base\nSedgwick, Cowley, and Harvey\nstation of the amateur radio\nCounties have detailed severe weather\ncommunications network. These\ncommunication plans designed to\ngroups provided critical communication\nfacilitate interactive sharing of\nand spotter resources for the WSO\ninformation within their county, across\nduring the tornado event. Their\ncounties, and with Federal and state\nactions provided warning lead time\nagencies. Butler County is in the\nthat doubtlessly saved lives. Another\nprocess of reviewing and revising its\nspotter group, the Cowley County\nsevere weather communication plan.\nEmergency Auxiliary, actively tracked\na different tornado in Cowley County\nAll of the counties affected by these\nand provided vital information for the\ntornadoes had participated in severe\nNWS to issue timely warnings that\nweather spotter training conducted by\nallowed people in the path of that\nNWS staff during March and April.\ntornado to take appropriate safety\nLocal officials commented on the\nactions.\nresponsiveness of NWS staff to their\nlocal needs for spotter training and a\nAll of the counties monitor local\ncloser working relationship.\ngovernment radio traffic concerning\nsevere weather from adjacent counties.\nCounty emergency management\nThis provides storm track information\nofficials monitored weather forecasts\nand lead time before impact in their\nfor several days before the April 26\ncounties. They also actively provide\ntornadoes. Many of them were aware\ninformation to neighboring\nof NWS forecasts (NSSFC) for Friday's\njurisdictions. Cowley County officials\n37","activate them when notified of a\nactively monitor radio communication\ntornado warning for their area. Towns\nfrom nearby counties in both Kansas\nand cities also set off their sirens to\nand Oklahoma. This provides them\nalert the public of the imminent\nwith additional information as the\nstorms build and move toward their\ndanger. All these procedures were\nfollowed on April 26. A warning siren\ncounty.\nin Andover failed to sound. The local\npolice department recognized the\nCounty officials in the survey area\ndanger and sent patrol cars to drive\nreceive NWS warning and forecast\nthrough areas in the path of the storm\nproducts via the ASTRA Law\nto alert residents of an impending\nEnforcement Communications Circuit\ndanger. One patrolman drove through\nrun by the KHP. ASTRA receives\nthe Golden Spur Mobile Home Park\nNWS information through the NWWS.\nminutes before it was flattened by the\nThe product headers are scanned by\nthe computer which forwards all\ntornado. Some counties even sent\nofficials to isolated residents or areas\nspecial weather statements, severe\nweather statements, watches, and\nto warn the citizens of the severe\nwarnings for any part of Kansas and\nweather. Unfortunately, some of those\npersonally warned individuals failed to\nautomatically transmits the products to\nall terminals. This occurs in a matter\nheed the warning.\nof seconds. These terminals are located\nin local sheriff's offices and police\nCowley and Harvey Counties have local\nalerting radio systems that can\ncommunications centers.\ncommunicate with numerous local\nAll of the counties' EOCs use NWR as\nemergency response officials at one\na source of NWS forecasts. Officials\ntime. This allowed the severe weather\nindicated that it is monitored during\ninformation to be disseminated rapidly\nsevere weather. However, only two of\nto local officials.\nthe counties have drops on NWWS. In\naddition, several of the counties\nFinding 5.1: There was a high level of\nmonitor local and national television\ntornado preparedness and hazard\nchannels for coverage of the severe\nawareness in the Wichita area. Good\nweather. This includes forecasts,\ncooperation between the media and the\nweather reports, and radar images of\nNWS provided ample severe weather\nsafety rule information to the general\nstorms.\npublic. Victims in the path of the\nUser Response\ntornado who were interviewed by the\nsurvey team knew which appropriate\nWhen tornado warnings are issued,\nsafety precautions to take.\nemergency agencies that have a\nresponsibility to warn the public\nFinding 5.2: The spotter network for\ngenerally notify other response\nthe Wichita office is extensive and\nagencies. Those counties with outdoor\nprovided a large number of storm\nwarning sirens in populated areas\nreports on April 26. This directly\n38","translated into more effective warning\nof them by the external users.\nservices and lives saved. The spotter\nnetwork is especially comprehensive in\nRecommendation 5.3: All Wichita\nthe Wichita and Cowley County areas\nstaff responsible for issuing warnings\nwith the use of the local volunteer\nshould continue to be involved in the\nspotter groups. However, the ability to\nspotter training and/or preparedness\nget spotter reports from the outlying\nmeetings. The NWS should continue to\ncounties to the Wichita office is a\nencourage this practice at all NWS\nproblem. A single phone line to field\nfield offices.\nspotter reports is insufficient.\nFinding 5.4: Staff from WSO Wichita\nRecommendation 5.2: The Wichita\nvisited all 22 counties in their county\noffice should investigate the feasibility\nwarning area during the spring of\nof establishing radio links to outlying\n1991. Spotter training sessions were\ncounties via repeaters. The NWS\nconducted in all counties. This type of\nshould explore ways to obtain funding\ncontact fosters increased local\nsupport for repeater networks to\npreparedness. Local officials indicated\nexpand the ham and amateur radio\nthat the training was a positive factor\noperator spotter coverage.\nin their response prior to and during\nthis event.\nFinding 5.3: All Wichita staff\nmembers attended at least one spotter\nFinding 5.5: Many local officials are\ntraining and/or preparedness meeting\noriented toward proactive behavior\nwith external users during the spring\nduring severe weather. They believe\nof 1991. As a result of this interaction,\nthat appropriate warning behavior can\nthe staff was aware of how their\nsave lives.\nproducts are used and what is expected\n39","Closeup of F4-F5 damage. Photograph courtesy of Paul Bowen.\n40","CHAPTER 6\nDISSEMINATION AND COMMUNICATION\nWSO Wichita is responsible for severe\nfluctuations in the commercial power\nweather warning dissemination in their\nthat supported the office. These brief\nCWA which is comprised of 22 counties\noutages did not affect the issuance of\nin southeast Kansas. During severe\nany of the warnings or statements that\nweather warning episodes, WSO\nincluded Sedgwick and Butler\nWichita utilizes multiple mass\nCounties.\ndissemination systems to distribute\nNWS warnings to local emergency\nThe staff at WSO Wichita use an IBM\nofficials and the public. The use of\ncompatible personal computer (PC) to\nmass dissemination systems is\nstreamline the issuance of tornado and\nencouraged SO NWS warnings can be\nsevere thunderstorm warnings and\ndisseminated to the greatest number of\nstatements by using an application\ninterested parties with the most\nprogram called SRWARN. Early in the\nefficient use of limited personnel\nafternoon, there were minor problems\nresources. During the April 26 Wichita\nusing the PC and SRWARN, but no\narea tornado outbreak, all of the mass\ndelays were encountered for issuing\ndissemination systems, except for the\nwarnings and statements for the\nEmergency Broadcast System (EBS),\nWichita/Andover tornado. It is not\navailable to the office were utilized\nknown if these minor problems were\neffectively. Aside from the power\nhardware, software, or operator-related\noutage at the office for approximately\ndifficulties.\n10 minutes near 6:45 p.m., all\ncommunication systems were\nNOAA Weather Wire Service\noperational and all messages were\n(NWWS)\nappropriately transmitted.\nWarnings and statements issued by\nWSO Wichita uses the internal NWS\nWSO Wichita are transmitted via the\nAFOS network to issue warnings and\nAFOS network to WSFO Topeka where\nstatements. Examination of records\nthey are uplinked to the NWWS. All of\nobtained from logs of the controllers at\nthe warnings and statements issued by\nthe AFOS System Monitoring and\nWichita on the afternoon of April 26\nCoordination Center indicated that the\nwere disseminated on the NWWS (see\nAFOS network was fully operational\nappendix G for the WSFO Topeka\nduring the afternoon and evening of\nNWWS message log). While the three\nApril 26. Minor AFOS system crashes\nnetwork television affiliates in Wichita\nat approximately 6:19 p.m. and 6:44\nare subscribers to the NWWS, no\np.m. were likely the result of voltage\nWichita radio stations subscribe to the\n41","broadcast.\nSince there were no\nsubscribers in Kansas. The KHP\ncomplaints of missing or delayed\nreceives NWS warnings via the NWWS\nwarning information by NWR users,\nand relays the warnings to local police\nparticularly the emergency\nagencies via the ASTRA circuit.\nmanagement community, it appears\nthat adequate, timely information was\nNOAA Weather Radio (NWR)\ndisseminated.\nWSO Wichita provides programming\nDuring the tornado event, power to the\nfor two NWR transmitters via two\nNWR transmitter was lost and NWR\nprogramming consoles. NWR station\noutput dropped from 1 kilowatt to 100\nKEC-59, located in Wichita, broadcasts\nwatts. Local radio stations were still\non a frequency of 162.55 MHz\nable to pick up the signal and\n(megahertz). This station serves the\nrebroadcast the NWS message.\nfollowing south-central Kansas\ncounties: Reno, Harvey, Butler,\nMany of the emergency services\nKingman, Sedgwick, Cowley, Sumner\nagencies in the Wichita area use NWR\nand Harper. NWR station WXK-95\nas a primary means of receiving severe\nlocated near Chanute, Kansas,\nweather information.\nThe\nNWR\nis\nbroadcasts on a frequency of 162.40\nused to a much lesser degree by the\nMHz and serves the following\nlocal radio and television stations. At\nsoutheast Kansas counties: Woodson,\nthe electronic media outlets which have\nAllen, Bourbon, Crawford, Cherokee,\nNWR receivers, the NWR is usually a\nLabette, Montgomery, Wilson and\nbackup system for receipt of severe\nNeosho. However, NWR coverage is\nweather information. In field\nnot complete in all of these counties,\ninterviews with residents directly\nleaving many holes in the coverage.\nimpacted by the tornadoes, the survey\nteam was unable to locate anyone who\nSevere weather warnings issued by\nhad received severe weather\nWSO Wichita are broadcast live on\nNWR and are preceded by the warning\ninformation via NWR.\ntone alarm. The warning message is\nASTRA Law Enforcement\nalso taped and included in the\nCommunications Circuit\nbroadcast cycle until the warning is no\nlonger valid. The area affected by the\nThe KHP drives the statewide ASTRA\nApril 26 tornadoes is covered by NWR\nstation KEC-59. Interviews with the\nW enforcement computer\nstation MIC and WSO staff on duty\ncommunications circuit. The KHP\nduring the Andover tornado indicated\ncomputer captures severe weather\nthat all warnings and statements for\nwarnings and statements off the\nNWWS and immediately transmits\nthe area were broadcast in a timely\nfashion. However, the broadcast log for\nthem on the ASTRA circuit. The NWS\nproducts are printed on a terminal at\nApril 26 was incomplete, making it\neach ASTRA drop in the state. Most\ndifficult to document the exact time\nlocal and county law enforcement\neach warning and/or statement was\n42","agency offices have drops on the\nmessages from NSSFC, began alerting\nASTRA circuit.\nThe\nASTRA\nthe public to the potential danger of\ndissemination of NWS products on\nsevere weather on April 26, 2 days\nApril 26 functioned effectively. All\nbefore the tornadic event.\nEOCs were on the ASTRA circuit;\nhowever, the Andover Police\nLocal cable television is also used\nextensively by the EOCs. During\nDepartment was not.\nsevere weather days, most of the EOCs\nNational Warning System (NAWAS)\nactively monitor cable broadcasts of\nThe Weather Channel (TWC). TWC is\nNAWAS is a voice warning\na private company that provides\ndissemination system in Kansas. The\ncontinuous weather information via\nNAWAS telephone hotline links various\ncable television. TWC rebroadcasts\ngovernmental and law enforcement\nNWS watches, warnings, and special\nagencies. Warnings are read over the\nand severe weather statements. To\nNAWAS by WSO Wichita personnel.\nhighlight the important messages from\nThe NAWAS was used in dissemination\nthe NWS, TWC scrolls the actual NWS\nof warnings on April 26 and functioned\nmessage on the screen with either a\neffectively.\nbrown background for statements or a\nred background for warnings. The\nLocal Media\nmessages are county coded allowing\nonly the warned counties to have the\nMost of the local radio and television\nappropriate color displayed on the\noutlets in Wichita are very adept at\ntelevision screen. Many EOCs turn\nproviding information to the public\ndown the sound and monitor the screen\nduring severe weather situations. All\nfor the radar information and the red\ntelevision stations have staff\nor brown background.\nmeteorologists and receive NWS\nwarnings and statements via the\nWSO Wichita provided training for the\nNWWS. During the April 26 tornado\ntelevision and radio stations that have\noutbreak, all of the major television\ntheir own spotter networks. One\nstations either pre-empted routine\ntelevision station brought 38 of their\nprogramming to provide continuous live\nstorm spotters in from across the state\ncoverage of the severe weather event or\nfor a training session only 3 weeks\nhad frequent message crawls and\nbefore the Wichita/Andover tornado\nspecial bulletins providing severe\nstruck. Remote, live spotter reports\nweather updates. The three major\nhelped heighten public consciousness to\ntelevision network affiliates all have\nthe impending event.\ntheir own spotter networks to provide\nadditional information. All local\nLocal radio stations showed a wider\ntelevision stations provided excellent\nvariety of commitment to disseminate\ninformation about the severe weather\nweather information. Some of the\noutbreak. Local radio and television\nstations have their own spotter\nstations, quoting strongly worded NWS\nnetworks and go to live coverage of\n43","term public awareness by devoting\nsevere weather events, while other\nmany pages of the April 27 and\nstations remain in routine format and\nfollowing issues to photos and text\nprovide only limited severe weather\nreporting the human and property\ninformation. At the request of one of\nimpact of the storm. Local television\nthe stations, the Wichita MIC made\nstations in the Wichita area were\nrecordings of safety messages that\nhyping the event days before it\nwould be used during the appropriate\noccurred, but the newspapers had no\nweather event. The aggressive weather\nproducts describing the potential for\nreporting stations are well known to\nthe severe weather. Editors requested\nresidents in the Wichita area, and\nthat in the future, the NWS produce a\nmany residents switch to those stations\nproduct highlighting the potential for\nwhen severe weather threatens. These\nsevere weather the day before the\nweather-conscious stations provided\nexcellent information during this\nevent was expected.\nsevere weather episode.\nWhile in Kansas, the survey team\nThe news director of a leading Wichita\ninterviewed numerous local newspaper,\nradio, and television personnel to\nradio station reported that he attached\nassess the impact of the event and\na live microphone to the loudspeaker of\ndetermine the efforts of the media in\nhis NWR. (The NWR broadcasts\nthe warning process. Wichita area\ncontinued throughout the event, even\nmedia managers, weathercasters, and\nafter the tornado hit the transmitter,\nnews personnel were uniformly pleased\ncutting power from 1 kilowatt to 100\nwith the timeliness and accuracy of\nwatts.) During the storm, his station\ninformation provided to them by the\nwas operating in accordance with a 9-\npage guideline he had drafted for\nNWS. Many stations rely solely on\nstation personnel titled \"Severe Storm\nNWS bulletins and mentioned the need\nfor more bulletins during the height of\nProgramming.\"\nthe storm. Other comments focused on\ncontinuing the public education efforts\nThe team interviewed approximately\n50 residents in the tornado damaged\nand promoting NWR.\nareas. These individuals stated that\nEmergency Broadcast System\nthey first heard the tornado warnings\non commercial radio or television.\n(EBS)\nAbundant severe weather information\nwas available to the Wichita area\nIn general, the EBS in southeast\nresidents via the electronic media\nKansas is not activated for severe\nthroughout the tornado event.\nweather warnings. The electronic\nmedia rely on other systems to obtain\nWhile the \"short time fuse\" of\nsevere weather warnings. In keeping\nthunderstorms and tornadoes makes it\nwith the area EBS policy, KFH, the\nimpossible for a newspaper to be part\nCentral Program Control Station\nof the real-time alert system, Wichita's\n(CPCS-1), did not activate the EBS\nmorning newspaper assisted with long-\nduring the April 26 severe weather\n44","episode. It is state policy for the\ninformation.\nThey relied on\nprimary EBS station to activate first\ncommercial radio and television. The\nwith secondary stations following. It is\nelectronic media, in general, use NWR\nalso state policy for the EBS not to be\nas a backup source of severe weather\nactivated for tornado, severe\ninformation, and not all radio stations\nthunderstorm, or flash flood warnings.\nhave NWR receivers.\nEmergency\nmanagement agencies used NWR as a\nNews Wire Services\nprimary source of severe weather\ninformation.