Ice Storm and Winter Storm in Kansas, December 9 to 24, 1997

Name: Ice Storm and Winter Storm in Kansas, December 9 to 24, 1997
Start: 1997-12-09T02:42
End: 1997-12-24T11:00
Location: Kansas

December 9 to 24, 1997 · NWS DDC · 52 events in 27 counties and zones

27 winter storm, 21 ice storm, 4 heavy snow, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 52 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 52

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

27 winter storm, 21 ice storm, 4 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Trego

When: December 9, 2:42 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Trego forecast zone
Coordinates: 38.914, -99.873 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Six to eight inches of snow accumulated in a very narrow band from Scott City to Hays. The band was only a couple of miles wide. Either side of this band, amounts ranged from 2 to 4 inches.

Heavy Snow, Ellis

When: December 9, 2:42 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Ellis forecast zone
Coordinates: 38.915, -99.317 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Lane

When: December 9, 2:42 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Lane forecast zone
Coordinates: 38.481, -100.466 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Scott

When: December 9, 2:42 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Scott forecast zone
Coordinates: 38.482, -100.907 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Trego

When: December 21, 5:00 PM CST to December 22, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Trego forecast zone
Coordinates: 38.914, -99.873 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Widespread freezing rain occurred east of al line from Scott City to Liberal. Roads were ice-covered causing numerous accidents. There was no structural damage reported.

Ice Storm, Barber

When: December 21, 5:00 PM CST to December 22, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Barber forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.229, -98.685 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Clark

When: December 21, 5:00 PM CST to December 22, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Clark forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.236, -99.820 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Comanche

When: December 21, 5:00 PM CST to December 22, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Comanche forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.191, -99.272 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Edwards

When: December 21, 5:00 PM CST to December 22, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Edwards forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.888, -99.312 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Ellis

When: December 21, 5:00 PM CST to December 22, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Ellis forecast zone
Coordinates: 38.915, -99.317 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Finney

When: December 21, 5:00 PM CST to December 22, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Finney forecast zone
Coordinates: 38.044, -100.737 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Ford

When: December 21, 5:00 PM CST to December 22, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Ford forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.692, -99.888 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Gray

When: December 21, 5:00 PM CST to December 22, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Gray forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.738, -100.438 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Haskell

When: December 21, 5:00 PM CST to December 22, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Haskell forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.562, -100.871 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Hodgeman

When: December 21, 5:00 PM CST to December 22, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Hodgeman forecast zone
Coordinates: 38.088, -99.898 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Kiowa

When: December 21, 5:00 PM CST to December 22, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Kiowa forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.558, -99.286 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Lane

When: December 21, 5:00 PM CST to December 22, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Lane forecast zone
Coordinates: 38.481, -100.466 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Meade

When: December 21, 5:00 PM CST to December 22, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Meade forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.238, -100.366 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Ness

When: December 21, 5:00 PM CST to December 22, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Ness forecast zone
Coordinates: 38.479, -99.916 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Pawnee

When: December 21, 5:00 PM CST to December 22, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Pawnee forecast zone
Coordinates: 38.181, -99.237 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Pratt

When: December 21, 5:00 PM CST to December 22, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Pratt forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.648, -98.740 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Rush

When: December 21, 5:00 PM CST to December 22, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Rush forecast zone
Coordinates: 38.523, -99.309 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Scott

When: December 21, 5:00 PM CST to December 22, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Scott forecast zone
Coordinates: 38.482, -100.907 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Seward

When: December 21, 5:00 PM CST to December 22, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Seward forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.193, -100.851 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Stafford

When: December 21, 5:00 PM CST to December 22, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Stafford forecast zone
Coordinates: 38.031, -98.717 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Trego

When: December 23, 4:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:00 AM CST
Where: Trego forecast zone
Coordinates: 38.914, -99.873 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter storm impacted all of the area producing dangerous conditions for early holiday travellers. Largest amount of snow was at Meade where 15 inches fell. Unofficial amounts to 19 inches were reported in Meade county. Other amounts included...Dodge City 14, Cimarron 12, Manter 12, Liberal and Spearville 10, Jetmore and elkhart 9, Syracuse, Johnson and Kinsley 8, Hays 6, Garden City, Scott City and Hugoton 5 inches. The remainder of the area had 4 inches. There was not a lot of wind so very little drifting was reported. However, the wind did increase dramatically late on the 24th and on the 25th producing considerable blowing and drifting.

