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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 Blasts Kansas  
January 31st - February 1st, 2011

The third winter storm in the past 22 days hit parts of Kansas on Tuesday dumping as much as a foot of snow on parts of eastern Kansas and bringing bitterly cold temperatures to the State.  Reports of a blizzard with near white out conditions were common across parts of east central Kansas where some of the heaviest snowfall occurred.  Below is a map of preliminary snowfall reports.  


Preliminary map of snowfall reports through 10 AMTuesday

This storm affected a significant portion of the country in addition to northeast Kansas, dropping in excess of 2 feet of snow in some locations, with significant freezing rain and sleet in others.  Here is a large scale map of 3 day snowfall totals across the nation (Click the image to go to the zoomable website).

Perhaps the most hazardous aspect of this winter storm was the very cold temperatures and gusty north winds that moved in behind the snow.  Wind chill values of -20 to -30 degrees were forecast to occur, creating a potentially dangerous situation for anyone who may have become stranded by the snow.

Prior to the snow storm on Tuesday, widespread freezing mist and light freezing drizzle brought a light glaze of ice to much of central and eastern Kansas during the day Monday.  This caused slippery driving conditions before the brunt of the snow storm even began to affect the region.

This latest round of winter weather has been the most severe storm of the season.  This is mainly due to north winds gusting as high as 40 mph with the snowfall.  The wind was responsible for creating the dangerous wind chills as well as blowing and drifting of snow.  Some reports indicated snow drifts were as deep as 4 feet.  This was also the first winter storm to have ice associated with it.  Fortunately the ice accumulations from Monday were relatively minor compared to the weather we experienced on Tuesday.

 

Coldest Wind Chill Readings From the Morning of February 2nd

 

Location Wind Chill (F)
Topeka -14 degrees
Lawrence -18 degrees
Manhattan -13 degrees
Emporia -20 degrees
Concordia -21 degrees
Forbes Field -19 degrees

 

Neighborhood in Northwest Lawrence View of I-70 between Topeka and Lawrence around 3:30 PM Tuesday 6th and Wakarusa in Lawrence Snow drifting around cars with low visibilities Visibilities down to 100 yards

Click above photos to enlarge

 

Visible satellite image showing snow cover (lighter shades of gray) over much of Kansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri 
(captured 2/2/2011 at 12:30 PM CST)

 

 

Storm Summary Reports

January 31 - February 1, 2011

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
1053 AM CST WED FEB 02 2011

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

0853 AM     SNOW             5 NE BREMEN             39.97N 96.73W
02/01/2011  M2.0 INCH        MARSHALL           KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

0958 AM     SNOW             6 SE OSKALOOSA          39.15N 95.23W
02/01/2011  E1.0 INCH        JEFFERSON          KS   EMERGENCY MNGR

            MODERATE BLOWING SNOW

1020 AM     SNOW             ABILENE                 38.92N 97.21W
02/01/2011  E1.0 INCH        DICKINSON          KS   PUBLIC

            VISIBILITY RANGES FROM 0 TO 200 METERS.

1045 AM     SNOW             BURLINGTON              38.19N 95.74W
02/01/2011  E3.0 INCH        COFFEY             KS   EMERGENCY MNGR

1045 AM     SNOW             OSAGE CITY              38.63N 95.83W
02/01/2011  E2.0 INCH        OSAGE              KS   EMERGENCY MNGR

            SNOW ESTIMATED AT 2 INCHES WITH ONE QUARTER MILE
            VISIBILITY.

1048 AM     SNOW             GARNETT                 38.28N 95.24W
02/01/2011  E5.0 INCH        ANDERSON           KS   EMERGENCY MNGR

1051 AM     SNOW             BURLINGTON              38.19N 95.74W
02/01/2011  E3.0 INCH        COFFEY             KS   EMERGENCY MNGR

1052 AM     SNOW             10 WNW OSAGE CITY       38.70N 95.98W
02/01/2011  E2.0 INCH        LYON               KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

            VISBILITY 3/8 OF A MILE WITH BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW

1101 AM     SNOW             1 SSW GREELEY           38.35N 95.13W
02/01/2011  E5.5 INCH        ANDERSON           KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

1102 AM     SNOW             TOPEKA                  39.05N 95.68W
02/01/2011  E2.5 INCH        SHAWNEE            KS   EMERGENCY MNGR

1105 AM     SNOW             OTTAWA                  38.62N 95.27W
02/01/2011  E4.0 INCH        FRANKLIN           KS   EMERGENCY MNGR

            3 TO 4 INCHES OF SNOWFALL ESTIMATED WITH BLOWING SNOW AND
            DRIFTING.

1105 AM     SNOW             EUDORA                  38.94N 95.10W
02/01/2011  E4.0 INCH        DOUGLAS            KS   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            K-10 DOWN TO ONE LANE. 3/4 MI VISIBILITY.