\nAssociated Press and United Press\nInternational news wire services that\nRecommendation 6.2: Promote the\nare available to the Wichita media\nuse of NWR in preparedness and\nrelay NWS warnings and statements to\nspotter presentations. The NWS\ntheir subscribers. This is the primary\nshould increase public education about\nthe NWR system. This valuable\nway that many radio stations receive\nthis information. The news wire\nwarning service is being overlooked by\nservices receive information which has\nthe general public in the Wichita area.\nbeen transmitted via AFOS into the\nNWR is particularly useful with the\nNWS Gateway communications system\nNWR Specific Area Message Encoder\nfor relay to external users. During the\n(WRSAME). WRSAME automatically\nApril 26 severe weather event, there\ntransmits a short code before (and\nwere no apparent breakdowns in this\nafter) messages heard over NWR. The\ndissemination system.\ncode specifically identifies the type of\nweather hazard and the counties that\nFinding 6.1: NWS dissemination\nare threatened or affected.\nA\nsystems operated efficiently with all\ncompanion decoder device allows users\nwarnings and statements being\nto select which messages they want\ndisseminated in a timely fashion. It\ndisseminated, saved, etc. NWS should\nappears that NWR dissemination was\ncontinue the implementation of\ncomplete; however, incomplete\nWRSAME.\nbroadcast logs made this difficult to\ndetermine.\nFinding 6.3: The local media provided\nexcellent dissemination of severe\nRecommendation 6.1: WSO Wichita\nweather information during this\nshould develop streamlined but\nepisode. With the history of severe\ncomprehensive procedures for\nweather occurrence in southeast\ncompleting the NWR broadcast log\nKansas, the local media has developed\nduring severe, or other non-routine,\nextensive plans to gather and\nweather situations.\ndisseminate severe weather infor-\nmation over the air. The continual live\nFinding 6.2: The general public\ntelevision coverage of the developing\ninterviewed by the survey team did not\nweather situation was cited by several\nuse NWR as a source of weather\npeople as a lifesaving source of\n45","a tornado watch and a tornado\ninformation and warnings. While\nabundant severe weather information\nwarning.\nwas available via the electronic media,\nRecommendation 6.5: WSFOs and\nthere were some stations with a lower\nWSOs should educate the user\npriority on disseminating weather\ncommunity about the uses of SPS and\ninformation during the tornado\nsevere weather statement (SVS).\noutbreak. Residents in the Wichita\narea are knowledgeable about which\nThese messages contain updated\ninformation between the watch and\nstations to tune to when severe\nwarning. NWS should explore a\nweather threatens.\nroutine, timed issuance (perhaps every\n30 or 60 minutes) of the SPS or SVS\nFinding 6.4: The EBS was not\nduring severe weather events to keep\nactivated during the April 26 tornadoes\nthe emergency management community\nin the Wichita area. This was not an\noversight or breakdown, rather it is\n(EMC) informed of the situation.\nstandard operating procedure. The\nsoutheast Kansas EBS is not activated\nFinding 6.6: Local newspapers cannot\nrespond to short-fused warnings or\nfor severe weather warnings. This\nwatches. Local newspapers would like\nseems to be the standard throughout\nto see an outlook-type statement the\nthe state of Kansas.\nafternoon before severe weather is\nRecommendation 6.4: While the\nexpected.\nEBS is operated different ways in\ndifferent parts of the country, FEMA\nRecommendation 6.6: The NWS\nshould review EBS operating\nshould expand the practice of having a\nprocedures in Kansas with an eye\nWSFO issue a State Severe\ntoward activation for tornado warnings\nThunderstorm Outlook (SSTO) using\nand flash flood warnings. Activation of\nthe AFOS product SPS whenever its\nthe EBS for tornado warnings may get\narea may be affected by severe\nmore severe weather information onto\nthunderstorms.\nMany\nWSFOs\nradio stations which normally have a\nroutinely issue SSTOs and the user\nlower priority for broadcasting severe\ncommunity finds this to be a useful\nweather information. Local\nNWS\nproduct. The SSTO would characterize\noffices should coordinate with the\nthe likelihood of severe weather over\nprimary EBS station in its CWA.\nthe WSFO CWA. NSSFC Convective\nOutlook products should be used as\nFinding 6.5: Local officials had\nguidance for issuing the SSTO. The\nmultiple sources of severe weather\nSSTO should be mandatory for\nforecasts put out by the NWS (i.e., local\n\"moderate\" and \"high risk\" situations.\nand national television as well as NWS\nThe SSTO should also include\nstatements). Some local officials also\ninformation about the next day's\nindicated the need for a product that\npotential for severe weather when the\nprovides updated information between\nforecast\nskill\nallows.\nWeather\n46","situations allowing for such forecast\nRecommendation 6.7: NWS should\nreliability more than 24 hours in\nexplore ways to provide complete NWR\nadvance are rare. However, all efforts\ncoverage throughout all WSO Wichita's\nshould be made to communicate the\nCWA. If NWS staff promotes NWR\npotential severity of the event to the\nduring its preparedness efforts, the\npublic as far in advance as possible.\nuser community must be able to receive\nthe NWR signal.\nFinding 6.7: NWR coverage is\nincomplete in the Wichita WSO CWA.\nPhotograph of a vehicle in a field 1/2 to 3/4 mile northeast of the Golden Spur Mobile\nHome Park. The vehicle was so badly damaged it was not determined whether it was\na car or a truck. It is believed that this vehicle was from the mobile home park.\n47","Photograph of the Cowley County tornado on the ground northeast of Winfield,\nKansas. This tornado was rated F4. Photograph courtesy of Susie Light.\n48","CHAPTER 7\nPUBLIC RESPONSE\nTeam members interviewed\nof the people interviewed owned an\napproximately 50 tornado victims in\nNWR receiver, and there was a lack of\nthe Oaklawn and Andover areas. The\nknowledge about the service.\nteam was unable to interview any\nresidents of the mobile home park in\nNearly every victim interviewed sought\nAndover since cleanup was nearing\nvisual confirmation of the tornado\ncompletion and the victims were not\nbefore they moved to a safe area.\naround when the team arrived. The\nPeople reported that when they heard\ncomments from all of the people\nthe warning they went outside to look\ninterviewed shared a common theme.\nfor the storm. Many witnesses\nIn most cases, the victims received a\nwatched the tornado for 5 to 10\nwarning via commercial television,\nminutes before going to a safe location.\nradio, or an outdoor siren. This was\nIn most instances, the storm was\nnot sufficient information to have the\nvisible 5 to 10 miles away. Due to the\npeople seek shelter. They needed to\nhigh visibility in the area where the\npersonally assess their own risk. Once\nstorm struck, this phenomena did not\nthey had the confirmation they needed,\nsubstantially increase the number of\nusually visual, the victims knew the\ndeaths or injuries. In other areas of\nNWS tornado safety rules and what\nthe country (or at night) where heavy\nsafety actions to take.\nrain and low clouds frequently obscure\ntornadoes, this delayed reaction could\nMost victims first received the warning\nhave produced a substantial increase in\nvia their television. Fewer people\nthe number of deaths and/or injuries.\nreceived the warning through\ncommercial radio broadcasts. All\nMany of the fatalities in the Wichita/\nvictims interviewed in the Oaklawn\nAndover tornado occurred in the\narea, south-southeast of Wichita, also\nGolden Spur Mobile Home Park. The\nheard tornado warning sirens. Some\npark contained 241 mobile homes and\nheard them about the same time they\napproximately 700 residents.\nreceived the warning on television,\nInformation from media reports\nwhile others heard the sirens when\nindicated that most residents of the\nthey went outside to confirm the\npark sought shelter by either leaving\nthreat. In Andover, where the outdoor\nthe park or by going to the storm\nwarning siren failed, several people\nshelter located in the mobile home\nreported hearing a police car driving\npark. The team estimated that the\naround with its siren sounding. None\nshelter could hold approximately 300\nof the victims interviewed reported\npeople huddled close together. Local\nreceiving the warning on NWR. None\nestimates indicated that 200 people\n49","severe weather. They went into the\nsought refuge in the storm shelter at\nbasement and watched television.\nthe mobile home park when the\nThey ordered pizza for dinner and\ntornado struck. Eyewitness reports\nawaited their dinner in the basement.\nrelayed to the team from local NWS\nThe pizza delivery person arrived, SO\nand emergency management officials\nthey figured if an adult is outside, it\nindicated that many people lingered\nmust be okay outside. They moved\noutside the shelter until the tornado\nupstairs to the kitchen and continued\nwas bearing down on the mobile home\nto watch television while they ate the\npark. This left precious little time to\npizza. On television they saw that\nget safely into the shelter.\nthere was a nice rainbow outside SO\nthey went outside to see it. Once\nThe tornado victims were very\noutside, they saw the tornado headed\nknowledgeable about general tornado\nstraight toward them. They rounded\nsafety rules and actions. Every person\nup the cats and dogs and went to the\ninterviewed knew where the safest\nbasement not in the basement family\nlocation in their home was located.\nroom which has windows and is where\nPeople with basements went to that\nMom and Dad take them during\narea to seek shelter, mostly under a\ntornado drills. Instead, they went\ntable or workbench. If the home did\ninside the laundry room (small interior\nnot have a basement, people went to an\nroom with no windows) and got under\ninterior hallway or bathroom. Several\nthe sink just like they learned in\nvictims reported that they pulled\nschool. The house sustained a direct\nmattresses on top of their families to\nhit and was leveled by the tornado!\nprovide extra protection. When the\nThe family room was filled with debris\nvictims were queried about how they\nand broken glass. Fortunately, the\nknew what safety precautions to take,\nkids were in the interior room and they\nmost of them stated that they received\nescaped certain injury they would have\nsafety information through their\nsustained had they remained in the\nschool-aged children. Those who did\nfamily room. The kids were fine. The\nnot get their safety information\ninterior basement room had no\nthrough children stated that they read\nsafety rules in local newspapers.\ndamage.\nFinding 7.1: A substantial number of\nMany families in the Wichita area are\nthe victims interviewed received\ntwo-wage earner families. This creates\nwarning of the tornado before it struck,\nthe need for many children to be home\nusually through television or\nalone once school is finished for the\ncommercial radio. Oaklawn residents\nday. The following story recounts the\ndid hear the outdoor warning sirens\nexperience of one such latchkey family\nwhich heightened their awareness of\nand illustrates the value of teaching\nthe threat. In the Andover area, the\ntornado safety rules in schools.\nlocal outdoor warning siren failed.\nLocal police recognized the problem\n\"Latchkey\" kids were called by their\nand immediately drove patrol cars\ndad and told to watch out for the\n50","through the town streets sounding the\nsafer location.\nsirens to warn residents of the\nimpending tornado.\nFinding 7.3: All of the victims who\nwere interviewed knew where the\nFinding 7.2: Based upon survey team\ntornado-safe areas were in their\nfield interviews, a majority of the\nlocation.\npeople affected by the storm needed\nvisual confirmation of the tornado\nFinding\n7.4:\nTornado safety\nbefore taking protective action.\ninformation reached the public through\nHearing the tornado warning on\nschool preparedness efforts.\ntelevision or radio was not sufficient.\nThey needed to assess their own risk of\nRecommendation 7.4a: Efforts by\nthe situation and ventured outside to\nthe NWS and local emergency\nlook for the tornado.\nmanagement agencies should continue\nto stress severe weather safety\nRecommendation 7.2: NWS should\neducation in schools.\ncontinue to provide frequent and\ndetailed warnings and statements\nRecommendation 7.4b:\nSuccess\nspecifically mentioning cities or\nstories from this event should be\nlocations in the path of the storm. This\nincorporated into NWS preparedness\nmay allow people to better assess their\nmaterials.\nown risk and move more quickly to a\nPhotograph of the Greenwich Heights Subdivision northeast of McConnell Air Force\nBase illustrating F3- to F4-type damage. Photograph courtesy of John Sokich, NWS.\n51","Photograph of garden hand spade embedded in a tree. There is also a tack\nstuck in the tree to the top and left of the spade. Photograph courtesy of\nJohn Sokich, NWS.\n52","CHAPTER 8\nCONCLUSION: FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS\nThis event, tragic as it was, illustrates\nsurvey to examine the tornado track.\nthe positive effects the preparedness\nThe survey was conducted 5 days after\nefforts and warning system can have\nthe tornado, long after many of the\non the population. The entire warning\nareas had been cleaned up. Most of\ncommunity spoke with one voice to\nthe destroyed homes and buildings\nnotify the public of the approaching\nwere already removed making it\ntornado. Numerous media, both\ndifficult to ascertain the exact strength\ntelevision and radio, provided extensive\nof the tornado. Fortunately, aerial\ncoverage and virtually immediate\nphotos were obtained that had been\ndissemination of NWS warnings and\ntaken on the morning of April 27, the\ninformation. Without this effort, the\nday after the storm. The damage in\nloss of life would have been more\nthese pictures supported a tornado\nintensity rating of F5.\nextensive.\nAlthough the system worked well, room\nFinding 1.2b: The Wichita/Andover\nfor improvement remains. The\ntornado was surveyed in detail and\nfollowing summary of the \"Findings\nmuch important data has been\nand Recommendations\" recognizes the\nobtained from the aerial survey.\nHowever, the opportunity to gather\nareas for improvements in the complete\nwarning process from preparedness to\nmore tornado research data covering\nthe remainder of this multiple state\npublic response.\ntornado outbreak was lost. The\nFindings and Recommendations\nOperational Support Facility in\nNorman would also have greatly\nFinding 1.1: The Wichita/Andover\nbenefited from an aerial survey of the\ntornado was one of four tornadoes\nentire outbreak over Oklahoma.\nspawned from a supercell that tracked\nfrom north-central Oklahoma across\nRecommendation 1.2: Establish the\nsouth-central Kansas into eastern\ncapability to conduct quick response\nKansas before weakening. There were\naerial and ground surveys after all\nother strong tornadoes in Kansas and\nsignificant (F4 or F5) tornadic events.\nOklahoma from different\nSurveys are necessary whenever there\nthunderstorms, but these tornadoes\nis severe damage or significant loss of\ntracked mostly across rural areas.\nlife resulting from significant tornadic\nevents. Timely tornado surveys are\nFinding 1.2a: An NSSFC meteorolo-\nalso needed to obtain data for tornado\ngist trained in aerial damage survey\nresearch and Storm Data. Detailed\ntechniques conducted an aerial damage\nanalyses of aerial data will provide\n53","invaluable information as the results\nidentified the potential for tornadoes\nare compared to what is observed in\nmore than 37 hours in advance. PWOs\nthe WSR-88D velocity data, reflectivity\nissued by NSSFC provided extensive\ndata, and all derived products.\nlead time and highlighted the severity\nof this event. Tornado Watch No. 183\nFinding 2.1: The synoptic weather\nwas issued more than 6 hours prior to\nsituation that occurred on Friday,\nthe time that the tornado moved\nApril 26, was a classic tornado\nthrough Andover.\noutbreak pattern.\nFinding 3.3b: NSSFC issued a total\nFinding 2.2: The 3 km helicity values\nof 24 watches on April 26. The 14\nwere supportive of violent tornadic\nwatches issued during the evening shift\nwas a record high number for any\nformation.\nsingle shift.\nFinding 2.3: Satellite information\navailable at the NCs is far superior to\nFinding 3.4a: WSFO Topeka followed\nthat which is currently available at\nestablished procedures to highlight the\nWSFOs or WSOs. The digital data\npotential for severe weather in\navailable on the VDUC system dwarfs\nstatements and forecasts. Products\nthe information available on SWIS.\nissued by WSFO Topeka were timely\nand informative. The wording of the\nRecommendation 2.3: The NWS\nZFP follows the policy established in\nshould implement its modernization\nWeather Service Operations Manual\nplan including provision of state of the\n(WSOM) Chapter C-40 \"Severe Local\nart digital satellite data to all field\nStorm Warnings.\" The ZFPs issued by\noffices. This information is vital for\nthe Topeka WSFO did not differentiate\nforecasting initiation and dissipation of\nthis day from any other severe\nmesoscale convective events.\nthunderstorm day.\nFinding 3.1:\nSynoptic\nscale\nRecommendation 3.4a: Change\nparameters were exceptionally well\nWSOM Chapter C-40 to encourage\nforecast by the numerical models.\nstronger wording in zone forecasts\nwhen \"high risk\" areas are outlined by\nFinding 3.2:\nNational Weather\nNSSFC. For example, instead of\nService forecasters were well aware of\n\"\n\"...50% CHANCE OF THUNDER-\nthe potential for damaging\nSTORMS\nSOME POSSIBLY\nthunderstorms on Friday, April 26. As\nSEVERE\" the recommended wording\nearly as Thursday morning, forecasters\ncould b e\n11\nSEVERE\nwere highlighting the potential for\nTHUNDERSTORMS LIKELY SOME\ntornado development on Friday across\nMAY PRODUCE TORNADOES.