February 8th-9th Winter Storm

Powerful Second Hit Buries Kansas

February 8th - 9th, 2011

What happened: A second round of winter weather impacted Kansas, dumping from 6 to 12 inches of snow across portions of central and southern Kansas, with some areas seeing up to 20 inches of snow.

Overview: Snow began to fall early Tuesday morning across central Kansas. An intense band of snow developed and sat across central Kansas in a line from Great Bend to McPherson and Marion south through Yates Center and beyond. Intense bands of snow allowed snow fall totals to pile up to more than a foot by Wednesday morning. This is on top of the snow that fell just one week ago during the blizzard.

Meteorological Background: A potent upper level low pressure area across the central Rockies moved east across Kansas and Oklahoma on Tuesday and Tuesday night. At the same time, frigid Arctic air settled south across the central Plains. A rather narrow, but strong corridor of lift developed out ahead of the approaching system early Tuesday, resulting in a band of heavy snowfall, oriented west-northwest to east-southeast, across central Kansas. This resulted in snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour during the late morning and early afternoon on Tuesday. The snow diminished to flurries on Tuesday night, but not before it dumped over a foot of snow across much of central Kansas and a portion of the Flint Hills.

The strong area of mid-level lift associated with the upper level storm system gradually shifted south across south central and southeast Kansas on Tuesday night. Since the lift was more transient and did not reside over any one location too long, snowfall totals were not as impressive as across central Kansas, though still managing to range from 5 to 10 inches across south central and southeast Kansas.

Snow Depth totals as of 7am Wednesday February 9th, 2011

Images

Infrared satellite animation showing the higher cloud tops transitioning from Central Kansas during the day Tue, to along the Kansas-Oklahoma border as evening approached.

Radar animation from early Tue morning through Tue evening.

Image courtesy of Saline County Emergency Management.

Barton County courthouse as of 11:30 am on Tuesday, Image Courtesy of Barton County.

Image of snow and snow drifts in front of the NWS Wichita Office around 1:30pm Tuesday

Neat wind contours in the snow at the airport, Image courtesy of Victor White.

Some of the Mid-Continent Airport snow equipment takes a fuel break, Image courtesy of Victor White.

Back Roads near West Wichita, Image coutesy of Victor White

Summary of Top Snowfall Reports

   

THE TOTALS BELOW ARE SEPARATED INTO SNOW...AND ICE AND SLEET
CATEGORIES...THEN BY AMOUNT...AND ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE
FINAL AMOUNT FOR EACH LOCATION.


