A slow moving storm system tracked across north Texas into Arkansas. Northeast Kansas was on the far northwest fringe of the storm system.
Every event with a place to put it; 8 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 TOP wrote it up.
A slow moving storm system tracked across north Texas into Arkansas. Northeast Kansas was on the far northwest fringe of the storm system. The southerly track and mild temperatures in the 30 to 35 degree range helped to mitigate the impacts of the heavy wet snow that fell across parts of the area. In a nutshell, areas along and southeast of the Kansas Turnpike from Wichita to Emporia to Topeka and east toward Kansas City all received several inches or more of wet snow. The snow began during the late evening of February 25th and ended by midday on the 26th.
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 Topeka, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 25, 5:44 PM CST, 1 hour 16 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS 544 PM CST MON FEB 25 2013 ...UPDATE TO AVIATION... .DISCUSSION... TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY... MAIN FOCUS FOR THE SHORT TERM IS ON THE EXPECTED IMPACTS OF THE STRONG WINTER STORM THAT WILL BE CONTINUING TO SPREAD ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA TONIGHT THROUGH TOMORROW. AS OF MID AFTERNOON...WATER VAPOR IMAGERY SHOWS THE ROTATION OF THE SURFACE LOW OVER NORTHERN TEXAS NEAR THE OKLAHOMA BORDER. A DRY SLOT WAS WORKING ITS WAY IN ACROSS EASTERN OKLAHOMA WHILE A LINE OF MOISTURE STRETCHED FROM LOUISIANA NORTHWARD INTO SOUTHWEST MISSOURI AND SOUTHEAST KANSAS...WRAPPING AROUND THE NORTHERN EDGE OF THE SYSTEM OVER SOUTHERN KANSAS. THIS NORTHERN EXTENT OF THE PRECIPITATION DEVELOPED SOME NARROW BANDS OF LIGHT TO MODERATE SNOW ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL...SOUTHEAST AND EAST CENTRAL KANSAS THIS AFTERNOON AS THESE BANDS PIVOTED CYCLONICALLY AROUND THE UPPER LOW. THERMAL PROFILES HAVE BEEN COOL ENOUGH TO KEEP MOST OF THIS PRECIPITATION IN THE FORM OF SNOW. MODELS SHOW THE UPPER LOW BEGINNING TO SHIFT MORE NORTHEAST IN ITS TRACK BY EARLY THIS EVENING...WHICH WILL LIFT THE SYSTEM FURTHER NORTH TOWARD THE REGION. MODELS CONTINUE TO SHOW MODEST MOISTURE BEING ADVECTED INTO THE NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE SYSTEM. THIS DECENT SATURATION COMBINED WITH GOOD ISENTROPIC LIFT HIGHLIGHTED THROUGH THE 280K TO 300K SURFACES AND A STRONG TROWAL SIGNATURE COULD CERTAINLY LEAD TO PERIODS OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOWFALL AFTER 00Z AND PRIMARILY DURING THE 06Z-12Z TIME FRAME. THE AREA THAT WILL LIKELY RECEIVE THE MOST SNOWFALL CONTINUES TO LOOK GENERALLY ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE KANSAS TURNPIKE AND ALONG AND EAST OF I-35...WHERE MODELS ALSO SHOW DECENT FRONTOGENETICAL FORCING PRESENT TO SUPPORT SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS. THERE IS STILL SOME UNCERTAINTY REGARDING HOW MUCH SNOW WILL BE ABLE TO REACH INTO EXTREME NORTHERN/NORTHEAST KANSAS AND BE ABLE TO OVERCOME THE SOMEWHAT DRIER CONDITIONS IN PLACE TOWARD THE NEBRASKA BORDER. STILL ANTICIPATE A VERY TIGHT GRADIENT OF SNOWFALL SOMEWHERE ACROSS THE CENTRAL PORTIONS OF OUR CWA DUE TO THE VERY FOCUSED AREA OF BEST MOISTURE AND LIFT. NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS MAY ONLY RECEIVE LIGHT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES WHILE PORTIONS OF FAR EAST CENTRAL KANSAS...AGAIN GENERALLY EAST OF I-35 AND SOUTH OF THE TURNPIKE...COULD SEE UPWARDS OF 12-14 INCHES. AS THE SYSTEM GRADUALLY CONTINUES TO LIFT EASTWARD TOWARD