A major winter storm swept through the Plains, February 25th through the 27th, resulting in the second round of heavy snows, that the region had experienced in under a week. Temperatures near freezing, led to a heavy wet snow, that was slow to accumulate at the onset of the event.
Every event with a place to put it; 26 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 EAX wrote it up.
A major winter storm swept through the Plains, February 25th through the 27th, resulting in the second round of heavy snows, that the region had experienced in under a week. Temperatures near freezing, led to a heavy wet snow, that was slow to accumulate at the onset of the event. However, as snowfall rates increased overnight, snow rapidly began to accumulate, sticking to trees and powerlines and resulting in numerous power outages across the area. Unlike the event from 5 days prior, the heaviest snow fell overnight, and not during the morning commute. This allowed road crews open access to the highways during the peak of the event, even though they still struggled to keep up with snowfall rates, as much as 2 inches per hour. By the time the morning commute rolled around, most roads were snow-covered, but the combination of snow decreasing in intensity, and many more people that chose to sit this one out, the morning commute was not nearly as disastrous as with the February 21 event.
Snowfall totals from around the area, ranged from 15 inches near Sedalia, to only a couple of inches along the Missouri Iowa border.
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 Kansas City, MO wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 25, 5:48 AM CST, 5 hours 12 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KANSAS CITY/PLEASANT HILL MO
548 AM CST Mon Feb 25 2013
...UPDATED AVIATION DISCUSSION...
.DISCUSSION...
Today and Tuesday...
A major winter storm is still anticipated today and Tuesday, with
widespread snowfall totals of 6 to 10 inches expected across all but
far northwest Missouri, and locally higher amounts possible south of
the Missouri River.
Light rain/snow showers may continue to lift through northeast
Kansas and far northwest Missouri this morning; however,
precipitation amounts should be very light. Most short-range models
indicate that the northern extent of these showers in our CWA will
dissipate over the next several hours, and the main area of
precipitation should not lift into the area until after 18z this
afternoon. With warm air already in place ahead of this system,
initial precipitation should be light rain across our southwest,
then beginning to mix with or switch over to snow in far western
Missouri as the precip shield moves northward into slightly colder
air. Snow ratios should be very low this afternoon in areas of all
snow due to a temperature profile only a few degrees below freezing,
and most snow should melt as it hits the above-freezing surface. In
areas of rain/snow mix, snow accumulations will also be minimal.
After 00z Tuesday, the surface low will begin to intensify and wrap
up to our south southeast, allowing for dynamic cooling in the
deformation zone across our area. Rain or a rain/snow mix will
quickly transition to snow between 00z-03z across the area, and
heavier precipitation rates will transition northward as the trowal
develops and lifts into the CWA. By 06z Tuesday, the heaviest snow
should be lifting through the southeastern half of the forecast
area, with snowfall rates of an inch or more per hour possible over
a 6 hour period through 12z Tuesday. The latest model trends have
been to again subtly shift the heaviest precipitation south, so have
decreased snowfall amounts mainly northwest of a line from northern
KC to Chillicothe. The heaviest snow will likely fall in a narrow
band, due to a longer period of mixed rain/snow to the south and
southeast of the CWA, but the highest moisture content also across
the south. Just to the north of the rain/snow mix, the highest
snowfall amounts will occur in a "sweet spot" of longer snowfall
duration and increasing snow ratios but also high QPF.
Model spread increases by the 18z Tuesday to 00z Wednesday timeframe
and some discrepancy exists in the placement of the trowal as it
exits the CWA to the east. Both the 00z GFS and NAM place the
heaviest precipitation across our northeast corner, but the 00z EC
trends a bit further south. The GEM is significantly further south,
but seems to be an outlier in its solution. For now, have kept the
highest snow accumulation on Tuesday afternoon painted across
northeast Missouri, but this may need to be shifted a little further
south if model trends continue this direction. The impact of this
shift would be higher snowfall totals along the latitude of Atlanta
to Macon, but lesser amounts in our far northeast. Total snow
amounts are generally similar to previous forecasts, although the
higher amounts have shifted a little further south. In general,
updated snowfall totals support the continuation of the current
warnings and advisories, although the northwestern tier of counties
in the warning may be a bit marginal.
