Missouri, 2002

Ice Storm and Winter Storm in Missouri, January 30 to 31, 2002

January 30 to 31, 2002 · NWS EAX · 37 events in 37 counties and zones

A long-lived major ice and snow storm blasted much of northwest, northern and central Missouri from late Tuesday, January 29th, until Thursday, January 31st. Ice accumulations of over an inch were observed from the Kansas City metropolitan area, east and north through Moberly Missouri.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 37 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$33 million
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
37

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 EAX wrote it up.

A long-lived major ice and snow storm blasted much of northwest, northern and central Missouri from late Tuesday, January 29th, until Thursday, January 31st. Ice accumulations of over an inch were observed from the Kansas City metropolitan area, east and north through Moberly Missouri. At one point 409,504 total customers were without electrical power in the CWA, with some residents without power up to two weeks. For the Kansas City area, the ice storm was ranked as the worst ever. Further north across northern Missouri, heavy snow fell generally along and north of a line, from St. Joseph to Trenton to Kirksville. Snow accumulations ranged from 8 to 14 inches.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Kansas City, MO wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 29, 5:05 PM CST, 10 hours 55 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 29, 5:05 PM CST, 10 hours 55 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KANSAS CITY/PLEASANT HILL MO
505 PM CST TUE JAN 29 2002

SIGNIFICANT WINTER STORM WILL IMPACT FORECAST AREA DURING
THE NEXT 48 HOURS. FREEZING DRIZZLE THIS MORNING ABATED FOR
A SHORT TIME...BUT NOW WSR-88D SHOWING BAND OF FZRA/IP FROM
CNU THROUGH MKC TO JUST SOUTH OF IRK. QG FORCING TONIGHT WILL
BE WEAK...WITH MAIN SOURCE OF PRECIP FROM ISENTROPIC LIFT.  THUS...
DID NOT MENTION WARNING THRESHOLD ICE/SNOW ACCUMULATIONS IN
ZONES FOR TONIGHT.  BY TOMORROW...ISENTROPIC AND QG FORCING WORK
IN TANDUM...AND EXPECT SIGNIFICANT ACCUMULATIONS OF ICE FOR
AREAS SOUTH OF A STJ TO IRK LINE...WITH SIGNIFICANT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS
NORTH OF THIS LINE.  TRANSITION ZONE...GENERALLY MARKED BY A IRK TO
CDJ TO PLH TO PAOLA LINE...WILL SEE PRECIP TYPE VACILATE THROUGH THE
DAY TOMORROW.  AREA WILL SEE A LITTLE BIT OF A BREAK TOMORROW NIGHT
AS SURFACE LOW AND UPPER SHORTWAVE MOVE EAST OF AREA...BUT AS
MID-UPR LEVEL DEFORMATION ZONE ROTATES ACROSS AREA ON
THURSDAY...SNOW WILL FALL AGAIN IN EARNEST. USED 1555 850-700MB
THICKNESS FROM ETA SOUNDINGS AS DETERMINING FACTOR FOR SNOW VERSUS
ICE.  BASED ON ETA SPECIFIC HUMIDITY FLUX LONG 280-290K
LEVELS...GUESSTIMATE ON SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 8-12 POSSIBLE ACROSS
NORTHWEST AND NORTH CENTRAL ZONES...WITH 4 TO 8 INCHES FROM KC
METRO AREA TO IRK.  ONE HALF TO 3/4 INCH OF ICE AND 1 TO 2 INCH
SNOW ACCUMULATIONS POSSIBLE IN DMO...BOONVILLE AND CLINTON AREAS.
SNOW WILL TAPER OFF THURSDAY NIGHT...ENDING ACROSS THE ENTIRE
AREA LATE THURSDAY NIGHT. WHEW

THE LONGER TERM PORTION OF FORECAST LOOKS QUIET...THANKFULLY.
GENERALLY USED NCEP NUMBERS IN OUT PERIODS.

.EAX...
KS...WINTER STORM WARNING TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY.
MO...WINTER STORM WARNING TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY.

SF/DB/LVQ

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

17 ice storm, 16 heavy snow, 4 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Ice Storm, Bates

When
January 30, 4:00 AM CST to January 31, 9:00 PM CST
Where
Bates forecast zone
Property damage
$580,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
38.257, -94.340 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Carroll

When
January 30, 4:00 AM CST to January 31, 10:00 PM CST
Where
Carroll forecast zone
Property damage
$250,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
39.427, -93.505 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Cass

When
January 30, 4:00 AM CST to January 31, 9:00 PM CST
Where
Cass forecast zone
Property damage
$6.7 million
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
38.647, -94.355 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Chariton

When
January 30, 4:00 AM CST to January 31, 10:00 PM CST
Where
Chariton forecast zone
Property damage
$200,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
39.515, -92.963 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Clay

When
January 30, 4:00 AM CST to January 31, 9:00 PM CST
Where
Clay forecast zone
Property damage
$22,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
39.311, -94.421 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Cooper

When
January 30, 4:00 AM CST to January 31, 9:00 PM CST
Where
Cooper forecast zone
Property damage
$1.0 million
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
38.844, -92.810 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Henry

When
January 30, 4:00 AM CST to January 31, 9:00 PM CST
Where
Henry forecast zone
Property damage
$200,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
38.385, -93.793 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Howard

