A backdoor cold front pushed southwestward into portions of Central through Southeast Kansas during the morning hours of April 5th. This front eventually stalled out and interacted with an upper level system to spawn a rather intense and narrow band of snow.
Every event with a place to put it; 13 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 episode as NWS ICT wrote it up.
A backdoor cold front pushed southwestward into portions of Central through Southeast Kansas during the morning hours of April 5th. This front eventually stalled out and interacted with an upper level system to spawn a rather intense and narrow band of snow. The band of snow stretched from Russell and Lincoln counties southeastward, intensified across Saline, McPherson and Marion counties before losing steam across Greenwood and Elk counties. The heaviest, most intense snow fell from southwest Saline County to southeast Marion County and encompassed the northeast two-thirds McPherson County. This area saw 6 to 8 inches of snow.
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 Apr 5, 10:43 AM CST, 1 hour 47 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS 1143 AM CDT THU APR 5 2007 .UPDATE... FORECAST IS PRETTY MUCH ON TRACK...REGARDING TREND IN THE DEVELOPING SNOW ACROSS CENTRAL KANSAS. ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE DEPENDENT ON RATE OF FALL AND AIR/GROUND TEMPERATURES THIS AFTERNOON. HOWEVER LATEST MODEL DATA AND SURFACE OBSERVATIONS SUGGEST WE MAY INDEED APPROACH THE GOING FORECAST AMOUNTS BY VERY LATE IN THE AFTERNOON. KED && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 257 AM CDT THU APR 5 2007/ SYNOPSIS... SHORT-MEDIUM RANGE MODELS IN GOOD AGREEMENT THROUGH SATURDAY. MODELS CONTINUE TO SHOW UPPER PATTERN AMPLIFYING...WITH STRONG POLAR VORTEX BECOMING REINFORCED OVER THE NORTHEAST CONUS AND UPPER RIDGING FROM THE NORTHWESTERN STATES UP THROUGH WESTERN CANADA. A MODIFIED POLAR SURFACE ANTICYCLONE WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD SOUTHWARD FROM SOUTH CENTRAL CANADA THROUGH THE PLAINS. A MID-LEVEL BAROCLINIC ZONE WILL BE DRAPED ACROSS THE CENTRAL PLAINS IN A NW-SE ORIENTED ALIGNMENT. DISCUSSION... MAIN FORECAST CONCERNS ARE PRECIPITATION TYPE/AMOUNTS TODAY INTO TONIGHT...AND OTHERWISE TEMPERATURES OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS. TODAY-SATURDAY: SHORTWAVE TROF MOVING INTO WY EARLY THIS AM (PER SATELLITE) WILL SLIDE SOUTHEASTWARD ACROSS KANSAS TODAY INTO THIS EVENING. GFS AND NAM- WRF INDICATE ABOUT A 3 TO 5 HOUR PERIOD OF STRONG ISENTROPIC LIFT AND MID-LEVEL FN CONVERGENCE (FRONTOGENESIS) WITHIN THE MID-LEVEL BAROCLINIC ZONE AS THE SHORTWAVE MOVES ACROSS. THERE IS ALSO STRONG OMEGA WITHIN THE -12 TO -18 CELSIUS DENDRITIC GROWTH ZONE WITH LAPSE RATES SHOWING SOME INSTABILITY. FORECAST TEMPERATURES (MID-UPPER 30S) AND VERY WARM SOIL TEMPERATURES (50S) ARE GENERALLY POOR FOR ACCUMULATING SNOWFALL IN CENTRAL KS. HOWEVER IF THE SNOW COMES DOWN MODERATE-HEAVY FOR A FEW-SEVERAL HOURS IN CENTRAL KS WHICH IS POSSIBLE...COULD SEE A QUICK INCH OR TWO ACCUMULATION MAINLY ON GRASSY SURFACES. PRUDENCE MAY DICTATE KEEPING CURRENT MARGINAL WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY GOING TODAY GIVEN THE VERY WARM MARCH...AND MAY EXPAND INTO HARVEY/RENO COUNTIES. FURTHER SE INTO OUR FORECAST AREA...JUST NOT CONFIDENT WE WILL EXPERIENCE ANY ACCUMULATIONS WITH EVEN WARMER HIGHS TODAY AND RAIN/SNOW MIX BEFORE CHANGEOVER. MODELS HINT THAT LOW-MID LEVEL CLOUDS MAY LINGER TONIGHT KEEPING LOWS FROM BOTTOMING OUT TOO MUCH. NEVERTHELESS A COLD NIGHT IN STORE (UPPER 20S/LOWER 30S). MID-LEVEL BAROCLINIC ZONE