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Overview
A significant blizzard impacted the region with freezing rain, snow, and strong winds on January 21st and 22nd. Power outages were reported in Colby as sleet and wet snow combined with gusty north winds. Widespread reports of near zero to zero visibility were received with snowfall rates at or above one inch per hour during the periods of heaviest snowfall. The first reports of one quarter mile or less visibility began coming in around 2:40PM in Yuma County, spreading eastward and southeastward through the remainder of the afternoon and evening. Blizzard conditions continued overnight Sunday, peaking in intensity early Monday morning. Most, if not all, area highways closed as there were reports of anything from stranded motorists to jackknifed semi-trucks blocking the roadways. Snowfall ended from west to east through the day on Monday; however, blowing and drifting snow persisted, making several area roads temporarily impassable.
Blizzard Summary
A potent area of low pressure moved out of the central Rockies on Sunday, January 21st. The system was well advertised with good model agreement regarding the track and strength. Most areas observed freezing rain Sunday morning through around midday, when precipitation began transitioning to snow from northwest to southeast. A series of strong snow bands, some convective, formed and slowly moved eastward through Sunday evening and into the overnight hours into Monday. Snowfall rates of one inch per hour or higher were common along with strong north winds. Sustained winds were around 40 miles per hour with the highest gust of 58 miles per hour reported by the ASOS station in Goodland, KS. Snowfall amounts of one to three inches were reported in the eastern portions of the region near Hill City with slightly higher amounts in Norton. Further west, much higher amounts ranging from 9 to 14 inches were reported with the highest amounts occurring north of Interstate 70. Blowing and drifting snow was common and drifts of 3 to 5 feet were reported in several locations, especially in northwest Sherman County and much of Cheyenne County in Kansas. Snow continued to blow and drift long after the snow ended from west to east on Monday.
Here is an image depicting the estimated storm total snowfall from this blizzard:
Photos & Video:
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| East of Trenton, NE Courtesy: Mary Williams |
Benkelman, NE Courtesy: Deb Stamm |
10S Brewster, KS Courtesy: Bonnie Holm |
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| Goodland, KS Courtesy: Brandon Vincent |
Norton, KS Courtesy: Caleb Wilson |
Burlington, CO Courtesy: Cyndi Myrick |
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| 4W Colby, KS Courtesy: Dustin & Brittany Kibel |
Wray, CO Courtesy: Jennifer Jones |
5E McDonald, KS Courtesy: Lacy Sremek |
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| 12NNW Ruleton, KS Courtesy: Micheal leonard |
NWS Goodland, KS Courtesy: Timothy Lynch |
NWS Goodland, KS Courtesy: Timothy Lynch |
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| 7SW Yuma, CO Courtesy: Peggi Fulton |
NE Yuma County, CO Courtesy: Shanda McAllister |
2E Max, NE Courtesy: Stephanie S. |
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| NW Cheyenne County, KS Courtesy: Christopher Warner |
Angelus, KS Courtesy: Tabbiy Anne |
3W Culbertson, NE Courtesy: William Hanke |
Radar and Satellite:
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| Light snow and freezing drizzle begins. 1/21 at 6:23 am MST |
Light snow and freezing drizzle expands. 1/21 at 9:51 am MST |
Band of moderate snow beginning to shape up. 1/21 at 1:31 pm MST |
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| Band of moderate to heavy snow expanding. 1/21 at 3:33 pm MST |
Widespread moderate to heavy snow. 1/21 at 5:00 pm MST |
Snow not as heavy, but blizzard conditions observed. 1/21 at 8:34 pm MST |
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| Light snow and blizzard conditions persist. 1/21 at 11:31 pm MST |
Snow decreasing in intensity. 1/22 at 2:27 am MST |
Storm begins winding down. 1/22 at 5:32 am MST |
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| Loop of estimated snow depth. |
Storm Reports
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORTS...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
510 AM MST SUN JAN 21 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0508 AM FREEZING RAIN OAKLEY 39.13N 100.85W
01/21/2018 U0.00 INCH LOGAN KS EMERGENCY MNGR
LIGHT FREEZING DRIZZLE COATING EVERYTHING IN TOWN. 27F
CURRENTLY.
