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Displaying AFOS PIL: PNSICT Product Timestamp: 2011-05-17 11:01 UTC
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051 NOUS43 KICT 171101 PNSICT KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-171500- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS 601 AM CDT TUE MAY 17 2011 ...ON THIS DATE IN WEATHER HISTORY... IN 1896...A MONSTROUS...FRIGHTENING F5 TORNADO WENT ON A RAMPAGE THROUGH 4 COUNTIES OF EXTREME NORTHEAST KANSAS. POSSESSING A TRACK 100 MILES LONG THAT AVERAGED AROUND THREE FOURTHS OF A MILE WIDE...THE TWISTER BEGAN IN SOUTH-CENTRAL WASHINGTON COUNTY AND TORE NORTHEAST THROUGH MARSHALL...NEMAHA AND BROWN COUNTIES. THE HORRIFIC VORTEX WAS VISIBLE FOR ABOUT ONE HALF HOUR AS IT PASSED 1 MILE SOUTH OF FRANKFORT IN CENTRAL MARSHALL COUNTY. IT CAUSED INCREDIBLE DEVASTATION IN NEMAHA COUNTY WHERE SABETHA AND SENECA WERE RAVAGED. IN SENECA THE COURTHOUSE AND A NEW SCHOOL WERE LEVELED AND THE OPERA HOUSE WAS SWEPT AWAY. THE VORTEX REACHED JUST OVER 2 MILES WIDE AS IT ROARED ACROSS BROWN COUNTY. MANY FARMS LITERALLY VANISHED. IN ALL...21 WERE KILLED AND 200 WERE INJURED. THE TWISTER FINALLY LIFTED NEAR FALLS CITY NEBRASKA WHERE 4 MORE WERE KILLED. $$ AUTO