Laflin
Tuesday Night and Wednesday...
Will still be feeling the after effects of the massive winter storm
during this period, although to a much lesser extent than on Monday
night/Tuesday. Despite the deep surface low being well to the east
of the region and pulling further away with time there will likely
be several vorticity maxima that rotate cyclonically around the
expansive mid/upper circulation. These features will bring periods
of light snow to the region, especially to the northern half of the
CWA. Some light accumulations of snow are expected and should average
around an inch or so. A mature cyclone like this will likely have a
fairly homogeneous temperature field so there will be little diurnal
swings in temperature as well as little gradient across the CWA.
Medium Range (Thursday through Sunday)...
In a relative sense this should be a quiet period. Some lingering
flurries are possible Thursday and Thursday night as a positive
upper trough forms/deepens to the south of the forecast area as the
last of the wrap around moisture departs.
Weak surface high pressure builds in from the north with drier air
filtering in allowing for good nocturnal radiational cooling. With
the new snow pack being several days old by this period its effects
will not be as great but still result in much below average
temperatures...both lows and highs. Sunday may see slightly warmer
temperatures but confidence on any meaningful warming has a very low
probability. Expect to see highs in the 30s and lows in the teens
for the most part. The warmer minimum temperatures for Monday
morning are more a reflection of increased cloud cover from an
approaching upstream shortwave in the northwest flow and warm air
advection aloft.
MJ
&&
.AVIATION...
For the 12z TAFs: VFR conditions are expected to persist through at
least 00z this evening, ahead of an approaching winter storm. Winds
will gradually increase this afternoon and this evening out of the
east northeast, reaching sustained speeds of 15 to 20 kts with gusts
approaching 30 kts by tonight. MVFR to IFR stratus and light snow
will arrive in far eastern Kansas and west central Missouri between
00z-03z this evening, and will spread northeast during the night.
The heaviest snowfall is expected mainly south of the Missouri River
tonight through mid-morning Tuesday, which could reduce visibilities
below one mile and drop ceilings below 500 ft. Blowing snow will also
be likely tonight through Tuesday morning, which may also result in
significant visibility restrictions. Moderate to heavy snowfall will
taper off by Tuesday afternoon or evening, but some light snow may
continue into Tuesday night and Wednesday.
Laflin
&&
.EAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MO...WINTER STORM WARNING from 3 PM this afternoon to 3 PM CST
Tuesday FOR MOZ004-012>014-020>022-028>031-037>039-043>046-
053-054.
WINTER STORM WARNING from 9 PM this evening to 9 PM CST Tuesday
FOR MOZ005>008-015>017-023>025-032-033-040.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY from 3 PM this afternoon to 3 PM CST
Tuesday FOR MOZ001>003-011.
KS...WINTER STORM WARNING from 3 PM this afternoon to 3 PM CST
Tuesday FOR KSZ025-057-060-102>105.