1131 AM     SNOW             MARYSVILLE              39.84N 96.65W
02/01/2011  E2.0 INCH        MARSHALL           KS   EMERGENCY MNGR

            BLOWING SNOW ALSO REPORTED

1146 AM     SNOW             MANHATTAN               39.18N 96.57W
02/01/2011  E1.5 INCH        RILEY              KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

            STREETS ARE SNOWPACKED WITH VISIBILITY OF 1/2 MILE

0119 PM     SNOW             3 W OKETO               39.96N 96.66W
02/01/2011  M2.5 INCH        MARSHALL           KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

0119 PM     HEAVY SNOW       GARNETT                 38.28N 95.24W
02/01/2011  E9.5 INCH        ANDERSON           KS   EMERGENCY MNGR

            EMERGENCY MANAGER ESTIMATES 9 TO 10 INCHES.

0233 PM     HEAVY SNOW       OTTAWA                  38.62N 95.27W
02/01/2011  E8.5 INCH        FRANKLIN           KS   EMERGENCY MNGR

            EMERGENCY MANAGER ESTIMATES 8 TO 9 INCHES OF SNOW DEPTH.
            WIDE SPREAD BLOWING AND DRIFTING OF SNOW REPORTED THROUGH
            OUT FRANKLIN COUNTY.

0235 PM     HEAVY SNOW       1 SE GARNETT            38.27N 95.23W
02/01/2011  E8.0 INCH        ANDERSON           KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

            ESTIMATED 8.0 INCHES WITH DRIFTS OVER 1 FOOT. HEAVY SNOW
            WAS ALSO OCCURING.

0235 PM     SNOW             LYNDON                  38.61N 95.68W
02/01/2011  E4.5 INCH        OSAGE              KS   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            LAW ENFORCEMENT ESTIMATED 4 TO 5 INCHES OF SNOW DEPTH.
            SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW HAS REDUCED THE VISIBILITY TO LESS
            THAN 100 YARDS.

0245 PM     HEAVY SNOW       HOLTON                  39.47N 95.74W
02/01/2011  E6.0 INCH        JACKSON            KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SIGNIFICANT BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW. VISIBILITY BELOW
            1/4 OF A MILE. DRIFTS TO 16 INCHES.

0250 PM     SNOW             1 N MANHATTAN           39.20N 96.57W
02/01/2011  E3.0 INCH        RILEY              KS   CO-OP OBSERVER

            6 TO 8 INCH DRIFTS. VISIBILITY OF 1 CITY BLOCK.

0300 PM     HEAVY SNOW       TOPEKA                  39.05N 95.68W
02/01/2011  M6.2 INCH        SHAWNEE            KS   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

            TOTAL SINCE 6 AM

0332 PM     BLIZZARD         3 W LAWRENCE            38.96N 95.32W
02/01/2011                   DOUGLAS            KS   NWS EMPLOYEE

            HEAVY SNOW WITH VISIBLITY LESS THAN 1/8 OF A MILE. DEEPER
            SNOW DRIFTS.

0400 PM     HEAVY SNOW       NW RANTOUL              38.55N 95.10W
02/01/2011  E9.0 INCH        FRANKLIN           KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

0411 PM     SNOW             3 W OKETO               39.96N 96.66W
02/01/2011  M3.5 INCH        MARSHALL           KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

            BLOWING AND DRIFTING OF THE SNOW REPORTED.

0416 PM     HEAVY SNOW       EMPORIA                 38.40N 96.18W
02/01/2011  E6.0 INCH        LYON               KS   EMERGENCY MNGR

            REPORT RELAYED BY KVOE.