1006 AM NON-TSTM WND GST BURLINGTON 39.31N 102.27W
01/21/2018 M53 MPH KIT CARSON CO ASOS
1126 AM FREEZING RAIN 1 N GOODLAND 39.36N 101.71W
01/21/2018 M0.10 INCH SHERMAN KS ASOS
MEASURED BY ICE ACCUMULATION SENSOR AT GOODLAND ASOS.
MANUAL OBSERVATION BY NWS CONFIRMS AMOUNTS ON ELEVATED
SURFACES.UNTREATED SIDEWALKS AND ROADS COVERED WITH LAYER
OF ICE.
1223 PM FREEZING RAIN 1 E ST. FRANCIS 39.77N 101.78W
01/21/2018 E0.38 INCH CHEYENNE KS TRAINED SPOTTER
3/8 INCH OF ICE ESTIMATED ON TREES.
1242 PM SNOW YUMA 40.12N 102.72W
01/21/2018 M3.0 INCH YUMA CO EMERGENCY MNGR
0140 PM FREEZING RAIN ST. FRANCIS 39.77N 101.80W
01/21/2018 E0.25 INCH CHEYENNE KS TRAINED SPOTTER
1/4 INCH ICE ACCUMULATION ESTIMATED. RELAYED BY EMERGENCY
MANAGER. ALSO REPORTED POWER FLICKERING.
0145 PM SNOW 4 W ST. FRANCIS 39.77N 101.88W
01/21/2018 M2.0 INCH CHEYENNE KS TRAINED SPOTTER
0240 PM SNOW YUMA 40.12N 102.72W
01/21/2018 M5.5 INCH YUMA CO EMERGENCY MNGR
ONE QUARTER MILE VISIBILITY AT BEST.
0330 PM SNOW GOODLAND 39.35N 101.71W
01/21/2018 M1.0 INCH SHERMAN KS COCORAHS
ONE INCH OF SNOWFALL IN THE PAST 60 MINUTES. VISIBILITY
ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS AT TIME OF OBSERVATION.
0357 PM SNOW 1 E ST. FRANCIS 39.77N 101.78W
01/21/2018 E4.0 INCH CHEYENNE KS PUBLIC
RELAYED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA.
0423 PM SNOW YUMA 40.12N 102.72W
01/21/2018 M7.0 INCH YUMA CO EMERGENCY MNGR
SOME DRIFTING REPORTED.
0424 PM SNOW BENKELMAN 40.05N 101.54W
01/21/2018 M3.8 INCH DUNDY NE PUBLIC
RELAYED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA.
0430 PM SNOW GOODLAND 39.35N 101.71W
01/21/2018 M2.2 INCH SHERMAN KS COCORAHS
2.2 INCHES OF SNOW ON GROUND. 1.2 INCHES OF SNOW IN THE
LAST HOUR. VISIBILITY APPROXIMATELY ONE HALF MILE.
0500 PM BLIZZARD 10 S HAIGLER 39.87N 101.94W
01/21/2018 CHEYENNE KS PUBLIC
ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS VISIBILITY. RELAYED VIA SOCIAL
MEDIA WITH PICTURE.
0535 PM SNOW 1 E ST. FRANCIS 39.77N 101.78W
01/21/2018 E6.0 INCH CHEYENNE KS PUBLIC
ESTIMATED 5 TO 6 INCHES OF SNOW. LARGEST DRIFT IN YARD IS
16 INCHES.
0602 PM BLIZZARD BURLINGTON 39.31N 102.27W
01/21/2018 KIT CARSON CO FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
VISIBILITY IS ABOUT 1 TO 2 CITY BLOCKS AT BEST.