PROGGED TO GRADUALLY SLIDE SOUTHWESTWARD TO OVER THE CENTRAL/SOUTHERN HIGH PLAINS FRIDAY-SATURDAY. THIS SHOULD ALLOW CLOUD COVER TO DIMINISH IN OUR AREA ESPECIALLY FRIDAY NIGHT-SATURDAY. MUCH BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES STILL APPEAR IN STORE FRIDAY-SATURDAY AND A HARD FREEZE LOOKING HIGHLY PROBABLE FRI NIGHT AND SAT NIGHT WITH LOWS WELL DOWN INTO 20S. RECORD LOWS ARE IN JEOPARDY BOTH NIGHTS. SUNDAY-MONDAY: GFS ENSEMBLES BEGIN TO DIVERGE SIGNIFICANTLY FROM THE ECMWF/UKMET REGARDING HANDLING/TIMING OF SOUTHERN STREAM SHORTWAVE TROF IN THE SOUTHWEST. GFS ENSEMBLE MEAN DROPS FEATURE INTO BAJA OF CA WHILE THE UKMET/ECMWF PROGRESSIVELY MOVE THE WAVE INTO THE SOUTHERN PLAINS. FORECAST UNCERTAINTY HIGH REGARDING EVOLUTION OF SOUTHERN BRANCH WAVE. HOWEVER CONFIDENCE IS MEDIUM-HIGH THAT TEMPERATURES WILL MODERATE BACK TOWARD NORMAL SEASONAL VALUES EARLY NEXT WEEK BASED ON MODEL CONSISTENCY IN THIS REGARD. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... WICHITA-KICT 42 29 44 25 / 80 20 10 10 HUTCHINSON 38 28 43 24 / 90 20 10 10 NEWTON 39 28 43 24 / 90 20 10 10 ELDORADO 42 29 43 24 / 80 30 10 10 WINFIELD-KWLD 44 30 44 25 / 80 30 10 10 RUSSELL 35 27 41 23 / 90 20 10 10 GREAT BEND 36 28 42 24 / 90 20 10 10 SALINA 37 27 42 23 / 90 20 10 10 MCPHERSON 37 28 42 24 / 90 20 10 10 COFFEYVILLE 46 29 44 25 / 70 40 10 10 CHANUTE 45 28 43 24 / 70 40 10 10 IOLA 45 28 42 24 / 70 40 10 10 PARSONS-KPPF 46 29 43 24 / 70 40 10 10 && .ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR KSZ032- 033-047>052-067-068. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS 459 AM CDT THU APR 5 2007 KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-061100- 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- 459 AM CDT THU APR 5 2007 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL KANSAS... SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS AND SOUTHEAST KANSAS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT ACCUMULATING SNOWFALL IS LIKELY ACROSS A LARGE PORTION OF CENTRAL KANSAS AND PART OF SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS TODAY. PLEASE REFER TO OUR WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR DETAILS. A MIX OF RAIN AND SNOW IS EXPECTED ACROSS THE REST OF THE AREA TODAY INTO THIS EVENING...WITH LITTLE OR NO ACCUMULATION. LOW TEMPERATURES TONIGHT WILL BE IN THE UPPER 20S TO LOWER 30S AREAWIDE. THIS WILL RESULT IN A CHANCE FOR A KILLING FREEZE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY DURING THE EARLY MORNING HOURS...BOTH SATURDAY AND SUNDAY...NEAR RECORD LOW TEMPERATURES WELL DOWN IN THE 20S ARE FORECAST. THIS WILL RESULT IN A HIGH PROBABILITY OF A KILLING FREEZE. ON TUESDAY...THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS CENTRAL AND SOUTHEASTERN KANSAS. IT IS TOO EARLY TO DETERMINE IF ANY OF THESE STORMS WILL BE SEVERE. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED. && FOR A GRAPHICAL VERSION OF THIS INFORMATION...SEE OUR WEBPAGE AT (LOWERCASE) HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/WICHITA/HWO/HWO.PHP JMC
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
1254 PM CDT THU APR 05 2007
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1251 PM SNOW 8 WNW BROOKVILLE 38.82N 98.00W
04/05/2007 M1.5 INCH ELLSWORTH KS TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
KEDPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
100 PM CDT THU APR 05 2007
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1258 PM SNOW RUSSELL 38.89N 98.85W
04/05/2007 E1.0 INCH RUSSELL KS LAW ENFORCEMENT
HEAVY SNOW AT TIME OF OBSERVATION. ROADS SNOW PACKED
NORTH OF RUSSELL.
