3 winter storm, as filed by the National Weather Service.
Every event with a place to put it; 3 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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 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 Wichita, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 5, 4:02 AM CST, 58 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS 402 AM CST WED JAN 5 2005 .DISCUSSION... MAIN CONCERN STILL REVOLVES AROUND WINTER STORM CURRENTLY AFFECTING AREA. TODAY: VERY IMPRESSIVE ICE STORM CURRENTLY AFFECTING ALL OF FORECAST AREA AS I TYPE THIS. THERE HAS BEEN A WIDE VARIETY OF PRECIP OCCURRING ACROSS THE AREA. HERE AT ICT SOME SNOW STARTED TO MIX IN AROUND 11 PM OR SO, WHICH WAS FASTER THAN WE THOUGHT. SINCE THEN WE HAVE GONE FROM A MIX OF ICE PELLETS AND SNOW. FEEL THAT THIS TRANSITION WILL OCCUR OVER SOUTHEAST KANSAS TODAY AS IMPRESSIVE FETCH OF PRECIP EXTENDS ALL THE WAY BACK INTO NW TX. THIS AREA OF PRECIP LOOKS TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH AN IMPRESSIVE COUPLED JET. SINCE THIS BAND OF PRECIP IS NOT EXPECTED TO GO AWAY ANYTIME SOON, WILL UPGRADE BOTH LABETTE AND MONTGOMERY TO WARNINGS. FEEL THEY SHOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM GETTING A QUARTER INCH OF ICE AND SHOULD ALSO SEE THE SAME POWER OUTAGE PROBLEMS THAT HAS OCCURRED OVER THE REST OF THE FORECAST AREA. WILL ALSO KEEP THE COUNTIES UNDER A FLOOD WARNING GOING AS RAIN WILL STILL BE OCCURRING OVER SE KS WELL AFTER THE PACKAGE GOES OUT. THE SURPRISE OF THE NIGHT SO FAR IS THAT THE SNOW SHUT OFF OVER CENTRAL KS AS DRY SLOT HAS MOVED IN. THE ETA, WHICH IS NOT DOING TOO BAD OF A JOB WITH CURRENT PRECIP, IS SHOWING ADDITIONAL LIFT MOVING INTO CENTRAL KS TODAY. IN ADDITION SHORTWAVE TROUGH ACTUALLY TAKES A MORE NEGATIVE TILT TOWARD SUNRISE WHICH MAY ENHANCE LIFT. THEREFORE WILL KEEP WARNING IN AFFECT BUT MAY BACK OFF AMOUNTS A BIT. TEMPS WILL BE DOWNRIGHT COLD TODAY AS TODAYS HIGHS WILL OCCUR RIGHT AT SUNRISE. GUSTY NORTH WINDS WILL DROP WIND CHILL VALUES TO BELOW ZERO FOR MUCH OF THE DAY, ESPECIALLY OVER CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL KS. TONIGHT-FRI: UPPER WAVE IS EXPECTED TO PUSH OFF TO THE EAST TONIGHT LEAVING FRIGID TEMPS BEHIND. NEGATIVE TEMPS WILL BE LIKELY OVER CENTRAL KS TONIGHT WITH SINGLE DIGITS ELSEWHERE. SURFACE HIGH IS FORECAST TO SLIP SOUTH THU AND THU NIGHT AS UPPER FLOW FLATTENS OUT WITH ANOTHER SHORTWAVE TRACKING ACROSS THE NORTHERN PLAINS. HIGHS THU WILL CONTINUE TO BE COOL AND ARE EXPECTED TO BE AROUND 20 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL. TEMPS ARE EXPECTED TO GET CLOSE TO NORMAL VALUES BY FRI WITH NO PRECIP ON THE WAY. SAT-TUE: IF THERE IS A SILVER LINING TO THIS FORECAST IT IS THAT MILD WEATHER ARE ON THE WAY. MED RANGE MODELS STILL AGREEING ON A FAIRLY ZONAL UPPER AIR PATTERN SETTING UP WITH SOME LEE SIDE TROUGHING FORMING. THIS WILL RESULT IN SOME GOOD DOWNSLOPE FLOW OVER THE AREA THROUGH MUCH OF THESE PERIODS. HAVE BEEN GOING QUITE A BIT ABOVE GUIDANCE FOR THE LAST FEW NIGHTS AND WILL CONTINUE THIS. FIND IT INTERESTING THAT GUIDANCE VALUES CONTINUE TO WARM SO MAYBE IT IS FINALLY STARTING TO GET AWAY FROM CLIMO AND PICKING UP ON HOW WARM IT WILL BE. NEEDLESS TO SAY, LEFT ALL OF THESE PERIODS DRY. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... WICHITA-KICT 20 4 21 19 / 80 10 0 0 HUTCHINSON 17 4 21 18 / 80 10 0 0 NEWTON 19 4 21 18 / 80 10 0 0 ELDORADO 21 7 23 19 / 90 10 0 0 WINFIELD-KWLD 25 7 25 20 / 100 10 0 0 RUSSELL 9 -4 20 14 / 70 20 0 0 GREAT BEND 11 1 19 15 / 70 10 0 0 SALINA 15 1 20 17 / 90 20 0 0 MCPHERSON 16 3 21 17 / 80 20 0 0 COFFEYVILLE 33 11 25 20 / 100 20 0 0 CHANUTE 29 8 23 19 / 100 20 0 0 IOLA 28 8 23 19 / 100 20 0 0 && .ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...WINTER STORM WARNING FOR ALL OF FORECAST AREA THROUGH NOON. && 7/LAWSON
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS 245 PM CST TUE JAN 4 2005 KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-051200- RUSSELL-LINCOLN-BARTON-ELLSWORTH-SALINE-RICE-MCPHERSON-MARION-CHASE- RENO-HARVEY-BUTLER-GREENWOOD-WOODSON-ALLEN-KINGMAN-SEDGWICK-HARPER- SUMNER-COWLEY-ELK-WILSON-NEOSHO-CHAUTAUQUA-MONTGOMERY-LABETTE- 245 PM CST TUE JAN 4 2005 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST KANSAS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A STRONG STORM SYSTEM WILL BRING A WIDE VARIETY OF HAZARDS TO ALL OF THE FORECAST AREA. FLOODING COULD ALSO BECOME A PROBLEM FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN AND SOUTHEAST KANSAS TONIGHT, AS RAIN PERSISTS. PLEASE SEE LATEST WINTER STORM WARNINGS AND WATCHES FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY WINTER STORM WILL STILL BE AFFECTING MUCH OF THE AREA WEDNESDAY, AS FREEZING RAIN CHANGES OVER TO SNOW. AGAIN, PLEASE SEE LATEST WINTER STORM WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES FOR DETAILS ON POSSIBLE AMOUNTS OF ICE AND SNOW. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... REPORTS OF ICE AND SNOW ACCUMULATIONS WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED TODAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. && FOR A GRAPHICAL VERSION OF THIS INFORMATION, SEE OUR WEBPAGE AT (LOWERCASE) HTTP://WWW.CRH.NOAA.GOV/ICT/HWO/HWOICT.HTM LAWSON/JAKUB
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
221 AM CST WED JAN 05 2005
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0200 AM SNOW LINCOLN 39.04N 98.15W
01/05/2005 2.0 INCH LINCOLN KS LAW ENFORCEMENT
0200 AM SNOW RUSSELL 38.89N 98.85W
01/05/2005 0.0 INCH RUSSELL KS LAW ENFORCEMENT
SNOW DEPTH 2 TO 4 INCHES.
&&
BDKPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
313 AM CST WED JAN 05 2005
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0220 AM SNOW SALINA 38.82N 97.62W
01/05/2005 0.0 INCH SALINE KS AMATEUR RADIO
TRACE OF ACCUMULATION.
0235 AM SLEET WINFIELD 37.27N 96.97W
01/05/2005 0.25 INCH COWLEY KS LAW ENFORCEMENT
.25 TO .50 OF ACCUMALATION
0240 AM SLEET UDALL 37.39N 97.12W
01/05/2005 1.00 INCH COWLEY KS LAW ENFORCEMENT
0300 AM FLASH FLOOD ALTOONA 37.19N 95.29W
01/05/2005 LABETTE KS AMATEUR RADIO
COUNTY ROADS IMPASSIBLE DUE TO HIGH WATER.
&&
BDKPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
319 AM CST WED JAN 05 2005
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0300 AM FLASH FLOOD ALTAMONT 37.19N 95.29W
01/05/2005 LABETTE KS AMATEUR RADIO
COUNTY ROADS IMPASSIBLE DUE TO HIGH WATER.