0615 PM BLIZZARD COLBY 39.39N 101.05W
01/21/2018 THOMAS KS EMERGENCY MNGR
COMBINATION OF WET SNOW AND SLEET IN COLBY. POWER OUTAGES
HAVE OCCURRED IN PORTIONS OF COLBY.
0637 PM SNOW 9 NNE KIT CARSON 38.88N 102.73W
01/21/2018 M4.0 INCH CHEYENNE CO CO-OP OBSERVER
0640 PM BLIZZARD ST. FRANCIS 39.77N 101.80W
01/21/2018 CHEYENNE KS LAW ENFORCEMENT
NEAR ZERO VISIBILITY IN CHEYENNE COUNTY, KANSAS. RELAYED
BY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
0700 PM SNOW ST. FRANCIS 39.77N 101.80W
01/21/2018 M7.5 INCH CHEYENNE KS EMERGENCY MNGR
2 FOOT DRIFTS WITH SOME APPROACHING 3 FEET.
0740 PM SNOW BENKELMAN 40.05N 101.54W
01/21/2018 M6.0 INCH DUNDY NE PUBLIC
RELAYED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA.
0813 PM SNOW OAKLEY 39.13N 100.85W
01/21/2018 E1.5 INCH LOGAN KS EMERGENCY MNGR
1.5 INCH OF SNOW AND SLEET ACCUMULATION. MODERATE SNOW
FALLING AT TIME OF OBSERVATION.
0841 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 9 NNE KIT CARSON 38.88N 102.73W
01/21/2018 M40 MPH CHEYENNE CO MESONET
0925 PM SNOW 13 NNW EDSON 39.50N 101.63W
01/21/2018 M6.5 INCH SHERMAN KS NWS EMPLOYEE
0941 PM BLIZZARD ST. FRANCIS 39.77N 101.80W
01/21/2018 CHEYENNE KS EMERGENCY MNGR
EMERGENCY MANAGER REPORTED THAT HE HAS RECEIVED MULTIPLE
REPORTS ZERO VISIBILITY IN CHEYENNE AND RAWLINS COUNTIES
IN KANSAS.
0945 PM SNOW 11 NNW ST. FRANCIS 39.92N 101.88W
01/21/2018 E14.0 INCH CHEYENNE KS EMERGENCY MNGR
EMERGENCY MANAGER RECEIVED AN UNCONFIRMED REPORT OF 14
INCHES OF SNOW.
1055 PM NON-TSTM WND GST WRAY 40.08N 102.23W
01/21/2018 M40.00 MPH YUMA CO AWOS
1129 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 9 WNW ST. FRANCIS 39.81N 101.97W
01/21/2018 M37.00 MPH CHEYENNE KS MESONET
1256 AM NON-TSTM WND GST LEOTI 38.48N 101.36W
01/22/2018 M49.00 MPH WICHITA KS MESONET
0102 AM NON-TSTM WND GST GOODLAND 39.35N 101.71W
01/22/2018 M58.00 MPH SHERMAN KS ASOS
0200 AM SNOW NORTON 39.84N 99.89W
01/22/2018 M2.5 INCH NORTON KS PUBLIC
SOCIAL MEDIA REPORT FROM PUBLIC OF 2.5 INCHES OF SNOW IN
NORTON, KANSAS AS OF 3AM CST / 2AM MST.
0307 AM SNOW 1 E ST. FRANCIS 39.77N 101.78W
01/22/2018 M11.0 INCH CHEYENNE KS PUBLIC
REPORT VIA SOCIAL MEDIA STATING, 1 MILE EAST OF ST.
FRANCIS 11 INCHES OF SNOWFALL ON THE GROUND WITH SNOW
DRIFTS UPWARDS OF 3 FT AT 307 AM MST / 407 AM CST.