\"\nthe central and southern Plains.\nFinding 3.4b:\nOn\nThursday\nFinding\n3.3a:\nNSSFC\nprovided\nafternoon, April 25, WSFO Topeka\nexcellent outlook and watch services for\nrecognized the potential for significant\nthis event. The Day 2 Outlook\nsevere weather and highlighted the\n54","potential in the internal NWS SFD\nFinding 3.9: All of the tornado\nproduct. This information was not\nwarnings issued by WSO Wichita were\nincluded in the ZFP issued that same\nbased on spotter reports.\nafternoon.\nFinding 3.10: Conflicting spotter\nRecommendation 3.4b: On days\nreports, which placed the tornado in\nwhen the potential for severe weather\ndifferent locations at the same time,\nis highlighted for the next day in the\nintroduced confusion into the warning\nSFD, the NWS should encourage use of\nprocess and into the reconstruction of\nsevere weather terminology in the\nthe post-storm tornado track and\nZFPs issued at the same time. This\ntiming.\nmay enable emergency managers to\nbetter plan staffing for the severe\nRecommendation 3.10: Spotter\nweather episode. Highlighting the\ntraining should emphasize not only\npotential of a big event will also\nproper storm identification procedures\nprovide the public with more advanced\nbut proper reporting procedures as\nnotification to prepare for the event.\nwell, i.e., spotter reports should clearly\nindicate the time the observation was\nFinding 3.5: WSFO Topeka issued\ntaken and whether the location\nSPSs to emphasize specific information\nreference is an estimate of the storm\non severe thunderstorm development in\nlocation or the spotter's location.\nWhenever possible, the radar film\nKansas.\nshould be used to assist in the\nFinding 3.6: WSO Wichita provided\nreconstruction of the post-storm\ngood warning services during an\ntornado path and timing.\nextremely active severe weather\noutbreak. Multiple events were\nFinding 3.11: Commercial power was\noccurring simultaneously in Wichita's\ninterrupted at WSO Wichita during the\narea of responsibility, yet the tornado\nevent. The staff had planned to switch\nwarnings for Sedgwick and Butler\nto emergency power at 5:30 p.m., but\nCounties were timely and effective.\nby that time a tornado was already\nreported southwest of Wichita.\nFinding 3.7: Severe weather occurred\nWichita's Station Duty Manual\nin 17 of 22 counties in WSO Wichita's\nrecommends switching to emergency\nCWA. WSO Wichita issued a total of\npower when thunderstorms are within\n17 tornado warnings, 33 severe\n25 miles of the station.\nthunderstorm warnings, and 44 severe\nor special weather statements.\nRecommendation\n3.11:\nWhen\npractical, consideration should be given\nFinding 3.8:\nWarnings and\nto switching to emergency power early\nstatements issued by WSO Wichita\non days when severe weather is\nwere well written, timely, action\nexpected. Factors, such as the high\nprovoking, specific, and contained\nrisk outlook, the tornado watch, and\nappropriate call to action statements\navailable fuel supply for the emergency\nand safety rules.\ngenerator should be given consideration\n55","in this decision. The Station Duty\ncooperation between the media and the\nManual should be worded to allow for\nNWS provided ample severe weather\nthis flexibility.\nsafety rule information to the general\npublic. Victims in the path of the\nFinding 4.1: Examination of the\ntornado who were interviewed by the\nWichita WSR-57 and Oklahoma City\nsurvey team knew which appropriate\nWSR-88D data revealed that storm-\nsafety precautions to take.\nscale reflectivity features were\nobserved with more detail on the WSR-\nFinding 5.2: The spotter network for\n88D than the Wichita radar due to\nthe Wichita office is extensive and\nbetter azimuthal resolution. The\nprovided a large number of storm\nWSR-88D storm relative velocity data\nreports on April 26. This directly\nand mesocyclone algorithm provided\ntranslated into more effective warning\ntimely and highly detailed information\nservices and lives saved. The spotter\non the storm-scale rotation to help\nnetwork is especially comprehensive in\nlocate the most intense and potentially\nthe Wichita and Cowley County areas\ntornadic storms.\nwith the use of the local volunteer\nspotter groups. However, the ability to\nRecommendation 4.1: The NWS\nget spotter reports from the outlying\nshould continue to implement the Next\ncounties to the Wichita office is a\nGeneration Radar (NEXRAD) network\nproblem. A single phone line to field\nacross the Nation. This\nevent\nspotter reports is insufficient.\nillustrates the usefulness of the WSR-\n88D velocity fields and better\nRecommendation 5.2: The Wichita\nazimuthal resolution reflectivity data.\noffice should investigate the feasibility\nof establishing radio links to outlying\nFinding 4.2: The archive film of the\ncounties via repeaters. The NWS\nNetwork WSR-57 Radar at WSO\nshould explore ways to obtain funding\nWichita remained on the 250 nm range\nsupport for repeater networks to\nsetting for the duration of the storm.\nexpand the ham and amateur radio\nThe record film of the event is\noperator spotter coverage.\naccordingly very difficult to analyze\nand cannot be used as a research tool.\nFinding 5.3: All Wichita staff\nmembers attended at least one spotter\nRecommendation 4.2: Whenever\ntraining and/or preparedness meeting\npossible during severe weather events,\nwith external users during the spring\nthe archive screen of NWS radars\nof 1991. As a result of this interaction,\nshould be switched to the 125 nm\nthe staff was aware of how their\nrange. This information will be useful\nproducts are used and what is expected\nfor local staff case studies as well as\nof them by the external users.\nresearch quality recorded data.\nRecommendation 5.3: All Wichita\nFinding 5.1: There was a high level of\nstaff responsible for issuing warnings\ntornado preparedness and hazard\nshould continue to be involved in the\nawareness in the Wichita area. Good\nspotter training and/or preparedness\n56","meetings. The NWS should continue to\nhave NWR receivers.\nEmergency\nencourage this practice at all NWS\nmanagement agencies used NWR as a\nfield offices.\nprimary source of severe weather\ninformation.\nFinding 5.4: Staff from WSO Wichita\nvisited all 22 counties in their county\nRecommendation 6.2: Promote the\nwarning area during the spring of\nuse of NWR in preparedness and\n1991. Spotter training sessions were\nspotter presentations. The NWS\nconducted in all counties. This type of\nshould increase public education about\ncontact fosters increased local\nthe NWR system. This valuable\npreparedness. Local officials indicated\nwarning service is being overlooked by\nthat the training was a positive factor\nthe general public in the Wichita area.\nin their response prior to and during\nNWR is particularly useful with the\nthis event.\nNWR Specific Area Message Encoder\n(WRSAME). WRSAME automatically\nFinding 5.5: Many local officials are\ntransmits a short code before (and\noriented toward proactive behavior\nafter) messages heard over NWR. The\nduring severe weather. They believe\ncode specifically identifies the type of\nthat appropriate warning behavior can\nweather hazard and the counties that\nsave lives.\nare threatened or affected.\nA\ncompanion decoder device allows users\nFinding 6.1: NWS dissemination\nto select which messages they want\nsystems operated efficiently with all\ndisseminated, saved, etc. NWS should\nwarnings and statements being\ncontinue the implementation of\ndisseminated in a timely fashion. It\nWRSAME.\nappears that NWR dissemination was\ncomplete; however, incomplete\nFinding 6.3: The local media provided\nbroadcast logs made this difficult to\nexcellent dissemination of severe\ndetermine.\nweather information during this\nepisode. With the history of severe\nRecommendation 6.1: WSO Wichita\nweather occurrence in southeast\nshould develop streamlined but\nKansas, the local media has developed\ncomprehensive procedures\nfor\nextensive plans to gather and\ncompleting the NWR broadcast log\ndisseminate severe weather infor-\nduring severe, or other non-routine,\nmation over the air. The continual live\nweather situations.\ntelevision coverage of the developing\nweather situation was cited by several\nFinding 6.2: The general public\npeople as a lifesaving source of\ninterviewed by the survey team did not\ninformation and warnings. While\nuse NWR as a source of weather\nabundant severe weather information\ninformation. They relied on\nwas available via the electronic media,\ncommercial radio and television. The\nthere were some stations with a lower\nelectronic media, in general, use NWR\npriority on disseminating weather\nas a backup source of severe weather\ninformation during the tornado\ninformation, and not all radio stations\noutbreak. Residents in the Wichita\n57","area are knowledgeable about which\ninformation between the watch and\nstations to tune to when severe\nwarning. NWS should explore a\nweather threatens.\nroutine, timed issuance (perhaps every\n30 or 60 minutes) of the SPS or SVS\nFinding 6.4: The EBS was not\nduring severe weather events to keep\nactivated during the April 26 tornadoes\nthe emergency management community\nin the Wichita area. This was not an\n(EMC) informed of the situation.\noversight or breakdown, rather it is\nstandard operating procedure. The\nFinding 6.6: Local newspapers cannot\nsoutheast Kansas EBS is not activated\nrespond to short-fused warnings or\nfor severe weather warnings. This\nwatches. Local newspapers would like\nseems to be the standard throughout\nto see an outlook-type statement the\nthe state of Kansas.\nafternoon before severe weather is\nexpected.\nRecommendation 6.4: While the\nEBS is operated different ways in\nRecommendation 6.6: The NWS\ndifferent parts of the country, FEMA\nshould expand the practice of having a\nshould review EBS operating\nWSFO issue a State Severe\nprocedures in Kansas with an eye\nThunderstorm Outlook (SSTO) using\ntoward activation for tornado warnings\nthe AFOS product SPS whenever its\nand flash flood warnings. Activation of\narea may be affected by severe\nthe EBS for tornado warnings may get\nthunderstorms.\nMany\nWSFOs\nmore severe weather information onto\nroutinely issue SSTOs and the user\nradio stations which normally have a\ncommunity finds this to be a useful\nlower priority for broadcasting severe\nproduct. The SSTO would characterize\nweather information. Local NWS\nthe likelihood of severe weather over\noffices should coordinate with the\nthe WSFO CWA. NSSFC Convective\nprimary EBS station in its CWA.\nOutlook products should be used as\nguidance for issuing the SSTO. The\nFinding 6.5: Local officials had\nSSTO should be mandatory for\nmultiple sources of severe weather\n\"moderate\" and \"high risk\" situations.\nforecasts put out by the NWS (i.e., local\nThe SSTO should also include\nand national television as well as NWS\ninformation about the next day's\nstatements). Some local officials also\npotential for severe weather when the\nindicated the need for a product that\nforecast skill allows.\nWeather\nprovides updated information between\nsituations allowing for such forecast\na tornado watch and a tornado\nreliability more than 24 hours in\nwarning.\nadvance are rare. However, all efforts\nshould be made to communicate the\nRecommendation 6.5: WSFOs and\npotential severity of the event to the\nWSOs should educate the user\npublic as far in advance as possible.\ncommunity about the uses of SPS and\nsevere weather statement (SVS).\nFinding 6.7: NWR coverage is\nThese messages contain updated\nincomplete in the Wichita WSO CWA.\n58","Recommendation 6.7: NWS should\nthe situation and ventured outside to\nexplore ways to provide complete NWR\nlook for the tornado.\ncoverage throughout all WSO Wichita's\nCWA. If NWS staff promotes NWR\nRecommendation 7.2: NWS should\nduring its preparedness efforts, the\ncontinue to provide frequent and\nuser community must be able to receive\ndetailed warnings and statements\nthe NWR signal.\nspecifically mentioning cities or\nlocations in the path of the storm. This\nFinding 7.1: A substantial number of\nmay allow people to better assess their\nthe victims interviewed received\nown risk and move more quickly to a\nwarning of the tornado before it struck,\nsafer location.\nusually through television or\ncommercial radio. Oaklawn residents\nFinding 7.3: All of the victims who\ndid hear the outdoor warning sirens\nwere interviewed knew where the\nwhich heightened their awareness of\ntornado-safe areas were in their\nthe threat. In the Andover area, the\nlocation.\nlocal outdoor warning siren failed.\nLocal police recognized the problem\nFinding\n7.4:\nTornado safety\nand immediately drove patrol cars\ninformation reached the public through\nthrough the town streets sounding the\nschool preparedness efforts.\nsirens to warn residents of the\nimpending tornado.\nRecommendation 7.4a: Efforts by\nthe NWS and local emergency\nFinding 7.2: Based upon survey team\nmanagement agencies should continue\nfield interviews, a majority of the\nto stress severe weather safety\npeople affected by the storm needed\neducation in schools.\nvisual confirmation of the tornado\nbefore taking protective action.\nRecommendation 7.4b: Success\nHearing the tornado warning on\nstories from this event should be\ntelevision or radio was not sufficient.\nincorporated into NWS preparedness\nThey needed to assess their own risk of\nmaterials.\n59","Photographs on this page and the following two pages show the tornado as it approached and\nmoved across McConnell Air Force Base. Courtesy of A1C Daniel L. Studebaker.\n60","61","","APPENDIX A\nLIST OF SEVERE WEATHER REPORTS\nNSSFC TORNADO AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORM REPORTS\nPRELIMINARY LIST - INTERNAL DISSEMINATION ONLY\nFOR 06CST FRI APR 26 1991 THRU 06CST SAT APR 27 1991\nEVENT LOCATION/REMARKS\n(CST) TIME\n12*\n*TORN\n5 NW WASHINGTON KS (35 SW BIE)\n(WT# 183)\n26/1439\nLRG TORNADO RPTD. XTNSV PROP DMG AT HANOVER\nCNK/TOR\n3988/9713\nAND 3 W WASHGTN.\nSE OHIOWA NE (37 WNW BIE)\n(WT# 182)\n26/1440\n181\n*TORN\n4 GRAIN TRAILERS FLIPPED BARN DSTRYD\nGRI/LSR\n4041 9745\n26/1515\n18\n*TORN\n1 E DUNLAP KS (19 NNW EMP)\n(WT# 183)\nTOP/SVS\n3858 9635\n5 NE COUNCIL GROVE KS (29 NNW EMP)\n(WT# 183)\n26/1521\n20\n*TORN\nTOP/SVS\n3871 9640\n(4 S BIE)\n(WT# 182)\n26/1535\n23\n*TORN\n2 S BEATRICE NE\nLNK/TOR\n4023 9673\n*TORN 12 SW ESKRIDGE KS (27 NNW EMP)\n(WT# 183)\n26/1538\n25\nTOP/TOR\n3871 9628\n(WT# 183)\n26/1540\n24\n*TORN\nWABAUNSEE CO KS (28 ESE MHK)\nTORNADO RPTD NR LK WABAUNSEE.\nTOP/SVS\n3893 9620\n26\n*TORN\n6 SE ALM KS\n(28 ESE MHK)\n(WT# 183)\n26/1551\nTOP/SVS\n3894 9620\n*TORN 25 W TOPEKA KS (24 ESE MHK)\n(WT# 183)\n26/1600\n58\nTOR RPTD NR I-70 AND HWY 99.\nTOP/TOR\n3905 9621\n*TORN 7 E ANTHONY KS (39 ESE P28)\n(WT# 183)\n26/1615\n56\nICT/TOR\n3714 9788\n*TORN NR ROSSVILLE KS (18 WNW TOP)\n(WT# 187)\n26/1615\n57\nTOP/SVS\n3913 9595\n26/1634\n196\n*TORN PALMYRA NE (22 ESE LNK)\n(WT# 182)\nLNK/LSR\n4069 9638\n*TORN NR CONWAY SPGS KS (21 SW ICT)\n(WT# 183)\n26/1645\n45\nICT/TOR\n3739 9765\n*TORN NR GODDARD KS (8 W ICT)\n(WT# 183)\n26/1645\n46\nICT/TOR\n3766 9758\n*TORN NR DEER CREEK OK (23 WNW PNC)\n(WT# 184)\n26/1649\n134\nTORNADO CROSSED HWY 11 NEAR DEERCREEK\nOKC/LSR\n3680 9751\nAND NARDIN.\n(WT# 183)\n26/1651\n33\n*TORN\n5 W (ICT) WICHITA ARPT KS\nICT/SAO\n3764 9753\n*TORN 7 NE ENID OK (12 NE END)\n(WT# 184)\n26/1700\n39\nOKC/SVS\n3648 9776\n*TORN 5 E PECK KS (14 SE ICT)\n(WT# 183)\n26/1700\n41\nICT/SVS\n3748 9726\nA-1","*TORN EAGLE NE (18 E LNK)\n(WT# 182)\n26/1700\n84\nTORNADOES RPTD AT EAGLE, ELMWOOD\nOMA/TOR\n4081 9641\nAND PALMYRA.\n*TORN NR CLEARWATER KS (11 SSW ICT)\n(WT# 183)\n26/1705\n34\nICT/TOR\n3750 9750\n*TORN NR HAYSVILLE KS\n(6 SSE ICT)\n(WT# 183)\n26/1705\n35\nICT/TOR\n3756 9736\n*TORN 2 S BEATRICE NE\n(4 S BIE)\n(WT# 182)\n26/1705\n36\nLNK/SVR\n4023 9673\n*TORN 8 W (IAB) MCCONNELL AFB WICHITAKS\n(WT# 183)\n26/1710\n37\nIAB/SAO\n3761 9743\n*TORN 5 N (WDG) WOODRING MUNI ARPT ENOK\n(WT# 184)\n26/1700\n67\nPILOT RPTS MULTIPLE FUNNELS.\nWDG/PIR\n3646 9778\n*TORN PLAINVIEW NE\n(31 NW OFK)\n(WT# 182)\n26/1715\n42\nOFK/TOR\n4235 9778\n*TORN NR ARKANSAS CITY KS (23 N PNC)\n(WT# 183)\n26/1720\n68\nICT/TOR\n3706 9705\n*TORN 6 SW BILLINGS OK\n(23 ENE FND)\n(WT# 194)\n26/1730\n65\nOKC/SVS\n*TORN (IAB) MCCONNELL AFB WICHITAKS\n(WT# 183)\n26/1733\n49\nZTNSV DMG TO BASE HOSPITAL.\nIAB/SAO\n3761 9726\n*TORN 5 E PALMYRA NE (28) ESE LNK)\n(WT# 188)\n26/1735\n199\nBARNS/GARAGES DSTRYD..TIME ESTD\n$LNK/LSR\n4069 9626\n70\n*TORN\n9 NNE PERRY OK (21 SSE PNC)\n(WT# 184)\n26/1752\nTOR RPTED 2 S OF HWY 15 AND 2 E HWY 77.\nOKC/LSR\n3643 9721\n140\n*TORN NR MARLAND OK (11 SSW PNC)\n(WT# 184)\n26/1800\nLRG TORNADO NR MARLAND\nOKC/LSR\n3656 9715\n167\n*TORN\nANDOVER KS (16 ENE ICT)\n(WT# 183)\n26/1800\n22 DEAD NMRS INJURIES AND XTNSV DMG.\nICT/TELCO\n3771 9713\n62\n*TORN\nNR CAMBRIDGE KS (46 NNE PNC)\n(WT# 183)\n26/1805\nVERY LRG TORNADO RPTD.\nICT/TOR\n3731 9666\n1 NE MT SELMAN TX (19 SEE TYR)\n63\n*TORN\n(WT# 192)\n26/1811\n1 INJ HOMES DMGD.\nFTW/SVS\n3208 9526\n69\n*TORN\nEL DORADO RES KS (36 ENE ICT)\n(WT# 183)\n26/1815\nTWO TORNADOES RPTD.\nICT/TOR\n3786 9681\n168\n*TORN\nHOWARD KS (45 WSW CNU)\n(WT# 187)\n26/1815\nXTNSV DMG. PRBL DEATHS AND INJURIES. TIME ESTD.\n$ICT/SPS\n3746 9626\n81\n*TORN\n10 E STILLWATER OK (44 SSE PNC)\n(WT# 184)\n26/1830\nOKC/SVS\n3611 9686\n173\n*TORN 5 E BURBANK OK (26 E PNC)\n(WT# 193)\n26/1834\nTUL/LSR\n3669 9661\n82\n*TORN SW MONTGOMERY CO TX (48 NNW HOU)\n(-----)\n26/1839\nSIGN AN TREE DMG RPTD. PSBL TOR.\nHOU/SVR\n3033 9546\n89\n*TORN NR PANAMA IA (36 NE OMA)\n(WT# 188)\n26/1844\nTORNADO RPTD NR PANAMA AND WESTPHALIA.\nDSM/LSR\n4173 9548\n83\n*TORN NR MANILLA IA (52 NE OMA)\n(WT# 188)\n26/1845\nDSM/TOR\n4188 9525\n66\n*TORN NR DENISON IA (57 NNE OMA)\n(WT# 188)\n26/1850\nSVRL TORNADOES RPTD.