A tight pressure gradient ahead of a strong storm system produced high winds across portions of Central Kansas during the morning of March 6th, 2017. The highest winds in excess of 50-55 mph occurred across Central Kansas, near Russell, Kansas and Wilson, Kansas.
Every event with a place to put it; 3 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 tight pressure gradient ahead of a strong storm system produced high winds across portions of Central Kansas during the morning of March 6th, 2017. The highest winds in excess of 50-55 mph occurred across Central Kansas, near Russell, Kansas and Wilson, Kansas. Several large grass fires affected central Kansas which began on Saturday, March 4th with a couple of wildfires continuing through March 6th.
Two of the most impacted areas were just south of Wilson Lake, where on March 6th, residents were evacuated from the town of Wilson, as fires approached from the northwest. Residents were eventually allowed back to their homes later that night.
Another large grass fire started north of Hutchinson on Sunday March 5th but was around 90% contained by the early afternoon hours of Monday March 6th. However, the fire rapidly sparked back up early Monday evening on March the 6th, as winds flipped around to the northwest and relative humidity values plummeted. This forced evacuations of around 10,0000 people from areas north of Hutchinson including the far northern portions of the town.
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 Mar 6, 11:23 AM CST, 1 hour 27 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Wichita KS 1123 AM CST Mon Mar 6 2017 .SHORT TERM...(Today through Wednesday night) Issued at 233 AM CST Mon Mar 6 2017 The major concern and challenge today will be the timing of the incoming frontal system. This frontal system has created a very tight pressure gradient across the region. This along with a low level jet over the Eastern half of Kansas has created and will continue to create some strong and gusty winds today. Winds are expected to remain at advisory level for much of the day today. This front will be moving through the region by late morning and during the afternoon. As it does, winds are likely to increase up to warning criteria in Central Kansas for a few hours. These high winds and dry conditions keep the Fire danger into the Red Flag Criteria again today. See the Fire weather section and wind bulletins for more details. Finally, the high winds are likely to create some blowing dust issues in Central Kansas. While this incoming front is causing the high winds and fire danger issues in the Central and Western portions of the state, this front will allow for some good moisture transport in the Eastern portions of the State. There will also be enough instability and forcing to permit some scattered showers and thunderstorms to develop this afternoon. Some of these storms could be strong or severe. Most of this storm activity is expected to be along and East of US-77. Temperatures will come down some behind the front closer to normal for Tuesday but winds will remain gusty and shift to the West and Northwest. Winds are expected to remain high keeping the fire danger high. .LONG TERM...(Thursday through Sunday) Issued at 233 AM CST Mon Mar 6 2017 The next challenge will be Thursday afternoon as a weak low pressure system is expected to move through the region. This system will not have as much moisture to work with as moisture transport appears to be concentrated further to the East. Dynamics and instability look to be enough to allow form scattered showers and thunderstorms. After Thursday, the weather pattern becomes more active with weak waves coming through. Scattered showers and thunderstorms look to be possible with each system through the end of the week. The next strong system appears to approach the region on Sunday and Monday but confidence is low at this time on what weather this stronger system will bring. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Tuesday afternoon) Issued at 1122 AM CST Mon Mar 6 2017 MVFR conditions are possible over SE KS for the afternoon hours, as low level moisture continues to stream across the Flint Hills. Expect the chances for TSRA to increase for areas along and east of the Flint Hills for the late afternoon into the early evening hours, as a dryline/cold front increases convergence. Could see a few strong to severe storms over SE KS during the 22-02z time frame, until the front pushes east of the area. Went with a tempo group for the KCNU Taf for this chance. Next concern will be across Central KS on the west side of the dryline, with southwest to west winds will gust to as high as 45 kts. this may create some blowing dust near KRSL, which may reduce vsbys to MVFR. Ketcham && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 233 AM CST Mon Mar 6 2017 High winds and very high to extreme Grassland Fire Danger will make for a difficult fire weather day today. Winds will be strong throughout the day today. These Southerly winds will likely remain in the 25 to 35 mph range with some wind gusts reaching as high as 55 mph in Central Kansas. 