Winter Storm in Kansas, January 25 to 26, 2004

Name: Winter Storm in Kansas, January 25 to 26, 2004
Start: 2004-01-25T00:05
End: 2004-01-26T10:00
Location: Kansas

January 25 to 26, 2004 · NWS TOP · 23 events in 23 counties and zones

A winter storm produced slick roads and streets leading to numerous school closings and event postponements. Glazing accumulated 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick on power lines and trees in the area.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 23 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: $15,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 23

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 TOP wrote it up.

A winter storm produced slick roads and streets leading to numerous school closings and event postponements. Glazing accumulated 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick on power lines and trees in the area. Power line damage in the area caused power outages to about 30,000 customers. The icy roads lead to 3 vehicle accidents (discussed separately). The sleet and freezing rain was followed by snow which accumulated from around 1 inch south of Interstate 70 up to 6 to 8 inches in Republic and Washington counties. In addition strong winds produced considerable blowing and drifting of snow which led to whiteout conditions at times mainly near the Nebraska border.

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 Topeka, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 24, 10:36 PM CST, 1 hour 29 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 24, 10:36 PM CST, 1 hour 29 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KANSAS
1036 PM CST SAT JAN 24 2004

.DISCUSSION...

RADAR STARTING SHOWING SOME PATCHY PRECIP AROUND 8 PM AND HAS SINCE
BEEN FILLING IN.  UPDATING TO COVER PERIODS OR AREAS OF LIGHT PRECIP
FOR THE REST OF THE EVENING THEN WIDESPREAD OR PERIODS OF PRECIP
AFTER MIDNIGHT.  HAVE UPPED THE NORTH CENTRAL COUNTIES INTO THE
PERIODS PRECIP CATEGORY OVERNIGHT FROM LIKELY. NOT A LOT CHANGED
ELSEWHERE IN FORECAST WITH ADVISORIES AND WARNINGS FROM MIDNIGHT
THROUGH 4 PM CST SUNDAY.  HAVE PRECIP DIMINISHING TO FREEZING
DRIZZLE CHANCE IN AFTERNOON HOWEVER DID UP THE POPS SOME IN THE
NORTH CENTRAL COUNTIES AND MENTIONED SOME LIGHT SNOW.  NORTHERN
STREAM FEATURE PUSHES BY DURING THE DAY AND COULD ENHANCE PRECIP
CHANCES THIS AREA FOR THE AFTERNOON HOURS.  WILL PASS ON THOUGHTS TO
NEXT SHIFT.

PF

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION...

ICE ACCUMULATION POTENTIAL OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS IS THE MAIN
CONCERN.

MOISTURE POOLING OVER OKLAHOMA WILL CONTINUE SPREADING NORTH TOWARD
THE FORECAST AREA THIS EVENING.  PRECIPITATION WILL BECOME
WIDESPREAD ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA AFTER MIDNIGHT AS THE H500
DEFORMATION ZONE SHIFTS TO THE NORTH.  SURFACE TEMPERATURES ALREADY
BELOW FREEZING ACROSS THE NORTHERN COUNTIES DURING THE AFTERNOON...
SO INITIAL PRECIPITATION NORTH OF I-70 WILL BE AS FREEZING RAIN.  AS
TEMPERATURES COOL DURING THE EVENING...THE FREEZING RAIN AREA WILL
SPREAD SOUTH TO NEAR AN EMPORIA-GARNETT LINE BY SUNRISE SUNDAY.

FREEZING RAIN WILL CONTINUE THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING PRODUCING TOTAL
ICE ACCUMULATIONS AROUND A QUARTER INCH GENERALLY ALONG AND
SOUTHEAST OF THE KANSAS TURNPIKE...WITH LESSER AMOUNTS ELSEWHERE.

PRECIPITATION SHOULD TAPER OFF TO LIGHT FREEZING DRIZZLE BY NOON AS
THE INITIAL H500 LOW CROSSES THE AREA.