\nDSM/SVS\n4201 9535\n71\n*TORN\n1 N YALE OK (45 W TUL)\n(WT# 193)\n26/1855\nTUL/SVS\n3613 9670\nA-2","SRN PAPILLION NE (12 SW OMA)\n(WT# 195)\n169\n*TORN\n26/1905\nPSBL TORNADO\nOMA/SVS\n4116 9605\n*TORN NR LAKE VIEW IA (46 WSW FOD)\n(WT# 195)\n26/1915\n93\nDSM/TOR\n4231 9505\n*TORN 1 W WALL LAKE IA (50 WSW FOD)\n(WT# 195)\n26/1917\n87\nDSM/LSR\n4228 9511\n99\n*TORN\nSEVERY KS\n(41 W CNU)\n(WT# 194)\n26/1925\nICT/SVS\n3763 9623\n*TORN 4 SE CLEVELAND OK (29 W TUL)\n(WT# 193)\n26/1930\n95\nTUL/TOR\n3626 9640\n*TORN S WICHITA KS\n(6 ENE ICT)\n(WT# 194)\n26/1930\n100\nICT/SVS\n3769 9733\n7 N KEYSTONE LAKE NORTHEAST OK (27 WNW TUL)\n(WT# 193)\n26/1947\n102\n*TORN\nTORNADO RPTD 7 N KEYSTONE DAM.\nTUL/SVS\n3635 9633\n(30 WNW CNU)\n(WT# 194)\n26/2000\n107\n*TORN\n4 W TORONTO LAKE KS\nICT/TOR\n3776 9603\n6 NE TOPEKA KS (3 NNE TOP)\n(WT# 194)\n26/2000\n108\n*TORN\nPWR LNS EXPLODINGNR K-4 AND US 24.\nTOP/TOR\n3911 9560\n*TORN NR MERIDEN KS (8 NNE TOP)\n(WT# 194)\n26/2005\n106\nTOP/SVS\n3918 9556\n*TORN NR SPERRY OK (9 NW TUL)\n(WT# 193)\n26/2014\n109\nTUL/TOR\n3630 9600\n*TORN NR COPAN OK (10 NNE BVO)\n(WT# 193)\n26/2015\n110\nPSBL FATALITY. HOUSES DSTRYD.\nICT/TOR\n3690 9593\n26/2017\n148\n*TORN\nNR SKIATOOK OK (13 NNW TUL)\n(WT# 193)\nTUL/LSR\n3636 9600\n*TORN 3 N VALLEY FALLS KS (23 NNE TOP)\n(WT# 194)\n26/2020\n111\nTOP/TOR\n3938 9546\n(22 W FLV)\n(WT# 194)\n26/2022\n114\n*TORN NR NORTONVILLE KS\nTOP/SVS\n3941 9533\n?\n182\n*TORN\nTUL/LSR\n3636 9600\n117\n*TORN\nNR ATCHISON KS (17 NW FLV)\n(WT# 194)\n26/2040\nTOR RPTD NR HWY 59.\nTOP/SVS\n3956 9513\n*TORN NR OOLOGAH OK (19 NNE TUL)\n(WT# 193)\n26/2048\n193\nTUL/LSR\n3644 9570\n(WT# 197)\n26/2119\n121\n*TORN\nNR BAGWELL TX (16 E PRX)\nFTW/SVS\n3366 9516\n*TORN NR NEGLEY TX (22 ENE PRX)\n(WT# 197)\n26/2130\n122\nFTW/SVS\n3375 9508\n26/2140\n203\n*TORN\nGARNER IA (14 WSW MCW)\n(WT# 198)\n5 MOBILS HOMES HEAVILY DMGD\nALO/LSR\n4310 9361\n*TORN NR ALLERTON IS (29 E 3OI)\n(WS# 199)\n26/2215\n124\nDSM/TOR\n4069 9336\n(WT# 194)\n26/2215\n201\n*TORN\nHELENA MO\n(16 NE STJ)\nHOMES AND BLDGS DMGD\nMCI/LSR\n3991 9466\n(33 ENE 30I)\n(WS# 199)\n26/2233\n152\n*TORN\nCORYDON IA\nDSM/SVS\n4076 9331\n(19 SSE JLN)\n(WS# 196)\n26/2245\n155\n*TORN\n1 N NEOSHO MO\nSGF/SVS\n3688 9436\nA-3","(WS# 200)\n26/2255\n*TORN NR WISTER OK (20 NNW PGO)\n158\nFSM/SVS\n3496 9471\n(WT# 194)\n26/2257\n*TORN COSBY MO (14 ENE STJ)\n202\nMCI/LSR\n3986 9468\n5 INJ HOMES/BLDGS DMGD\n(\n)\n26/2258\nNR FAIRMONT OK\n(12 E END)\n135\n*TORN\nTORNADO BTWN FAIRMONT AND BRECKENRIDGE.\nOKC/LSR\n3635 9770\n(WS# 180)\n26/0610\n10 SW NEWKIRK OK\n(6 WNW PNC)\n1\nA175\nOKC/LSR\n3676 9720\n(WS 180)\n26/0630\nTONKAWA OK (11 WSW PNC)\n2\nG 56\nOKC/LSR\n3668 9730\nTREES DMGD PWR LNS DWN.\n(WS# 180)\n26/0700\nKILDARE OK (6 NNE PNC)\n3\nA 75\nOKC/LSR\n3681 9075\n(WS# 180)\n26/0700\nGRAINOLA OK (29 ENE PNC)\n4\nG 56\nOKC/LSR\n3694 9665\n(WS# 180)\n26/0750\nFORAKER OK (30 WNW BVO)\n5\nA 75\nOKC/LSR\n4 E INDEPENDENCE KS (31 SSW CNU)\n(WS# 181)\n26/0915\n6\nA175\nICT/SVR\n3723 9563\n(WT# 183)\n26/1235\n3 S MINNEAPOLIS KS (19 N SLN)\n161\nA175\nCNK/LSR\n3908 9771\n(WT# 183)\n26/1300\n3 E DELPHOS KS\n(18 S CNK)\n7\nA175\nCNK/SVS\n3928 9770\n(WS# 185)\n26/1300\nSPEARSVILLE LA\n(23 SSE ELD)\n50\nA75\nSHV/LSR\n3293 9260\nGOLFBALL CVRG GND.\n(WS# 185)\n26/1305\nLOCKHART LA\n(19 SE ELD)\n51\nWNDG\nSHV/LSR\n3301 9258\nNMRS TREES DWN.\n(WT# 183)\n26/1320\n9 E GLASCO KS\n(12 S CNK)\n8\nA 75\nCNK/SVS\n3936 9765\nRPTD @ JCT HWY 24 & HWY 81.\n(WS# 185)\n26/1322\n2 SE EL DORADO AR\n(11 ESE ELD)\n9\nA175\nLIT/LSR\n3318 9263\n(WT# 183)\n26/1330\n5 S KINGMAN KS\n(31 NE P28)\n10\nA275\nICT/TOR\n3756 9811\n(WT# 183)\n26/1330\n1 S SHARON KS\n(9 ESE P28)\n16\nA100\nDDC/SPS\n3723 9843\n(WS# 185)\n26/1345\nROCKY BRANCH LA\n(14 NW MLU)\n52\nA175\nSHV/LSR\n3268 9220\n(WT# 183)\n26/1355\n11\nA175\nCLYDE KS\n(13 ENE CNK)\nGOLFBALL SIZE HAIL CVRD THE GRND.\nCNK/SVS\n3960 9740\n(WT# 183)\n26/1359\nCLIFTON KS\n(20 E CNK)\n162\nA175\nCNK/LSR\n3956 9726\n(WS# 185)\n26/1410\n5 NW BASTROP LA\n(23 N MLU)\n53\nA100\nSHV/LSR\n3285 9196\n26/1414\nBRANTFORD KS\n(18 NE CNK)\n(WT# 183)\n163\nA175\nCNK/LSR\n3971 9736\n2 W EXETER NE\n(40 WSW LNK)\n(WT# 182)\n26/1420\n13\nA200\n$GRI/SVS\n4064 9750\nTIME ESTD.\n(WS# 185)\n26/1420\n54\nA100\nDEAN LA\n(27 NNW MLU)\nSHV/LSR\n3290 9215\nSEDGWICK KS\n(18 N ICT)\n(WT# 183)\n26/1425\n14\nA175\nICT/SVR\n3791 9743\n(\n)\n26/1425\nTHORNTON AR\n(41 SW PBF)\n28\nA175\nA-4","LIT/LSR\n3378 9248\n15\nA175\nKINGMAN KS\n(31 SSW HUT)\n(WT# 183)\n26/1430\nICT/SVR\n3764 9811\n164\nA175\n3 SW WASHINGTON KS (33 ENE CNK)\n(WT# 183)\n26/1430\nCNK/LSR\n3978 9710\n19\nA200\nVARNER KS\n(25 SSW HUT)\n(WT# 183)\n26/1440\nICT/SVS\n3771 9803\n104\nA175\n5 NW BUNN AR\n(33 SE HOT)\n(WS# 186)\n26/1450\nLIT/LSR\n3416 9265\n17\nA175\nLEOLA AR\n(36 SE HOT)\n(WS# 186)\n26/1500\n$LIT/SVR\n3416 9258\n165\nA175\nNARKA KS\n(31 NNE CNK)\n(WT# 183)\n26/1501\nCNK/LSR\n3996 9741\n29\nA100\nSHERIDAN AR\n(28 WNW PBF)\n(WS# 186)\n26/1508\nLIT/LSR\n3430 9240\n105\nWNDG\nCARTHAGE AR\n(38 WSW PBF)\n(WS# 186)\n26/1508\nTREES DWN.\nLIT/LSR\n3406 9255\n22\nA275\nCHAMBERLAIN SD\n(2 NNW 9V9)\n(\n)\n26/1515\nFSD/SVS\n4380 9933\n21\nA175\nHILLSBORO KS\n(39 SE SLN)\n(WT# 183)\n26/1520\nICT/SVR\n3835 9720\n27\nA175\nKIMBALL SD\n(18 E 9V9)\n(\n)\n26/1525\nFSD/LSR\n4375 9895\n127\nA100\nNR OAKWOOD OK\n(49 NNE CSM)\n(WT# 184)\n26/1525\nOKC/LSR\n3593 9871\n128\nA 75\nCANTON OK\n(41 WSW END)\n(WT# 184)\n26/1530\nOKC/LSR\n30\nA100\nSALINE CO AR\n(18 WSW LIT)\n(WS# 186)\n26/1535\nONE INCH HAIL RPTD AT SHANNON HILLS\nLIT/LSR\n3463 9233\n31\nA175\nSW LITTLE ROCK AR\n(3 W LIT)\n(WS# 186)\n26/1543\nNICKLE TO GOLFBALL HAIL AT LITTLE ROCK AND\nLIT/LSR\n3473 9228\nMABLEVALE.\n32\nA100\nATKINSON NE\n(51 E ANW)\n(WT# 182)\n26/1545\nOFK/SVS\n4253 9896\n72\nA100\n1 N MARION RES KS\n(39 SE SLN)\n(WT# 183)\n26/1545\nICT/SVS\n3839 9713\n129\nA 75\nGOLTRY OK\n(17 NW END)\n(WT# 184)\n26/1545\nOKC/LSR\n3653 9815\n166\nA 75\nMOUNDRIDGE KS\n(21 ENE HUT)\n(WT# 183)\n26/1545\nCNK/LSR\n3819 9751\n59\nA175\n3 SE PAXICO KS\n(26 W TOP)\n(WT# 183)\n26/1600\nTOP/SVS\n3903 9611\n75\nA 75\n11 W WESSINGTON SD\n(34 W HON)\n(WT# 189)\n26/1600\nHON/SVR\n4445 9893\n180\nA 75\nPULASKI CO AR\n(6 W LIT)\n(WS# 186)\n26/1605\nLIT/LSR\n3473 9235\n130\nA100\nCHEROKEE OK\n(36 NW END)\n(WT# 184)\n26/1607\nOKC/LSR\n3656 9835\n131\nA 88\n4 W HILLSDALE OK\n(17 NNW END)\n(WT# 184)\n26/1610\nOKC/LSR\n3656 9806\n194\nA150\nFAIRBURY NE\n(24 WSW BIE)\n(WT# 182)\n26/1610\nA-5","LNK/LSR\n4014 9716\n(WT# 182)\n26/1615\n76\nA175\nBUTTE NE\n(61 ENE ANW)\nOFK/SVS\n4291 9885\n(WS# 186)\n26/1617\nLAKE CONWAY AR\n(19 NNW LIT)\n86\nWNDG\nLIT/LSR\n3498 9238\nTWO TREES DWN.\n(WS# 186)\n26/1618\n(20 N LIT)\n182\nA 75\nOTTO AR\nLIT/LSR\n3503 9220\n(WT# 182)\n26/1618\nPANAMA NE\n(21 SE LNK)\n195\nA175\nLNK/LSR\n4060 9651\n(WT# 182)\n26/1620\n2 S LOOMIS NE\n(33 SW EAR)\n190\nA175\nGRI/LSR\n4044 9951\n(WS# 186)\n26/1622\nCONWAY AR\n(27 NNW LIT)\n85\nA175\nLIT/LSR\n3508 9245\n(WT# 184)\n26/1625\nNR JEFFERSON OK\n(26 NNE END)\n132\nA 75\nOKC/LSR\n3671 9778\n(WT# 183)\n26/1635\nMARION KS\n(45 W EMP)\n47\nA173\nICT/SVR\n3835 9701\n(WT# 184)\n26/1635\n133\nA 88\nSOUTHARD OK\n(42 WSW END)\nOKC/LSR\n3605 9858\n(31 NNW LIT)\n(WS# 186)\n26/1635\n185\nWNDG\nFAULKNER CO AR\nLIT/LSR\n3516 9236\nTREES DOWN\n(WT# 182)\n26/1640\n(15 SSE LNK)\n197\nA175\nROCA NE\nLNK/LSR\n4064 9665\n(WT# 189)\n26/1645\nFAIRFAX SD\n(55 SEE 9V9)\n119\nA 88\nDIME AND NICKLE HAIL RPTD.\nFSD/LSR\n4303 9890\nLA BELLE TX\n(9 WSW BPT)\n( )\n26/1645\n177\nA175\nGOLFBALL SIZE HAIL\nBPT/LSR\n2988 9416\n(WT# 182)\n26/1649\n44\nA150\nHALLAM NE\n(15 N BIE)\nLNK/SVS\n4051 9678\n(30 ENE HUT)\n(WT# 183)\n26/1650\n43\nA175\nNR GOESSEL KS\nICT/SVR\n3825 9735\n(END) VANCE AFB ENID OK\n(WT# 184)\n26/1655\n40\nA175\nEND/SAO\n3633 9790\n(WT# 182)\n26/1659\n198\nA175\nBEATRICE NE\n(2 SSE BIE)\nLNK/LSR\n4026 9673\n(9 WSW BPT)\n(\n)\n26/1700\n60\nA100\nLA BELLE TX\nBPT/LSR\n2988 9416\n3/4 TO 1 INCH HAIL.\n(WT# 189)\n26/1700\nGEDDES SD\n(47 SE 9V9)\n120\nA 75\nFSD/LSR\n4325 9870\n(WT# 184)\n26/1700\n137\nA175\nBRAMAN OK\n(19 NW PNC)\nOKC/LSR\n3603 9733\n(54 NNE LIT)\n(WS# 190)\n26/1700\n183\nA175\nHEBER SPGS AR\nLIT/LSR\n3550 9203\n(WT# 189)\n26/1703\n38\nA 75\nREDFIELD SD\n(36 NNW HON)\nABR/SVS\n4486 9851\n(58 SE HRO)\n(WS# 190)\n26/1705\n184\nA175\nVAN BUREN CO AR\nGOLFBALL HAIL AT FAIRFIELD BAY\nLIT/LSR\n3558 9255\nBEATRICE NE\n(2 SSE BIE)\n(WT# 182)\n26/1705\n191\nA175\nGRI/LSR\n4026 9673\n(21 SSW TYR)\n(\n)\n26/1710\n79\nA175\nFRANKSTON TX\nFTW/SVR\n3205 9550\nA-6","(6 ESE BPT)\n(\n)\n26/1710\n178\nA150\nWRN PORT ARTHUR TX\nBPT/LSR\n2990 9393\n(WT# 188)\n26/1715\n77\nA175\nOMAHA NE\n(5 WSW OMA)\nNMRS RPTS OF 1 INCH TO GOLFBALL HAIL IN OMAHA\nOMA/SVS\n4126 9600\nAREA.\n136\nA 75\nGARBER OK\n(19 ENE END)\n(WT# 184)\n26/1715\nOKC/LSR\n3643 9758\n26/1715\n186\nWNDG\nVAN BUREN CO AR\n(58 SE HRO)\n(WS# 190)\nTREE DOWN\nLIT/LSR\n3558 9255\n(22 SW GLH)\n(WS# 190)\n26/1715\n187\nA175\nCHICOT CO AR\nLIT/LSR\n3328 9128\n78\nA175\nMOUNTAIN VIEW AR\n(62 SSW UNO)\n(WS# 190)\n26/1730\nLIT/SVS\n3586 9211\n(22 SW PNC)\n(WT# 184)\n26/1730\n138\nA175\nBILLINGS OK\nOKC/LSR\n3653 9743\n)\n26/1730\n179\nA175\nVIDOR TX\n(11 N BPT)\n(\nGOLFBALL SIZE HALL\nBPT/LSR\n3011 9401\n(WT# 189)\n26/1745\n90\nA 75\nFERNEY SD\n(17 ESE ABR)\nDIME HAIL CVRG GND.\nABR/LSR\n4533 9810\n(ICT) WICHITA ARPT KS\n(WT# 183)\n26/1750\n48\nA 75\nICT/SAO\n3764 9743\n26/1754\n64\nA175\n1 NE MINEOLA TX\n(23 N TYR)\n(WT# 192)\nFTW/SVR\n3268 9546\n(WT# 189)\n26/1758\n91\nA175\nGROTON SD\n(15 E ABR)\nABR/LSR\n4545 9810\n(47 NE OKC)\n(WT# 184)\n26/1759\n139\nA 88\n5 W PERKINS OK\nOKC/LSR\n3596 9713\n(WT# 183)\n26/1800\n73\nA175\nHARPER KS\n(30 E P28)\nICT/SVS\n3728 9801\n74\nG 56\nHARPER KS\n(30 E P28)\n(WT# 183)\n26/1800\nICT/SVR\n3728 9801\n118\nA175\nBULLARD TX\n(15 SSE TYR)\n(WT# 192)\n26/1800\nSHV/TOR\n3213 9533\n(WT# 182)\n26/1800\n200\nA 75\n11 SE (LNK)LINCOLN ARPT NE\nLNK/LSR\n4071 9660\n(46 SSW UNO)\n(WS# 190)\n26/1801\n188\nA175\nCALICO ROCK AR\nLIT/LSR\n3611 9213\n189\nA100\nBAXTER CO AR\n(34 SW UNO)\n(WS# 190)\n26/1805\nONE INCH HAIL SYCAMORE SPGS\nLIT/LSR\n3638 9228\n(9 S PNC)\n(WT# 184)\n26/1807\n141\nA125\nWHITE EAGLE OK\nOKC/LSR\n3660 9708\n26/1823\n142\nWNDG\nE PONCA CITY OK\n(2 SSE PNC)\n(WT# 184)\nPWR LNS DWN.\nOKC/LSR\n3669 9708\n80\nA100\nNORFORK AR\n(44 SSW UNO)\n(WS# 190)\n26/1825\nLIT/SVS\n3619 9228\n(WT# 193)\n171\nA275\nNR BURBANK OK\n(21 E PNC)\n26/1831\nGOLFBALL TO BASEBALL SIZE HAIL\nTUL/LSR\n3669 9671\n26/1831\n172\nG 70\nNR BURBANK OK\n(21 E PNC)\n(WT# 193)\nTUL/LSR\n3669 9671\n(\n55\nA 75\nMONTAGUE TX\n(49 ESE SPS)\n)\n26/1840\n$SPS/SPS\nTIME ESTD.\n3366 9771\nA-7","61\nA200\nNEW LONDON TX\n(15 SW GGG)\n(WT# 192)\n26/1855\nHAIL LRGR THAN GOLFBALL SIZE AT OVERTON AND\nSHV/TOR\n3225 9493\nNEW LONDON.\n174\nA125\nJENNINGS OK\n(38 W TUL)\n(WT# 193)\n26/1855\nTUL/LSR\n3618 9656\n94\nA175\n1 E WILLIS TX\n(54 NNW HOU)\n(\n)\n26/1900\nHOU/SVR\n3041 9546\n175\nA275\nNR HALLETT OK\n(38 W TUL)\n(WT# 193)\n26/1900\nBASEBALL SIZE HAIL\nTUL/LSR\n3623 9656\n96\nA275\nNR KILGORE TX\n(9 W GGG)\n(WT# 192)\n26/1910\nSHV/SVS\n3238 9488\n170\nA 88\nNR LITTLE YAZOO MS\n(32 NNW JAN)\n(\n)\n26/1910\nJAN/SVR\n3271 9036\n92\nA125\n1 N WILLOW SPGS MO\n(19 NNW UNO)\n(WS# 196)\n26/1915\nSGF/SVR\n3701 9196\n88\nWNDG\n1 NE ODEBOLT IA\n(55 WSW FOD)\n(WT# 195)\n26/1920\nWNDW BLWN OUT BY WINDS.\nDSM/LSR\n4233 9525\n98\nA175\nWELLINGTON KS\n(26 S ICT)\n(WT# 194)\n26/1925\nICT/SVS\n3726 9740\n101\nA175\nTOPEKA KS\n(3 WSW TOP)\n(WT# 194)\n26/1930\nTOP/SVS\n3905 9568\n113\nA100\nNR SHEPHERD TX\n(52 SSW LFK)\n(\n)\n26/1930\nHOU/SVS\n3050 9501\n144\nWNDG\nPAWNEE CO OK\n(36 SE PNC)\n(WT# 193)\n26/1935\nHOMES DMGD IN WESTPORT.\nTUL/LSR\n3636 9661\n97\nA275\nCHALK HILL TX\n(4 ESE GGG)\n(WT# 197)\n26/1937\nALSO GOLFBALL HAIL AT OAK HILL.\nSHV/LSR\n3235 9465\n145\nWNDG\nSPERRY OK\n( 9 NW TUL)\n(WT# 193)\n26/1939\nPWR LNS DWN.\nTUL/LSR\n3630 9600\n103\nA100\nINDEPENDENCE KS\n(32 SSW CNU)\n(WT# 194)\n26/1940\nICT/SVS\n3723 9571\n146\nWNDG\nPAWNEE CO OK (36 SE PNC)\n(WT# 193)\n26/1951\nXTNSV DMG. CARS OFF RD AT HWY 48 AND CIMMARON\nTUL/LSR\n3636 9661\nTURNPIKE.\n143\nA 75\nNEWKIRK OK (10 NNE PNC)\n(WT# 193)\n26/1952\nOKC/LSR\n3688 9705\n176\nG 52\n(TOP)BILLARD ARPT TOPEKA KS\n(WT# 194)\n26/1952\nTOP/SAO\n3906 9561\n147\nA 75\nSKIATOOK OK\n(13 NNW TUL)\n(WT# 193)\n26/1957\nTUL/LSR\n3636 9600\n112\nA175\n1 SE PARIS TX (3 W PRX)\n(WT# 197)\n26/2015\nGOLFBALL HAIL AND ICE CHUNKS UP TO 3 INCHES\nFTW/LSR\n3363 9551\n115\nA175\nPAXICO KS\n(27 E MHK)\n(WT# 194)\n26/2025\nTOP/SVS\n3906 9616\n149\nWNDG\n1 W SKIATOOK OK (13 NNW TUL)\n(WT# 193)\n26/2025\nDMG TO PROPANE CO.\nTUL/LSR\n3636 9601\n150\nWNDG\nCOLLINSVILLE OK (11 NNE TUL)\n(WT# 193)\n26/2035\nPWR LNS DWN.\nTUL/LSR\n3636 9583\n126\nA150\n1 W WOODVILLE TX (37 SSE\nLFK)\n(WT# 197)\n26/2040\nBPT/SVS\n3076 9443\n116\nA150\n1 W WOODVILLE TX (37 SSE LFK)\n(WT# 197)\n26/2045\nA-8","BPT/SVR\n3076 9443\n151\nWNDG\nOOLOGAH OK\n(19 NNE TUL)\n(WT# 193)\n26/2045\nPWR LNS DWN.\nTUL/LSR\n3644 9570\n123\nA 88\nLIVINGSTON TX\n(38 SSW LFK)\n(WT# 197)\n26/2050\nNICKLE HAIL CVRG GND.\nHOU/LSR\n3069 9493\n125\nA275\n6 WOODVILLE TX\n(34 SSE LFK)\n(WT# 197)\n26/2145\nBASEBALL HAIL AT HARMONY.\nBPT/SVS\n3076 9453\n154\nG 55\nPIPER KS\n(14 W MKC)\n(WT# 194)\n26/2230\nMCI/LSR\n3913 9486\n153\nA475\nNR WYANDOTTE OK (27 SSW JLN)\n(WT# 193)\n26/2233\nTUL/SVS\n3680 9473\n157\nA100\nNE BONHAM TX\n(28 SSE DUA)\n(\n)\n26/2240\nFTW/SVR\n3358 9618\n156\nA175\nSENECA MO\n(21 SSW JLN)\n(\n)\n26/2245\nSGF/SVS\n3685 9460\n159\nA 75\nFT SCOTT KS\n(44 ENE CNU)\n(WT# 194)\n26/2305\nICT/SVR\n3783 9470\n160\nA175\nHONEY GROVE TX\n(27 W PRX)\n(\n)\n26/2310\nFTW/SVS\n3358 9591\nA-9","TOPLSRICT\nTTAA00 KICT 270925\nPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT\nNATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS\n425 AM CDT SAT APR 27 1991\nTIME (CDT) EVENT - SEVERE WEATHER APR 26 1991 FOR SOUTH CENTRAL AND\nSOUTHEAST KANSAS\n0652 CDT\n70 MPH WIND AT ARKANSAS CITY. LARGE SIGN BLOWN DOWN TREE AND\nCHIMNEY DAMAGE.\n0900 CDT\n1 3/4\" HAIL 35 CEDAR VALE\n0905 CDT\n3/4\" HAIL 6N OF SEDAN\n1020 CDT\n1 3/4\" HAIL 4E INDEPENDENCE\n1045 CDT\nTORNADO NEAR CHERRYVALE. DAMAGED A HOUSE, 180X60\nCHICKEN COOP DESTROYED, TOOK OUT SEVERAL FRUIT TREES.\n1435 CDT\nBASEBALL HAIL 5S KINGMAN\n1450 CDT\n1 3/4\" HAIL 3 W MURDOCK\n1509 CDT\n1\" HAIL AT PRETTY PRAIRIE\n1530 CDT\n1 3/4\" HAIL IN SEDGEWICK\n1535 CDT\n1 3/4\" HAIL IN KINGMAN\n1542 CDT\n3/4\" HAIL 4ENE NEWTON\n1535 CDT\n3/4\" HAIL IN EUREKA\n1555 CDT\n2\" HAIL IN VARNER\n1619 CDT\n1 3/4\" HAIL IN HILLSBORO\n1635 CDT\n1 3/4\" HAIL IN BURRTON\n1641 CDT\n1\" HAIL EAST SIDE OF MARION RESERVOIR\n1650 CDT\n1 3/4\" HAIL AND 65 MPH WIND IN HARPER\n1715 CDT\n3/4\" HAIL IN ANTHONY\n1726 CDT\nSMALL TORNADO 5N FREEPORT, NO DAMAGE. AT 1728 CDT\nSAME TORNADO OBSERVED 6S AND 1W OF ARGONIA.\n1738 CDT\nTORNADO WAS CONWAY SPRINGS\n1740 CDT\n1 3/4\" HAIL IN MARION\n1748 CDT\nTORNADO IN GODDARD. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO A BUSINESS\nALONG U.S. HWY 54. NO KNOWN INJURIES AT THIS TIME.\n1745 CDT\n3/4\" HAIL IN GOESSEL\n1757 CDT\nTORNADO IS CLEARWATER. TORNADO MOVED NORTHEASTWARD\nAT 1800 CDT WAS IN HAYSVILLE. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. NO\nDEATHS, 9 INJURIES, AND 200 HOMES DMGD OR DESTROYED.\n1810 CDT\n3/4\" HAIL AT WSO ICT\n1810 CDT\nTORNADO IS CLEARWATER. TORNADO MOVED NORTHEASTWARD AND\nACROSS SOUTH WICHITA. AT 1829 CDT WAS REPORTED AT\nMCCONNELL AFB, HIT BASE HOSPITAL AND DAMAGED BASE HOUSING.\nPROBABLE INJURIES BUT HAVE NOT HEARD OF ANY DEATHS.\nTORNADO CONTINUE NORTHEASTWARD AND CAUSED EXTENSIVE\nDAMAGE TO SEVERAL RESIDENTIAL AREAS ON THE EAST SIDE OF\nWICHITA. AGAIN PROBABLE INJURIES AND DEATHS, BUT NO COUNT AT\nTHIS TIME. AT 1845 CDT TORNADO HIT ANDOVER. DESTROYED\nAT MOBILE HOME PARK, 8 CONFIRMED DEAD. ALSO HIT A\nSHOPPING CENTER AND CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE AND 500\nA-10","HOMES WERE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED. INJURIES IN ANDOVER ARE\nIN THE HUNDREDS WITH PROPERTY DAMAGE AT 50 MILLION PLUS\nDOLLARS. TORNADO CONTINUED NORTHEASTWARD NEAR TOWANDA AND\nAT 1856 CDT WAS 3W ELDORADO. TORNADO FINALLY LIFTED AROUND\nCASSODAY AT ABOUT 1930 CDT. AM SURE DEATH TOLL WILL BE\nHIGHER THAN THE 8 WITH A LARGER NUMBER OF INJURIES.\n1 3/4\" HAIL 2S MILTON\n1728 CDT\nTORNADO JUST EAST OF HACKNEY. AT 1905 CDT TORNADO\n1853 CDT\n2 1/2E OF WINFIELD. 1923 CDT TORNADO 12E ATLANTA. IN\nCOWLEY COUNTY REPORTS OF NUMEROUS INJURIES AND 1 DEATH.\nTORNADO MOVED IN ELK COUNTY ABOUT 1939 CDT. AT 2000 CDT\n3 HOMES WERE DESTROYED AND 1 DAMAGED IN RURAL HOWARD.\nTHERE WAS 1 FATALITY AND 2 WITH CRITICAL INJURIES.\nPROPERTY DAMAGE IN EXCESS OF $200,000.00.\n1955 CDT\n3/4\" HAIL 5N HOWARD\nTORNADO NEAR SEVERY. MOVED EWD TO TORONTO LAKE AT 2100 CDT.\n2025 CDT\nTORNADO IN SOUTH WICHITA NEAR 55TH ST SOUTH AND HYDRALIC\n2030 CDT\n2030 CDT\n1 3/4\" HAIL IN WELLINGTON\n2040 CDT\n1\" HAIL IN INDEPENDENCE\n2105 CDT\n3/4\" HAIL IN DOUGLASS\n2110 CDT\n3/4\" HAIL IN YATES CENTER\nTORNADO DAMAGED A BUILDING 5W OF COFFEYVILLE\n2215 CDT\nAPRIL 27\n0010 CDT\n3/4\" HAIL IN FORT SCOTT\nELDER\nA-11","APPENDIX B\nFUJITA TORNADO INTENSITY SCALE\nDefinition--Effective\nCategory\nGale tornado (40-72 mph): Light damage. Some damage to chimneys;\n(FO)\nbreak branches off trees; push over shallow-rooted trees; damage sign\nboards.\nModerate tornado (73-112 mph): Moderate damage. The lower limit is\n(F1)\nthe beginning of hurricane wind speed; peel surface off roofs; mobile\nhomes pushed off foundations or overturned; moving autos pushed off\nthe roads.\nSignificant tornado (113-157 mph): Considerable damage. Roofs torn\n(F2)\noff frame houses; mobile homes demolished; boxcars pushed over; large\ntrees snapped or uprooted; light-object missiles generated.\nSevere tornado (158-206 mph): Severe damage. Roofs and some walls\n(F3)\ntorn off well-constructed houses; trains overturned; most trees in forest\nuprooted; heavy cars lifted off ground and thrown.\nDevastating tornado (207-260 mph):\nDevastating damage.\n(F4)\nWell-constructed houses leveled; structure with weak foundation blown\noff some distance; cars thrown and large missiles generated.