&&
KEDPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
103 PM CDT THU APR 05 2007
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1200 PM SNOW LINCOLN 39.04N 98.15W
04/05/2007 E1.0 INCH LINCOLN KS LAW ENFORCEMENT
ROADS SNOW PACKED AND SLUSHY IN SOUTHWEST PART OF COUNTY.
&&
KEDPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
104 PM CDT THU APR 05 2007
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0100 PM SNOW LINCOLN 39.04N 98.15W
04/05/2007 E1.0 INCH LINCOLN KS LAW ENFORCEMENT
ROADS SNOW PACKED AND SLUSHY IN SOUTHWEST PART OF COUNTY.
&&
KEDPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
108 PM CDT THU APR 05 2007
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0107 PM SNOW N LUCAS 39.06N 98.54W
04/05/2007 M1.5 INCH RUSSELL KS TRAINED SPOTTER
SNOW IS COVERING GRASS AND STREETS ARE SLICK.
&&
BRWPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
117 PM CDT THU APR 05 2007
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0115 PM SNOW 5 SW ASH GROVE 39.11N 98.40W
04/05/2007 M1.5 INCH LINCOLN KS TRAINED SPOTTER
OBSERVER REPORTING 1/4 MILE VISIBILITY AND SNOW COVERED
STREETS.
&&
BRWThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
10 winter weather, 3 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
A trained spotter measured 6 inches of wet snow in Brookeville.
The public reported an estimated 8 inches of snow in Lindborg and 7 inches of snow 7 miles north of McPherson. Trained spotters measured 7 inches 7 miles north of Moundridge and 6.5 inches 7 miles north-northeast of McPherson. The snow cause numerous accidents. Most of the accidents were minor and did not cause any damage. One accident was serious as the car flipped over several times injuring the driver. He was transported to Hutchinson Hospital in serious condition. The Hutchinson Times contributed to this report.
A trained spotter reported 6.5 inches of snow.
A trained spotter measured 4 inches of snow in Russell.
The public reported 4 inches of snow in Sylvan Grove.
A trained spotter measured 5 inches of snow in Kanopolis.
A trained spotter measured 2.5 inches of snow 1 mile north of Little River.
A trained spotter measured 4 inches of snow in Hesston.
A trained spotter measured 5 inches of snow 6 miles south-southwest of Cassoday.
A trained spotter measured 2.3 inches of snow 4 miles northeast of Valley Center.
A trained spotter measured 1.5 inches of snow in Cottonwood Falls.
A trained spotter measured 3 inches of snow 5 miles north-northeast of Severy.
A trained spotter measured 2.5 inches of snow 5 miles southwest of Howard.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kansas in 2007Every state in 2007This day in weather historyWarnings in Kansas, April 2007
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: 21915, 21916, 21917, 21921, 21923, 21925, 21926, 21930, 21931, 21932, 21933, 21935, 21936.