Winter Storm, Barber

When: December 23, 4:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:00 AM CST
Where: Barber forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.229, -98.685 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Clark

When: December 23, 4:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:00 AM CST
Where: Clark forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.236, -99.820 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Comanche

When: December 23, 4:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:00 AM CST
Where: Comanche forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.191, -99.272 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Edwards

When: December 23, 4:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:00 AM CST
Where: Edwards forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.888, -99.312 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Ellis

When: December 23, 4:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:00 AM CST
Where: Ellis forecast zone
Coordinates: 38.915, -99.317 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Finney

When: December 23, 4:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:00 AM CST
Where: Finney forecast zone
Coordinates: 38.044, -100.737 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Ford

When: December 23, 4:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:00 AM CST
Where: Ford forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.692, -99.888 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Grant

When: December 23, 4:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:00 AM CST
Where: Grant forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.562, -101.308 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Gray

When: December 23, 4:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:00 AM CST
Where: Gray forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.738, -100.438 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Hamilton

When: December 23, 4:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:00 AM CST
Where: Hamilton forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.999, -101.791 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Haskell

When: December 23, 4:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:00 AM CST
Where: Haskell forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.562, -100.871 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Hodgeman

When: December 23, 4:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:00 AM CST
Where: Hodgeman forecast zone
Coordinates: 38.088, -99.898 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Kearny

When: December 23, 4:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:00 AM CST
Where: Kearny forecast zone
Coordinates: 38.000, -101.320 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Kiowa

When: December 23, 4:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:00 AM CST
Where: Kiowa forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.558, -99.286 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Lane

When: December 23, 4:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:00 AM CST
Where: Lane forecast zone
Coordinates: 38.481, -100.466 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Meade

When: December 23, 4:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:00 AM CST
Where: Meade forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.238, -100.366 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Morton

When: December 23, 4:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:00 AM CST
Where: Morton forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.191, -101.799 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Ness

When: December 23, 4:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:00 AM CST
Where: Ness forecast zone
Coordinates: 38.479, -99.916 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Pawnee

When: December 23, 4:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:00 AM CST
Where: Pawnee forecast zone
Coordinates: 38.181, -99.237 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Pratt

When: December 23, 4:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:00 AM CST
Where: Pratt forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.648, -98.740 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Rush

When: December 23, 4:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:00 AM CST
Where: Rush forecast zone
Coordinates: 38.523, -99.309 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Scott

When: December 23, 4:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:00 AM CST
Where: Scott forecast zone
Coordinates: 38.482, -100.907 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Seward

When: December 23, 4:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:00 AM CST
Where: Seward forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.193, -100.851 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Stafford

When: December 23, 4:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:00 AM CST
Where: Stafford forecast zone
Coordinates: 38.031, -98.717 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Stanton

When: December 23, 4:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:00 AM CST
Where: Stanton forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.563, -101.784 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Stevens

When: December 23, 4:00 AM CST to December 24, 11:00 AM CST
Where: Stevens forecast zone
Coordinates: 37.192, -101.312 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Heavy Snow: Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.
Ice Storm: Freezing rain accumulating a quarter inch or more of ice, or less where it caused significant damage.
Winter Storm: A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Kansas in 1997 Every state in 1997 This day in weather history Warnings in Kansas, December 1997

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5626291, 5626292, 5626293, 5626294, 5626295, 5626296, 5626297, 5626298, 5626299, 5626300, 5626301, 5626302, 5626303, 5626304, 5626305, 5626306, 5626307, 5626308, 5626309, 5626310, 5626311, 5626312, 5626313, 5626314, 5626315, 5626316, 5626317, 5626318, 5626319, 5626320, 5626321, 5626322, 5626323, 5626324, 5626325, 5626326, 5626327, 5626328, 5626329, 5626330, and more.