\nIncredible tornado (261-318 mph): Incredible damage. Strong frame\n(F5)\nhouses lifted off foundations and carried considerable distance to\ndisintegrate; automobile sized missiles fly through the air in excess of\n100 yards; trees debarked; incredible phenomena will occur.\nB-1","APPENDIX C\nPRELIMINARY REPORT ON AERIAL DAMAGE SURVEY\nOF THE WICHITA/ANDOVER TORNADO AND\nCOWLEY COUNTY TORNADO OF APRIL 26, 1991\nBrian E. Smith\nNational Severe Storms Forecast Center\nKansas City, Missouri\nINTRODUCTION\nDuring the late evening of April 26, 1991, severe thunderstorms spawned violent\ntornadoes over portions of Kansas and Oklahoma. On April 29, the NOAA Disaster\nSurvey Team investigating the tornado requested an aerial damage survey be\nconducted. The team felt that the aerial survey would provide the extensive tornado\ntrack information despite the fact that the survey would be conducted 5 days after\nthe event. Fujita Intensity Scale classification would be difficult in many areas that\nhad undergone extensive cleanup and use of aerial and ground photographs from\nother sources taken immediately after the tornado would be necessary.\nOn April 30, an aerial damage survey was executed over the Wichita/Andover tornado\ntrack and the Cowley County tornado track. Jack May, MIC at WSFO Topeka, made\nan arrangement with the KHP to use one of their pilots and aircraft for the aerial\nsurvey. A total of 8 1/2 hours were spent flying over the tornado tracks. A total of\n720 photographs were taken at various altitudes over the tornado paths in order to\nobtain an accurate track of the twisters. The tornado tracks were then accurately\nplotted on United States Geological Survey 7.5 minute topographic maps.\nTHE WICHITA/ANDOVER TORNADO\nMaximum F-scale: F5\nPath Length: 46 miles\nPath Width: .4 mile (2,000 feet)\nThe track of this tornado began 1.5 miles south-southeast of Clearwater, Kansas,\nwhere trees were uprooted near the banks of the Ninnescah River. The tornado\ntracked northeast and had a narrow path width (200 to 300 feet). About 1.5 miles\nnortheast from the touchdown point, the tornado started producing multiple vortices.\nNumerous suction vortices were observed as the tornado tracked from Clearwater to\n3 miles east of Bayneville. The maximum F-scale rating at this time was F3. The\nC-1","tornado continued tracking northeast and veered northward just northwest of\nHaysville and then turned toward the right as it crossed the Wichita Valley Center\nFloodway. The tornado then was beginning to move into more urban area of south\nWichita where the maximum F-scale was between F2 and F3. The tornado, still\nnarrow, passed 0.5 miles south of the South Wichita Interchange of the Kansas\nTurnpike. The tornado went across the south portion of Mona Kay Heights,\ndestroying mobile homes and unroofing frame homes.\nThe tornado track continued toward McConnell Air Force Base. A roof was damaged\non a building on the Boeing Aircraft Company's property, just west of McConnell's\nmain runways. The tornado continued across the runways and passed 1,000 feet\nsouth of a flight line of B-1B bombers. Several buildings on the south portion of the\nair base sustained between F2 to F3 damage, including the Officer's Club and base\nhospital. On eastern sections of the base, the tornado passed across base housing\nremoving roofs and causing extensive damage to the second floor of two-story\napartment houses. The Wineteer School on the base also received F2-type damage.\nAs the tornado continued moving northeast, the path width widened dramatically to\n500-600 feet. Severe damage was experienced in the Greenwich Heights Subdivision\nwhere some homes were flattened, leaving behind just the foundation. This is where\nthe tornado reached F4 intensity, producing F3 to F4 damage to homes in the\nSpringdale Subdivision. These homes were large and well built.\nThe tornado continued on a northeast path reaching a subdivision where the tornado\nreached F5 intensity. Several homes were blown clean off their foundations and the\ndebris scattered away from the homes. This subdivision was located just west of the\nGolden Spur Mobile Home Park. The tornado continued moving northeast and\nobliterated the mobile home park. Most of the deaths associated with the\nWichita/Andover tornado occurred in the mobile home park. From the debris pattern\nin the subdivision and the mobile home park, it was determined that the storm was\nnow a large multiple vortex tornado. The mobile home devastation was some of the\nworst that this surveyor has ever seen. Most of the mobile homes were destroyed,\nleaving behind only twisted frames.\nAfter exiting the mobile home park, the tornado tracked into more rural territory still\nproducing F3 to F4 intensity damage. Three miles northeast of the mobile home\npark, the tornado widened to its maximum width of 0.4 miles (2,000 feet). The\ntornado then crossed the Kansas Turnpike and headed toward the town of Towanda.\nIntensity varied between F2 to F3 as the tornado passed within 0.5 miles southeast\nof Towanda. Spectacular suction vortices were observed in fields 1 mile south of the\ntown.\nThe tornado entered an oil field 4 miles west of El Dorado. One tank, filled with oil,\nwas rolled and bounced 0.8 miles. The final resting point of this tank was never\nC-2","determined; it either broke up at its final landing point or was picked up before the\nsurvey was conducted. The tornado also destroyed two other oil tanks. The tornado\nappeared to begin to weaken as it continued northwest of El Dorado. Damage was\nspotty and mainly F1 in intensity until the track ended approximately 5 miles north\nof El Dorado.\nWhen originally conducting the survey, scattered debris was indicated further\nnortheast where isolated damage was indicated 14 miles northeast near Cassoday.\nAt first glance, it appeared that the tornado may have skipped to Cassoday.\nHowever, thanks to a ground survey and reports from storm chasers, it was\ndetermined that this was another twister. It appears that the rotating thunderstorm\noccluded at this point near El Dorado. A new tornado had developed to the right of\nthe old one, touching down on the north side of El Dorado Lake, and tracked parallel\nto the Kansas Turnpike to near Cassoday. This tornado, unfortunately, never\nsurveyed from the air, was weaker than its predecessor, reaching barely F2 in\nstrength. This tornado obtained national media attention when a camera crew from\na Wichita television station sought shelter beneath an overpass on the Kansas\nTurnpike as the tornado passed nearly overhead. The path length of this tornado\nwas 14 miles with a width of 600 feet. The starting point was 6 miles northeast of\nEl Dorado and ended 1 mile northeast of Cassoday.\nTHE COWLEY COUNTY TORNADO\nMaximum F-scale: F4\nPath Length: 24.4 miles\nPath Width: 1,600 feet\nThe touchdown of this tornado was 5 miles west-northwest of Arkansas City, Kansas.\nThe tornado produced F1 damage mainly to trees and moved 1.5 miles north where\nit crossed the Arkansas River. Traces of tornado damage was visible in fields at this\npoint in the track. Approximately 2 miles south-southwest of Strother Airport, a\nlarge scratch mark was visible in a field. This scratch mark was caused by a large\nobject, apparently a grain bin or silo. The object appears to have been picked up by\nthree separate suction vortices before landing in a field 0.6 miles away. As the\ntornado continued northeast, numerous suction vortices were visible. The tornado\npassed right over Pleasant Valley Cemetery, knocking over numerous tombstones\nbefore crossing U.S. Highway 77, 1.25 miles south of Strother Airport.\nThe tornado widened somewhat as it continued producing F3 damage to farm homes.\nThe tornado reached maximum intensity of F4 to several homes approximately 2\nmiles east of Strother Airport. Just before crossing the Walnut River, the tornado\nveered to the north. Further investigation indicated wind damage not related to the\ntornado track 0.5 miles south. Therefore, the change in tornado track direction was\nprobably due to a microburst south of the tornado track. The tornado then continued\nC-3","northeast, producing generally F2 damage to trees and barns. The tornado widened\nto 0.3 to 0.4 miles wide 4 miles east of Winfield. One mile farther northeast, the\ntornado damaged the Frog Hollow Oil Field. Several oil tanks were rolled coming to\nrest 0.5 miles from its starting point.\nFrom now until the end of the track, the tornado's intensity was F2 with occasional\nF3 damage to farm homes. The tornado ended 2.5 miles west-northwest of Burden.\nDamage to a large grain elevator occurred 0.5 miles southeast of the end of the\ntornado track. Other wind damage was also observed near the end of the track. It\nappears a microburst from the rear flank downdraft occurred at the end of the\ntornado and may have been responsible for the tornado's dissipation.\nAnother tornado track was discovered 2 miles south of Severy, Kansas, in Elk\nCounty. We began mapping this tornado southwestward when the low voltage light\ncame on in the aircraft, indicating an alternator belt had broken. The decision was\nmade to return to Wichita. This tornado, unfortunately, was not surveyed from the\nair but was probably from the same parent thunderstorm of the Cowley County\ntornado.\nCONCLUDING REMARKS\nScientific aerial surveys need to be conducted for significant tornado events. It is\nessential to conduct the survey within 24 to 48 hours after the event if at all possible.\nAlso, it is important in a family outbreak, such as the one that occurred on April 26,\nthat a complete survey be conducted. It is also recommended that any comprehensive\nsurvey use the expertise of Dr. T. Theodore Fujita and his staff at The University of\nChicago. Flying the survey and photographing the tornado tracks is only a small part\nin analyzing tornado damage. Post-survey work, such as analyzing the track using\nphotogrammetry as done by Dr. Fujita, is a painstaking task that provides invaluable\ninformation about the tornado structure. His expertise and photographic laboratory\nshould be included in any future tornado damage survey work conducted by NOAA\nand the NWS. The NWS needs to establish training programs for aerial surveys and\nphotogrammetry.\nC-4","Photograph shows a trail of oil from an oil tank that was displaced\nby the tornado. Photograph courtesy of Brian Smith, NSSFC.\nC-5","APPENDIX D\nCHRONOLOGY OF RELEASES RELATED TO THE\nWICHITA/ANDOVER TORNADO\nReleases by the National Severe Storms Forecast Center\nZCZC MKCSWODY2 000\nACUS2 KMKC 250800\nMKC DY2 250800\n2ND DAY SEVERE OUTLOOK.. REF AFOS NMCGPH980\nVALID 261200 - 271200Z .. GEN TSTM FCST NOT INCLUDED..\nTHERE IS A RISK OF SVR TSTMS TO RT OF LN FM GLS JCT GAG BBW ABR RWF OTM COU CBM ABY AQQ.\nDEEP UPR LVL TROF OVR ROCKIES PROGD TO BECOME NEGATIVELY TILTED INTO CNTRL/SRN PLAINS\nREGION DURG PD AS SHOWN ON AVN PROGS. STG UPR LVL JET MAX PROGD TO ROTATE ARND BOTTOM OF\nTROF INTO CNTRL AND SRN PLAINS GIVING INCRSG UPR LVL DVRGNC PAT OVR OTLK AREA. DPNG SFC LOW\nEXPCD TO MOVE NWD FM NEB INTO ND WHILE SCNDRY LOW OVR KS GIVES ZONE OF LOW LVL CNVRGNC\nAHD OF DRY LN. AMS PROGD TO BECOME QUITE UNSTBL AS SFC DEW PTS INCRS NWD ACRS PLAINS AND MS\nVLY. SFC BASED LI OF MINUS 6 TO MINUS 10 PROGD OVR OTLK AREA AS LOW LVL SLY JET FM LA INTO IA\nAIDS DESTBLZTN PROCESS. SVR TSTMS EXPCD ALG GULF CST AREA FM LA INTO AL/NRN FL AS SUBTROP JET\nMAX MOVES EWD ALG GULF CST GIVING FVRBL VERT SHEAR PAT. OTR SVR TSTMS EXPCD TO DEVELOP\nDURG AFTN AND EVE OVR CNTRL/SRN PLAINS AHD CDFNT AND DRY LN MOVG EWD IN RESPONSE TO STG\nJET MAX ROTATING INTO PLAINS. TORNADIC ACTVY LKLY AHD OF CDFNT IN VRY UNSTBL AMS DURG\nAFTN/EVE AS MID LVL CD ADVCTN INTERACTS WITH WARM AND MOIST AMS AT THE SFC.\n.WILSON.. 04/25/91\nMKCSWODY2 ALL 00 ACUS2 KMKC 251808\nMKC DY2 251800\n2ND DAY SEVERE OUTLOOK REF AFOS NMCGPH980\nVALID 261200 271200Z GEN TSTM FCST NOT INCLUDED..\nTHERE IS A RISK OF SVR TSTMS RGT OF A LN FM 35 SW PO7 MAF AMA 1K5 BFF 45 W RAP DIK 20 N JMS FAR\nAXN MCW OTM BYH BHM NBC CONT VRB SRQ.\nMDLS CONT TO INDC STG TROFFING TKG PLC RESULTING IN DP MID/UPR LVL LO ACRS THE CNTRL RCKYS\nAND SLOLY PROGRESSING IT EWD INTO WRN NE/WRN KS. AVN LKS VRY IMPRESSIVE AS THE UPR SYS\nBEGINS TO REDVLP ON THE SRN END OF THE UPR LO ACRS SRN CO. WITH A SERIES OF VORT\nMAXS/SHRTWVS ROTG ARND THE UPR SYS AVN LKS TO HV FVBL SOLN IN HNDLG THIS SYS. CDFNTL BNDRY\nXPCD TO CONT EWD INTO THE WRN PLNS STS AT START OF PD. THEN MVG SLOLY EWD AS MAIN DRIVE IN\nTHE UPR WNDS WL BE MR NWD/NEWD SOMEWHAT PARALLELING THE FNTL BNDRY. ALL MDLS ARE\nCONSISTENT IN ROTG MAIN VORT MAX THRU SRN PTNS OF TROF INTO THE CNTRL HI PLANS BTWN 24/36\nHRS. MID LVL WND MAX 80/85 KTS FCST ACRS SRN NV THRU SRN NM THEN NEWD INTO SWRN OK THRU\nTHE PD. LO LVL WNDS ARE FCST TO INCRS RPDLY BY THE BGNG OF THE PD WITH 40/50 KT WNDS XTNDG\nNWD FM NERN PTNS OF TX INTO THE ERN DAKS BY AFTN. THIS SETS UP VRY STG VERT SHEAR PROFILE FM\nNRN TX NWD INTO SRN PTNS OF NE FOR SVR TSTM DVLPMNT.\nD-1","AMS AHD OF SFC DRYLN THAT WL XTND FM WRN KS THRU WRN TX IS XPCD MOIST AND UNSTBL WITH SFC\nDEWPTS IN THE LO 60S AS FAR N AS SRN NE. AND LO 70S RTNG OF SRN OK. LIFTED INDICES THUS. ARE\nFCST TO BE BTWN -6 AND -10 ACRS THE CNTRL AND SRN PLNS.\nTSTMS CUD DVLP ALG THE DRYLN ERY IN THE PD AS FIRST VORT MAX ROTS ARND UPR SYS THEN REDVLP\nAS STGR SHRTWV/VORT MAX ADVNCS EWD INTO KS/OK. SVR TSTMS XPCD ACRS THE WRN PLNS FM SWRN NE\nSWD THRU WRN KS INTO PTNS OF WRN TX WHR DIFFLUENT FLO AND PVA ENHNCS UVVS. THE MDLS ARE\nINDC THIS TO BE A VRY SIG SVR WX PRODUCER WITH TORNADOES OCRG ACRS THE CNTRL/SRN PLNS WITH\nSTG VERT SHEAR AND STG DYNAMICS ENTERING THE RGN DURG THE AFTN AND NGT TIME HRS.\nMCCARTHY.. 04/25/91\nMKCSWODY1 ALL 00 ACUS1 KMKC 260635\nMKC AC 260700\nCONVECTIVE OUTLOOK. REF AFOS NMCGPH940\nVALID 261200 - 271200Z\nREF WW NR 179 VALID TIL 09Z.\nTHERE IS A HIGH RISK OF SVR TSTMS THIS AFTN AND TONIGHT OVR PTNS OF N CNTRL TX..MUCH OF\nOK. CNTRL AND ERN KS AND SE NEB. THE HIGH RISK AREA IS TO THE RT OF A LN FM ABI CDS DDC GRI OMA\n20 E TOP PRX SEP ABI.\nSURROUNDING THE HIGH RISK IS A SLGT RISK OF AVR TSTMS TO THE RT OF A LN FM LIT ELD LFK 30 S AUS\nERV 60 S BGS LBL LBF RAP Y26 STC MSP RST ALO LIT.\nGEN TSTMS ARE FCST TO THE RT OF A LN FM 60 SW PO7 MAF AMA TAD ASE RWL 50 N GGW CONT. IWD PAH\nCHA CAE MYR.\nOUTBREAK OF SVR TSTMS AND DMGG TORNADOES IS EXPCD OVR THE NRN PTNS OF THE SRN\nPLAINS MUCH OF THE CNTRL PLAINS. AND WRN PTNS OF THE LWR/MID MS VLYS.\nDEEPENING UPR LOW PROGD TO MOV SLOLY EWD ACRS WY DURG PD IN CLOSE AGREEMENT WITH AVN\nPROG. WHICH TENDS TO HOLD UPR LOW FTHR W THAN THE NGM/LFM. THIS SEEMS RSNBL SINCE THERE IS\nNO SGFNT UPSTRM SYS MOVG INTO WRN U.S. PROGS ALL IN GOOD AGREEMENT IN ROTG SGFNT UPR\nSHRTWV THRU BASE OF UPR TROF FM AZ/NM BDR INTO THE WRN HI PLAINS/WRN KS BY 00Z. LEADING EDGE\nOF PVA EXPCD TO RCH THE OK/TX PNHDLS AND WRN KS BY ERY AFTN AND INTERACT WITH DRLN TO\nPRODUCE WIDESPREAD SVR TSTMS ACRS NRN PTNS OF SRN PLAINS AND MUCH OF THE CNTRL PLAINS.\nLOW LVL MOIST AXIS HAS SET UP THIS MRNG FM N CNTRL TX ACRS WRN KS AND INTO CNTRL NEB. INCRG\nSLY LOW LVL JET ACRS THE CNTRL PLAINS IS EXPCD TO DRAW DEEPER MSTR NWD WITH SFC DWPTS IN THE\n60S SPREADING ACRS MOST OF KS AND PSBLY INTO S CNTRL/SE NEB. AMS EXPCD TO BCM EXTRMLY\nUNSTBL FM N CNTRL TX ACRS CNTRL KS BY AFTN WITH MIN LIS BTN MINUS 8 AND 12. STG MID LVL WIND\nMAX IN EXCESS OF 70KT IS FCST TO SWEEP NEWD ACRS THE NRN PTN OF THE SRN PLAINS AND KS DURG\nTHE AFTN AND EVE RCHG IA/WRN MO BY THE END OF THE PD. THIS WILL RESULT IN VERY FVRBL DIR\nSHEAR TO SUPPORT WIDESPREAD SVR TSTM DVLPMT AND DMGG TORNADOES. EXPC INITIAL ACTVTY TO\nDVLP BY ERY AFTN FM WRN KS SWD INTO THE ERN TX PNHDL AS MID LVL JET MAX/LEADING EDGE PVA\nMOV ACRS DRYLN AND WRM SECTOR. SQLN SHUD THEN MOV EWD ACRS REST OF KS/OK WITH CELLS MOVG\nRPDLY NNEWD INTO S CNTRL ND SE NEB UNDER STG UPR LVL WIND FIELD. AS RT REAR QUAD OF MID/UPR\nLVL WIND MAX DRAGS ACRS OK/NRN TX EXPC SQLN TO DVLP SWD INTO N CNTRL TX.\nSVR ACTVTY EXPCD TO BCM MORE ISOLD LTR IN THE EVE AS TSTMS MOV INTO IA/WRN MO/WRN AR AND\nTHERMODYNAMICS WKN. ISOLD SVR TSTMS ALSO PSBL OVR MUCH OF NEB AND SD IN RGN OF INCRG LOW\nLVL WRM ADVCTN AND STG MID LVL COOLING.\nA PUBLIC SVR WX STATEMENT MKCPWOMKC WILL BE ISSUED ARN 09Z.\nD-2","MKCPWOMKC\nWOUS36 KMKC 260900\nPUBLIC SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK\nNATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KANSAS CITY MO\nKANSAS CITY MISSOURI\n00 AM CDT FRIDAY APRIL 26 1991\nOUTBREAK OF TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED TODAY INTO TONIGHT OVER MUCH\nOF THE CENTRAL UNITED STATES..\nTHE NATIONAL SEVERE STORMS FORECAST CENTER IN KANSAS CITY MISSOURI IS FORECASTING AN\nOUTBREAK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND TORNADOES TODAY INTO TONIGHT OVER MUCH OF THE\nCENTRAL AND SOUTHERN PLAINS AND THE LOWER MISSOURI VALLEY.\nTHE STATES WHICH ARE MOST LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE THE BRUNT OF THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AND\nTORNADO ACTIVITY INCLUDE MOST OF OKLAHOMA AND KANSAS PARTS OF NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS AND\nPARTS OF SOUTHERN NEBRASKA.\nA LOW PRESSURE AREA OVER NORTHEAST COLORADO IS FORECAST TO DEEPEN RAPIDLY AND MOVE\nNORTHEAST INTO THE DAKOTAS BY TONIGHT. A STRONG COLD FRONT WIL MOVE EAST ACROSS MUCH OF\nTHE GREAT PLAINS TODAY INTERACTING WITH A WARN AND MOIST AIRMASS.\nA STRONG UPPER LEVEL JET STREAM IS FORECAST TO EXTEND FROM NEW MEXICO ACROSS THE TEXAS\nPANHANDLE INTO KANSAS AND IOWA. WHILE STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS AT THE SURFACE BRING WARM\nAND MOIST AIR NORTHARD ACROSS MUCH OF THE CENTRAL UNITED STATES. THIS COMBINATION OF A\nSTRONG JET STREAM MOVING ACROSS A VERY MOIST AND UNSTABLE AIRMASS IS FORECAST TO RESULT IN\nAN OUTBREAK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND DAMAGING TORNDAOES FROM NEBRASKA ACROSS\nKANSAS AND OKLAHOMA INTO NORTHERN TEXAS.