Kansas, 1998

Cold in Kansas, December 20 to 23, 1998

December 20 to 23, 1998 · NWS GID · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

After weeks of unseasonably warm weather across north-central Kansas, a strong arctic surge brought a quick end to the warmth. Temperatures steadily declined into the single digits by the evening of the 20th as arctic air sagged south across the area.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 6 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
6

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS GID wrote it up.

After weeks of unseasonably warm weather across north-central Kansas, a strong arctic surge brought a quick end to the warmth. Temperatures steadily declined into the single digits by the evening of the 20th as arctic air sagged south across the area. Snowfall for the event was light and ranged from 1 to 2 inches. As the cold air deepened by the morning of the 22nd, temperatures fell well below zero. The coldest morning of the season so far was on the 23rd, when temperatures dropped as low as 10 below zero with clear skies. Wind chill readings ranged from 20 to 45 below zero. The cold surge gave way to warmer weather by Christmas Day.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 cold/wind chill. Local standard time, as filed.

Cold/Wind Chill, Jewell

When
December 20, 12:00 AM CST to December 23, 6:00 PM CST
Where
Jewell forecast zone
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
39.785, -98.218 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Mitchell

When
December 20, 12:00 AM CST to December 23, 6:00 PM CST
Where
Mitchell forecast zone
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
39.393, -98.209 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Osborne

When
December 20, 12:00 AM CST to December 23, 6:00 PM CST
Where
Osborne forecast zone
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
39.350, -98.768 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Phillips

When
December 20, 12:00 AM CST to December 23, 6:00 PM CST
Where
Phillips forecast zone
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
39.785, -99.347 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Rooks

When
December 20, 12:00 AM CST to December 23, 6:00 PM CST
Where
Rooks forecast zone
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
39.350, -99.325 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Smith

When
December 20, 12:00 AM CST to December 23, 6:00 PM CST
Where
Smith forecast zone
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
39.785, -98.785 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Cold/Wind Chill
Cold or wind chill below warning criteria that caused deaths, injuries or damage.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Kansas in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Kansas, December 1998

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: 5675588, 5675589, 5675590, 5675591, 5675592, 5675593.