THE NEXT H500 IMPULSE COMES RAPIDLY DOWN THE NORTHWEST FLOW ON
SUNDAY.  TIMING OF THIS SYSTEM CONTINUES TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE
GFS FASTER WITH THE TROF LINE CROSS THE FORECAST AREA...SO TRIED TO
SLOW DOWN THE PROGRESSION SOMEWHAT.  SYSTEM SHOULD SPREAD A CHANCE
FOR SNOW ACROSS MOST OF THE AREA BY LATE SUNDAY EVENING AND
CONTINUING OVERNIGHT.  BELIEVE LIGHT SNOW WILL END FOR MOST AREAS
MONDAY AFTERNOON AS THE MAIN UPPER TROF CROSS THE REGION.

SYSTEM TIMING PROBLEMS CONTINUE LATER NEXT WEEK WITH THE GFS FASTEST
AND THE ECMWF SLOWEST.  WILL SHOW A CHANCE OF LIGHT SNOW WEDNESDAY
NIGHT AND THURSDAY WITH A FAST MOVING SYSTEM...ALTHOUGH TIMING AND
AVAILABLE MOISTURE MAY NEED TO BE ADJUSTED WITH LATER MODEL RUNS.

INCREASED TEMPERATURES ABOUT 5 DEGREES FOR MIDDLE AND LATTER PART OF
THE WEEK AS ADVERTISED COLD AIR DOESNT LOOK QUITE AS IMPRESSIVE.

&&

.TOP...WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...ICE STORM WARNING 06Z SUNDAY
THROUGH 22Z SUNDAY ALONG AND SOUTHEAST OF A VALLEY FALLS...TOPEKA...
MANHATTAN...EMPORIA LINE.  WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY OTHER COUNTIES
FROM 06Z SUNDAY THROUGH 22Z SUNDAY.

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 24, 10:17 PM CST, 1 hour 48 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
1017 PM CST SAT JAN 24 2004

KSZ008>012-020>024-026-034>040-054>056-058-059-251100-
ANDERSON-BROWN-CLAY-CLOUD-COFFEY-DICKINSON-DOUGLAS-FRANKLIN-GEARY-
JACKSON-JEFFERSON-LYON-MARSHALL-MORRIS-NEMAHA-OSAGE-OTTAWA-
POTTAWATOMIE-REPUBLIC-RILEY-SHAWNEE-WABAUNSEE-WASHINGTON-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ABILENE...CLAY CENTER...CONCORDIA...
EMPORIA...HIAWATHA...JUNCTION CITY...LAWRENCE...MANHATTAN...
MARYSVILLE...OTTAWA AND TOPEKA
1017 PM CST SAT JAN 24 2004

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH CENTRAL...NORTHEAST AND
EAST CENTRAL KANSAS.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

ICE ACCUMULATIONS ARE LIKELY ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL...NORTHEAST AND
EAST CENTRAL KANSAS OVERNIGHT. A QUARTER OF AN INCH OF ICE
ACCUMULATION OR MORE IS POSSIBLE ACROSS EAST CENTRAL AND PARTS OF
NORTHEAST KANSAS WITH GENERALLY LESS THAN A QUARTER INCH OF ICE OVER
NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS.

SLEET WILL BE MORE OF A PROBLEM ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST
KANSAS NEAR THE NEBRASKA STATE LINE. UP TO A HALF INCH OF SLEET
ACCUMULATION IS POSSIBLE.

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES ARE IN EFFECT FOR NORTH CENTRAL AND POTIONS
OF NORTHEAST KANSAS. AN ICE STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH
4 PM SUNDAY ACROSS EAST CENTRAL AND PARTS OF NORTHEAST KANSAS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

FREEZING RAIN...SLEET AND FREEZING DRIZZLE WILL CONTINUE DURING THE
DAY SUNDAY. ICE ACCUMULATIONS UP TO A HALF INCH ARE POSSIBLE SUNDAY
MORNING ACROSS EAST CENTRAL KANSAS AND PARTS OF NORTHEAST KANSAS. THE
PRECIPITATION SHOULD CHANGE OVER TO SNOW ACROSS THE WHOLE AREA SUNDAY
NIGHT. ACCUMULATIONS OF SNOW ARE EXPECTED TO BE AN INCH OR LESS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT THE TYPE OF PRECIPITATION AND ANY
ACCUMULATIONS THEY ARE RECEIVING TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