\nTHERE IS ALSO A LIKLIHOOD OF A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT OVER\nPORTIONS OF NORTHERN NEBRASKA. SOUTH DAKOTA SOUTHERN MINNESOTA..IOWA..MISSOURI..AND\nARKANSAS.\nIT IS EMPHASIZED THAT THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS WEATHER SITUATION FOR PARTS OF\nOKLAHOMA..KANSAS..NORTHERN TEXAS. AND SOUTHERN NEBRASKA. DESTRUCTIVE TORNADOES ARE\nPOSSIBLE WITH THIS WEATHER SYSTEM AS THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOP OVER THE PLAINS DURING THE\nAFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS.\nALL PERSONS IN THE THREATENED AREA ARE URGED TO REVIEW SAFETY RULES AND LISTEN TO\nRADIO..TV..OR NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WATCHES OR WARNINGS.\nTHIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS WEATHER SITUATION FOR THE AFFECTED AREAS AND SHOULD BE\nMONITORED CLOSELY.\n.LARRY WILSON..\nNATIONAL SEVERE STORMS FORECAST CENTER\nMKCSWODY1 LL OO ACUS1 KMKC 261438\nMKC AC 261500\nCONVECTIVE OUTLOOK REF AFOS NMCGPH940\nVALID 261500 - 271200Z\nREF WW NR 181 VALID TIL 19Z.\nTHERE IS A HIGH RISK OF SVR TSTMS THIS AFTN AND TONIGHT OVR PTNS OF MUCH OF OK. CNTRL AND ERN\nKS.. CNTRL AND SE NEB. WRN MO. AND NWRN AR. THE HIGH RISK AREA IS TO THE RT OF A LN FM 40 WSW\nLTS GAC 30 W RSL 50 SW EAR LBF 50 N K20 OFK OMA 20 E SZL 40 E SGF PGO 20 S ADM 40 WSW LTS.\nD-3","SURROUNDING THE HIGH RISK IS A SLGT RISK OF SVR TSTMS TO THE RT OF A LN FM 20 S BPT 40 S AUS JCT\n50 S BGS GAG 30 W RSL 30 W LBF PHP Y26 STC MSP RST OTM 60 E VIH BYH BHM ABY AQQ.\nGEN TSTMS ARE FCST TO THE RT OF A LN FM 60 SW P07 MAF 30 W GAG DDC 50 S PUB ASE RWL 20 W SHR 50 N\nGGW CONT. IWD MSN PAH CHA CAE MYR.\nOUTBREAK OF SVR TSTMS WITH DMGG TORNADOES IS EXPCD OVER THE NRN PTNS OF THE SRN PLAINS AND\nMUCH OF THE CNTRL PLAINS. WITH OTHER SVR TSTMS EXPCD THROUGH THE RMDR OF THE PLAINS RGN\nAND ALG THE GULF COAST.\nVRY STRONG UPR TROF EXPCD TO BCM MORE NEG TILTED AND MOV INTO PLAINS RGN DURG PD. LO LVL\nJET MAX OF 45-50 KT PROGGED OVR ERN KS AND ERN NE BY 27/00Z WITH 500 MB JET EXTENDING FM WRN\nTX NEWD INTO WRN MO. AMS IS EXTRMLY UNSTBL FM CNTRL KS SWD INTO TX AND THIS INSTBY IS EXPCD\nTO DVLP NEWD INTO NE.. WRN MO AND WRN AR BY OOZ. SML AREA OF INTS TSTMS CONTS THIS MORN OVR\nSERN KS. BUT THIS ACTVTY LKLY TO MOV ON EWD AND NOT CONTAMINATE THE AMS NR LO LVL JET.\nEXPCT SVR TSTMS TO DVLP BY ERY TO MID AFTN FM CNTRL NE SWD TO WRN OK. ALG CDFNT/DRY LN AS\nSTG PVA MOVS INTO WRM SCTR. THIS ACTVTY LKLY TO DVLP INTO SUPERCELLS WITH TORNADO ACTVTY AS\nCELLS MOVE NEWD INTO SERN NE. ERN KS. MOST OF OK AND INTO WRN MO AND NWRN AR BY EVE.\nOTHER SVR TSTMS MAY DVLP NWD ALG OCCLN INTO NRN PLAINS AND SWD ALG DRYLN INTO TX.\nA SEPARATE AREA OF SVR TSTMS IS PSBL THIS AFTN AND EVE UNDER SUBTROPICAL JET AND NR WRMFT\nOVR CNTRL GULF COAST RGN WHERE AMS IS VRY UNSTBL AND SOME LO LVL CONVG IS EXPCD.\nA PUBLIC SVR WX STATEMENT MKCPWOMKC. WILL BE ISSUED ARND 16Z.\n..JOHNS.. 04/26/91\nMKCPWOMKC\nWOUS36 KMKC 261508\nPUBLIC SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK\nNATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KANSAS CITY MO\nKANSAS CITY MISSOURI\n1100 AM CDT FRIDAY APRIL 29, 1991\n.OUTBREAK OF TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED TODAY INTO TONIGHT OVER MUCH\nOF THE CENTRAL UNITED STATES.\nTHE NATIONAL SEVERE STORMS FORECAST CENTER IN KANSAS CITY MISSOURI IS FORECASTING AN\nOUTBREAK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND TORNADOES TODAY INTO TONIGHT OVER MUCH OF THE\nCENTRAL AND SOUTHERN PLAINS AND THE LOWER MISSOURI VALLEY.\nTHE STATES WHICH ARE MOST LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE THE BRUNT OF THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AND\nTORNADO ACTIVITY INCLUDE MOST OF OKLAHOMA\nCENTRAL AND EASTERN KANSAS CENTRAL AND SOUTHEASTERN NEBRASKA\n.WESTERN MISSOURI. AND NORTHWESTERN ARKANSAS.\nA LOW PRESSURE AREA OVER WESTERN NEBRASKA IS FORECAST TO DEEPEN RAPIDLY AND MOVE\nNORTHEAST INTO THE DAKOTAS BY TONIGHT. A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL MOVE EAST ACROSS MUCH OF\nTHE GREAT PLAINS TODAY INTERACTING WITH A VERY WARM AND MOIST AIRMASS.\nSTRONG UPPER LEVEL JET STREAM IS FORECAST TO EXTEND FROM NEW MEXICO ACROSS THE TEXAS\nA\nPANHANDLE INTO KANSAS AND IOWA WHILE STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS AT THE SURFACE BRING WARM\nAND MOIST AIR NORTHWARD ACROSS MUCH OF THE CENTRAL UNITED STATES. THIS COMBINATION OF A\nSTRONG JET STREAM MOVING ACROSS THE VERY MOIST AND UNSTABLE AIRMASS IS FORECAST TO RESULT\nIN AN OUTBREAK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND DAMAGING TORNADOES FORM NEBRASKA ACROSS\nKANSAS AND OKLAHOMA. AND EASTWARD INTO WESTERN MISSOURI AND NORTHWESTERN ARKANSAS.\nTHERE IS ALSO A LIKELIHOOD OF A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT OVER\nPORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN SOUTH DAKOTA..\nD-4","SOUTHERN MINNESOTA. IOWA EASTERN MISSOURI. SOUTHERN AND EASTERN ARKANSAS. TEXAS...AN\nPORTIONS OF THE GULF COSTAL REGION.\nIT IS EMPHASIZED THAT THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS WEATHER SITUATION FOR PARTS OF\nOKLAHOMA. KANSAS. NEBRASKA. WESTERN MISSOURI. AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS. DESTRUCTIVE\nTORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS WEATHER SYSTEM AS THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOP OVER THE PLAINS\nDURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS.\nALL PERSONS IN THE THREATENED AREA ARE URGED TO REVIEW SAFETY RULES AND LISTEN TO\nRADIO..TV..OR NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WATCHES OR WARNINGS.\nTHIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS WEATHER SITUATION FOR THE AFFECTED AREAS AND SHOULD BE\nMONITORED CLOSELY.\n.BOB JONES..\nNATIONAL SEVERE STORMS FORECAST CENTER\n:370,0990 400,0981 400,0955 370,0963:WWUS9 KMKC 261710\nMKC WW 261710\nKSZOOO-270100\nBULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED\nTORNADO WATCH NUMBER 183\nNATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KANSAS CITY MO\n1210 PM CDT FRI APR 26 1991\n.A., THE NATIONAL SEVERE STORMS FORECAST CENTER HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WATCH FOR\nPARTS OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN KANSAS\nEFFECTIVE THIS FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING UNTIL 800 PM CDT.\nTHIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF VERY DAMAGING TORNADOES.\nALSO. LARGE HAIL.. .DANGEROUS LIGHTING AND DAMAGING THUNDERSTORM WINDS CAN BE EXPECTED.\nTHE TORNADO WATCH AREA IS ALONG AND 65 STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST OF A LINE FROM 45 MILES\nEAST SOUTHEAST OF MEDICINE LODGE KANSAS TO 45 MILES NORTHEAST OF CONCERTI KANSAS.\nREMEMBER A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADOES AND SEVERE\nTHUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE\nLOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE\nWARNINGS.\nB..OTHER WATCH INFORMATION.. THIS TORNADO WATCH REPLACES SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH\nNUMBER 181. WATCH NUMBER 181 WILL NOT BE IN EFFECT AFTER 100 PM CDT.\nC...$$ TORNADOES AND A FEW SVR TSTMS WITH HAIL SFC AND ALF TO 3 IN. EXTRM TURBC AND SFC WND\nGUSTS TO 75 KNOTS. A FEW CBS WITH MAX TOPS TO 600. MEAN WIND VECTOR 23040.\nD LN TCU KVLG FM SW OF CNK TO BTWN RSL AND SLN ATTM. EXPCT RAPID TSTM DVLPMT WITHIN NEXT\nHR ALG DRYLN/CD FNT WITH SUPERCELLS AND TORNADO DBLPMT LKLY.\nE. OTR TSTMS. CONT WW NR 182. WW LKLY TO BE RQRD WITHIN NEXT HR OR TWO OVR PTNS WRN AND\nCNTRL OK. WW LKLY TO BE RQRK LATER THIS AFTN OVR PTNS ERN KS AND WRN MO.\nJOHNS\nD-5","Messages Issued by WSO Wichita Pertaining to Wichita/Andover Thunderstorm\nTOPTOPICT\nTTAAOO KICT 262229\nKSCO77-191-262245\nBULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED\nTORNADO WARNING\nNATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS\n526 PM CKT FRI APR 26 1991\nTHE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 545\nCDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS\nIN SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS\nNORTHEASTERN HARPER COUNTY NORTHWESTERN SUMMER COUNTY\nAT 515 PM CDT...A TORNADO WAS REPORTED 7 MILES EAST OF ANTHONY MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 35\nMPH. THE TOWN OF DANVILLE AND ARGONIA ARC IN THE PATH OF THE STORM.\nTHIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS STORM. ACT QUICKLY. IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO MOVE TO\nA SHELTER BELOW GROUND IF AVAILABLE OTHERWISE.. GO TO A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST\nFLOOR POSSIBLE. AVOID WINDOWS ABANDON CARS AND MOBILE HOMES FOR A STURDIER BUILDING OR\nGET INTO A DITCH OR CULVERT.\nHEDGES\nTOPSVRICT\nTTAAOO KICT 262206\nKSC173-262330-\nBULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED\nSEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING\nNATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS\n535 PM CDT FRI APR 26 1991\nTHE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING\nEFFECTIVE UNTIL 6:00 PM CDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION\nIN SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS\nSOUTHWESTERN SEGWICK COUNTY\nAT 525 PM CDT RADAR. INDICATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM NEAR THE TOWN OF MILTON IN NORTHWEST\nSUMMER COUNTY MILTON IS 30 MILES SOUTHWEST OF WICHITA. THIS STORM IS MOVING TO THE\nNORTHEAST AT 35 MPH THE TOWNS OF ANNES CLONMEL. AND CLEARWATER ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS\nSTORM TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY.\nA TORNADO WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA REMEMBER SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS\nCAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE TORNADOES WITH LITTLE OR NOW ADVANCE WARNING.\nD-6","TOPSVSICT\nTTAAOO KICT 262244\nKSZOO9-011-012-014-017-262345-\nSEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT\nNATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS\n543 PM CDT FRI APR 26 1991\nAT 540 PM CDT... A TORNDO WAS REPORTED JUST SOUTH OF CONWAY SPRINGS MOVING TOWARD CONWAY\nSPRINGS. IF YOU ARE IN OR NEAR CONWAY SPRINGS TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY.\nTORNADO WATCHES CONTINUE FOR MUCH OF SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST KANSAS.\nBURKE\nTOPTORICT\nTTAAOO KICT 262250\nKSC173-191-262315-\nBULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED\nTORNADO WARNING\nNATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS\n546 PM CDT FRI APR 26 1991\nTHE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 615 PM\nCDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS.\nIN SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS\nSEDGWICK COUNTY. NORTHWESTERN SUMMER COUNTY\nAT 545 PM. TORNADO WERE REPORTED NEAR CONWAY SPRINGS OR 26 MILES SOUTHWEST OF\nWICHITA AND NEAR GOODARD OR 14 MILES WEST OF WICHITA. THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF WICHITA.\nTHIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS STORM ACT QUICKLY IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO MOVE TO A\nSHELTER BELOW GROUND IF AVAILABLE OTHERWISE. GO TO A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST\nFLOOR POSSIBLE AVOID WINDOWS...\nABANDON CARS AND MOBILE HOMES FOR A STURDIER BUILDING OR SET INTO A DITCH OR CULVERT.\nHEDGES\nTOPSVSICT\nTTAAOO KICT 262305\nKSZ009-011-012-014-017-260015\nSEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT\nNATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS\n605 PM CDT FRI APR 26 1991\nAT 600 PM CDT...A TORNADO WAS REPORTED BY THE HAYSVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT AT 77 STREET SOUTH\nAND WEST STREET. MOVEMENT WAS NORTHEAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.\nANOTHER TORNADO WAS REPORTED 5 EAST OF PECK WHICH IS 14 MILES SOUTH OF WICHITA.\nIF YOU ARE IN OR NEAR HAYSVILLE DERBY OR MULVANE - TAKE COVER NOW\nBURKE\nD-7","TOPTORICT\nTTAAOO KICT 26312\nKSC173-262345-\nBULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED\nTORNADO WARNING\nNATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS\n609 PM CDT FRI APR 26 1991\nTHE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 645 PM\nCDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION\nIN SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS\nEASTERN SEDGWICK COUNTY\nAT 605 PM CDT. A TORNADO WAS REPORTED ON THE GROUND IN THE VICINITY OR CLEARWATER OR 16\nMILES SOUTHWEST OF WICHITA. ANOTHER TORNADO WAS REPORTED NEAR HAYSVILLE PERSONS IN\nHAYSVILLE DERBY MULVANE TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM. THE\nSTORM WAS MOVING TO THE NOREAST AT 35 MPH.\nTHIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS STORM. ACT QUICKLY. IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO MOVE TO\nA SHELTER BELOW GROUND IF AVAILABLE OTHERWISE GO TO A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST\nFLOOR POSSIBLE AVOID WINDOWS.\nABANDON CARS AND MOBILE HOMES FOR A STURDIER BUILDING OR GET INTO A DITCH OR CULVERT.\nHEDGES\nTOPSVSICT\nTTAAOO KICT 262329\nKSZ009-011-012-014-017-260100\nSEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT\nNATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS\n629 PM CDT FRI APR 26 1991\nAT 625 PM CDT TORNADO SPOTTERS HAD THE LOCATION OF ONE TORNADO ON MCCONEL AIR FORCE BASE\nMOVING NOREST AT 35 MILES AND HOUR.\nIF YOU ARE IN OR NEAR THE EAST SIDE OF WICHITA TAKE COVER NOW!\nBURKE\nTOPTORICT\nTTAAOO KICT 262333\nKSC015-270000-\nBULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED\nTORNADO WARNING\nNATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 730 PM CKT\nFOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION\nIN SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS\nBUTLER COUNTY\nD-8","AT 630 PM CDT...A DAMAGING TORNADO WAS ON THE GROUND IN SOUTHEAST WICHITA MOVING TO THE\nNORTHEAST AT 35 MPH THE COMMUNITIES OF AGUST AND ANDOVER ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM.\nTHIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS STORM ACT QUICKLY IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO MOVE TO A\nSHELTER BELOW GROUND IF AVAILABLE OTHERWISE GO TO A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST\nFLOOR POSSIBLE AVOID WINDOWS...\nABANDON CARS AND MOBILE HOMES FOR A STURDIER BUILDING OR GET INTO A DITCH OR CULVERT.\nHEDGES\nTOPSVSICT\nTTAAOO KICT 270001\nKSZOO9-011-012-014-017-260104\nSEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT\nNATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS\n701 PM CDT FRI APR 26 1991\nAT 650 PM CDT ...SEDGWICK COUNTY TORNADO SPOTTERS WERE STILL FOLLOWING THE TORNADO WHICH\nWENT THROUGH SOUTH AND EAST PARTS OF WICHITA. IT WAS LOCATED ABOUT 3 MILES WEST OF EL\nDORADO.\nALSO. IN COWLEY COUNTY TORNADOS WERE MOVING WERE MOVING INTO THE AREA NORTHEAST OF\nARKANSAS CITY WITH TENNIS BALL-SIZE HAIL NEAR WINFIELD.\nMOVEMENT WAS NORTHEAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.\nBE ALERT TO CHANGING WEATHER SITUATIONS AND TAKE COVER IF THREATENING CONDITIONS APPEAR.\nBURKE\nD-9","APPENDIX E\nCHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY OF ACTIONS AND REPORTS\nAT WSO WICHITA\nNumerous thunderstorms, many severe, plagued south-central Kansas throughout the\nday. At 4:36 p.m. (26/2141 UTC), WSO Wichita issued a severe thunderstorm\nwarning, the first warning on the storm that would later produce the\nWichita/Andover tornado. At that time, the storm had not yet become tornadic and\nwas located southwest of Wichita in Harper County. A severe thunderstorm warning\nwas issued for Harper County effective until 5:45 p.m. The warning mentioned that\nlarge hail had been reported with the storm when it was in northern Oklahoma. The\nwarning also mentioned that \"...severe thunderstorms can and occasionally do\nproduce tornadoes with little or no advance warning.\" Spotter networks in the\nWichita area were activated at 4:45 p.m.\nThe tornado report spawned by the supercell thunderstorm touched down at 5:15 p.m.\nin a field 7 miles northeast of Anthony in Harper County. This report from the\nHarper County Sheriff's Office was relayed to WSO Wichita at 5:26 p.m. Another\nreport from the Harper County Sheriff's Office indicated a funnel cloud touching the\nground at 5:26 p.m., 5 miles north of Freeport. This was the second of the four\ntornadoes. Based on these reports, WSO Wichita issued a tornado warning for\nnortheastern Harper and northwestern Sumner Counties at 5:26 p.m. (26/2229 UTC)\nin effect until 5:45 p.m.\nAt 5:28 p.m., the Sumner County Sheriff's Office reported the tornado 6 miles west\nof Kansas Rt. 49 near Argonia in Sumner County. According to reports from the\nSumner County Sheriff, the tornado had moved 8 to 10 miles south of Conway\nSprings by 5:38 p.m. At 5:40 p.m., the tornado was reported just south of Conway\nSprings. WSO Wichita issued an SVS at 5:43 p.m. (26/2244 UTC), urging people in\nand near Conway Springs to take cover. At this time, the storm producing the\ntornado began to move into the ground clutter pattern of the Wichita radar. Post-\nstorm analysis shows this to be the second of the four tornadoes produced by the\nsupercell thunderstorm.\nSedgwick County 911 relayed a report of a tornado in western Sedgwick County at\n5:45 p.m. This was followed by another report from Sedgwick County 911 at 5:46\np.m. of a tornado in that same general area crossing U.S. 54, north of Goddard. This\nwas another tornado which had formed in the Wichita area. It was not associated\nwith the thunderstorm that produced the Wichita/Andover tornado. This storm\nmoved on a track separate from the Wichita/Andover tornado track.\nE-1","The reports coming from western Sedgwick County and Conway Springs were the\nbasis for a tornado warning issued at 5:46 p.m. (26/2250 UTC) for Sedgwick and\nnorthwestern Sumner Counties effective until 6:15 p.m. The Sedgwick County EOC\nsounded tornado sirens in Wichita at 5:40 p.m.