Kansas, 2000

Winter Storm in Kansas, December 16, 2000

December 16, 2000 · NWS GID · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

The second of three quick moving but powerful winter storms pounded north-central Kansas with high winds, dangerous cold and blizzard-like conditions. The storm struck around sunrise.

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.

The second of three quick moving but powerful winter storms pounded north-central Kansas with high winds, dangerous cold and blizzard-like conditions. The storm struck around sunrise. Though actual snowfall was light, fresh snow already on the ground was more than enough for the high winds, which developed, to create hazardous conditions. Visibilities dropped to near zero in white-out conditions during the morning as wind gusts to 45 mph were recorded. Significant blowing and drifting snow made travel difficult in some areas.Though the sky cleared during the day, the wind continued to howl to 40 mph and temperatures dropped to around 10 degrees by midday. The combination of wind and cold produced dangerously cold wind chills to 35 below zero. Many area events scheduled for the evening of the 16th were canceled due to the combination of wind, extreme cold and problems from blowing snow.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Jewell

When
December 16, 7:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where
Jewell forecast zone
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
39.785, -98.218 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Mitchell

When
December 16, 7:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where
Mitchell forecast zone
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
39.393, -98.209 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Osborne

When
December 16, 7:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where
Osborne forecast zone
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
39.350, -98.768 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Phillips

When
December 16, 7:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where
Phillips forecast zone
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
39.785, -99.347 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Rooks

When
December 16, 7:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where
Rooks forecast zone
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
39.350, -99.325 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Smith

When
December 16, 7:00 AM CST to 4:00 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

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

More

Every storm in Kansas in 2000Every state in 2000This day in weather historyWarnings in Kansas, December 2000

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: 5159356, 5159357, 5159358, 5159359, 5159719, 5159720.