A strong upper level storm system approached the plains from the southwest during the day on February 3rd, 2014. By late evening, snow began to fall over extreme South Central Kansas.
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 ICT wrote it up.
A strong upper level storm system approached the plains from the southwest during the day on February 3rd, 2014. By late evening, snow began to fall over extreme South Central Kansas. After midnight on February 4th, 2014, snow spread across South Central and Central Kansas, especially along a line from Hutchinson to Salina. By daybreak on February 4th, 2014, snow rates increased across South Central Kansas. Snow persisted throughout the day and into the evening hours resulting in snowfall totals up to nearly a foot in some locations.
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 Wichita, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 3, 4:03 AM CST, 21 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS 403 AM CST MON FEB 3 2014 .SYNOPSIS... ISSUED AT 403 AM CST MON FEB 3 2014 A BROAD TROUGH IS SITUATED ACROSS MUCH OF THE COUNTRY...WITH A DEEP WAVE DIGGING OFF OF BAJA. THIS WAVE IS EXPECTED TO LIFT NORTHWEST AND CAUSE THE WEATHER FOR TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY. CURRENTLY WE ARE IN THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM WITH MORNING LOWS IN THE SINGLE DIGITS AND TEENS AND SKIES MOSTLY CLEAR. WINDS ARE LIGHT AS THE SURFACE HIGH MOVES ACROSS THE AREA BEFORE BECOMING SOUTHERLY THIS MORNING. BILLINGS WRIGHT && .SHORT TERM...(TODAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY) ISSUED AT 403 AM CST MON FEB 3 2014 THIS PERIOD IS THE ONE OF CONCERN WITH A SIGNIFICANT WINTER STORM EXPECTED TO IMPACT THE REGION TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY BEFORE EXITING THE AREA WEDNESDAY. THE GFS AND THE NAM CONTINUE TO SHOW A PERIOD OF ENHANCED FRONTOGENESIS LATE THIS AFTERNOON OVER CENTRAL KANSAS BEFORE THE LIFT ASSOCIATED WITH THE MAIN WAVE IMPACTS THE AREA TONIGHT. HAVE REMOVED CHANCES BEFORE 00Z...BUT HAVE KEPT CHANCES IN CENTRAL KANSAS FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF SNOW BEGINNING EARLIER IN THAT REGION. ALL OF THE GUIDANCE CONTINUES TO BE IN GOOD AGREEMENT SHOWING THE MAIN WAVE APPROACHING AND PRECIPITATION BREAKING OUT BETWEEN 00Z-06Z FROM WEST TO EAST. WHILE THERE IS A CONCERN FOR THE PRECIPITATION TO BEGIN AS LIGHT FREEZING DRIZZLE OVER SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS...THE SOUNDINGS MOISTEN VERY QUICKLY AND HAVE ONLY SNOW FROM THE ONSET THROUGH THE EVENT. BY 06Z TUESDAY THE LIFT IN THE DENDRITIC IS MAXIMIZED ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS...THIS CONTINUES THROUGH THE MORNING AND EARLY AFTERNOON HOURS. EXPECTING SNOW TO BE MODERATE TO HEAVY AT TIMES. EVENTUALLY THIS SHIFTS NORTH AND EASTWARD...BUT THE AMOUNT OF TIME THIS PERSISTS...FURTHER ENFORCES THE HIGHER SNOWFALL TOTALS. THE SNOWFALL FORECAST IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE AFTERNOON FORECAST WITH TOTALS OVER 6 INCHES ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA. THE CONSISTENCY IN THE FORECAST FOR THE PAST FEW DAYS AND MOST RECENT GUIDANCE HAS GIVEN ENOUGH CONFIDENCE TO UPGRADE THE WATCH TO A WARNING FOR MUCH OF THE AREA. CONFIDENCE WITH OVER 6 INCHES OF SNOW ACROSS SOUTHEAST KANSAS IS LOWER...ALTHOUGH THERE ARE SOME PERIODS OF TIME WHERE LIFT IS MAXIMIZED OVER THAT REGION AND HIGHER SNOWFALL TOTALS COULD