\nAt 5:57 p.m., a tornado was reported approximately 1 mile south of Clearwater in\nSedgwick County, and at 6 p.m., the Haysville Police Department reported a tornado\nat 77th Street South and West Streets in Haysville. WSO Wichita issued an SVS at\n6:05 p.m. (26/2305 UTC), relaying these tornado reports and urging people in the\ncommunities in the path of the tornado to take cover. Conflicting reports from\nspotters added some confusion into the warning process. Employees at the WSO\nbegan to wonder if there was more than one tornado south of Wichita since reports\nwere flowing into the office that located the tornado at different places at almost the\nsame time. Nevertheless, a decision was made at this point to extend the tornado\nwarning for eastern Sedgwick County. This warning was issued at 6:09 p.m. (26/2312\nUTC) effective until 6:45 p.m. All during this time, the tornado remained in the\nground clutter pattern of the Wichita radar.\nA storm spotter reported the tornado 2 miles north of Clearwater at 6:10 p.m. At\n6:20 p.m., the Sumner County Sheriff relayed a report of the tornado in Haysville in\nSedgwick County. At 6:27 p.m., the tornado was reported at 47th Street South and\nOaklawn on the south side of Wichita. At about the same time, Air Force weather\nobservers reported a tornado on McConnell Air Force Base. The WSO had high\nconfidence in this report, and an SVS was issued at 6:29 p.m. (26/2329 UTC), urging\npeople on the east side of Wichita to take cover. Also at 6:30 p.m. (26/2333 UTC), a\ntornado warning was issued for Butler County effective until 7:30 p.m. The warning\ntext specifically identified Andover as being in the path of the tornado and included\ncall to action statements. At 6:40 p.m., an amateur radio spotter reported the\ntornado east of U.S. 54 going into Andover.\nCommercial power was lost at the WSO shortly after 6:45 p.m. Several minutes were\nneeded to bring equipment up on emergency power; however, this did not delay\nissuing any warnings. The staff had planned to switch to backup power at 5:30 p.m.,\nbut by then a tornado was already reported southwest of Wichita. The WSO Wichita\nStation Duty Manual recommends switching to emergency power whenever\nthunderstorms are within 25 miles of the station.\nSedgwick County spotters were still following the Andover tornado, and at 6:55 p.m.,\nthey reported the twister in Butler County about 3 miles west of El Dorado. At 6:56\np.m., the El Dorado Police Department also reported the tornado 3 miles west of El\nDorado. An SVS was issued at 7:01 p.m. (27/0001 UTC). At 7:10 p.m., a report was\nreceived of a tornado 2 miles north of El Dorado. The aerial survey conducted by the\nteam showed that this was the fourth tornado produced by the supercell. Another\nSVS was issued at 7:14 p.m. (27/0015 UTC). The tornado warning was extended for\nnorthern Butler County at 7:17 p.m. (27/0021 UTC). The last report concerning this\ntornado had it moving through Cassoday in northern Butler County at 7:35 p.m. This\nwas a delayed report that was actually received at 10:03 p.m.\nE-2","Chronology of Events at WSO Wichita\nfrom 3:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., CDT\nREPORTS FROM SEDGWICK IN HARVEY COUNTY OF HAIL 1 3/4 INCH.\n330 PM\nSEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR NORTHERN CHASE COUNTY OF C KS.\n335 PM\nSVR\nAT 335 PM MARBLE SIZE HAIL WAS REPORTED IN CENTRAL CHASE COUNTY\nMOVG NE AT 35 MPH. EFFECTIVE UNTIL 400 PM CDT.\nMARBLE HAIL JUST SOUTH OF PRETTY PRAIRIE IN RENO COUNTY KS.\n338 PM\nSEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN RENO COUNTY OF\n339 PM\nSVR\nSC KS. AT 338 PM CDT MARBLE SIZE HAIL WAS REPORTED JUST SOUTH OF\nPRETTY PRAIRIE OR 20 MILES SOUTH OF HUTCHINSON. MOVG NE AT 35 MPH.\nCASTLETON HAVEN AND YODER ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM. TAKE\nCOVER IMMEDIATELY. EFFECTIVE UNTIL 430 PM CDT.\nKAKE TV WICHITA KS SPOTTER REPORTED 1/8 INCH HAIL IN CITY OF KINGMAN\n340 PM\nIN KINGMAN COUNTY KS.\nAGTAP SPOTTER REPORTED 3/4 INCH HAIL 4 MILES EAST NORTHEAST OF\n342 PM\nNEWTON IN HARVEY COUNTY KS.\nRENO COUNTY EOC REPORTING PEA SIZED HAIL AND HEAVY RAINS.\n344 PM\nSEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR SOUTHERN MARION COUNTY OF C\n350 PM\nSVR\nKS. AT 345 PM CDT RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OVER\nNORTHEASTERN HARVEY COUNTY MOVG NE AT 35 MPH. THE STORM HAS\nPRODUCED GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL IN HARVEY COUNTY. THE TOWNS OF\nPEABODY AND AULNE ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM. TAKE COVER\nIMMEDIATELY. EFFECTIVE UNTIL 430 PM CDT.\nKAKE TV WICHITA KS SPOTTER REPORTED 2 INCH HAIL IN VARNER IN\n355 PM\nNORTHERN KINGMAN COUNTY.\nAT 405 PM NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS OVER MUCH OF CENTRAL AND\n413 PM\nSVS\nSOUTHEAST KANSAS. STRONGEST NEAR PEABODY KS AND NEAR ST JOE.\nMOVG NE AT 35 MPH. AT 340 PM UP TO 2 INCH HAIL WAS REPORTED AT\nVARNER WHICH IS 24 MILES SOUTH OF HUTCHINSON. NUMEROUS OTHER\nREPORTS OF PEA TO GOLFBALL SIZED HAIL HAVE BEEN RECEIVED.\nMARION COUNTY AT HILLSBORO REPORTED 1 3/4 INCH HAIL.\n419 PM\nHARVEY COUNTY IN BURRTON REPORTED 1 3/4 INCH HAIL. POSSIBLE WALL\n420 PM\nCLOUD.\nSEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR MARION COUNTY OF C KS. AT 425 PM\n431 PM\nSVR\nA SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS JUST NORTH OF HILLSBORO. OR 41 MILES\nNORTHEAST OF HUTCHINSON. MOVG NE AT 35 MPH TOWARD LINCOLNVILLE.\nTHIS STORM PRODUCED GOLFBALL HAIL IN HILLSBORO. (THE TOWNS OF\nANTELOPE AND PILSEN ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM--NWR.) EFFECTIVE\nUNTIL 530 PM CDT.\nE-3","433 PM\nSVR\nSEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR WESTERN HARVEY COUNTY OF SC KS.\nAT 420 PM RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 10 MILES\nSOUTHEAST OF HUTCHINSON MOVING NE AT 35 MPH TOWARD PATTERSON\nAND BURRTON. LARGE HAIL HAS BEEN REPORTED WITH THIS STORM AS IT\nPASSED EAST OF PRETTY PRAIRIE. EFFECTIVE UNTIL 530 PM CDT.\n436 PM\nSVR\nSEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR HARPER COUNTY OF SC KS. AT 437\nPM RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 40 MILES SOUTHWEST OF\nWICHITA MOVING TO NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.\nTOWARD ANTHONY. LARGE HAIL WAS REPORTED WITH THIS STORM IN\nNORTHERN OKLAHOMA. EFFECTIVE UNTIL 545 PM CDT.\n441 PM\nMARION COUNTY ON EAST SIDE OF MARION RESERVOIR 1 INCH HAIL\nREPORTED.\n446 PM\nSVS\nAT 440 PM CDT NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED ACROSS MUCH OF\nCENTRAL AND PARTS OF SOUTHEAST KANSAS. THE STRONGEST STORMS\nFROM THE WICHITA VICINITY TO NEAR EMPORIA. ANOTHER STRONG STORM\n49 MILES SOUTHWEST OF WICHITA. OR JUST NORTH OF WALDRON. MOVG NE\nAT 35 MPH. AT 445 PM 1 INCH HAIL WAS REPORTED BY COOPERATIVE\nOBSERVER ON THE NORTHEAST SIDE OF MARION RESERVOIR.\n453 PM\nKAKE TV IN WICHITA NOTIFIED THAT GOLFBALL HAIL AND 65 MPH WINDS IN\nHARPER COUNTY.\n504 PM\nSVR\nSEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR EASTERN KINGMAN COUNTY AND\nNORTHWESTERN SUMNER COUNTY OF SC KS. AT 500 PM CDT RADAR\nINDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OVER NORTHEASTERN HARPER\nCOUNTY MOVG NE AT 35 MPH. AT 450 PM GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL AND 65 MPH\nWINDS WERE REPORTED AT HARPER 47 MILES SOUTHWEST OF WICHITA. THE\nCOMMUNITIES OF NORWICH AND MILTON ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM.\nTAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY. EFFECTIVE UNTIL 600 PM CDT.\n515 PM\nHARPER COUNTY IN ANTHONY REPORTS OF 3/4 INCH HAIL.\n515 PM\nSVS\nAT 512 PM CDT NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS WERE ACROSS MUCH OF\nCENTRAL KANSAS AND PARTS OF SOUTHEAST KANSAS. THE STRONGEST\nSTORMS HAVE PRODUCED UP TO GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL AND WINDS TO 65\nMPH. WERE CENTERED 42 MILES SOUTHWEST OF WICHITA NEAR\nDANVILLE AND IN NORTHERN OKLAHOMA NORTH OF ENID. MOVG NE AT 35\nMPH.\n520 PM\n2 MILES SOUTH AND 1 MILE EAST OF MILTON IN SUMNER COUNTY PEA SIZED\nHAIL AND 40 MPH WINDS.\n526 PM\nHARPER COUNTY REPORTED FUNNEL TOUCHED GROUND AND WENT BACK UP\n5 MILES NORTH OF FREEPORT MOVING NE.\n526 PM\nTOR\nTORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN HARPER COUNTY AND\nNORTHWESTERN SUMNER COUNTY OF SC KS. AT 515 PM CDT, A TORNADO\nWAS REPORTED 7 MILES EAST OF ANTHONY MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.\nTHE TOWNS OF DANVILLE AND ARGONIA ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM.\nEFFECTIVE UNTIL 545 PM CDT.\n528 PM\n2 MILES SOUTH OF MILTON IN SUMNER COUNTY GOLFBALL HAIL WITH WINDS\nGUSTING TO 50 MPH.\nE-4","TORNADO 6 MILES SOUTH AND 1 MILE WEST OF K49 NEAR ARGONIA IN\n528 PM\nSUMNER COUNTY.\nPUBLIC REPORTED POSSIBLE FUNNEL NEAR DOUGLASS IN BUTLER COUNTY.\n533 PM\nUNCONFIRMED.\nSEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR SOUTHWESTERN SEDGWICK COUNTY\n535 PM\nSVR\nOF SC. AT 525 PM CDT RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM NEAR\nTHE TOWN OF MILTON IN NORTHWEST SUMNER COUNTY. MILTON IS 30\nMILES SOUTHWEST OF WICHITA. THIS STORM IS MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST\nAT 35 MPH. THE TOWNS OF ANNES CLONMEL AND CLEARWATER ARE IN THE\nPATH OF THIS STORM. TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY. EFFECTIVE UNTIL 630 PM\nCDT.\nSUMNER COUNTY SHERIFF REPORTED TORNADO 8 TO 10 MILES SOUTH OF\n538 PM\nCONWAY SPRINGS.\nSEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN MARION COUNTY OF\n540 PM\nSVR\nC KS. EXTENDED PREVIOUS WARNING ISSUED AT 431 PM CDT. AT 535 PM CDT\nGOLFBALL SIZE HAIL WAS REPORTED IN MARION OR 46 MILES WEST OF\nEMPORIA. THIS STORM IS MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH. THE\nTOWN OF ANTELOPE IS IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM. EFFECTIVE UNTIL 615\nPM CDT.\nAT 540 PM CDT A TORNADO WAS REPORTED JUST SOUTH OF CONWAY SPRING\n543 PM\nSVS\nMOVING TOWARD CONWAY SPRINGS. IF YOU ARE IN OR NEAR CONWAY\nSPRINGS TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY.\nSUMNER COUNTY SHERIFF REPORTED TORNADO JUST SOUTH OF CONWAY\n545 PM\nSPRINGS MOVING INTO CONWAY SPRINGS.\nSEDGWICK 911 REPORTED TORNADO 4 TO 5 MILES WEST OF COLWICH ROAD.\n545 PM\nTORNADO REPORTED CROSSING US54 NORTH OF GODDARD IN SEDGWICK\n546 PM\nCOUNTY. FROM SEDGWICK 911.\nTORNADO WARNING FOR SEDGWICK COUNTY AND NORTHWESTERN SUMNER\n546 PM\nTOR\nCOUNTY OF SC KS. AT 545 PM...TORNADOES WERE REPORTED NEAR CONWAY\nSPRINGS OR 26 MILES SOUTHWEST OF WICHITA AND NEAR GODDARD.. 14\nMILES WEST OF WICHITA. THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF WICHITA. EFFECTIVE\nUNTIL 615 PM CDT.\nREPORTS FROM GOESSEL IN MARION COUNTY OF .72 INCHES OF RAIN AND 3/4\n548 PM\nINCH HAIL.\nSEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR MARION COUNTY OF C KS. AT 550 PM\n550 PM\nSVR\nCDT GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL WAS REPORTED NEAR GOESSEL. THIS STORM WAS\nMOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH. EFFECTIVE UNTIL 630 PM CDT.\nTORNADO REPORTED 1 MILE SOUTH OF CLEARWATER IN SEDGWICK COUNTY.\n557 PM\nAT 600 PM CDT A TORNADO WAS REPORTED BY THE HAYSVILLE POLICE\n605 PM\nSVS\nDEPARTMENT AT 77 STREET SOUTH AND WEST STREET. MOVEMENT WAS\nNORTHEAST AT 30 MPH. ANOTHER TORNADO WAS REPORTED 5 MILES EAST\nOF PECK WHICH IS 14 MILES SOUTH OF WICHITA. IF YOU ARE IN OR NEAR\nHAYSVILLE DERBY OR MULVANE TAKE COVER NOW.\nE-5","TORNADO WARNING FOR EASTERN SEDGWICK COUNTY OF SC KS. EXTENDED\n609 PM\nTOR\nPREVIOUS WARNING ISSUED AT 546 PM CDT. AT 605 PM CDT A TORNADO WAS\nREPORTED ON THE GROUND IN THE VICINITY OF CLEARWATER OR 16 MILES\nSOUTHWEST OF WICHITA. ANOTHER TORNADO WAS REPORTED NEAR\nHAYSVILLE. PERSONS IN HAYSVILLE DERBY MULVANE TAKE COVER\nIMMEDIATELY. YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM. THE STORM WAS\nMOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH. EFFECTIVE UNTIL 645 PM CDT.\n3/4 INCH HAIL AT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, WSO WICHITA KS.\n610 PM\nSPOTTER REPORTED TORNADO 2 MILES NORTH OF CLEARWATER IN\n610 PM\nSEDGWICK COUNTY KS.\nCOWLEY COUNTY EOC REPORTED 1/2 INCH HAIL IN EXTREME SOUTHWEST\n614 PM\nCORNER OF COUNTY.\nOFF DUTY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PERSONNEL OBSERVED 5/8 INCH\n615 PM\nHAIL AT 13TH AND ZOO IN WICHITA KS.\nTORNADO WARNING FOR EASTERN HARVEY COUNTY OF SC KS. AT 610 PM CDT\n616 PM\nTOR\nA FUNNEL CLOUD WAS REPORTED JUST EAST OF SEDGWICK IN SOUTHERN\nHARVEY COUNTY. SEDGWICK IS 17 MILES NORTH OF WICHITA. THE STORM IS\nMOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH. MC LAINS IS IN THE PATH OF THIS\nSTORM. EFFECTIVE UNTIL 654 PM CDT.\nSUMNER COUNTY SHERIFF REPORTED TORNADO IN HAYSVILLE SEDGWICK\n620 PM\nCOUNTY.\nCOWLEY COUNTY REPORTED WALL CLOUD AND FUNNEL SW NEAR\n622 PM\nCOWLEY/SUMNER COUNTY LINE.\nTORNADO WARNING FOR COWLEY COUNTY OF SC KS. AT 620 PM CDT A\n625 PM\nTOR\nDEVELOPING TORNADO WAS REPORTED NEAR ARKANSAS CITY. EFFECTIVE\nUNTIL 715 PM CDT.\nNATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EMPLOYEES SON REPORTED TORNADO ON\n627 PM\nGROUND AT 47TH SOUTH & OAKLAWN WEST OF K15.\n629 PM\nSVS\nAT 625 PM CDT TORNADO SPOTTERS HAD THE LOCATION OF ONE TORNADO ON\nMCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH. IF YOU ARE IN\nOR NEAR THE EAST SIDE OF WICHITA TAKE COVER NOW.\nTORNADO WARNING FOR BUTLER COUNTY OF SC KS. AT 630 PM CDT A\n630 PM\nTOR\nDAMAGING TORNADO WAS ON THE GROUND IN SOUTHEAST\nWICHITA MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH. THE COMMUNITIES OF\nAUGUSTA AN ANDOVER ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM. EFFECTIVE UNTIL\n730 PM CDT.\n630 PM\nMARION COUNTY SHERIFF REPORTED POSSIBLE TORNADO DAMAGE 7 MILES\nNORTH. UNCONFIRMED.\n635 PM\nHARVEY COUNTY 911 POSSIBLE FUNNEL CLOUD HEADING TOWARDS PEABODY\nKS.\n635 PM\nMCCONNELL AFB REPORTED THAT TORNADO HAD HIT BASE HOUSING AND\nSCHOOL.\nE-6","MARION COUNTY SHERIFF REPORTED POSSIBLE FUNNEL NEAR PEABODY.\n635 PM\nTORNADO WARNING FOR EASTERN MARION COUNTY OF C KS. AT 640 PM CDT\n640 PM\nTOR\nA FUNNEL CLOUD WAS OBSERVED JUST EAST OF PEABODY. OR 36 MILES\nNORTHEAST OF WICHITA. THE STORM WAS MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT\n35 MPH. AULNE FLORENCE AND MARION ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM.\nEFFECTIVE UNTIL 730 PM CDT.\nHAM SPOTTER REPORTED TORNADO EAST OF US54 GOING INTO ANDOVER IN\n640 PM\nBUTLER COUNTY.\nWINFIELD QUICK TRIP REPORTED HAIL LARGER THAN PEA SIZE. COWLEY\n650 PM\nCOUNTY KS.\nWINFIELD EOC REPORTED TENNISBALL HAIL IN WINFIELD OF COWLEY\n653 PM\nCOUNTY ALSO TORNADO HAD BEEN ON GROUND FOR MORE THAN 15\nMINUTES. EAST OF TOWN. SECOND POSSIBLE TORNADO SOUTH OF\nARKANSAS CITY.\nEL DORADO PD REPORTED TORNADO ON GROUND 3 MI WEST OF EL DORADO\n656 PM\nIN BUTLER COUNTY.\nSEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR SOUTHERN CHASE COUNTY OF C KS.\n701 PM\nSVR\nAT 700 PM CDT SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING INTO SOUTHERN\nCHASE COUNTY. RADAR INDICATES THAT SOME STORMS MAY CONTAIN VERY\nLARGE HAIL TO THE SIZE OF GOLFBALLS. THE STORMS WERE LOCATED JUST\nTO THE EAST OF MATFIELD GREEN AND WONSEVU. MOVEMENT WAS\nNORTHEAST AT 35 MPH. IF YOU LIVE IN THE TOWNS OF WONSEVU AND\nMATFIELD GREEN YOU SHOULD TAKE COVER NOW. EFFECTIVE UNTIL 800 PM.\nAT 655 PM CDT SEDGWICK COUNTY TORNADO SPOTTERS WERE STILL\n701 PM\nSVS\nFOLLOWING THE TORNADO WHICH WENT THROUGH THE SOUTH AND EAST\nPARTS OF WICHITA. IT WAS LOCATED ABOUT 3 MILES WEST OF EL DORADO.\nALSO IN COWLEY COUNTY TORNADOES WERE MOVING INTO THE AREA\nNORTHEAST OF ARKANSAS CITY WITH TENNIS BALL SIZED HAIL NEAR\nWINFIELD. MOVEMENT WAS NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.\nTORNADO WARNING FOR EASTERN COWLEY COUNTY AND WESTERN ELK\n705 PM\nTOR\nCOUNTY OF SC AND SE KS. THIS EXTENDS THE PREVIOUS TORNADO\nWARNING ISSUED FOR COWLEY COUNTY AT 625 PM CDT. AT 705 PM CDT A\nVERY LARGE TORNADO WAS ON THE GROUND NEAR CAMBRIDGE.. 20 MILES\nNORTHEAST OF ARKANSAS CITY. WITH THE MOVEMENT OF THIS STORM TO\nTHE NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH. PEOPLE IN WESTERN ELK COUNTY CAN EXPECT\nLARGE HAIL AND TORNADOES. THE TOWNS OF CAMBRIDGE AND GRENOLA\nARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM. TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY. EFFECTIVE\nUNTIL 745 PM CDT.\nWINFIELD IN COWLEY COUNTY REPORTED TORNADO ON GROUND 2 1/2 EAST\n706 PM\nOF WINFIELD.\nEL DORADO PD REPORTED TORNADO W OF TOWN MOVING NORTH DID NOT GO\n711 PM\nTHROUGH TOWN.\nAT 710 PM CDT THE EL DORADO EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS OFFICE\n714 PM\nSVS\nREPORTED A TORNADO WAS STILL ON THE GROUND 2 MILES NORTH OF EL\nDORADO MOVING NORTH AT 30 MPH. IT HAD PASSED TO THE WEST OF THE\nE-7","CITY OF EL DORADO AND NO REPORTS OF DAMAGE HAD BEEN RECEIVED IN\nEL DORADO.\nNSSFC ISSUED TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 194 FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN\n713 PM\nWWA\nAND CENTRAL KANSAS AND PARTS OF WESTERN MISSOURI FROM 730 PM TO\n200 AM CDT. THIS WATCH REPLACED TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 183.\nTORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHERN BUTLER COUNTY OF SC KS. EXTENDED\n717 PM\nTOR\nPREVIOUS TORNADO WARNING ISSUED AT 630 PM CDT. AT 715 PM CDT EL\nDORADO PD REPORTED TWO TORNADOES ON THE GROUND OVER EL DORADO\nRESERVOIR. THESE TORNADOES ARE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.\nIF YOU LIVE IN THE TOWNS OF CHELSEA AND CASSODAY TAKE COVER NOW.\nTHIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS STORM. EFFECTIVE UNTIL 800 PM CDT.\nEL DORADO PD REPORTED 2 TORNADOES ON GROUND ON EL DORADO\n717 PM\nRESERVOIR.\nWICHITA 911 REPORTED FUNNEL CLOUDS AT CENTRAL AND GREEN.\n718 PM\nUNCONFIRMED.\nCOWLEY COUNTY TORNADO ON GROUND 2 MILES SOUTH OF ATLANTA\n718 PM\nMOVING NE.\nCHASE COUNTY SPOTTERS IN SOUTHEAST CORNER REPORTED FUNNELS\n720 PM\nHEADING NORTH AND FUNNELS WEST OF EMPORIA.\nCOWLEY COUNTY REPORTED TORNADO NEAR ATLANTA. HAZARDOUS\n723 PM\nPROPANE TANKS HIT. NUMEROUS INJURIES.