THE OHIO RIVER VALLEY...EXPECT THE MODERATE SNOW ACROSS EAST CENTRAL KANSAS TO DIMINISH BY MID TO LATE MORNING...WITH LIGHT SNOW PERSISTING ACROSS MUCH OF THE FORECAST AREA /WITH THE EXCEPTION OF FAR NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS/ THROUGH THE AFTERNOON HOURS. ONE OF THE CONCERNS WITH THIS SYSTEM IN ADDITION TO SOME HIGH SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE THE STRONG NORTHERLY WINDS THAT WILL STEADILY BE INCREASING THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE AFTERNOON. AS THE PRESSURE GRADIENT TIGHTENS ACROSS THE REGION FROM THE LIFTING SURFACE LOW...SUSTAINED WINDS OF AT LEAST 10-20MPH CAN BE EXPECTED WITH GUSTS UPWARDS OF 30-35MPH. THESE GUSTY WINDS WILL RESULT IN BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW...AND NEAR WHITE OUT CONDITIONS ARE CERTAINLY POSSIBLE. ACH TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY... TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY...THE UPPER LOW THAT PROVIDED FOR THE HEAVIER SNOW CHANCES ACROSS EASTERN KS TUESDAY MORNING WILL LIFT NORTHEAST ACROSS THE MID MS RIVER VALLEY INTO CENTRAL OH. A SECONDARY UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WILL DIG EAST-SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE CENTRAL PLAINS AND PROVIDE THE CWA WITH ANOTHER CHANCE FOR LIGHT SNOW TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING. TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE AROUND 1 INCH ALONG AND NORTH OF I-70...WITH NEARLY TWO INCHES ALONG THE NE BORDER. THE SOUTHERN COUNTIES WILL ONLY SEE A DUSTING UP TO 1 INCH. HIGHS WEDNESDAY WILL ONLY REACH THE LOWER TO MID 30S. WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY...A DEEPER LONGER WAVE LENGTH H5 TROUGH WILL DEVELOP ACROSS THE EASTERN CONUS. NORTHWESTERLY FLOW ALOFT WILL KEEP DRY BUT COOL CONDITIONS THROUGH THE PERIOD. HIGHS WILL BE IN THE 30S. LOWS WILL BE IN THE TEENS TO LOWER 20S. SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY...THE UPPER FLOW WILL BECOME ZONAL AND AN H5 TROUGH WILL APPROACH THE HIGH PLAINS. THERE MAY BE ENOUGH WAA AHEAD OF APPROACHING H5 TROUGH FOR LIGHT RAIN SHOWERS OR PERHAPS LIGHT RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS. THE ECMWF SHOWS THE H5 TROUGH OVER THE HIGH PLAINS DIGGING EAST-SOUTHEAST ACROSS EASTERN KS ON TUESDAY WHICH MAY PROVIDE A BETTER CHANCE FOR PRECIPITATION. GARGAN && .AVIATION... DEGRADING CONDITIONS EXPECTED THROUGH THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS AS LIFT AND SATURATION TAKE PLACE. SEEMS VISIBILITIES MAY BE THE PRIMARY ISSUE WITH THE STRONGER WINDS AND SNOW COMBINING...BUT LIFR CIGS AND VISBYS SEEM LIKELY ENOUGH FOR INCLUSION IN THE PRIMARY HEAVIEST PRECIPITATION WINDOW FROM ROUGHLY 05Z TO 11Z. CONDITIONS MAY MEET A MORE TEMPORARY DEFINITION FOR MUCH OF THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS AS THE SATURATION TAKES PLACE. 65 && .TOP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL NOON CST TUESDAY FOR KSZ024-026- 035>040-054>056-058-059. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL NOON CST TUESDAY FOR KSZ008>012- 020>023-034. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS 349 PM CST MON FEB 25 2013 KSZ008>012-020>024-026-034>040-054>056-058-059-262200- REPUBLIC-WASHINGTON-MARSHALL-NEMAHA-BROWN-CLOUD-CLAY-RILEY- POTTAWATOMIE-JACKSON-JEFFERSON-OTTAWA-DICKINSON-GEARY-MORRIS- WABAUNSEE-SHAWNEE-DOUGLAS-LYON-OSAGE-FRANKLIN-COFFEY-ANDERSON- 349 PM CST MON FEB 25 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL...NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST KANSAS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. A POWERFUL WINTER STORM WILL MOVE ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PLAINS TONIGHT INTO TUESDAY. PERIODS OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW ARE WILL DEVELOP OVER NORTHEAST KANSAS...MAINLY THIS EVENING AND THROUGH THE MID MORNING HOURS OF TUESDAY. THE SNOWFALL SHOULD TAPER OFF BY TUESDAY AFTERNOON. HEAVY SNOWFALL AMOUNTS OF 11 TO 13 INCHES APPEAR POSSIBLE... ESPECIALLY ALONG AND SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 35. BETWEEN INTERSTATE 35 AND INTERSTATE 70...SNOWFALL AMOUNTS RANGE FROM 5 TO 11 INCHES. EXPECT 1 TO 5 INCHES OF SNOWFALL TO THE NORTH AND WEST OF AN ABILENE...TO MANHATTAN...TO HOLTON LINE. STRONG WINDS IN COMBINATION WITH THE LIGHT TO HEAVY SNOW WILL LIKELY CAUSE NEAR WHITE OUT CONDITIONS...MAINLY TONIGHT AND EARLY TUESDAY MORNING ACROSS MOST OF THE FORECAST AREA. PLEASE REFER TO WINTER STORM WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES ISSUED FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. MODERATE SNOW WILL LIKELY BE ONGOING EARLY TUESDAY MORNING ALONG AND SOUTHEAST OF THE KANSAS TURNPIKE...BUT WILL GRADUALLY LIGHTEN UP THROUGH THE DAY ON TUESDAY. LIGHT SNOW MAY PERSIST ACROSS MOST OF THE FORECAST AREA THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING WITH SOME MINOR SNOW ACCUMULATIONS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED THROUGH TONIGHT.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
8 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
COOP observer and EM reported 6 to 8 inches of wet snow across the county from the winter storm. Included a 7 inch report from Garnett.
COOP observer and EM reported 4 to 8 inches of wet snow across the county from the winter storm. Included a 7 inch report near Le Roy.
NWS employee who lives in Lawrence reported 7 inches of heavy wet snow. EM reported 4 to 8 inches of wet snow across the county from the winter storm. The heaviest snows occurred in the southeast half of the county.
EM reported 4 to 8 inches of wet snow across the county from the winter storm. COOP observer reported 6 inches in Lane. A bit of sleet was also reported early in the storm during the late afternoon and evening of February 25th.
EM reported 6 to 10 inches of wet snow across the county from the winter storm. COOP observer reported 8 inches in Reading. A bit of sleet was also reported early in the storm during the late afternoon and evening of February 25th.
Public reports and COOP reported 6 to 12 inches of wet snow across the county from the winter storm. COOP observer reported 10 inches 5 miles southwest of Carbondale. A bit of sleet was also reported early in the storm during the late afternoon and evening of February 25th.
Public reported 4 to 8 inches of wet snow across the far southern portions of the county from the winter storm. 8 inches was reported just south of Auburn in the southwest portion of the county. A bit of sleet was also reported early in the storm during the late afternoon and evening of February 25th. Elsewhere, across the city of Topeka 3 to 4 inches of slushy accumulation occurred.
Public reports indicated that 4 to 8 inches of snow had fallen across the southern portions of the county from the winter storm. The highest amount was a estimate of 8 inches 5 miles east of Williamstown in southern Jefferson County from the public.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kansas in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Kansas, February 2013
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: 426418, 426419, 426421, 426422, 426423, 426424, 426425, 426449.