BE SEEN. BECAUSE OF THE LOWER CONFIDENCE IN THE 6 PLUS INCH WARNING CRITERIA...BUT THE CONFIDENCE IN 3 TO 6 INCHES HAVE GONE WITH AN ADVISORY ACROSS MUCH OF SOUTHEAST KANSAS. THIS WILL ALLOW LATER SHIFTS TO UPGRADE IF NEEDED. WINDS WILL INCREASE DURING THE EVENT...WHICH WILL CAUSE BLOWING AND DRIFTING TO BE A CONCERN LATE TUESDAY AND OVERNIGHT WEDNESDAY. SNOW WILL COME TO AN END OVERNIGHT TUESDAY/EARLY WEDNESDAY FROM WEST TO EAST. TEMPS WILL NOT MAKE MUCH OF AN UPWARD TICK...AND THE COMBINATION OF THE FRESH SNOW COVER...THE COLD AIR INFILTRATING IN TO THE AREA AND THE STOUT NORTHERLY WINDS WILL CAUSE WIND CHILL TEMPERATURES TO BE WELL BELOW ZERO WITH MUCH OF CENTRAL KANSAS SEEING VALUES BETWEEN 15 TO 20 DEGREES BELOW ZERO. BILLINGS WRIGHT .LONG TERM...(THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY) ISSUED AT 403 AM CST MON FEB 3 2014 AFTER A BRIEF REPRIEVE OF SNOW ON WEDNESDAY...ANOTHER BRIEF AND LIGHT ACCUMULATING SNOW EVENT IS EXPECTED TO IMPACT THE AREA THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT. A WEAK PULSE IS MOVING ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PLAINS. THIS WILL RESULT IN A PERIOD OF LIGHT SNOW POSSIBLE THROUGH THURSDAY INTO THURSDAY NIGHT. LIGHT ACCUMULATION IS POSSIBLE WITH AN INCH OR TWO EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. THIS IS NOT EXPECTED TO BE A SIGNIFICANT EVENT. THE NEXT WAVE HOWEVER...IS A DIFFERENT STORY. THE MEDIUM RANGE GUIDANCE HAS VEERED SOME WITH SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT TIMING AND SOLUTIONS. THE ECMWF HAS A TWO PRONGED EFFECT WITH A PIECE OF ENERGY LIFTING OUT AHEAD OF THE MAIN TROUGH CAUSING ANOTHER ROUND OF SNOW FRIDAY AFTERNOON INTO FRIDAY EVENING WITH THE MAIN WAVE EJECTING SATURDAY AND SNOW AGAIN RAMPING UP DURING THAT TIME PERIOD. THE GFS DOES NOT HAVE THE FIRST FEATURE...BUT THE TIMING OF THE SECOND MAIN WAVE IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE ECMWF. THE TRACKS CONTINUE TO DROP A BIT TO THE SOUTH...BUT SOUTHERN KANSAS COULD AGAIN HAVE A GOOD CHANCE AT MODERATE SNOW TOTALS BEGINNING SATURDAY AND ENDING SATURDAY NIGHT. WITH THE SLIGHT CHANGES TO THE TRACK AND TIMING...WILL NEED TO WATCH TO SEE HOW THIS EVENTUALLY PANS OUT. THE OTHER MAIN CONCERN OF THE EXTENDED IS THE EXTREME COLD. HIGHS WILL STRUGGLE TO GET OUT OF THE TEENS TO LOW 20S FOR MUCH OF THE EXTENDED AND EVEN THE SINGLE DIGITS ON THURSDAY. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CONCERN IS THE WIND CHILL TEMPERATURES THOUGH...AS WIND CHILL VALUES FROM THURSDAY INTO FRIDAY WILL BE BELOW ZERO WITH SOME AREAS APPROACHING 15 DEGREES BELOW ZERO EARLY THURSDAY MORNING. RECORD COOL HIGHS MAY BE SET THURSDAY DUE TO THE 30 DEGREE BELOW NORMAL HIGHS EXPECTED. BILLINGS WRIGHT && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z MONDAY NIGHT) ISSUED AT 1130 PM CST SUN FEB 2 2014 VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED FOR AT LEAST THE FIRST 12 TO 18 HOURS....AS WINDS GRADUALLY RETURN TO THE S-SE. WILL SEE A GENERAL DECREASE IN CEILING HEIGHTS ON MON EVENING...AS A SIGNIFICANT WINTER STORM BEGINS TO AFFECT THE PLAINS. WILL SEE THE FIRST SIGNS OF THE WINTER STORM MOVE INTO SOUTH CENTRAL KS...FOR MON EVENING...WITH MVFR CIGS AND VSBYS DEVELOPING WITH LIGHT SNOW BY AROUND 04-05Z/TUE. THIS LIGHT SNOW WILL AFFECT THE KICT/KHUT TAF SITES FIRST...BUT EXPECT THE SNOW TO OVERSPREAD THE KRSL/KSLN TAF AS WELL BY AROUND 06Z/TUE. KETCHAM && .CLIMATE... ISSUED AT 403 AM CST MON FEB 3 