\nTORNADO WARNING FOR CHASE COUNTY AND NORTHERN GREENWOOD\n726 PM\nTOR\nCOUNTY OF C AND SE KS. AT 726 PM CDT REPORTS OF FUNNEL CLOUDS HAVE\nBEEN RECEIVED FROM EASTERN PARTS OF CHASE COUNTY. ALSO THE\nTORNADOES IN NORTHERN BUTLER COUNTY ARE MOVING INTO SOUTHEAST\nCHASE AND NORTHWEST GREENWOOD COUNTIES. THE STORMS WERE\nLOCATED 25 MILES SOUTHWEST OF EMPORIA AND 30 MILES NORTHEAST OF\nEL DORADO. IF YOU LIVE IN THE TOWN OF TETERVILLE. COTTONWOOD\nFALLS YOU SHOULD TAKE COVER NOW. EFFECTIVE UNTIL 815 PM CDT.\nELK COUNTY SHERIFF TORNADO 5 MILES WEST OF GRENOLA MOVING NE.\n726 PM\nKANSAS TURNPIKE AUTHORITY REPORTED THAT TORNADO WENT THROUGH\n735 PM\nSE CASSODAY IN NE BUTLER COUNTY NO INJURIES OR DEATHS. TURNPIKE\nHIT. REPORT RECEIVED AT 1003 PM. 3 TRAILERS AND 2 HOUSES.\nSEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR SOUTHERN GREENWOOD COUNTY OF\n736 PM\nSVR\nSE KS. AT 735 PM CDT A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 35 MILES\nNORTHEAST OF ARKANSAS CITY NEAR CAMBRIDGE TO GRENOLA. REPORTS\nOF LARGE HAIL AND TORNADOES NEAR GRENOLA HAVE BEEN RECEIVED\nFROM THIS THUNDERSTORM. THE THUNDERSTORM IS MOVING TO THE\nNORTHEAST AT 35 MPH THE TOWNS OF PIEDMONT AND SEVERY ARE IN THE\nPATH OF THIS STORM. TAKE COVER NOW. EFFECTIVE UNTIL 830 PM CDT.\nWINFIELD PD REPORTED THAT TORNADO WAS LEAVING COWLEY COUNTY. 1\n739 PM\nFATALITY.\nE-8","SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR NORTHERN ELK COUNTY OF SE KS.\n741 PM\nSVR\nAT 741 PM CDT SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO MOVE THROUGH\nWESTERN AND NORTHERN ELK COUNTY. THE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED\n20 MILES WEST OF HOWARD OR 45 MILES SOUTHEAST OF WICHITA.\nNUMEROUS REPORTS OF LARGE HAIL AND TORNADOES. MOVEMENT WAS TO\nTHE NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH. IF YOU LIVE IN THE TOWN OF HOWARD YOU\nSHOULD TAKE COVER NOW. EFFECTIVE UNTIL 830 PM CDT.\nKAKE TV STORM CHASERS FOLLOWED TORNADO IN SOUTHEAST AND\n745 PM\nEASTERN PARTS OF CHASE COUNTY TOWARDS EMPORIA. NOT CERTAIN WHEN\nDISSIPATED. FOOTAGE ON TV.\nSEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN CHAUTAUQUA\n746 PM\nSVR\nCOUNTY AND SOUTHERN MONTGOMERY COUNTY OF SE KS. AT 745 PM CDT\nRADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 35 MILES SOUTHWEST OF\nCOFFEYVILLE. OR JUST SOUTH OF THE TOWN OF CHAUTAUQUA. THE STORM\nWAS MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH. IF YOU LIVE IN THE TOWNS OF\nCHAUTAUQUA CANEY AND TYRO YOU SHOULD PREPARE FOR LARGE HAIL\nAND WINDS GREATER THAN 60 MPH. EFFECTIVE UNTIL 830 PM CDT.\nHEARD OVER NAWAS THAT MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE'S HOSPITAL\n752 PM\nLEVELED.\nELK COUNTY SHERIFF HAIL UP TO 3/4 INCH FUNNEL DIPPING DOWN TO W/SW.\n755 PM\nGREENWOOD COUNTY SHERIFF REPORTED FUNNEL SOUTHWEST OF SEVERY\n758 PM\nMOVING TOWARD PIEDMONT.\nTORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHERN ELK COUNTY AND SOUTHERN\n759 PM\nTOR\nGREENWOOD COUNTY OF SE KS. AT 758 PM CDT THE GREENWOOD COUNTY\nSHERIFF REPORTED A FUNNEL CLOUD JUST SOUTHWEST OF SEVERY. 45\nMILES WEST OF CHANUTE. ALSO REPORTS OF FUNNELS HAVE BEEN\nRECEIVED IN NORTHERN ELK COUNTY. THE STORM WAS MOVING TO THE\nNORTHEAST AT 35 MPH. THE TOWNS OF SEVERY PIEDMONT AND CLIMAX\nARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM. TAKE COVER NOW. EFFECTIVE UNTIL 830\nPM CDT.\nMCCONNELL AFB MAJOR REPORTED RADAR HOOK ECHO AT 230 DEGREES BY\n803 PM\n17 NM.\nSEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR EASTERN SEDGWICK COUNTY OF SC\n804 PM\nSVR\nKS. AT 805 PM CDT RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM NEAR PECK.\nLARGE HAIL AND WINDS GREATER THAN 60 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS\nSTORM. MOVEMENT WAS NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH. IF YOU LIVE IN THE TOWNS\nOF HAYSVILLE AND DERBY YOU SHOULD TAKE COVER NOW. EFFECTIVE\nUNTIL 845 PM CDT.\nSEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR MONTGOMERY COUNTY OF SE KS. AT\n813 PM\nSVR\n814 PM CDT RADAR INDICATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN SOUTHERN\nMONTGOMERY COUNTY.. CENTERED 20 MILES WEST OF COFFEYVILLE NEAR\nCANEY. THIS WARNING NOW INCLUDES ALL OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY. THE\nSTORMS WERE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH AND WILL MOVE INTO\nWAYSIDE AND INDEPENDENCE WITHIN THE NEXT 30 MINUTES. TAKE COVER\nNOW. EFFECTIVE UNTIL 900 PM CDT.\nE-9","814 PM\nWEATHER DATA SPOTTERS REPORT WALL CLOUD AND FUNNEL CLOUD 3 NW\nOF WELLINGTON IN SUMNER COUNTY KS.\n816 PM\nSVR\nSEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR NORTHERN SUMNER COUNTY OF SC\nKS. AT 815 PM CDT RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 30 MILES\nSOUTH OF WICHITA NEAR BELLE PLAINE. LARGE HAIL AND WINDS GREATER\nTHAN 60 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. THE STORMS WERE MOVING\nTO THE NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH. IF YOU LIVE IN THE TOWN OF MULVANE..\nTAKE COVER NOW. EFFECTIVE UNTIL 900 PM CDT.\n818 PM\nSVR\nSEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN WILSON COUNTY\nAND WOODSON COUNTY OF SE KS. AT 819 PM CDT SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS\nPRODUCE LARGE HAIL WERE 35 MILES WEST OF CHANUTE NEAR SEVERY.\nLARGE HAIL AND WINDS GREATER THAN 70 MPH ARE POSSIBLE. ALSO THIS\nSTORM HAS PRODUCED TORNADOES IN GREENWOOD AND ELK COUNTIES.\nTHIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM. THEY ARE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 35\nMPH AND WILL AFFECT THE TOWNS OF COYVILLE TORONTO AND\nBATESVILLE. TAKE COVER NOW. EFFECTIVE UNTIL 915 PM CDT.\n823 PM\nTOR\nTORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN GREENWOOD COUNTY FOR SE KS.\nEXTENDED PREVIOUS TORNADO WARNING ISSUED AT 759 PM CDT. AT 820 PM\nCDT A TORNADO WAS ON THE GROUND IN SEVERY. 45 MILES WEST OF\nCHANUTE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH. THIS IS A DANGEROUS\nSITUATION TAKE COVER NOW. THE TOWNS OF SEVERY CLIMAX AND FALL\nRIVER ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM. EFFECTIVE UNTIL 900 PM CDT.\n825 PM\nGREENWOOD COUNTY SHERIFF REPORTED TORNADO ON THE GROUND IN\nSEVERY KS.\n825 PM\nSUMNER COUNTY REPORTED GOLFBALL HAIL AND STRONG WINDS.\n830 PM\nHAM SPOTTERS REPORT WALL CLOUD SE OF MULVANE ALONG SEDGWICK/\nSUMNER COUNTY LINE.\nE-10","APPENDIX F\n1991 SPOTTERS' MEETINGS\n1/23 GALENA, CHEROKEE COUNTY\n429-2102\n700 PM\nCONTACT: JERRY ECKHARDT\n1/24 SEDAN, CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY\n725-5785\n700 PM\nCONTACT: RITA RAYL\nLOCATION: CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY\nCOURTHOUSE\n2/6 COTTONWOOD FALLS, CHASE COUNTY\n273-6313\n700 PM\nCONTACT: GERALD INGALLS\nLOCATION: CHASE COUNTY\nCOURTHOUSE COURTROOM\n2/7 PITTSBURG, CRAWFORD COUNTY\n724-8274\n200 & 600 PM\nCONTACT: ELDON BEDENE\nLOCATION: MEMORIAL AUD.\n9TH AND PINE STS.\n(BOURBON, NEOSHO, AND\nLABETTE COUNTIES ALSO INVITED)\n2/8 IOLA, ALLEN COUNTY\n365-5591\n700 PM\nCONTACT: RON MOORE\nLOCATION: ALLEN COUNTY\nCOURTHOUSE\n2/17 KINGMAN, KINGMAN COUNTY\n532-2431\n700 PM\nCONTACT: DR. EMMETT CHILD\nLOCATION: (CITY OFFICE BLDG.,\n324 N. MAIN)\n2/19 HUTCHINSON, RENO COUNTY\n365-2974\n700 PM\nCONTACT: BILL WALKER\nLOCATION: RENO COUNTY LAW\nENFORCEMENT BLDG.\n2/20 KFDI\n515 PM\n2/21 INDEPENDENCE, MONTGOMERY COUNTY\n331-2775\n200-700 PM\nCONTACT: BILL BOEHME\nLOCATION: JUDICIAL CENTER\n300 E. MAIN\nF-1","2/25 FREDONIA, WILSON COUNTY\n378-2011\n700 PM\nCONTACT: CLAYTON CONNELL\nLOCATION: COURTHOUSE BSMT.\n2/26 WINFIELD, COWLEY COUNTY\n221-0470\n700 PM\nCONTACT: RANDY DUNCAN\nLOCATION: STATE HOSPITAL AUD.\n2/28 NEWTON, HARVEY COUNTY\n283-6010\n700 PM\nCONTACT: LON BULLER\nLOCATION: HARVEY COUNTY\nCOMMUNITY RM., 8TH AND MAIN\n3/1 HILLSBORO, MARION COUNTY\n382-2945\n730 PM\nCONTACT: CHARLES PENNER\nLOCATION: HILLSBORO CITY\nBLDG CONF. RM.\n3/4 FT. SCOTT, BOURBON COUNTY\n223-3800\n700 PM\nCONTACT: MARVIN RANKIN\nEXT. 52\nLOCATION: FT. SCOTT COLLEGE,\nRM. 129\n3/5\nWICHITA, SEDGWICK COUNTY\n383-7546\n700 PM\nCONTACT: JOHN COSLETT\nLOCATION: CITY COMMISSION RM.,\nCITY BLDG.\n3/6 ERIE, NEOSHO COUNTY\n244-5781\n700 PM\nCONTACT: JIM KINNE\nLOCATION: COURTHOUSE,\nBSMT. MEETING ROOM\n3/7 HUTCHINSON, RENO COUNTY\n130 PM\nLOCATION: KHCC RADIO STATION\n3/7 YATES CENTER, WOODSON COUNTY\n625-2135\n700 PM\nCONTACT: TOM STEWART\nLOCATION: COMMUNITY BLDG.\n3/11 WELLINGTON, SUMNER COUNTY\n326-2435\n700 PM\nCONTACT: BERNALD BURROWS\nLOCATION: RAYMOND FRYE COMPLEX\n(1/2 BLOCK NORTH OF FIRE STATION)\n3/12 EL DORADO, BUTLER COUNTY\n321-9100\n700 PM\nCONTACT: VICTOR MARSHALL\nEXT. 214\nLOCATION: CITY BLDG. BSMT.,\n220 E. 1ST\nF-2","1230 PM\n3/13 WICHITA, SEDGWICK COUNTY\nCONTACT: SHERYL CORNELISON,\nBOEING SECURITY\nLOCATION: BOEING\n700 PM\n374-2108\n3/13 HOWARD, ELK COUNTY\nCONTACT: JANET LEE\nLOCATION: EXTENSION OFFICE\n700 PM\n795-2995\n3/14 OSWEGO, LABETTE COUNTY\nCONTACT: ROB GARTNER\nLOCATION: COMMUNITY CENTER\n700 PM\n254-7595\n3/18 ATTICA, HARPER COUNTY\nCONTACT: DAVID MILLER\nLOCATION: MEMORIAL BUILDING\n700 PM\n796-1025\n3/19 COLWICH, SEDGWICK COUNTY\nCONTACT: STEVE EDDY\nLOCATION: CHICAGO (53RD ST) &\n6TH ST., RELIGIOUS ED. BLDG.\n715 PM\n3/20 WICHITA, MCCONNELL AFB\nCONTACT: CAPT. MIKE HUNSUCKER\nTRAINING TO THE WEATHER DETACHMENT\n700 PM\n??3-6885\n3/21 EUREKA, GREENWOOD COUNTY\nCONTACT: VIRGIL COX\nLOCATION: COURTHOUSE\nHOSPITALITY ROOM\n530 PM\n?23-7546\n4/4 WICHITA, SEDGWICK COUNTY\nCONTACT: JOHN COSLETT\nTRAINING TO ALL SHERIFF'S\nOFFICERS\nF-3","APPENDIX G\nNWWS MESSAGE LOG FOR WSFO TOPEKA\nListing begins at 8:30 p.m., April 26 (27/0130 UTC), and works backward to 3:30 p.m.,\nApril 26 (26/2130 UTC).\nSTLLFPSTJ\n051T\n04:27:00:46\nSTLSVSSGF\n010T\n04:27:01:31\nSTLLFPMCI\n047T\n04:27:00:45\nTORSVSCNK\n228T\n04:27:01:31\nTOPSVSTOP\n164T\n04:27:01:30\nTOPTSTMSG\n145T\n04:27:00:45\n201T\n04:27:00:44\nTOPSVSICT\n103T\n04:27:01:30\nTOPSVRICT\n04:27:00:44\nTOPTORICT\n222T\n04:27:01:25\nTOPSPSTOP\n029T\nSTLSPSMCI\n032T\n04:27:00:43\nTOPLOOTOP\n024T\n04:27:01:24\nTOPSVSCNK\n225T\n04:27:00:43\nTOPSEL9\n223T\n04:27:01:22\nSTLZFPMO\n023T\n04:27:00:39\nTOPSVRICT\n207T\n04:27:01:22\nTOPSVRICT\n200T\n04:27:00:38\nTOPTSTMSG\n146T\n04:27:01:20\nTOPRNSACK\n020T\n04:27:00:36\nSTLLFPCOU\n203T\n04:27:01:20\n168T\n04:27:00:35\nSTLSVRSGF\n081T\n04:27:01:19\nSTLSVSMCI\n065T\n04:27:00:35\nTOPSVRICT\n206T\n04:27:01:18\nSTLRNSUMN\nTOPFFSTOP\n045T\n04:27:00:39\nTOPSVRICT\n205T\n04:27:01:16\n04:27:00:34\nTOPSELO\n107T\n04:27:01:16\nTOPLFFDDC\n043T\nSTLSLSMO\n072T\n04:27:00:33\nTOPSVRICT\n204T\n04:27:01:16\n114T\n04:27:00:32\nSTLSPSSTL\n130T\n04:27:01:15\nTOPSEL5\nTOPSPSTOP\n031T\n04:27:01:15\nSTLRNSUMN\n064T\n04:27:00:31\n112T\n04:27:00:31\nSTLSVSSGF\n009T\n04:27:01:15\nTOPSVRTOP\nTOPSVSCNK\n227T\n04:07:01:10\nSTLSLSMO\n071T\n04:27:00:29\n226T\n04:27:00:28\nTOPSVRICT\n203T\n04:27:01:07\nTOPTORICT\n04:27:00:28\nTOPSEL7\n119T\n04:27:01:06\nSTLSTPMO\n086T\nSTLSVSSGF\n008T\n04:27:00:24\nSTLSFPMO\n222T\n04:27:01:05\n115T\n04:27:00:24\nSTLLFPSOF\n004T\n04:27:01:04\nTOPSVRCNK\nSTLZFPMO\n025T\n04:27:01:03\nTOPSVRTOP\n111T\n04:27:00:23\n007T\n04:27:00:23\nTOPSWRKS\n214T\n04:27:01:03\nSTLSVSGF\n04:27:00:22\nTOPSVRTOP\n113T\n04:27:01:02\nTOPSVRCNK\n116T\nTOPNOWDDC\n151T\n04:27:00:22\nTOPTORICT\n2271\n04:27:01:01\nTOPSVRCNK\n115T\n04:27:00:21\nTOPSVRCNK\n116T\n04:27:00:56\nTOPTORICT\n229T\n04:27:00:20\nTOPSWRKS\n213T\n04:27:00:56\n04:27:00:18\nSTLZFPMO\n024T\n04:27:00:54\nTOPSTPKS\n156T\nTOPSVSCNK\n226T\n04:27:00:53\nTOPSLSKS\n175T\n04:27:00:18\n104T\n04:27:00:18\nSTLSLSMO\n073T\n04:27:00:51\nTOPSEL4\nTOPSFPKS\n014T\n04:27:00:51\nTOPSVRICT\n199T\n04:27:00:16\n215T\n04:26:23:59\nSTLSVRSOF\n030T\n04:27:00:50\nTOPNOWGLD\nTOPLFPICT\n213T\n04:27:00:40\nSTLCLISTL\n019T\n04:26:23:57\nTOPSWRKS\n211T\n04:26:23:56\nTOPSPSTOP\n030T\n04:27:00:49\nSTLTORMCI\n201T\n04:26:23:54\nTOPSVRICT\n202T\n04:27:00:49\nTOPSVRTOP\n109T\n04:26:23:53\nTCPLFPTOP\n247T\n04:27:00:48\nSTLLFPSTL\n122T\n04:26:23:50\nTOPZFPKS\n243T\n04:27:00:47\nTOPSVSTOP\n161T\n04:26:23:49\nTOPSEL6\n100T\n04:27:00:47\nG-1","TOPLSRCNK\n236T\n04:26:22:33\nTOPTORICT\n223T\n04:26:23:49\n04:26:22:30\nTOPTSTMSG\n144T\n04:26:23:44\nTOPTORTOP\n243T\nTOPSVSTOP\n160T\n04:26:23:38\nTOPTORICT\n217T\n04:26:22:29\n04:26:22:27\nTOPRNSOCK\n019T\n04:26:23:35\nTOPCLITOP\n125T\nTOPLSRCNK\n237T\n04:26:23:34\nSTLNOWSTL\n103T\n04:26:22:24\nTOPTORICT\n222T\n04:26:23:33\nTOPSVRTOP\n104T\n04:26:22:24\nTOPSEL2\n117T\n04:26:23:32\nTOPSVSTOP\n154T\n04:26:22:24\nTOPSVRTOP\n108T\n04:26:23:30\nTOPSELO\n106T\n04:26:22:24\nSTLRNSUMN\n083T\n04:26:23:29\nSTLSWSMO\n160T\n04:26:22:22\nTOPSPSCNK\n130T\n04:26:23:29\nTOPSVSTOP\n153T\n04:26:22:19\nTOPSVSICT\n100T\n04:26:23:29\nTOPSVSICT\n097T\n04:26:22:19\nTOPTORICT\n221T\n04:26:23:28\nSTLCLICOU\n203T\n04:26:22:18\nTOPSPSCNK\n129T\n04:26:23:28\nTOPSPSCNK\n127T\n04:26:22:16\nTOPSPSTOP\n028T\n04:27:23:25\nSTLSFPMO\n221T\n04:26:22:16\nTOPTORICT\n220T\n04:26:23:24\nTOPSVSTOP\n152T\n04:26:22:15\nTOPSVSTOP\n159T\n04:26:23:23\nTOPSVSCNK\n224T\n04:26:22:15\nSTLSVSMCI\n166T\n04:26:23:20\nTOPTSTMSG\n141T\n04:26:22:13\nTOPTORTOP\n245T\n04:26:23:10\nTOPSVSTOP\n151T\n04:26:22:12\nTOPTSTMSG\n143T\n04:26:23:13\nTOPSVRICT\n194T\n04:26:22:07\nTOPTORICT\n219T\n04:26:23:12\nTOPTORTOP\n242T\n04:26:22:06\nTOPSVSTOP\n158T\n04:26:23:08\nTOPSVRTOP\n103T\n04:26:22:06\nTOPSVSICT\n099T\n04:26:23:05\nTOPSWRKS\n208T\n04:26:22:03\nTOPTORTOP\n244T\n04:26:23:03\nTOPSVSTOP\n150T\n04:26:22:02\nTOPSWRKS\n210T\n04:26:23:02\nTOPNOWGLD\n214T\n04:26:22:01\nTOPSVSTOP\n157T\n04:26:23:01\nSTLSPSMCI\n027T\n04:26:21:58\nTOPSWRKS\n209T\n04:26:22:56\nTOPSVSTOP\n149T\n04:26:21:57\nTOPSVRICT\n197T\n04:26:22:53\nTOPSWRKS\n207T\n04:26:21:56\nTOPSVRTOP\n107T\n04:26:22:51\nTOPSVSTOP\n140T\n04:26:21:53\nTOPSPSDDC\n229T\n04:26:22:50\nTOPSVRCNK\n114T\n04:26:21:51\nTOPTORICT\n218T\n04:26:22:50\nTOPSVSTOP\n147T\n04:26:21:48\nTOPSPSCNK\n128T\n04:26:22:49\nTOPSVSICT\n096T\n04:26:21:47\nTOPSVSTOP\n156T\n04:26:22:46\nTOPSVSCNK\n223T\n04:26:21:46\nTOPSEL1\n207T\n04:26:22:46\nTOPTORTOP\n241T\n04:26:21:45\nTOPSVRTOP\n106T\n04:26:22:46\nTOPTSTMSG\n140T\n04:26:21:43\nSTLSPSMCI\n029T\n04:26:22:45\nTOPSVSTOP\n146T\n04:26:21:43\nTOPSVSICT\n098T\n04:26:22:44\nTOPRWSKS\n137T\n04:26:21:43\nTOPTSTMSG\n142T\n04:26:22:43\nTOPSVRICT\n193T\n04:26:21:41\nTOPSVRICT\n196T\n04:26:22:43\nSTLRNSMCI\n106T\n04:26:21:40\nTOPSVRTOP\n105T\n04:26:22:41\nTOPRNSGCK\n017T\n04:26:21:39\nTOPSVRTOP\n155T\n04:26:22:39\nTOPSVRICT\n192T\n04:26:21:36\nTOPSVRICT\n195T\n04:26:22:38\nTOPSVSTOP\n145T\n04:26:21:35\nTOPRNSGCK\n018T\n04:26:22:37\nTOPSVRICT\n191T\n04:26:21:31\nG-2","APPENDIX H\nNWWS SUBSCRIBERS IN KANSAS\nContact\nName\nLawrene\nKS\n66044\n913-841-7700\n1065\nDouglas County Emergency Pre.\nDale Creed\n111 E. 11th St.\nKansas\nKS\n66101\n913-573-9816\n1087\nBoard of Public Utilities\nLeon Burtnett\n1211 N. 8th St.\n8500 W. 63rd St.\nShawnee\nKS\n66202\n913-722-2866\n1170\nKUDL - Shamrock Broadcasting\nDarcy Blake\nMike Thompson\n4500 Shawnee Mission\nFairway\nKS\n66205\n913-677-7234\n1119\nKCTV 5\n66206\n913-642-7373\n2355\nKnight Riddex Commodity News\nDavid Salmon\nPOB 6053\nLeawood\nKS\n1070\nSteve Davidson\n12500 W. 87th St.\nLenexa\nKS\n66215\n913-888-4110\nLenexa Police Department\nKS\n66441\n913-762-5912\n1573\nCity of Junction City\nTom Clark\nP.O. Box 287\nJunctio\n1161\nP.O. Box 789\nJunctio\nKS\n66441\n913-762-5525\nKJCK Radio\nJerry Brechelsen\nKS\n66502\n913-776-4851\n1202\nKevin Block\nP.O. Box 1350\nManhatt\nKMAN-KMKF\nKS\n66502\n913-537-6330\n1471\nRiley County Civil Defense\nDan Hardin\n110 Courthouse Plaza\nManhatt\nKS\n66506\n913-532-6270\n1026\nDean Bark\nBus & Finace Div.\nManhatt\nKansas State University\nTopeka\nKS\n66601\n913-266-1422\n1078\nDiv. of Emergency Preparedness\nLes Peterson\nAdjutant Gen.. Dept.\nAllen Burbach\nP.O. Box 2700\nTopeka\nKS\n66601\n913-582-4000\n1339\nKSNI-TV\nP.O. Box 889\nTopeka\nKS\n66601\n913-296-6463\n1047\nXPL Gas Service\nDave Adams\n66601\n913-234-4949\n1523\nBob Totten\nBox 2229\nTopeka\nKS\nKTKA-TV\n66603\n913-267-2300\n1381\nMichael Slocum\n910 Bank IV Tower\nTopeka\nKS\nKTPK\n2293\nLarry White\n1237 Southeast 37th\nTopeka\nKS\n66605\n913-267-0960\nKHUM Radio\n5600 West 6th St.\nTopeka\nKS\n66606\n913-272-3456\n1231\nWIBW TV Radio\nDave Relihan\nKS\n66601\n913-295-3200\n2193\nTopeka Capital Journal\nMike Blankenship\nJefferson\nTopeka\nKS\n66612\n913-296-3515\n1051C\nKansas Highway Patrol\nAndy Scharf\nDept of Admin. Lan\nTopeka\n1003\n1700 College\nTopeka\nKS\n66621\n913-295-6717\nKTWU Washburn University\nDave Boose\nKS\n66621\n913-295-6717\n1370\nWashburn University\nDave W. Boose\nMedia Center\nTopeka\nPittsbu\nKS\n66762\n316-342-0400\n1077\nKOAM TV\nBill Brister\nPOB 659\nEmporia\nKS\n66801\n316-342-1400\n1067\nKVOE-AM/KFFX-FM\nLee Firestone\nP.O. Box 968\n2307 West Frontage R\nBellvil\nKS\n66935\n913-527-7118\n1454\nHerb Hoeflicker\nKFRM\nCentral and 1st St.\nArkansa\nKS\n67005\n316-442-3344\n1064\nJim Lazelle\nCity of Arkansas\n2701 E. 9th St.\nWinfiel\nKS\n67156\n316-221-0470\n1021\nCowley County Civil Defense\nRandy Duncan\n2815 E. 37th St. N.\nWichita\nKS\n67201\n316-838-1212\n1672\nKWCH-TV\nMorrill Teller\nP.O. Box 208\nWichita\nKS\n67201\n316-261-6347\n1593\nKansas Gas and Electric Co.\nBen Leader\nDave Shaeffer\nP.O. Box 10\nWichita\nKS\n67201\n316-946-1378\n1049\nKAKE-TV\nMtnc Div.-Public Wor\nWichita\nKS\n67202\n316-362-4087\n2126\nPaul Taylor\nCity of Wichita\n825 North Main\nWichita\nKS\n67203\n316-265-9127\n1133\nWeather Data, Inc.\nDave Beusterion\nKS\n67203\n316-838-3090\n1397\nDale Hockle\n320 W. 21st St.\nWichita\nKPTS-TV\n3028 Main\nParsons\nKS\n67357\n316-421-2510\n1056\nCablevision of Parson\nRoger Lee\nSalina\nKS\n67402\n913-827-0326\n1060\nSaline Saline Co. Emergency\nDon Roctenwald\nBox 1465\nKS\n67432\n913-632-5661\n1145\nVernadell Yarrow\nP.O. Box 16\nClay Ce\nKCLY FM\nKS\n67504\n316-663-4461\n1367\nKWHK Radio\nRobert Mackey\nP.O. Box 1967\nHutchin\nLarned\nKS\n67550\n316-285-2127\n1106C\nKANS/KQDF AM/FM\nMark Zwing\n200 E. 8th Street\nKS\n67601\n913-625-2578\n2078\nKAYS Inc. - Hays Cable TV\nLarry Braun\n2300 Hall St.\nHays\nNorton\nKS\n67654\n913-877-3378\n1585\nLarry Black\nP.O. Box 220\nKQNK\nDodge C\nKS\n67801\n316-227-4444\n1620\nKGNO KDCK\nJerry Miller\n908 Frontview\nH-1"]}