&&

MORE INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED AT THE FOLLOWING WEB PAGE:
   HTTP://WWW.CRH.NOAA.GOV/TOP  (ALL LOWER CASE)

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

23 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Anderson

When: January 25, 12:05 AM CST to January 26, 10:00 AM CST
Where: Anderson forecast zone
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 38.214, -95.293 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Brown

When: January 25, 12:05 AM CST to January 26, 10:00 AM CST
Where: Brown forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.827, -95.564 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Clay

When: January 25, 12:05 AM CST to January 26, 10:00 AM CST
Where: Clay forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.350, -97.165 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Cloud

When: January 25, 12:05 AM CST to January 26, 10:00 AM CST
Where: Cloud forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.480, -97.649 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Coffey

When: January 25, 12:05 AM CST to January 26, 10:00 AM CST
Where: Coffey forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 38.237, -95.734 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Dickinson

When: January 25, 12:05 AM CST to January 26, 10:00 AM CST
Where: Dickinson forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 38.867, -97.153 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Douglas

When: January 25, 12:05 AM CST to January 26, 10:00 AM CST
Where: Douglas forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 38.885, -95.293 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Franklin

When: January 25, 12:05 AM CST to January 26, 10:00 AM CST
Where: Franklin forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 38.565, -95.286 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Geary

When: January 25, 12:05 AM CST to January 26, 10:00 AM CST
Where: Geary forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.002, -96.752 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Jackson

When: January 25, 12:05 AM CST to January 26, 10:00 AM CST
Where: Jackson forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.417, -95.794 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Jefferson

When: January 25, 12:05 AM CST to January 26, 10:00 AM CST
Where: Jefferson forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.236, -95.383 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Lyon

When: January 25, 12:05 AM CST to January 26, 10:00 AM CST
Where: Lyon forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 38.456, -96.153 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Marshall

When: January 25, 12:05 AM CST to January 26, 10:00 AM CST
Where: Marshall forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.784, -96.523 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Morris

When: January 25, 12:05 AM CST to January 26, 10:00 AM CST
Where: Morris forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 38.687, -96.650 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Nemaha

When: January 25, 12:05 AM CST to January 26, 10:00 AM CST
Where: Nemaha forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.784, -96.014 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Osage

When: January 25, 12:05 AM CST to January 26, 10:00 AM CST
Where: Osage forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 38.652, -95.727 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Ottawa

When: January 25, 12:05 AM CST to January 26, 10:00 AM CST
Where: Ottawa forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.133, -97.650 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Pottawatomie

When: January 25, 12:05 AM CST to January 26, 10:00 AM CST
Where: Pottawatomie forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.379, -96.342 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Republic

When: January 25, 12:05 AM CST to January 26, 10:00 AM CST
Where: Republic forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.828, -97.651 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Riley

When: January 25, 12:05 AM CST to January 26, 10:00 AM CST
Where: Riley forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.297, -96.735 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Shawnee

When: January 25, 12:05 AM CST to January 26, 10:00 AM CST
Where: Shawnee forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.042, -95.756 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Wabaunsee

When: January 25, 12:05 AM CST to January 26, 10:00 AM CST
Where: Wabaunsee forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 38.953, -96.205 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Washington

When: January 25, 12:05 AM CST to January 26, 10:00 AM CST
Where: Washington forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.784, -97.087 (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

Every storm in Kansas in 2004 Every state in 2004 This day in weather history Warnings in Kansas, January 2004

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: 5381410, 5381411, 5381412, 5381413, 5381414, 5381415, 5381416, 5381417, 5381418, 5381419, 5381420, 5381421, 5381422, 5381423, 5381516, 5381517, 5381518, 5381519, 5381520, 5381521, 5381522, 5381523, 5381524.