0312 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 SE WESKAN 38.82N 101.93W
01/22/2018 M53 MPH WALLACE KS MESONET
0315 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 8 NNW STRATTON NE 40.26N 101.28W
01/22/2018 M34.00 MPH HITCHCOCK NE MESONET
0319 AM NON-TSTM WND GST ATWOOD 39.81N 101.04W
01/22/2018 M52.00 MPH RAWLINS KS AWOS
0319 AM BLIZZARD GOODLAND 39.35N 101.71W
01/22/2018 SHERMAN KS ASOS
AT 319 AM MST, ASOS AT WFO GOODLAND REPORTED A SUSTAINED
WIND OF 40 MPH, GUSTS TO 58 MPH, AND 1/4 MILE VISIBILITY.
0359 AM NON-TSTM WND GST OBERLIN 39.82N 100.53W
01/22/2018 M33.00 MPH DECATUR KS AWOS
0431 AM NON-TSTM WND GST MCCOOK 40.20N 100.62W
01/22/2018 M54.00 MPH RED WILLOW NE ASOS
0439 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 9 SSE SHARON SPRINGS 38.77N 101.68W
01/22/2018 M50.00 MPH WALLACE KS MESONET
0442 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 4 N COLBY 39.45N 101.05W
01/22/2018 M46.00 MPH THOMAS KS MESONET
0448 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 S DANBURY 40.00N 100.40W
01/22/2018 M46.00 MPH DECATUR KS MESONET
0520 AM SNOW CULBERTSON 40.23N 100.84W
01/22/2018 M10.0 INCH HITCHCOCK NE TRAINED SPOTTER
BLIZZARD CONDITIONS STILL ONGOING. LOW VISIBILITY.
0528 AM SNOW OAKLEY 39.13N 100.85W
01/22/2018 M4.0 INCH LOGAN KS EMERGENCY MNGR
STORM TOTAL SO FAR
0529 AM BLIZZARD OAKLEY 39.13N 100.85W
01/22/2018 LOGAN KS EMERGENCY MNGR
HIGHWAYS 83 AND 40 ARE CLOSED. SEMI TRUCK BLOCKING BOTH
LANES ON HIGHWAY 83. STRANDED MOTORIST ON HIGHWAY 40
AFTER CLOSURE. LOGAN COUNTY WITH ABOUT 400 PEOPLE NO
POWER.
0533 AM SNOW GOODLAND 39.35N 101.71W
01/22/2018 M9.0 INCH SHERMAN KS NWS EMPLOYEE
MEASURED AT NWS GOODLAND
0550 AM NON-TSTM WND GST NORTON 39.84N 99.89W
01/22/2018 M41.00 MPH NORTON KS AWOS
0559 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 5 E TRIBUNE 38.47N 101.66W
