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Storm Impacting the Northwest U.S.; Fire Weather Conditions in Southern California; Severe Weather in the South

A Pacific storm is bringing areas of low elevation rain, moderate to heavy mountain snow, and high winds to the Northwest. Strong Santa Ana winds and very dry conditions are producing elevated to critical fire weather conditions in southern California. Isolated strong to severe thunderstorms are possible through early Wednesday morning across parts of northeast Texas into western Tennessee. Read More >

Powerful Winter Storm Dumps Heavy Snow

 

A powerful winter storm battered much of Northeast Kansas dumping up to 15 inches of snow across parts of the area.  Many areas received over 6 inches of snow during the storm which began on Monday night and persisted into the early morning hours of Wednesday. Areas along and southeast of an Abilene to Manhattan to Hiawatha line experienced periods of freezing rain and sleet during the day Tuesday which limited the snowfall accumulations however northwest of this line the precipitation primarily fell as snow and it was heavy during the day Tuesday.  Although the heavy snows ended by Tuesday night, extremely strong northwest winds gusting from 40 to 50 mph developed and produced ground blizzard conditions across parts of the area during the early morning hours on Wednesday.  To make matters worse, wind chills dropped into the -10 to -20 degree range early Wednesday.  

The National Weather Service in Topeka would like to thank everyone who took the time to call in snowfall and weather reports during this storm.  Our dedicated observers and spotters along with our media and emergency management partners all play an important role in keeping everyone informed and safe during hazardous weather.  Thank You!

 

2 DAY STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL
BARNES 0.2 N, KS 15.5
CONCORDIA 14.3
AXTELL 14.2
CLIFTON 13
HADDAM 12.1
LILLIS 12
MARYSVILLE 11.6
CONCORDIA 1 W 11.6
BARNARD 7.5 ENE, KS 10.7
AGENDA 10.6
ONAGA 2.1 NW, KS 10.5
TESCOTT 10
MINNEAPOLIS 9.7
BAILYVILLE 9.5
WASHINGTON 9
MANHATTAN 8.9
MANHATTAN 0.5 NE, KS 8.9
GLASCO 8.8
JUNCTION CITY 1.1 SW, KS 8.5
COURTLAND 8.5
MILTONVALE 8.5
COURTLAND 0.1 SSE, KS 8.5
VALLEY FALLS 8.1
ENTERPRISE 8
GREENLEAF 7.8 SSE, KS 8
ENTERPRISE 0.3 NW, KS 7.7
MCFARLAND 7.7
MCFARLAND 0.1 SE, KS 7.7
HIAWATHA 7.5
WILSEY 1 NNE 7
ONAGA 7
TOPEKA NWS 6.7
MANHATTAN 2.4 WNW, KS 6.5
CHAPMAN 6.5
WHITE CITY 6
FT. RILEY 5.9
TOPEKA 4.6 ESE, KS 5.9
TOPEKA 0.9 WNW, KS 5.8
ESKRIDGE 1 SE 5
LECOMPTON 5
CLINTON 3 E 4.5
HERINGTON 3.5
LAWRENCE 3.1 W, KS 2.6
LAWRENCE 1.3 NW, KS 2.5
LAWRENCE 2.2 W, KS 2.3
ESKRIDGE 0.1 SW, KS 2.2
TOPEKA 8.5 E, KS 2.2
LAWRENCE 1.6 ESE, KS 2.1
OSAGE CITY 0.8 S, KS 1.4
EMPORIA 3 NW 1.2
NEOSHO RAPIDS 0.701
EMPORIA 0.9 W, KS 0.7
GRIDLEY T

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Below is a preliminary map of snow depth measured from Wednesday morning.  This map provides a useful way to visualize where the heaviest snow fell.
 

 A visible satellite image from the afternoon of the 9th shows the significant snow cover across much of the Central Plains.  Clouds linger across portions of Iowa and Missouri, with clouds also encroaching on the Rocky Mountains. The remainder is snow:

Finally, below you will find our latest local storm report summary of snowfall since Tuesday afternoon.

 

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
1147 AM CST WED DEC 09 2009

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

0921 AM     HEAVY SNOW       2 WNW OLSBURG           39.44N 96.64W
12/09/2009  M13.0 INCH       POTTAWATOMIE       KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TOTAL SNOW FOR THE STORM OF 13 INCHES MEASURED.

0652 AM     HEAVY SNOW       MARYSVILLE              39.84N 96.65W
12/09/2009  E14.0 INCH       MARSHALL           KS   EMERGENCY MNGR

            13 TO 15 INCHES ESTIMATED WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS. 3
            TO 5 FOOT DRIFTS. ALMOST ALL ROADS IMPASSABLE EXCEPT WITH
            FOUR WHEEL DRIVE. CREWS CURRENTLY WORKING ON ROADS.

