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Do you live in Andover?

If so, you can find the Andover, KS severe weather outlook here.

Andover Tornado - April 29th, 2022

Just days after the anniversary of the 1991 tornado outbreak, Andover found itself under the gun with an enhanced risk severe weather outlook (3 out of 5 on SPC’s scale) in general

Additionally, Andover found themselves with a 10% tornado risk, with the additional threat that tornadoes that formed would be strong (EF2 and larger).

Elsewhere, the threat level was as high as 4 out of 5 on the risk scale.

severe weather set up

severe weather outlook the day before and day of

The day before at 1:02 am, the Storm Prediction Center placed Andover in a 10% tornado threat area with a black hatched area which indicates the additional threat that tornadoes will be strong (EF2 and greater).

The morning of the tornado, at 12:49am, the SPC continued this risk for Andover and other areas.

As of the outlook issued at 11:19am, the SPC increased the tornado threat area north of Andover to 15%. Below is the 11:19 tornado outlook image:

andover tornado day tornado threat forecast

tornado watch #158 - 3:35pm

At 3:35pm, the Storm Prediction Center issued tornado watch #158, including the following line:

A few tornadoes and a couple intense tornadoes likely

Though the tornado watch was not labeled a “particularly dangerous situation”, the tornado probabilities were still quite high:

PROB OF 2 OR MORE TORNADOES                        :  70%
PROB OF 1 OR MORE STRONG /EF2-EF5/ TORNADOES       :  60%

source

Complete text of tornado watch #158:

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Tornado Watch Number 158
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
335 PM CDT Fri Apr 29 2022

The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

* Tornado Watch for portions of
Eastern Kansas
Southeast Nebraska

* Effective this Friday afternoon and evening from 335 PM until
1100 PM CDT.

* Primary threats include...
A few tornadoes and a couple intense tornadoes likely
Widespread large hail and isolated very large hail events to 3
inches in diameter likely
Widespread damaging wind gusts to 70 mph likely

SUMMARY...Isolated but intense supercell thunderstorms may develop
this afternoon and evening across the watch area.  Any storm that
forms and persists will pose a risk of very large hail, damaging
winds, and strong tornadoes.

The tornado watch area is approximately along and 70 statute miles
east and west of a line from 30 miles north northwest of Beatrice NE
to 70 miles southeast of Wichita KS. For a complete depiction of the
watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU8).

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

REMEMBER...A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for
tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch
area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for
threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements
and possible warnings.

NWS Wichita Severe Weather Briefing - 4:19pm

In the 4:19 pm weather briefing, the National Weather Service office in Wichita, KS included this threat:

However, any storm that forms will have potential to produce very large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes, some of which could be strong (EF2+).

Tornado Warning #2 from NWS Wichita - 8:10 pm

source

At 8:10pm the NWS forecast office in Wichita issues its second tornado warning of the year: a tornado warning for Sedgwick (Wichita) and Butler (Andover) counties:

405
WFUS53 KICT 300110
TORICT
KSC015-173-300200-
/O.NEW.KICT.TO.W.0002.220430T0110Z-220430T0200Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Wichita KS
810 PM CDT Fri Apr 29 2022

The National Weather Service in Wichita has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
East central Sedgwick County in south central Kansas...
Western Butler County in south central Kansas...

* Until 900 PM CDT.

* At 810 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Andover, moving northeast at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and half dollar size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed.
Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree
damage is likely.

* This dangerous storm will be near...
Andover around 825 PM CDT.
Augusta and Benton around 840 PM CDT.
Towanda around 855 PM CDT.
El Dorado around 900 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include El
Dorado Airport, Santa Fe Lake and Augusta Municipal Airport.

This includes Interstate 35 between Mile Markers 47 and 74.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 3753 9715 3767 9730 3796 9694 3772 9673
TIME...MOT...LOC 0110Z 232DEG 19KT 3763 9718

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.25 IN

$$

KETCHAM

At 8:13pm, the tornado warning was upgraded to confirmed/observed status:

At 813 PM CDT, a confirmed tornado was located near Andover, moving
northeast at 20 mph.

Reed Timmer footage

Approximate location of the start of this shot:

the YMCA in Andover that took damage

storm report map for April 29th, 2022

storm report map for day of Andover tornado - wind/hail/tornado reports

more information

Several twitter accounts from local TV stations have been posting footage and imagery from the damage:

General severe weather info:

to be continued…