0426 PM     SNOW             MORROWVILLE             39.84N 97.17W
02/01/2011  E3.5 INCH        WASHINGTON         KS   PUBLIC

            RELAYED BY KTKA TV

0437 PM     SNOW             5 SE TECUMSEH           39.00N 95.51W
02/01/2011  U0.0 INCH        SHAWNEE            KS   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            37TH STREET BETWEEN STUBBS AND WOODRING IS CLOSED DUE TO
            DRIFTING SNOW.

0441 PM     HEAVY SNOW       1 E LAWRENCE            38.96N 95.24W
02/01/2011  E6.5 INCH        DOUGLAS            KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

            DEPTH IS 8 INCHES

0445 PM     HEAVY SNOW       HOLTON                  39.47N 95.74W
02/01/2011  E8.0 INCH        JACKSON            KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

0445 PM     HEAVY SNOW       EUDORA                  38.94N 95.10W
02/01/2011  E10.0 INCH       DOUGLAS            KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

0521 PM     HEAVY SNOW       3 N HOYT                39.29N 95.71W
02/01/2011  M6.5 INCH        JACKSON            KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

            ESTIMATED 4 FOOT DRIFTS

0530 PM     HEAVY SNOW       3 WNW LAWRENCE          38.98N 95.31W
02/01/2011  E7.0 INCH        DOUGLAS            KS   NWS EMPLOYEE

0530 PM     HEAVY SNOW       LAWRENCE                38.96N 95.26W
02/01/2011  E8.0 INCH        DOUGLAS            KS   EMERGENCY MNGR

0541 PM     HEAVY SNOW       5 SE TOPEKA             39.00N 95.61W
02/01/2011  E9.0 INCH        SHAWNEE            KS   PUBLIC

            RELAYED BY KSNT TV

0600 PM     SNOW             ABILENE                 38.92N 97.21W
02/01/2011  M4.0 INCH        DICKINSON          KS   CO-OP OBSERVER

0600 PM     SNOW             12 WNW BLUE RAPIDS      39.75N 96.87W
02/01/2011  E2.7 INCH        WASHINGTON         KS   NWS EMPLOYEE

0600 PM     SNOW             MANHATTAN               39.18N 96.57W
02/01/2011  E3.0 INCH        RILEY              KS   PUBLIC

            RELAYED BY KSNT

0600 PM     SNOW             WAMEGO                  39.20N 96.31W
02/01/2011  E5.0 INCH        POTTAWATOMIE       KS   PUBLIC

            RELAYED BY KSNT

0600 PM     HEAVY SNOW       NORTONVILLE             39.41N 95.33W
02/01/2011  E9.5 INCH        JEFFERSON          KS   PUBLIC

            RELAYED BY KSNT

0600 PM     HEAVY SNOW       LYNDON                  38.61N 95.68W
02/01/2011  E6.5 INCH        OSAGE              KS   PUBLIC

            RELAYED BY KSNT

0600 PM     HEAVY SNOW       BURLINGTON              38.19N 95.74W
02/01/2011  E8.5 INCH        COFFEY             KS   PUBLIC

            RELAYED BY KSNT

0600 PM     SNOW             MORROWVILLE             39.84N 97.17W
02/01/2011  E3.5 INCH        WASHINGTON         KS   PUBLIC

            RELAYED BY KSNT

0630 PM     SNOW             GLASCO                  39.36N 97.84W
02/01/2011  M1.5 INCH        CLOUD              KS   CO-OP OBSERVER

0650 PM     HEAVY SNOW       3 SSW FAIRVIEW          39.81N 95.75W
02/01/2011  E6.0 INCH        BROWN              KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

0700 PM     HEAVY SNOW       RICHMOND                38.40N 95.25W
02/01/2011  E10.0 INCH       FRANKLIN           KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

            DRIFTS TO 4 FEET

0700 PM     HEAVY SNOW       4 W MAYETTA             39.34N 95.80W
02/01/2011  M6.2 INCH        JACKSON            KS   PUBLIC

0719 PM     HEAVY SNOW       6 WSW TOPEKA            39.01N 95.78W
02/01/2011  E6.0 INCH        SHAWNEE            KS   NWS EMPLOYEE

            DRIFTS 2 FEET DEEP.

