Kansas, 2008Winter Weather in Kansas, December 16, 2008
December 16, 2008 · NWS TOP · 3 events in 3 counties and zones
Isentropic ascent coupled with forcing aloft in the form of the left exit quadrant of an upper level jet streak offered large scale lift across the forecast area, and helped to produce a widespread snowfall event across the local area. Snow totals were generally in the one to three inch range, although a handful of cooperative observers north of an Ottawa to Jackson County line offered…
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.
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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 10
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 3
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.
Isentropic ascent coupled with forcing aloft in the form of the left exit quadrant of an upper level jet streak offered large scale lift across the forecast area, and helped to produce a widespread snowfall event across the local area. Snow totals were generally in the one to three inch range, although a handful of cooperative observers north of an Ottawa to Jackson County line offered accumulation reports up to four or five inches. Numerous vehicle accidents were reported, with only a few minor injuries included. Specific counties mentioned within this episode were those that offered an accident and injury count.
Winter Weather, Lyon
- When
- December 16, 1:00 AM CST to 5:10 PM CST
- Where
- Lyon forecast zone
- Injuries
- 0 direct, 1 indirect
- Reported by
- Newspaper
- Coordinates
- 38.456, -96.153 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
One to nearly three an a half inches of snow was reported to have fallen across the county. Several accidents were reported by law enforcement to have occurred across the county. One woman was transported to the hospital after her vehicle struck a parked semi just before 11am CST. The majority of the seven accidents reported on the 16th actually occurred after the snow ceased falling around the noon CST hour.
Winter Weather, Wabaunsee
- When
- December 16, 3:00 AM CST to 4:30 PM CST
- Where
- Wabaunsee forecast zone
- Injuries
- 0 direct, 2 indirect
- Reported by
- Newspaper
- Coordinates
- 38.953, -96.205 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Two separate accidents resulted in the injury of two individuals in Wabaunsee County on the 16th. Three to four inches of snow was reported to have fallen across the county.
Winter Weather, Shawnee
- When
- December 16, 4:00 AM CST to 3:00 PM CST
- Where
- Shawnee forecast zone
- Injuries
- 0 direct, 7 indirect
- Reported by
- Newspaper
- Coordinates
- 39.042, -95.756 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Eighty-nine traffic accidents were reported in the Topeka area on the 16th as a result of the slick road conditions. A portion of the turnpike between Wanamaker and 21st Street in Topeka was closed for a portion of the morning. Further east on the turnpike, three accidents were reported to the west of the Lecompton exit ramp, one of which involved eight vehicles. Five injuries were reported. Another accident in the early afternoon resulted in two injuries. Between one and three inches of snow fell across the county.
- Winter Weather
- Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Winter Weather in Indiana, December 16 to 17, 20082 deaths · 2 injured · 1 event
- Winter Weather in Illinois, December 16, 20081 death · 1 event
- Winter Weather in Pennsylvania, December 16 to 17, 20084 injured · 8 events
- Winter Weather in Kentucky, December 16 to 17, 200822 events
- Winter Weather in Iowa, December 16, 200821 events
- Winter Weather in Wisconsin, December 16 to 17, 200820 events
- Winter Weather in Illinois, December 16 to 17, 200819 events
- Winter Weather in Illinois, December 16, 200813 events
- Winter Weather in Missouri, December 16 to 17, 200811 events
- Avalanche in California, December 16, 20081 injured · 1 event
- Winter Weather in New Jersey, December 16 to 17, 20087 events
- Winter Storm and Winter Weather in West Virginia, December 16 to 17, 20086 events
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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 148537, 148538, 148545.