SNOW REPORTS LISTED BY AMOUNT

 INCHES  LOCATION                 ST  COUNTY           TIME
 ------  -----------------------  --  --------------   -------
 15.50   MCPHERSON                KS  MCPHERSON        0600 AM
                 3 TO 4 FOOT DRIFTS.
 15.00   6 N EL DORADO            KS  BUTLER           0821 AM
 15.00   10 N EL DORADO           KS  BUTLER           0821 AM
 15.00   MCPHERSON                KS  MCPHERSON        0644 AM
 15.00   MARION                   KS  MARION           0640 AM
 14.50   MARION                   KS  MARION           1122 PM
 14.00   LYONS                    KS  RICE             0651 AM
 13.00   NEWTON                   KS  HARVEY           0900 PM
                 SOUTHEAST SIDE OF TOWN.
 13.00   1 S ELLSWORTH            KS  ELLSWORTH        0849 PM
 12.00   EUREKA                   KS  GREENWOOD        0755 AM
                 10 TO 12 INCHES.
 12.00   YATES CENTER             KS  WOODSON          0747 AM
                 10 TO 12 INCHES.
 12.00   EUREKA                   KS  GREENWOOD        0656 AM
 12.00   GREAT BEND               KS  BARTON           0506 PM
 11.60   3 ENE SALINA             KS  SALINE           0910 PM
                 MEASURED 1 1/4 INCHES OF SNOW FROM 6-9 PM.
 11.20   4 ESE MARQUETTE          KS  MCPHERSON        0703 AM
 11.00   5 N DORRANCE             KS  RUSSELL          0632 PM
 11.00   5 N DORRANCE             KS  RUSSELL          0628 PM
 10.00   2 S ARKANSAS CITY        KS  COWLEY           0900 AM
                 THE PUBLIC ESTIMATED AROUND 10 INCHES. REPORT
                 RELAYED BY COWLEY COUNTY EMERGENCY
                 MANAGEMENT.
 10.00   3 SE CHASE               KS  RICE             0731 AM
 10.00   KINGMAN                  KS  KINGMAN          1104 PM
 10.00   1 ENE MCPHERSON          KS  MCPHERSON        1043 PM
                 AREA ROADS/HIGHWAYS SNOWPACKED AND DRIFTING.
                 A FEW ARE DOWN TO 1 LANE SUCH AS HIGHWAY 61
                 FROM MCPHERSON TO INMAN.
 10.00   LINDSBORG                KS  MCPHERSON        0318 PM
                 MEASURED 10 INCHES OF SNOW WITH TWO FOOT
                 DRIFTS.
  9.50   IOLA                     KS  ALLEN            0611 PM
  9.10   CHASE                    KS  RICE             0508 PM
  9.00   SYLVAN GROVE             KS  LINCOLN          0722 PM
                 SOME DRIFTS 3-4 FEET DEEP.
  9.00   GREAT BEND               KS  BARTON           0508 PM
                 SEVERAL MEASUREMENTS IN PROTECTED AREAS
                 RANGED FROM 7.5 TO 10 INCHES, WITH MOST
                 COMMON DEPTH AROUND 8.5 INCHES.
  8.00   DOUGLASS                 KS  BUTLER           0916 AM
                 CITY EMPLOYEE REPORTED 7 TO 8 INCHES.
  8.00   AUGUSTA                  KS  BUTLER           0911 AM
  8.00   ARKANSAS CITY            KS  COWLEY           0900 AM
  8.00   FREDONIA                 KS  WILSON           0821 AM
  8.00   ANTHONY                  KS  HARPER           0650 AM
                 LOTS OF DRIFTING OF THE SNOW.
  8.00   WICHITA MID CONTINENT A  KS  SEDGWICK         0602 AM
                 STORM TOTAL 8 INCHES, WITH 1 TO 2 FOOT
                 DRIFTS.
  8.00   ANTHONY                  KS  HARPER           0205 AM
                 6 TO 8 INCHES.
  7.50   EL DORADO                KS  BUTLER           0911 AM
  7.00   BARNARD                  KS  LINCOLN          0703 AM
                 6 TO 7 INCHES.
  7.00   FREDONIA                 KS  WILSON           1104 PM
  7.00   3 WSW PARK CITY          KS  SEDGWICK         0943 PM
                 ADDITIONAL 2 INCHES RECEIVED SINCE 530 PM.
  6.00   EAST WICHITA             KS  SEDGWICK         1110 PM
                 TRAINED SPOTTER MEASURES 6 INCHES WITH 1.75
                 INCHES FALLING SINCE 5PM NEAR KELLOGG AND
                 WEBB.
  6.00   1 S VALLEY CENTER        KS  SEDGWICK         1022 PM
                 RECEIVED 1.5 INCHES FROM 750-1020PM.
  5.50   WINFIELD                 KS  COWLEY           0756 AM
  3.00   DEXTER                   KS  COWLEY           0756 AM

Snowfall Reports from Cooperative Observers
(Snowfall column is the second to right,
Snow depth far right column)

 

 MAX/MIN TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION TABLE
FOR CENTRAL...SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST KANSAS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
1107 AM CST WED FEB 9 2011

