March 23-24, 2013 - Snowfall Across Northeast Kansas

Late March Snow Impacts Northeast Kansas

On March 23-24 a strong early spring storm system tracked across the Central Plains. The storm clobbered portions of east central Kansas with snowfall amounts up to 9.0 inches. This snowstorm was a combination of a persistent and unusually cold weather pattern that set up over the eastern U.S. during this past week, and a strong storm system that originated in Alaska. High snowfall rates allowed for snow to accumulate despite the relatively warm surface temperatures and the higher sun angle this time of year. Most of the heavy snow was able to occur overnight, which reduced the chances of the sun melting the snow like during the daytime hours. As the system deepened the winds increased out of the north and northwest to around 30 mph, which caused some blowing and drifting of snow. Snow drifts were around 1 to 2 feet in some areas. This made for dangerous travel conditions this morning across most of the eastern portion of Kansas. Below are images of the snowfall totals across northeast Kansas and the region.

(click on the images above for larger version)

(Photos above courtesy of WIBW and NWS employees)

Local Storm Reports
County	Location	Snowfall	Source
Shawnee	3 SW Tecumseh	8.4	cocorahs
Shawnee	4 NE Forbes Field	8.4	nws employee
Franklin	Lane	8.3	co-op observer
Douglas	3 WSW Lawrence	7	nws employee
Douglas	3 W Lawrence	6.5	nws employee
Franklin	Richmond	6.5	public
Franklin	Richmond	6.5	public
Anderson	Colony	6	co-op observer
Jackson	Mayetta	6	trained spotter
Lyon	5 ESE Emporia	6	cocorahs
Coffey	Gridley	6	co-op observer
Shawnee	Auburn	6	co-op observer
Douglas	Lecompton	6	co-op observer
Shawnee	Topeka	6	official nws obs
Shawnee	Auburn	6	co-op observer
Wabaunsee	Eskridge	5.6	co-op observer
Jackson	Holton	5.3	trained spotter
Riley	6 WNW Alma	5.2	cocorahs
Osage	3 NE Burlingame	5	cocorahs
Dickinson	Herington	5	co-op observer
Jefferson	Ozawkie	5	fire dept/rescue
Morris	White City	5	co-op observer
Morris	White City	5	co-op observer
Wabaunsee	Mcfarland	4.9	co-op observer
Wabaunsee	Mcfarland	4.9	co-op observer
Wabaunsee	Alta Vista	4.7	co-op observer
Shawnee	7 WSW Topeka	4.5	nws employee
Riley	1 NW Manhattan	4.5	cocorahs
Douglas	Lawrence	4.2	co-op observer
Jefferson	3 SW Valley Falls	4	co-op observer
Pottawatomie	Blaine	4	trained spotter
Lyon	Emporia	4	co-op observer
Cloud	Miltonvale	4	co-op observer
Morris	1 NNE Wilsey	4	co-op observer
Brown	Hiawatha	3.5	trained spotter
Nemaha	Corning	3	public
Ottawa	Tescott	3	co-op observer
Nemaha	Corning	3	public
Nemaha	Seneca	3	law enforcement
Dickinson	Enterprise	2.8	cocorahs
Marshall	Blue Rapids	2.8	co-op observer
Ottawa	5 NNW Ada	2.6	cocorahs
Washington	3 ENE Greenleaf	2.5	cocorahs
Cloud	8 SW Aurora	2.5	cocorahs
Washington	Washington	2.1	co-op observer
Washington	Clifton	2	co-op observer
Washington	4 SW Morrowville	2	cocorahs
Ottawa	Minneapolis	2	co-op observer
Marshall	2 NNW Beattie	2	co-op observer
Clay	Clay Center	2	co-op observer
Clay	Clay Center	2	co-op observer
Cloud	Concordia	1.8	co-op observer
Washington	Barnes	1.6	cocorahs