0719 PM     SNOW             MANHATTAN               39.18N 96.57W
02/01/2011  E4.0 INCH        RILEY              KS   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            POLICE OFFICER ESTIMATED 3 TO 4 INCHES, 5 TOPS

0719 PM     SNOW             JUNCTION CITY           39.03N 96.83W
02/01/2011  E2.0 INCH        GEARY              KS   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0719 PM     HEAVY SNOW       1 SSW GREELEY           38.35N 95.13W
02/01/2011  E10.0 INCH       ANDERSON           KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

0800 PM     HEAVY SNOW       BILLARD AIRPORT         39.08N 95.62W
02/01/2011  E9.1 INCH        SHAWNEE            KS   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

0801 PM     SNOW             3 W OKETO               39.96N 96.66W
02/01/2011  E4.0 INCH        MARSHALL           KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

            BLOWING SNOW

0900 PM     HEAVY SNOW       5 E HOYT                39.26N 95.61W
02/01/2011  M9.0 INCH        JACKSON            KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

1056 PM     HEAVY SNOW       S LYNDON                38.61N 95.68W
02/01/2011  M8.0 INCH        OSAGE              KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

0901 AM     HEAVY SNOW       LECOMPTON               39.04N 95.39W
02/02/2011  E9.0 INCH        DOUGLAS            KS   CO-OP OBSERVER

            SNOW DEPTH TOTAL. PRECIPITATION 0.42 INCHES.

0907 AM     HEAVY SNOW       BLAINE                  39.50N 96.40W
02/02/2011  E6.0 INCH        POTTAWATOMIE       KS   PUBLIC

            SNOW DEPTH TOTAL. 3 FOOT DRIFTS.

0939 AM     SNOW             2 NE MANHATTAN          39.20N 96.54W
02/02/2011  M3.6 INCH        RILEY              KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

1005 AM     SNOW             4 E EMMETT              39.30N 95.98W
02/02/2011  E7.0 INCH        JACKSON            KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SNOW DEPTH TOTAL

1013 AM     SNOW             ENTERPRISE              38.90N 97.12W
02/02/2011  E3.0 INCH        DICKINSON          KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

1018 AM     SNOW             2 W LAWRENCE            38.96N 95.30W
02/02/2011  E11.0 INCH       DOUGLAS            KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HEAVY SNOW

1019 AM     SNOW             1 NW LAWRENCE           38.97N 95.27W
02/02/2011  E6.0 INCH        DOUGLAS            KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

1020 AM     HEAVY SNOW       6 ESE EMPORIA           38.37N 96.08W
02/02/2011  E6.0 INCH        LYON               KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

1022 AM     HEAVY SNOW       4 NNE BURLINGAME        38.81N 95.81W
02/02/2011  E7.0 INCH        OSAGE              KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

1023 AM     SNOW             3 WSW ONAGA             39.47N 96.22W
02/02/2011  E5.0 INCH        POTTAWATOMIE       KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

1025 AM     SNOW             MANHATTAN               39.18N 96.57W
02/02/2011  E3.0 INCH        RILEY              KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

1025 AM     SNOW             2 SSW MANHATTAN         39.16N 96.59W
02/02/2011  E3.0 INCH        RILEY              KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

1026 AM     HEAVY SNOW       1 WNW TOPEKA            39.05N 95.69W
02/02/2011  E7.0 INCH        SHAWNEE            KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

1027 AM     HEAVY SNOW       2 SE BERRYTON           38.92N 95.61W
02/02/2011  E7.3 INCH        SHAWNEE            KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

            24 HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL

1027 AM     HEAVY SNOW       4 W TOPEKA              39.05N 95.75W
02/02/2011  E8.0 INCH        SHAWNEE            KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

1028 AM     HEAVY SNOW       2 WSW TOPEKA            39.04N 95.71W
02/02/2011  E8.0 INCH        SHAWNEE            KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

1028 AM     HEAVY SNOW       ESKRIDGE                38.86N 96.11W
02/02/2011  E7.0 INCH        WABAUNSEE          KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

1029 AM     SNOW             MCFARLAND               39.05N 96.24W
02/02/2011  E4.0 INCH        WABAUNSEE          KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

1030 AM     SNOW             8 SSE GREENLEAF         39.62N 96.92W
02/02/2011  E2.0 INCH        WASHINGTON         KS   TRAINED SPOTTER

1031 AM     SNOW             BARNES                  39.71N 96.87W
02/02/2011  E4.0 INCH        WASHINGTON         KS   TRAINED SPOTTER


&&

 

Special Thanks to the spotters, coop observers, and reporters who gave
timely and accurate snow reports during the storm!