.BR ICT 0209 C DH07/TAIRZX/TAIRZN/PPDRZZ/SFDRZZ/SDIRZZ
:
: COOPERATIVE TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION OBSERVATIONS
: FOR THE PREVIOUS 24 HOURS ENDING AROUND 7 AM LOCAL TIME
:
:....................................................................
: ID    STATION            OBS     MAX    MIN     24HR   SNOW   SNOW
:        NAME              TIME    TEMP   TEMP    PCPN   FALL   DEPTH
:....................................................................
:
:  COOPERATIVE OBSERVATIONS FOR CENTRAL KANSAS
:
BADK1: BARNARD 7W        : DH0700/      /      /  0.31  /  4.0 /   7
BNSK1: BURNS             : DH0700/      /      /  0.24  /  9.5 /  11
CHSK1: CHASE             : DH0700/      /      /  0.84  /  9.5 /  10
CLFK1: CLAFLIN           : DH0700/      /      /  0.70  / 13.0 /  13
DUMK1: DURHAM            : DH0700/      /      /  0.78  /  9.0 /   9
ESOK1: ELLSWORTH         : DH0700/   6  /   2  /  0.32  / 13.2 /  12
GOEK1: GOESSEL 2NW       : DH0600/      /      /  0.51  / 12.0 /  14
HLBK1: HILLSBORO         : DH0500/      /      /  0.50  /  9.0 /   9
LINK1: LINCOLN           : DH0700/   7  /   2  /  0.31  /  3.5 /   6
MTGK1: MATFIELD GREEN    : DH0700/      /      /  0.38  /  1.1 /  11
MCPK1: MCPHERSON         : DHMSG /   6  /   1  /        /      /  13
PEAK1: PEABODY           : DHMSG /      /      /        /      /  14
RUEK1: RUSSELL 7E        : DHMSG /   4  /  -1  /        /      /  12
SMOK1: SMOLAN 1NE        : DH0600/   5  /  -5  /  0.35  /  6.0 /  10
SRLK1: STERLING          : DH0700/   8  /   1  /  0.36  / 11.2 /  12
SYLK1: SYLVAN GROVE 1NE  : DH0700/      /      /  0.24  /  8.0 /   9
WNDK1: WINDOM 7S         : DH0700/      /      /  0.30  / 12.0 /  14
WONK1: WONSEVU           : DH0700/      /      /  0.48  / 13.1 /  13
:
:  COOPERATIVE OBSERVATIONS FOR SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS
:
ANYK1: ANTHONY           : DH0700/  20  /   3  /  0.69  /  8.7 /   9
AKCK1: ARKANSAS CITY     : DH0600/      /      /  0.61  /  6.5 /   7
ARTK1: ARLINGTON 4NW     : DH0700/  12  /   1  /  0.19  /  7.5 /   9
ATAK1: ATLANTA           : DH0700/      /      /  0.14  /  3.0 /   3
AGTK1: AUGUSTA           : DH0600/      /      /  0.44  /  0.4 /   6
BFCK1: BLUFF CITY        : DH0700/      /      /  0.73  /  6.3 /   6
BOMK1: BEAUMONT          : DH0745/      /      /  0.40  /  0.6 /   6
BNSK1: BURNS             : DH0700/      /      /  0.24  /  9.5 /  11
CDWK1: CALDWELL          : DH0700/      /      /  0.45  /  8.0 /   8
CHVK1: CHENEY 5 N        : DH0730/      /      /  0.19  /  5.0 /   5
CNSK1: CONWAY SPRINGS    : DH0700/      /      /  0.45  /  5.5 /   6
DUMK1: DURHAM            : DH0700/      /      /  0.78  /  9.0 /   9
ELDK1: EL DORADO         : DH0700/  12  /   3  /  0.32  /      /   6
ELBK1: ELBING            : DH0700/      /      /  0.30  /  9.0 /   9
HSEK1: HAYSVILLE 3SE     : DH0800/  14  /   4  /  0.36  /  4.1 /   4
HSSK1: HESSTON           : DH0700/      /      /  0.51  / 11.8 /  12