When
January 30, 4:00 AM CST to January 31, 10:00 PM CST
Where
Howard forecast zone
Property damage
$1.0 million
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
39.143, -92.696 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Jackson

When
January 30, 4:00 AM CST to January 31, 9:00 PM CST
Where
Jackson forecast zone
Property damage
$15 million
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
39.009, -94.346 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Johnson

When
January 30, 4:00 AM CST to January 31, 9:00 PM CST
Where
Johnson forecast zone
Property damage
$200,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
38.744, -93.806 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Lafayette

When
January 30, 4:00 AM CST to January 31, 9:00 PM CST
Where
Lafayette forecast zone
Property damage
$300,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
39.066, -93.785 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Macon

When
January 30, 4:00 AM CST to January 31, 10:00 PM CST
Where
Macon forecast zone
Property damage
$200,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
39.831, -92.565 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Pettis

When
January 30, 4:00 AM CST to January 31, 9:00 PM CST
Where
Pettis forecast zone
Property damage
$100,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
38.728, -93.285 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Platte

When
January 30, 4:00 AM CST to January 31, 8:00 PM CST
Where
Platte forecast zone
Property damage
$5.0 million
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
39.381, -94.774 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Randolph

When
January 30, 4:00 AM CST to January 31, 10:00 PM CST
Where
Randolph forecast zone
Property damage
$500,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
39.440, -92.497 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Ray

When
January 30, 4:00 AM CST to January 31, 9:00 PM CST
Where
Ray forecast zone
Property damage
$300,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
39.352, -93.990 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Saline

When
January 30, 4:00 AM CST to January 31, 9:00 PM CST
Where
Saline forecast zone
Property damage
$400,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
39.137, -93.202 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Caldwell

When
January 30, 5:00 AM CST to January 31, 10:00 PM CST
Where
Caldwell forecast zone
Property damage
$200,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
39.656, -93.983 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Clinton

When
January 30, 5:00 AM CST to January 31, 9:00 PM CST
Where
Clinton forecast zone
Property damage
$200,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
39.602, -94.405 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Linn

When
January 30, 5:00 AM CST to January 31, 10:00 PM CST
Where
Linn forecast zone
Property damage
$100,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
39.870, -93.107 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Livingston

When
January 30, 5:00 AM CST to January 31, 9:00 PM CST
Where
Livingston forecast zone
Property damage
$100,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
39.782, -93.548 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Adair

When
January 30, 4:00 PM CST to January 31, 10:00 PM CST
Where
Adair forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
40.191, -92.601 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Andrew

When
January 30, 4:00 PM CST to January 31, 9:00 PM CST
Where
Andrew forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
39.984, -94.802 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Atchison

When
January 30, 4:00 PM CST to January 31, 9:00 PM CST
Where
Atchison forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
40.431, -95.428 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Buchanan

When
January 30, 4:00 PM CST to January 31, 9:00 PM CST
Where
Buchanan forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
39.660, -94.806 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Daviess

When
January 30, 4:00 PM CST to January 31, 9:00 PM CST
Where
Daviess forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
39.961, -93.985 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, De Kalb

When
January 30, 4:00 PM CST to January 31, 9:00 PM CST
Where
De Kalb forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
39.893, -94.405 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Gentry

When
January 30, 4:00 PM CST to January 31, 9:00 PM CST
Where
Gentry forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
40.212, -94.410 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Grundy

When
January 30, 4:00 PM CST to January 31, 10:00 PM CST
Where
Grundy forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
40.114, -93.565 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Harrison

When
January 30, 4:00 PM CST to January 31, 9:00 PM CST
Where
Harrison forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
40.355, -93.992 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Holt

When
January 30, 4:00 PM CST to January 31, 9:00 PM CST
Where
Holt forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
40.094, -95.215 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Mercer

When
January 30, 4:00 PM CST to January 31, 10:00 PM CST
Where
Mercer forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
40.422, -93.569 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Nodaway

When
January 30, 4:00 PM CST to January 31, 9:00 PM CST
Where
Nodaway forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
40.361, -94.883 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Putnam

When
January 30, 4:00 PM CST to January 31, 10:00 PM CST
Where
Putnam forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
40.479, -93.016 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Schuyler

When
January 30, 4:00 PM CST to January 31, 10:00 PM CST
Where
Schuyler forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
40.470, -92.521 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Sullivan

When
January 30, 4:00 PM CST to January 31, 10:00 PM CST
Where
Sullivan forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
40.211, -93.111 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Worth

When
January 30, 4:00 PM CST to January 31, 9:00 PM CST
Where
Worth forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
40.479, -94.422 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

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.
Heavy Snow
Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Missouri in 2002Every state in 2002This day in weather historyWarnings in Missouri, January 2002

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: 5283234, 5283341, 5283342, 5283343, 5283344, 5283346, 5283352, 5283354, 5283355, 5283356, 5283357, 5283360, 5283363, 5283364, 5283366, 5283367, 5283368, 5283340, 5283345, 5283358, 5283359, 5283231, 5283232, 5283233, 5283339, 5283347, 5283348, 5283349, 5283350, 5283351, 5283353, 5283361, 5283362, 5283365, 5283369, 5283370, 5283371.