Topeka, KS
Weather Forecast Office
Overview
An early morning supercell produced two EF-1 tornadoes across Osage and Shawnee Counties. These tornadoes were rare for the time of the day. Since 1950 in the Topeka forecast area, only four other tornadoes had developed between the hours of 5 AM and 9 AM (CDT), and zero between the hours of 5:30 and 7:30 AM.Tornadoes:
Tornado - Lyndon
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Tornado - Overbrook/Richland
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The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories:
EF0 Weak 65-85 mph |
EF1 Moderate 86-110 mph |
EF2 Significant 111-135 mph |
EF3 Severe 136-165 mph |
EF4 Extreme 166-200 mph |
EF5 Catastrophic 200+ mph |
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Radar
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Radar at 5:53 AM as the first tornado was near peak strength southwest of Lyndon. | Radar at 6:09 AM, shortly after the second tornado developed southwest of Overbrook. | Radar at 6:21 AM as the tornado was near peak strength between Overbrook and Richland. |
Environment
Synoptic pattern.
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500 mb pattern at 12z (7AM). | 850 mb pattern at 12z (7AM). | Surface pattern at 12z (7AM). | Topeka sounding at 7 PM on 3/15. (7 AM sounding cancelled due to lightning.) |
Near-storm environment.
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Effective shear at 11z (6AM). | Effective helicity at 11z (6AM), | Surface based CAPE at 11z (6AM). | Significant Tornado Parameter at 11z (6AM) |
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US Dept of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Weather Service
Topeka, KS
1116 NE Strait Avenue
Topeka, KS 66616-1667
785-234-2592
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