1009 PM     HEAVY SNOW       1 W BAILEYVILLE         39.84N 96.20W
12/08/2009  M11.0 INCH       NEMAHA             KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

0933 PM     HEAVY SNOW       MANHATTAN               39.18N 96.57W
12/08/2009  E7.0 INCH        RILEY              KS   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0929 PM     HEAVY SNOW       2 W CORNING             39.66N 96.06W
12/08/2009  M12.0 INCH       NEMAHA             KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

0857 PM     HEAVY SNOW       NE MINNEAPOLIS          39.12N 97.70W
12/08/2009  M12.0 INCH       OTTAWA             KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

0857 PM     HEAVY SNOW       HIAWATHA                39.85N 95.54W
12/08/2009  E9.0 INCH        BROWN              KS   PUBLIC

0730 PM     HEAVY SNOW       4 SSE MORROWVILLE       39.78N 97.14W
12/08/2009  M13.0 INCH       WASHINGTON         KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

            3 TO 4 FOOT DRIFTS

0710 PM     HEAVY SNOW       3 W OKETO               39.96N 96.66W
12/08/2009  E13.0 INCH       MARSHALL           KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

0630 PM     HEAVY SNOW       6 N GLASCO              39.45N 97.83W
12/08/2009  M12.0 INCH       CLOUD              KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

0626 PM     HEAVY SNOW       4 W NORWAY              39.70N 97.85W
12/08/2009  M10.0 INCH       REPUBLIC           KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

0619 PM     HEAVY SNOW       4 SSE MORROWVILLE       39.78N 97.14W
12/08/2009  E12.0 INCH       WASHINGTON         KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HEAVY SNOW WITH REDUCED VISIBILITIES UNDER ONE-QUARTER OF
            A MILE

0542 PM     HEAVY SNOW       5 SSW ABILENE           38.84N 97.24W
12/08/2009  E7.0 INCH        DICKINSON          KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

0515 PM     HEAVY SNOW       SCANDIA                 39.79N 97.78W
12/08/2009  E12.0 INCH       REPUBLIC           KS   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0501 PM     HEAVY SNOW       NE WATERVILLE           39.69N 96.74W
12/08/2009  M11.0 INCH       MARSHALL           KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

0447 PM     HEAVY SNOW       2 W CORNING             39.66N 96.06W
12/08/2009  M9.0 INCH        NEMAHA             KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

0436 PM     HEAVY SNOW       5 SSE CONCORDIA         39.51N 97.63W
12/08/2009  M11.0 INCH       CLOUD              KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

0424 PM     HEAVY SNOW       2 SSW BENNINGTON        39.00N 97.62W
12/08/2009  M8.0 INCH        OTTAWA             KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

0421 PM     HEAVY SNOW       1 S BLUE RAPIDS         39.67N 96.66W
12/08/2009  M10.0 INCH       MARSHALL           KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

0419 PM     HEAVY SNOW       4 SSE MORROWVILLE       39.78N 97.14W
12/08/2009  M10.0 INCH       WASHINGTON         KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

            DRIFTS CURRENTLY REPORTED UP TO 27 INCHES.

0417 PM     HEAVY SNOW       4 ENE ADA               39.18N 97.82W
12/08/2009  M9.0 INCH        OTTAWA             KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

0409 PM     HEAVY SNOW       3 W OKETO               39.96N 96.66W
12/08/2009  M11.0 INCH       MARSHALL           KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

0326 PM     HEAVY SNOW       6 NE TALMAGE            39.09N 97.18W
12/08/2009  E8.0 INCH        DICKINSON          KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

0317 PM     HEAVY SNOW       MANHATTAN               39.18N 96.57W
12/08/2009  M6.0 INCH        RILEY              KS   CO-OP OBSERVER

            REPORTED BY STATE CLIMATOLOGIST

0313 PM     HEAVY SNOW       JUNCTION CITY           39.03N 96.83W
12/08/2009  M6.0 INCH        GEARY              KS   EMERGENCY MNGR

            6 INCHES MEASURED

0313 PM     HEAVY SNOW       4 SSE MORROWVILLE       39.78N 97.14W
12/08/2009  E9.0 INCH        WASHINGTON         KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HEAVY SNOW REPORTED. ESTIMATED 9 INCHES ON GROUND.

0306 PM     HEAVY SNOW       ABILENE                 38.92N 97.21W
12/08/2009  E8.0 INCH        DICKINSON          KS   EMERGENCY MNGR

            SNOW ESTIMATED BETWEEN 6 AND 8 INCHES THROUGHOUT
            DICKINSON COUNTY. HEAVIEST NORTH OF ABILENE NEAR
            MANCHESTER AND MOONLIGHT.

0303 PM     HEAVY SNOW       BLUE RAPIDS             39.68N 96.66W
12/08/2009  E9.0 INCH        MARSHALL           KS   BROADCAST MEDIA

0301 PM     HEAVY SNOW       MINNEAPOLIS             39.12N 97.71W
12/08/2009  M6.0 INCH        OTTAWA             KS   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            6 INCHES MEASURED. SNOW CONTINUES.

0251 PM     HEAVY SNOW       4 NE DELPHOS            39.32N 97.73W
12/08/2009  M8.0 INCH        CLOUD              KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HEAVY SNOW CURRENTLY FALLING

0235 PM     HEAVY SNOW       4 SSE MORROWVILLE       39.78N 97.14W
12/08/2009  M8.0 INCH        WASHINGTON         KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

0203 PM     HEAVY SNOW       1 NW CORNING            39.67N 96.04W
12/08/2009  M7.0 INCH        NEMAHA             KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

            STILL SNOWING

0124 PM     HEAVY SNOW       3 W BEATTIE             39.86N 96.48W
12/08/2009  E7.0 INCH        MARSHALL           KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

            UP TO 18 INCH DRIFTS

0121 PM     HEAVY SNOW       3 W OKETO               39.96N 96.66W
12/08/2009  E7.0 INCH        MARSHALL           KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

            CURRENTLY HEAVY SNOW WITH 1/8 MILE VIS

0107 PM     HEAVY SNOW       2 NNE ROSSVILLE         39.16N 95.94W
12/08/2009  M6.0 INCH        SHAWNEE            KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

            CURRENTLY RAIN/SLEET FALLING