Alert archive / Colorado / Blizzard Warnings in 2012

Blizzard Warning 2, NWS Goodland, KS

February 20, 2012Cheyenne County, Kansas; Dundy County, Nebraska; Kit Carson County, Yuma County, Colorado

NWS Goodland, KS issued this blizzard warning at Feb 20, 2012, 8:44 AM CST for Cheyenne County, Kansas; Dundy County, Nebraska; Kit Carson County, Yuma County, Colorado. It was in force for 7 hr. 5 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Feb 20, 2012, 8:44 AM CST (14:44 UTC)
Expired
Feb 20, 2012, 3:32 PM CST
In force
7 hr
Issued by
NWS Goodland, KS

Counties Kit Carson County, CO, Yuma County, CO, Cheyenne County, KS, Dundy County, NE

The radar

The Goodland radar (KGLD), 61 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 14:48 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Feb 20, 9:10 AM CSTBLIZZARDYuma, COESTIMATED 2 INCHES OF SNOW WITH LESS THAN 1/4 MILE VISIBILITY
Feb 20, 9:18 AM CSTBLIZZARD4 E Vernon, COWITH 1/2 INCH SNOW
Feb 20, 11:05 AM CSTBLIZZARDBurlington Airport (Aso, CO
Feb 20, 12:55 PM CSTBLIZZARD1 W St. Francis, KSNEARLY 0 MILE VISIBILITY FROM ST. FRANCIS WESTWARD ON US36 TO THE COLORADO/KANSAS STATE LINE
Feb 20, 1:10 PM CSTBLIZZARDBenkelman, NE1/4 MILE VISIBILITY

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The nearest sounding before it

Denver, CO (KDNR), launched 12:00Z, 2.7 hours before the alert went out and 96 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Denver, CO at 12:00Z on 2012-02-20Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Denver, CO at 12:00Z on 2012-02-20The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -115 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1089 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
19 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-115 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-154 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

640 
WWUS43 KGLD 201444
WSWGLD

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
744 AM MST MON FEB 20 2012

COZ090-091-202245-
/O.UPG.KGLD.WW.Y.0003.000000T0000Z-120221T0000Z/
/O.NEW.KGLD.BZ.W.0002.120220T1444Z-120221T0000Z/
YUMA-KIT CARSON-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...YUMA...WRAY...BURLINGTON
744 AM MST MON FEB 20 2012

...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM MST THIS AFTERNOON...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GOODLAND HAS ISSUED A BLIZZARD
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM MST THIS AFTERNOON. THE
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. 

* TIMING/DURATION...SNOW WILL CONTINUE THIS MORNING AND THEN
  GRADUALLY TAPER OFF THIS AFTERNOON. 

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...2 TO 4 INCHES OF SNOW IS EXPECTED.

* WINDS/VISIBILITY...NORTHWEST WINDS OF 30 TO 45 MPH WITH GUSTS TO
  60 MPH WILL DEVELOP BY LATE MORNING AND CONTINUE THROUGH THE DAY
  BEFORE SUBSIDING LATE IN THE DAY. THE COMBINATION OF SNOW AND
  BLOWING SNOW WILL PRODUCE VISIBILITIES AS LOW AS ONE QUARTER OF
  A MILE AND WHITE OUT CONDITIONS. 

* OTHER IMPACTS...CONSIDERABLE BLOWING AND DRIFTING OF SNOW WILL
  OCCUR. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS STRONG WINDS AND FALLING OR BLOWING SNOW
WILL PRODUCE WHITEOUT CONDITIONS AT TIMES...WITH TRAVEL BECOMING
DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE. MONITOR LOCAL FORECASTS BEFORE DECIDING
TO VENTURE OUTSIDE. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL AND YOU BECOME STRANDED...
STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE UNTIL HELP ARRIVES.

&&

$$
3 follow-up statements
766 
WWUS43 KGLD 201526
WSWGLD

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
826 AM MST MON FEB 20 2012

KSZ001-NEZ079-202330-
/O.EXA.KGLD.BZ.W.0002.000000T0000Z-120221T0000Z/
CHEYENNE KS-DUNDY-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ST. FRANCIS...BENKELMAN
826 AM MST MON FEB 20 2012 /926 AM CST MON FEB 20 2012/

...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM MST /6 PM CST/ THIS
AFTERNOON...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GOODLAND HAS ISSUED A BLIZZARD
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM MST /6 PM CST/ THIS
AFTERNOON. 

* TIMING/DURATION...LIGHT SNOW WILL MOVE INTO THE AREA THIS
  MORNING AND CONTINUE THROUGH THE AFTERNOON BEFORE ENDING LATE IN
  THE DAY.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...1 TO 2 INCHES OF SNOW IS EXPECTED.

* WINDS/VISIBILITY...NORTHWEST WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS 
  TO 60 MPH WILL DEVELOP BY LATE MORNING AND CONTINUE THROUGH 
  THE DAY BEFORE SUBSIDING LATE IN THE DAY. THE COMBINATION OF 
  SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW WILL PRODUCE VISIBILITIES AS LOW AS ONE 
  QUARTER OF A MILE AND WHITE OUT CONDITIONS. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS STRONG WINDS AND FALLING OR BLOWING SNOW
WILL PRODUCE WHITEOUT CONDITIONS AT TIMES...WITH TRAVEL BECOMING
DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE. MONITOR LOCAL FORECASTS BEFORE DECIDING
TO VENTURE OUTSIDE. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL AND YOU BECOME STRANDED...
STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE UNTIL HELP ARRIVES.