2014 WHILE RECORD LOWS ARE NOT FORECAST...THE COLD DAYTIME TEMPERATURES MAY CAUSE RECORD COOLEST HIGHS ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. FORECAST WILL BE CLOSE FOR WEDNESDAY...BUT SOME RECORD COOLEST HIGHS ARE FORECAST FOR THURSDAY. WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 5TH, 2014 RECORD COOLEST HIGH WICHITA....3 DEGREES IN 1982 RUSSELL....5 DEGREES IN 1989 SALINA.....8 DEGREES IN 1989 CHANUTE....10 DEGREES IN 1982 THURSDAY FEBRUARY 6TH, 2014 RECORD COOLEST HIGH WICHITA....11 DEGREES IN 1893 RUSSELL....18 DEGREES IN 1971 SALINA.....15 DEGREES IN 1971 CHANUTE....14 DEGREES IN 1899 BILLINGS WRIGHT && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... WICHITA-KICT 39 25 27 6 / 10 90 100 60 HUTCHINSON 38 23 26 4 / 10 90 100 60 NEWTON 38 24 25 3 / 10 90 100 70 ELDORADO 39 25 27 5 / 0 90 100 60 WINFIELD-KWLD 41 26 28 8 / 0 90 100 50 RUSSELL 37 21 24 2 / 10 90 100 60 GREAT BEND 37 22 26 3 / 10 90 100 60 SALINA 38 23 25 3 / 10 100 100 70 MCPHERSON 38 23 26 3 / 10 100 100 70 COFFEYVILLE 41 27 31 12 / 0 60 100 60 CHANUTE 40 25 29 10 / 0 60 100 70 IOLA 39 25 28 9 / 0 60 100 70 PARSONS-KPPF 40 25 31 11 / 0 60 100 60 && .ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO MIDNIGHT CST TUESDAY NIGHT FOR KSZ071-072-093>096-098>100. WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO MIDNIGHT CST TUESDAY NIGHT FOR KSZ032-033-047>053-067>070-082-083-091-092. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS 344 PM CST SUN FEB 2 2014 KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-032145- RUSSELL-LINCOLN-BARTON-ELLSWORTH-SALINE-RICE-MCPHERSON-MARION-CHASE- RENO-HARVEY-BUTLER-GREENWOOD-WOODSON-ALLEN-KINGMAN-SEDGWICK-HARPER- SUMNER-COWLEY-ELK-WILSON-NEOSHO-CHAUTAUQUA-MONTGOMERY-LABETTE- 344 PM CST SUN FEB 2 2014 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL KANSAS... SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS AND SOUTHEAST KANSAS. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT WIND CHILLS FROM ZERO TO 5 BELOW ARE POSSIBLE AFTER MIDNIGHT ACROSS CENTRAL KANSAS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY A STRONG WINTER STORM IS EXPECTED TO AFFECT THE AREA STARTING MONDAY NIGHT AND CONTINUING INTO TUESDAY NIGHT. A WINTER STORM WATCH HAS BEEN POSTED FOR MUCH OF CENTRAL...SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST KANSAS...FOR THE POTENTIAL OF HEAVY SNOW WITH SOME BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW. AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF COLD WEATHER IS LIKELY FROM TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING. FORECAST WIND CHILLS DURING THIS PERIOD WILL RANGE FROM ZERO TO AROUND 15 BELOW ZERO. ANOTHER ROUND OF WINTER WEATHER...MAINLY SNOW...COULD ARRIVE AS EARLY AS THURSDAY BUT IS MORE LIKELY ON FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY. ACCUMULATING SNOW IS EXPECTED WITH THIS SYSTEM WHICH COULD ALSO IMPACT TRAVEL EARLY NEXT WEEKEND. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED TONIGHT. && FOR A GRAPHICAL VERSION OF THIS INFORMATION...SEE OUR WEBPAGE AT (LOWERCASE) HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/WICHITA/HWO/HWO.PHP KED
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
24 heavy snow, 2 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
Six to eight inches of snow fell across the county, with the higher amounts across the southeast part of the county. Numerous auto slide offs were reported along Interstate 70.
