Kansas, 2008

Winter Weather in Kansas, December 18, 2008

December 18, 2008 · NWS ICT · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

Warm and moist air overrunning a retreating cold airmass resulted in widespread freezing drizzle, freezing rain and fog across south-central and southeast Kansas during the predawn and morning hours of December 18th. While only minor ice accumulations occurred, it was enough to cause 3 known injury car accidents.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
5
Property damage
$60,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
2

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 ICT wrote it up.

Warm and moist air overrunning a retreating cold airmass resulted in widespread freezing drizzle, freezing rain and fog across south-central and southeast Kansas during the predawn and morning hours of December 18th. While only minor ice accumulations occurred, it was enough to cause 3 known injury car accidents.

The radar

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

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Event by event

2 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Weather, Allen

When
December 18, 12:00 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
Where
Allen forecast zone
Injuries
0 direct, 3 indirect
Property damage
$25,000
Reported by
Newspaper
Coordinates
37.886, -95.301 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Icy roads due to freezing drizzle and fog during the early morning hours resulted in an injury car accident one-quarter mile south of Arkansas Road on 1200 Street, about 4 miles south of Humboldt. A Humboldt woman lost control of her vehicle while traveling southbound on 1200 Street. She eventually struck a Humboldt man in his vehicle, and finally collided head-on with a Chanute man in his vehicle. Information courtesy of the Humboldt Union.

Winter Weather, Harper

When
December 18, 12:00 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
Where
Harper forecast zone
Injuries
0 direct, 2 indirect
Property damage
$35,000
Reported by
Newspaper
Coordinates
37.192, -98.075 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Icy roads due to freezing drizzle and foggy conditions during the early morning hours resulted in two injury accidents. The first one occurred just before 9 am when a 33 year old Belle Plaine man lost control of his pickup on a Highway 160 bridge about 12 miles east of Harper. The man was ejected from the cab after the pickup rolled several times. The second accident occurred about 20 minutes later at nearly the same location. A Harper man was driving a semi truck westbound on Highway 160 when he saw the previous accident ahead of him. When he started braking, the semi slid into the ditch. Information courtesy of the Harper Advocate.

What these are

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.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Kansas in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Kansas, December 2008

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 146874, 146875.