HLBK1: HILLSBORO         : DH0500/      /      /  0.50  /  9.0 /   9
HUTK1: HUTCHINSON        : DH0600/  16  /   2  /  0.46  / 10.5 /  12
HINK1: HUTCHINSON 10SW   : DH0800/   9  /      /  0.37  /  5.0 /   5
INNK1: INMAN             : DH0800/      /      /  0.57  / 10.9 /  13
KINK1: KINGMAN           : DH0800/  15  /   0  /  0.31  /  8.4 /   8
MTGK1: MATFIELD GREEN    : DH0700/      /      /  0.38  /   M  /  11
MTHK1: MOUNT HOPE        : DH0700/      /      /  0.40  /  9.0 /  10
NWTK1: NEWTON            : DH0700/   9  /   2  /  0.48  / 11.6 /  13
NORK1: NORWICH           : DH0700/      /      /  0.25  /  5.0 /   5
OXDK1: OXFORD            : DH0800/      /      /  0.54  /  4.5 /   4
PEAK1: PEABODY           : DHMSG /      /      /        /      /  14
PEKK1: PECK 2 S          : DH0700/      /      /  0.57  /  5.7 /   6
POTK1: POTWIN 3N         : DH0700/      /      /  0.60  / 11.0 /  11
ROCK1: ROCK 3 SW         : DH0700/      /      /  0.49  /  6.0 /   6
TRNK1: TURON             : DH0700/      /      /  0.90  /  8.0 /   8
WLGK1: WELLINGTON        : DH0600/  21  /   4  /  0.17  /  5.5 /   6
WLDK1: WILLOWDALE        : DH0700/      /      /  0.28  /  6.7 /   7
WNFK1: WINFIELD 3 NE     : DH0500/      /      /  0.23  /  3.5 /   4
WONK1: WONSEVU           : DH0700/      /      /  0.48  / 13.1 /  13
ZDAK1: ZENDA             : DH0700/      /      /  0.16  /  6.5 /   6
:
:  COOPERATIVE OBSERVATIONS FOR SOUTHEAST KANSAS
:
BRTK1: BARTLETT          : DH0700/      /      /  0.08  /  3.0 /  13
BHLK1: BIG HILL LAKE     : DH0800/  16  /   6  /  0.18  /  5.0 /   9
CANK1: CANEY             : DH0700/      /      /  0.37  /  5.0 /   5
CHQK1: CHAUTAUQUA        : DH0700/      /      /  0.80  /  7.0 /  12
CRYK1: CHERRYVALE 5S     : DH0700/      /      /  0.20  /  3.5 /   8
CFVK1: COFFEYVILLE       : DH0600/  17  /   8  /  0.23  /  3.0 /   7
ERIK1: ERIE              : DH0700/      /      /  0.15  /  6.0 /  12
EKAK1: EUREKA            : DH0600/      /      /  0.61  / 12.0 /  12
HALK1: HALE              : DH0700/      /      /  0.33  /  3.0 /   5
HMBK1: HUMBOLDT          : DH0700/   9  /   4  /  0.32  / 12.5 /  14
HWDK1: HOWARD 1W         : DH0800/      /      /  0.13  /  2.0 /   2
IOAK1: IOLA WATER PLANT  : DH0800/   9  /   4  /  0.27  / 11.0 /  14
LGTK1: LONGTON           : DH0700/      /      /  0.23  /  3.0 /   6
MDNK1: MADISON           : DH0700/      /      /  0.50  / 14.0 /  16
NSHK1: NEODESHA          : DH0800/      /      /  0.12  /  2.0 /   6
OSWK1: OSWEGO            : DH0700/      /      /  0.28  /  3.0 /  11
SDAK1: SEDAN             : DH0700/  17  /   5  /  0.37  /  5.0 /   5
VIRK1: VIRGIL            : DH0700/      /      /  0.44  / 11.0 /  11
:
.END

THESE DATA ARE PRELIMINARY AND HAVE NOT UNDERGONE FINAL QUALITY
CONTROL BY THE NATIONAL CLIMATIC DATA CENTER /NCDC/. THEREFORE...
THESE DATA ARE SUBJECT TO REVISION. FINAL AND CERTIFIED CLIMATE DATA
CAN BE ACCESSED AT WWW.NCDC.NOAA.GOV.