Six to nine inches of snow fell across the county. Blowing and drifting snow made roadways impassible. Numerous auto accidents and slide offs occurred along Interstate 70.
Six to ten inches fell across the county. Numerous auto slide offs and accidents occurred along Interstate 70. Blowing and drifting of the snow made county roads impassible.
Six to nine and half inches of snow fell across the county. Blowing and drifting of the snow made county roads impassible.
Nine inches to near a foot of snow fell across the county. The intersection of Interstate 70 and Interstate 135 was closed for a short time due to a jack knifed semi tractor trailer. Numerous other accidents and slide offs were reported across the area including the city of Salina. Blowing and drifting of the snow made side roads impassible.
Six to eight inches of snow fell across the county. Some blowing of drifting of the snow occurred, which made roads difficult to impassible.
Six to ten inches of snow fell across the county, with the heaviest snowfall amounts over the southern half of the county. Blowing and drifting of the snow made county roads impassible.
Seven inches to near one foot of snow fell across the county. The blowing and drifting of the snow made county roads impassible.
Six inches of snow fell across the county. Blowing and drifting of the snow made county roads impassible.
Six to twelve inches of snow fell across the county. In the city of Hutchinson, 11.5 inches of snow fell. Numerous auto slide offs and accidents were reported. Blowing and drifting of the snow made county roads impassible.
Six to eight inches of snow fell across the county. This led to numerous auto accidents and slide offs. One accident in particular occurred along Interstate 135, just north of Hesston. A two vehicle accident occurred, that killed a Moundridge man, as his pickup lost control and skidded into the oncoming traffic lane and was hit by another pickup coming the other way. The driver of the other pickup also sustained injuries that were not life threatening.
Six to nine inches of snow fell across the county. Blowing and drifting snow made county roads impassible. Numerous auto slide offs and accidents occurred.
Five to seven inches of snow fell across the county.
Nine to twelve inches of snow fell across the county, with the highest amounts over the northwest portion of the county. The city of Wichita, recorded 8.7 inches of snow. Over a hundred auto accidents were reported in the city of Wichita, with 12 injuries. The high rate of the snow and the extreme cold that dropped temperatures into the single digits, hard packed the snow onto roads, which kept most city streets very slick for an additional 2 to 3 days.
Five to six inches of snow fell across the county, with the highest amounts in the north part of the county.
Four to six inches of snow fell across the county. The heaviest snow amounts were across the northern portion of the county. Numerous auto accidents and slide offs were reported. Blowing and drifting of the snow made county roads almost impassible.
Four to six inches of snow fell across the county. Blowing and drifting of the snow made county roads almost impassible.
Four to seven inches of snow fell across he county. Arkansas City measured 5.5 inches, while Winfield measured 5.3 inches.
Four to six inches of snow fell across the county. The town of Howard measured 5.3 inches.
Four to six inches of snow fell across the county.
Four to six inches of snow fell across the county. The town of Toronto measured four inches of snow.
Four to six inches of snow fell across the county.
Four to six inches of snow fell across the county.
Four to six inches of snow fell across the county.
One to two inches of snow fell across the county.
One to two inches of snow fell across the county.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy Snow, Harvey | 2014-02-04 | 58 | Male | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Indirect |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kansas in 2014Every state in 2014This day in weather historyWarnings in Kansas, February 2014
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: 502566, 502567, 502568, 502569, 502570, 502571, 502572, 502573, 502575, 502576, 502577, 502578, 502579, 502580, 502581, 502582, 502583, 504175, 504180, 504189, 504193, 504195, 504200, 504202, 504360, 504363.