&&

$$

COZ090-091-202330-
/O.CON.KGLD.BZ.W.0002.000000T0000Z-120221T0000Z/
YUMA-KIT CARSON-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...YUMA...WRAY...BURLINGTON
826 AM MST MON FEB 20 2012

...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM MST THIS
AFTERNOON...

* TIMING/DURATION...SNOW WILL CONTINUE THIS MORNING AND THEN 
  GRADUALLY TAPER OFF THIS AFTERNOON. 

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...2 TO 4 INCHES OF SNOW IS EXPECTED.

* WINDS/VISIBILITY...NORTHWEST WINDS OF 30 TO 45 MPH WITH GUSTS 
  TO 60 MPH WILL DEVELOP BY LATE MORNING AND CONTINUE THROUGH 
  THE DAY BEFORE SUBSIDING LATE IN THE DAY. THE COMBINATION OF 
  SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW WILL PRODUCE VISIBILITIES AS LOW AS ONE 
  QUARTER OF A MILE AND WHITE OUT CONDITIONS. 

* OTHER IMPACTS...CONSIDERABLE BLOWING AND DRIFTING OF SNOW WILL 
  OCCUR. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS STRONG WINDS AND FALLING OR BLOWING SNOW
WILL PRODUCE WHITEOUT CONDITIONS AT TIMES...WITH TRAVEL BECOMING
DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE. MONITOR LOCAL FORECASTS BEFORE DECIDING
TO VENTURE OUTSIDE. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL AND YOU BECOME STRANDED...
STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE UNTIL HELP ARRIVES.

&&

$$
806 
WWUS43 KGLD 202030
WSWGLD

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
130 PM MST MON FEB 20 2012

COZ090-091-202130-
/O.CAN.KGLD.BZ.W.0002.000000T0000Z-120221T0000Z/
YUMA-KIT CARSON-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...YUMA...WRAY...BURLINGTON
130 PM MST MON FEB 20 2012

...BLIZZARD WARNING IS CANCELLED...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GOODLAND HAS CANCELLED THE
BLIZZARD WARNING. 

SNOW HAS ENDED IN YUMA AND KIT CARSON COUNTIES OF COLORADO. AREAS
OF BLOWING SNOW WILL PERSIST THROUGH THE AFTERNOON WITH SOME LOCAL
REDUCTIONS IN VISIBILITY AS LOW AS A MILE...BUT BLIZZARD
CONDITIONS ARE NOT EXPECTED.

NORTHWEST WINDS WILL GUST UP TO 50 MPH THROUGH THE AFTERNOON...AND
A WIND ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR BOTH COUNTIES UNTIL 5 PM.

$$

KSZ001-NEZ079-210000-
/O.CON.KGLD.BZ.W.0002.000000T0000Z-120221T0000Z/
CHEYENNE KS-DUNDY-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ST. FRANCIS...BENKELMAN
130 PM MST MON FEB 20 2012 /230 PM CST MON FEB 20 2012/

...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM MST /6 PM CST/
THIS AFTERNOON...

* TIMING/DURATION...LIGHT SNOW WILL CONTINUE FOR ANOTHER COUPLE OF
  HOURS BEFORE ENDING AROUND 5 PM.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...ADDITIONAL ACCUMULATIONS OF LESS THAN AN INCH.

* WINDS/VISIBILITY...NORTHWEST WINDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS TO
  50 MPH WILL CONTINUE THROUGH SUNSET. VISIBILITY WILL
  OCCASIONALLY BE REDUCED TO A QUARTER OF A MILE OR LESS IN SNOW
  AND BLOWING SNOW.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS STRONG WINDS AND FALLING OR BLOWING SNOW
WILL PRODUCE WHITEOUT CONDITIONS AT TIMES...WITH TRAVEL BECOMING
DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE. MONITOR LOCAL FORECASTS BEFORE DECIDING
TO VENTURE OUTSIDE. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL AND YOU BECOME STRANDED...
STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE UNTIL HELP ARRIVES.

&&

$$
178 
WWUS43 KGLD 202132
WSWGLD

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
232 PM MST MON FEB 20 2012

KSZ001-NEZ079-202245-
/O.CAN.KGLD.BZ.W.0002.000000T0000Z-120221T0000Z/
CHEYENNE KS-DUNDY-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ST. FRANCIS...BENKELMAN
232 PM MST MON FEB 20 2012 /332 PM CST MON FEB 20 2012/

...BLIZZARD WARNING IS CANCELLED...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GOODLAND HAS CANCELLED THE
BLIZZARD WARNING. 

SNOW HAS ENDED IN THE WARNING AREA. HOWEVER...AREAS OF BLOWING
SNOW AND REDUCED VISIBILITY WILL PERSIST THROUGH SUNSET...MAINLY IN
OPEN COUNTRY. 

A WIND ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED UNTIL 5 PM MST/6 PM CST FOR THE
AREA FOR GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS THROUGH THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON.

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS Goodland, KS issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 20, 4:40 AM CSTHigh Wind WarningGLDGreeley, Logan, Sherman, Wallace, Wichita13 hr
Feb 20, 4:40 AM CSTWind AdvisoryGLDCheyenne, Decatur, Gove, Rawlins, Sheridan, Thomas13 hr
Feb 20, 4:30 AM CSTWinter Weather AdvisoryGLDKit Carson, Yuma4 hr

Nearby

Blizzard Warnings in Colorado, 2012Blizzard Warnings in Kansas, 2012Blizzard Warnings in Nebraska, 2012Every blizzard warning in 2012

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.