01/22/2018 M48.00 MPH GREELEY KS MESONET
0600 AM SNOW 4 W GOVE 38.96N 100.56W
01/22/2018 M1.4 INCH GOVE KS CO-OP OBSERVER
0600 AM SNOW GRAINFIELD 39.11N 100.47W
01/22/2018 M1.0 INCH GOVE KS CO-OP OBSERVER
0600 AM SNOW DRESDEN 39.62N 100.42W
01/22/2018 E2.0 INCH DECATUR KS CO-OP OBSERVER
0600 AM SNOW 2 N DENSMORE 39.67N 99.74W
01/22/2018 E2.0 INCH NORTON KS CO-OP OBSERVER
0600 AM SNOW 4 W OAKLEY 39.13N 100.93W
01/22/2018 M5.0 INCH LOGAN KS CO-OP OBSERVER
0600 AM SNOW 1 E HILL CITY 39.37N 99.83W
01/22/2018 M2.0 INCH GRAHAM KS CO-OP OBSERVER
0623 AM NON-TSTM WND GST HILL CITY 39.37N 99.85W
01/22/2018 M54.00 MPH GRAHAM KS ASOS
0640 AM SNOW 9 NNE KIT CARSON 38.88N 102.73W
01/22/2018 M4.5 INCH CHEYENNE CO CO-OP OBSERVER
4.5 INCHES OF SNOW FALL AT 640 AM MST.
0640 AM SNOW QUINTER 39.07N 100.23W
01/22/2018 M2.0 INCH GOVE KS CO-OP OBSERVER
2 INCHES OF SNOW MEASURED.
0700 AM SNOW 6 SSW VONA 39.22N 102.79W
01/22/2018 M6.0 INCH KIT CARSON CO COCORAHS
0700 AM SNOW 8 NNE BURLINGTON 39.41N 102.21W
01/22/2018 M8.0 INCH KIT CARSON CO COCORAHS
0700 AM SNOW 6 NW PARK 39.17N 100.44W
01/22/2018 M10.0 INCH SHERIDAN KS COCORAHS
0700 AM SNOW NE OAKLEY 39.13N 100.85W
01/22/2018 M4.0 INCH LOGAN KS COCORAHS
0700 AM SNOW NNW COLBY 39.39N 101.05W
01/22/2018 M6.0 INCH THOMAS KS COCORAHS
0700 AM SNOW 10 WNW GOODLAND 39.40N 101.88W
01/22/2018 M8.5 INCH SHERMAN KS COCORAHS
0700 AM SNOW 11 NNE GOODLAND 39.50N 101.63W
01/22/2018 M8.0 INCH SHERMAN KS COCORAHS
0700 AM SNOW NNW TRAER 39.93N 100.65W
01/22/2018 M2.5 INCH DECATUR KS COCORAHS
0700 AM SNOW NORTON 39.84N 99.89W
01/22/2018 M6.8 INCH NORTON KS PUBLIC
0700 AM SNOW SHARON SPRINGS 38.89N 101.75W
01/22/2018 M5.0 INCH WALLACE KS CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW IDALIA 39.70N 102.30W
01/22/2018 M8.1 INCH YUMA CO CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW N STRATTON 39.30N 102.60W
01/22/2018 M5.0 INCH KIT CARSON CO COCORAHS
0700 AM SNOW 4 E VERNON 39.93N 102.24W
01/22/2018 M10.0 INCH YUMA CO CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW 1 W TRIBUNE 38.47N 101.77W
01/22/2018 E5.0 INCH GREELEY KS CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW WALLACE 38.91N 101.59W
01/22/2018 M3.2 INCH WALLACE KS CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW 6 N WILD HORSE 38.91N 103.00W
01/22/2018 M2.0 INCH CHEYENNE CO CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW 6 NW PARKS 40.10N 101.81W
01/22/2018 M10.0 INCH DUNDY NE COCORAHS
0713 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 5 ESE GOVE 38.93N 100.40W
01/22/2018 M53.00 MPH GOVE KS MESONET
0800 AM SNOW MCCOOK 40.20N 100.62W
01/22/2018 M10.0 INCH RED WILLOW NE CO-OP OBSERVER
0925 AM SNOW 13 NNW EDSON 39.50N 101.63W
01/22/2018 M10.0 INCH SHERMAN KS NWS EMPLOYEE
1000 AM SNOW 7 NW ATWOOD 39.88N 101.13W
01/22/2018 M11.2 INCH RAWLINS KS PUBLIC
1020 AM SNOW 4 E HOXIE 39.36N 100.36W
01/22/2018 E4.0 INCH SHERIDAN KS PUBLIC
ESIMATED 3 TO 5 INCHES OF SNOW.
1115 AM SNOW 8 NNW STRATTON NE 40.26N 101.28W
01/22/2018 M13.0 INCH HITCHCOCK NE TRAINED SPOTTER
1130 AM SNOW 3 W CULBERTSON 40.23N 100.90W
01/22/2018 M10.0 INCH HITCHCOCK NE TRAINED SPOTTER
0358 PM SNOW 12 NNW RULETON 39.50N 101.97W
01/22/2018 M13.0 INCH SHERMAN KS TRAINED SPOTTER
13 INCHES OF SNOW. LIQUID EQUIVALENT 1.03 INCHES. DRIFTS
AROUND 5 FEET TALL.
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