&&
WFO EAXHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KANSAS CITY/PLEASANT HILL MO 533 AM CST MON FEB 25 2013 KSZ025-057-060-102>105-MOZ001>008-011>017-020>025-028>033-037>040- 043>046-053-054-261145- ATCHISON KS-MIAMI-LINN KS-DONIPHAN-LEAVENWORTH-WYANDOTTE-JOHNSON KS- ATCHISON MO-NODAWAY-WORTH-GENTRY-HARRISON-MERCER-PUTNAM-SCHUYLER- HOLT-ANDREW-DE KALB-DAVIESS-GRUNDY-SULLIVAN-ADAIR-BUCHANAN-CLINTON- CALDWELL-LIVINGSTON-LINN MO-MACON-PLATTE-CLAY-RAY-CARROLL-CHARITON- RANDOLPH-JACKSON-LAFAYETTE-SALINE-HOWARD-CASS-JOHNSON MO-PETTIS- COOPER-BATES-HENRY- 533 AM CST MON FEB 25 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHWEST...NORTH CENTRAL AND WEST CENTRAL MISSOURI...AS WELL AS EXTREME EASTERN KANSAS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A MAJOR WINTER STORM IS EXPECTED TO BRING SIGNIFICANT ACCUMULATING SNOWFALL TO MUCH OF THE AREA FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH TUESDAY. A WIDESPREAD SWATH OF 6 TO 10 INCHES IS EXPECTED GENERALLY ALONG AND SOUTH OF LINE FROM ST. JOSEPH TO BETHANY MISSOURI...AND HIGHER AMOUNTS...POSSIBLY IN EXCESS OF 10 TO 12 INCHES...ARE POSSIBLE FROM THE KANSAS CITY METROPOLITAN AREA TO MACON MISSOURI AND AREAS TO THE WEST SOUTHWEST. THE GREATEST RATE OF SNOWFALL WILL OCCUR LATE TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING. THE SNOW WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY STRONG NORTHERLY TO NORTHWESTERLY WINDS TONIGHT AND INTO TUESDAY. THIS WILL LEAD TO AREAS OF BLOWING SNOW...FURTHER REDUCING VISIBILITY DURING THE HEAVIEST PERIODS OF FALLING SNOW AND POSSIBLY LEADING TO WHITEOUT CONDITIONS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH MID MORNING TUESDAY. TRAVEL WILL BE VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE... ESPECIALLY DURING THE MORNING COMMUTE ON TUESDAY. MOST ACCUMULATING SNOW SHOULD GRADUALLY TAPER OFF FROM SOUTHWEST TO NORTHEAST BY TUESDAY AFTERNOON OR EVENING...HOWEVER SOME VERY LIGHT SNOW MAY LINGER THROUGH THE NIGHT AND INTO WEDNESDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED...HOWEVER SNOWFALL REPORTS ARE ALWAYS APPRECIATED. LAFLIN
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
26 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Six and a half inches of snow was measured in Kirksville.
Twelve inches of snow was measured near Ethel.
Twelve inches of snow was measured in Brookfield.
Ten inches of snow was measured near Chillicothe.
Twelve inches of snow was measured at Moberly.
Nine inches of snow was measured at Milan.
Eleven inches of snow was measured in Trenton.
Twelve inches of snow was measured near Gallatin.
Ten inches of snow was measured at Butler and Adrian.
The National Weather Service Office in Pleasant Hill measured 14.5 inches of snow.
Eight inches of snow was measured near Liberty.
Twelve inches of snow was measured just southeast of Lees Summit.
The Kansas City International Airport measured eleven inches of snow.
Twelve inches of snow was measured near Richmond.
Eight inches of snow was measured in Clinton.
Ten inches of snow was measured in Marshall.
Ten inches of snow was measured in Carrollton.
Salisbury measured 10 inches of snow.
Ten and a half inches of snow was measured near Boonville.
Fifteen inches of snow was measured near Sedalia.
Thirteen inches of snow was measured near Fayette.
A total of 14 inches of snow was measured near Warrensburg.
A total of 10.2 inches of snow was measured near Lexington.
Seven inches of snow was measured near Lathrop.
Nine inches of snow was measured in Amity.
A spotter near Elmira measured 8.2 inches of snow.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Missouri in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Missouri, 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: 434179, 434198, 434196, 434197, 434201, 434204, 434190, 434188, 434180, 434183, 434185, 434193, 434200, 434202, 434191, 434203, 434182, 434184, 434187, 434199, 434192, 434194, 434195, 434186, 434189, 434181.