40 to 45 mph wind gusts are more likely in Southern and Southeast Kansas today. A major complicating factor to fire mitigation today will be the cold front. Once this front comes through, the winds will shift from the South to the West and Northwest this afternoon. This will likely complicate any fire fighting efforts. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Wichita-KICT 79 34 63 34 / 10 0 0 0 Hutchinson 77 32 63 32 / 10 0 0 0 Newton 77 34 62 34 / 10 0 0 0 ElDorado 78 35 62 35 / 20 10 0 0 Winfield-KWLD 79 36 63 35 / 10 10 0 0 Russell 76 28 60 29 / 0 0 0 0 Great Bend 76 29 62 30 / 0 0 0 0 Salina 78 32 62 31 / 10 0 0 0 McPherson 77 31 62 31 / 10 0 0 0 Coffeyville 78 38 64 34 / 50 60 0 0 Chanute 76 37 63 33 / 50 60 0 0 Iola 76 37 62 33 / 50 60 0 0 Parsons-KPPF 77 38 63 33 / 50 60 0 0 && .ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Red Flag Warning until 8 PM CST this evening for KSZ032-033- 047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100. Wind Advisory until 8 PM CST this evening for KSZ033-048>053- 067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100. Fire Weather Watch from Tuesday morning through Tuesday afternoon for KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-094>096. High Wind Warning until 3 PM CST this afternoon for KSZ032-047. Wind Advisory from 3 PM this afternoon to 8 PM CST this evening for KSZ032-047. && SHORT TERM...ELM LONG TERM...ELM AVIATION...Ketcham FIRE WEATHER...ELM
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Wichita KS 1047 AM CST Mon Mar 6 2017 KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-071700- 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- 1047 AM CST Mon Mar 6 2017 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of Central Kansas, South Central Kansas and Southeast Kansas. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Extreme grassland fire danger will exist across the entire area today. Please refer to the Red Flag Warning that is in effect. High winds will persist today area wide. For further details, refer to the latest high wind warning and wind advisory. Some strong to severe thunderstorms are expected to develop this afternoon east of I-35. Timing is most likely between 3 PM and 9 PM, with chances increasing toward extreme Southeast Kansas. The main threat will be 60 to 70 mph winds. Up to ping pong ball sized hail will also be possible with isolated storms. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday Extreme grassland fire danger will be likely across Central Kansas Tuesday afternoon. For further details please refer to the Fire Weather Watch. Very high grassland fire danger is likely across South Central and Southeast Kansas Tuesday afternoon. Winds will also be high across much of the region. The highest winds, sustained at 25 to 30 mph with gusts as high as 45 mph, are forecast along the I-70 corridor. Wednesday, grassland fire danger will again expected to be very high across much of the Central and Southeast Kansas. The weather pattern will become more active later this week with scattered showers and thunderstorms possible Thursday through Saturday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is possible in Southeast Kansas this afternoon and early evening. && For a graphical version of this information, see our webpage at: http://weather.gov/wichita/hwo/ Howerton
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 wildfire, 1 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The Russell, Kansas ASOS reported the non thunderstorm wind gust.
A large wildfire developed just south of Wilson Lake, due to wind gusts to 56 mph and low relative humidity levels. The wildfire move rapidly to the southeast as a wind shift pushed the fire towards the town of Wilson. Residents were evacuated from the town of Wilson as the wildfire approached from the northwest. Residents were eventually allowed back to their homes later that night.
A large grass fire started north of Hutchinson on Sunday March 5th, but was around 90% contained by the early afternoon hours of Monday March 6th. However, the fire rapidly sparked back up early Monday evening, March the 6th, as winds flipped around to the northwest and relative humidity values plummeted. This forced evacuations of around 10,0000 people from areas north of Hutchinson including the far northern portions of the town. 6300 acres were burned by the fire, with 10 homes burned to the ground.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kansas in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Kansas, March 2017
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: 681722, 681724, 681727.