Kansas, 2010

Winter Weather in Kansas, February 15, 2010

February 15, 2010 · NWS EAX · 1 event in 1 county or zone

An upper level disturbance produced scattered show showers across the area, during the afternoon of February 14th. While not uncommon to experience snow showers of this nature in the winter season, due to the extreme cold pocket of air above the ground and the very intense upward lift, these snow showers were able to produce an incredibly high volume of snow in a short amount of time.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 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
31
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
1

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 EAX wrote it up.

An upper level disturbance produced scattered show showers across the area, during the afternoon of February 14th. While not uncommon to experience snow showers of this nature in the winter season, due to the extreme cold pocket of air above the ground and the very intense upward lift, these snow showers were able to produce an incredibly high volume of snow in a short amount of time. Making matters worse, were surface winds gusting to 35 mph at times. These conditions created near whiteout visibilities, leading to multi-vehicle crashes. One such crash was located on Interstate 70, near Bonner Springs, and involved around 40 vehicles.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Weather, Wyandotte

When
February 15, 1:00 PM CST to 2:00 PM CST
Where
Wyandotte forecast zone
Injuries
0 direct, 31 indirect
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
39.115, -94.764 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A snow squall reduced visibilities to near zero on I-70. A 40 car pileup was reported near Bonner Springs around 1:30 pm with minor injuries (indirect).

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 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyWarnings in Kansas, February 2010

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: 216371.