&&
BDKPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
339 AM CST WED JAN 05 2005
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0320 AM SLEET EUREKA 37.82N 96.29W
01/05/2005 1.50 INCH GREENWOOD KS LAW ENFORCEMENT
0325 AM SLEET AUGUSTA 37.69N 96.98W
01/05/2005 0.50 INCH BUTLER KS LAW ENFORCEMENT
0330 AM SLEET YATES CENTER 37.87N 95.74W
01/05/2005 0.00 INCH WOODSON KS AMATEUR RADIO
1 TO 2 INCHES ACCUMULATION.
0330 AM FREEZING RAIN ANTHONY 37.15N 98.03W
01/05/2005 0.00 INCH HARPER KS LAW ENFORCEMENT
1/2 INCH OF ICE ON THE TREES.
0330 AM SLEET EUREKA 37.82N 96.29W
01/05/2005 1.50 INCH GREENWOOD KS LAW ENFORCEMENT
0330 AM SLEET ANTHONY 37.15N 98.03W
01/05/2005 0.50 INCH HARPER KS LAW ENFORCEMENT
&&
BDKPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
431 AM CST WED JAN 05 2005
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0420 AM SLEET WINFIELD 37.27N 96.97W
01/05/2005 1.00 INCH COWLEY KS LAW ENFORCEMENT
&&
RBLPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
435 AM CST WED JAN 05 2005
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0135 AM FREEZING RAIN SEDAN 37.13N 96.18W
01/05/2005 0.05 INCH CHAUTAUQUA KS AMATEUR RADIO
FREEZING ON ELEVATED SURFACES.
0140 AM FREEZING RAIN IOLA 37.93N 95.40W
01/05/2005 0.10 INCH ALLEN KS LAW ENFORCEMENT
ELEVATED SURFACES FREEZING.
0140 AM ICE STORM EL DORADO 37.82N 96.86W
01/05/2005 BUTLER KS EMERGENCY MNGR
ENTIRE TREES DOWN DUE TO ICE ACCUMULATION, BLOCKING
COUNTY ROADS. POWER OUTAGES TOO NUMEROUS TO COUNT.
0200 AM SNOW RUSSELL 38.89N 98.85W
01/05/2005 0.0 INCH RUSSELL KS LAW ENFORCEMENT
SNOW DEPTH 2 TO 4 INCHES.
0200 AM SNOW LINCOLN 39.04N 98.15W
01/05/2005 2.0 INCH LINCOLN KS LAW ENFORCEMENT
0220 AM SNOW SALINA 38.82N 97.62W
01/05/2005 0.0 INCH SALINE KS AMATEUR RADIO
TRACE OF ACCUMULATION.
0235 AM SLEET WINFIELD 37.27N 96.97W
01/05/2005 0.25 INCH COWLEY KS LAW ENFORCEMENT
.25 TO .50 OF ACCUMALATION
0240 AM SLEET UDALL 37.39N 97.12W
01/05/2005 1.00 INCH COWLEY KS LAW ENFORCEMENT
0300 AM FLASH FLOOD ALTAMONT 37.19N 95.29W
01/05/2005 LABETTE KS AMATEUR RADIO
COUNTY ROADS IMPASSIBLE DUE TO HIGH WATER.
0320 AM SLEET EUREKA 37.82N 96.29W
01/05/2005 1.50 INCH GREENWOOD KS LAW ENFORCEMENT
0325 AM SLEET AUGUSTA 37.69N 96.98W
01/05/2005 0.50 INCH BUTLER KS LAW ENFORCEMENT
0330 AM FREEZING RAIN ANTHONY 37.15N 98.03W
01/05/2005 0.00 INCH HARPER KS LAW ENFORCEMENT
1/2 INCH OF ICE ON THE TREES.
0330 AM SLEET YATES CENTER 37.87N 95.74W
01/05/2005 0.00 INCH WOODSON KS AMATEUR RADIO
1 TO 2 INCHES ACCUMULATION.
0330 AM SLEET ANTHONY 37.15N 98.03W
01/05/2005 0.50 INCH HARPER KS LAW ENFORCEMENT
0330 AM SLEET EUREKA 37.82N 96.29W
01/05/2005 1.50 INCH GREENWOOD KS LAW ENFORCEMENT
0420 AM SLEET WINFIELD 37.27N 96.97W
01/05/2005 1.00 INCH COWLEY KS LAW ENFORCEMENT
&&
RBLThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
3 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
The same winter storm that ravaged all of Central, South-Central, & much of Southeast Kansas continued to spread a mixture of sleet and freezing rain into Woodson, Allen, & Chautauqua counties throughout the day. Trained spotters also provided numerous reports during this event.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kansas in 2005Every state in 2005This day in weather historyWarnings in Kansas, January 2005
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: 5432895, 5432896, 5432897.