An upper level system moved across a moderately unstable atmosphere and produced widespread snow across much of the area. The heaviest amounts were north of highway 50 and along and west of highway 283.
Every event with a place to put it; 6 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 DDC wrote it up.
An upper level system moved across a moderately unstable atmosphere and produced widespread snow across much of the area. The heaviest amounts were north of highway 50 and along and west of highway 283.
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 Dodge City, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 5, 6:34 PM CST, 3 hours 26 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Dodge City KS 634 PM CST Mon Feb 5 2018 ...Updated Aviation Section... .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Tuesday) Issued at 208 PM CST Mon Feb 5 2018 After a brief warmup today, wind has shifted northerly, and the cold Arctic high pressure as begun to return for another night. Our attention turns to precipitation chances overnight and into tomorrow. Models have been consistent in showing an area of mid- level frontogenesis starting in far southwest Kansas this evening, moving northeast through southwest Kansas overnight, ahead of a shortwave trough. Boundary layer moisture will continue to increase this evening, especially for our northern zones where snow is expected to start falling between 10pm and midnight. Therefore, areas roughly north of a Scott County to Rush County line are progged to receive the biggest impact from this system (1-3 inches). South of that line can expect anywhere from flurries up to an inch, with locally higher amounts. The good news is that mid- level warm air advection doesn't look to be as deep as previous runs, causing any precipitation from this event to fall as snow. In addition, wind will relax overnight, so blowing snow shouldn't be an issue during tomorrow's commute. .LONG TERM...(Tuesday night through Monday) Issued at 208 PM CST Mon Feb 5 2018 Snow wind down Tuesday afternoon as the system moves into eastern Kansas. Unfortunately, the cool air will stick around again Tuesday night with temperature ranging in the single digits near Hays and upper 20s near Elkhart. Wednesday, the Arctic high pressure moves east, allowing for wind to shift south for a welcomed warmup through Thursday. Thursday has the highest temperatures for the long-term, ranging from the upper 50s near Hays to the upper 60s near Elkhart, effectively melting any snow we receive. Friday, another system moves in from the Rockies that will bring another cold front and the low-end potential for light precipitation for this weekend. && .AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Tuesday evening) Issued at 631 PM CST Mon Feb 5 2018 Light snow, perhaps moderate briefly, will likely affect the HYS terminal between 09-15z Tuesday. The southern extend of the snow band will lie roughly along a GCK to DDC line, so the forecast is a bit more challenging, but we will still carry some light snow IFR flight category at GCK and DDC. LBL should remain VFR through the entire period with higher confidence in snow remaining far enough north. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... DDC 17 26 13 44 / 40 40 10 0 GCK 17 29 13 46 / 50 50 10 0 EHA 18 35 20 53 / 10 10 10 0 LBL 19 30 17 48 / 10 10 10 0 HYS 12 19 10 36 / 50 80 0 0 P28 16 29 15 42 / 20 30 10 0 && .DDC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Weather Advisory from midnight tonight to noon CST Tuesday for KSZ030-031-043>046. && SHORT TERM...Reynolds LONG TERM...Reynolds AVIATION...Umscheid
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Dodge City KS 506 AM CST Mon Feb 5 2018 KSZ030-031-043>046-061>066-074>081-084>090-061115- Trego-Ellis-Scott-Lane-Ness-Rush-Hamilton-Kearny-Finney-Hodgeman- Pawnee-Stafford-Stanton-Grant-Haskell-Gray-Ford-Edwards-Kiowa- Pratt-Morton-Stevens-Seward-Meade-Clark-Comanche-Barber- 506 AM CST Mon Feb 5 2018 /406 AM MST Mon Feb 5 2018/ This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of central...south central...southwest and west central Kansas. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Day 1 Discussion ---------------- Snow is likely to develop overnight across west central Kansas. Minor accumulation to around a couple of inches is possible focused near the I-70 corridor. Day 1 Hazards ------------- * Excessive cold: Limited risk * Non-thunderstorm wind: Limited risk * Freezing rain: Limited risk * Snow: Elevated risk .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. Days 2-7 Discussion ------------------- Snow will continue early Tuesday. New snowfall of around a couple of inches may impact roads and visibility through the morning across the I-70 corridor. Days 2-7 Hazards ---------------- * Tuesday - Excessive cold: Limited risk - Snow: Elevated risk * Wednesday - Excessive cold: Limited risk * Thursday No hazards. * Friday - Snow: Limited risk * Saturday - Excessive cold: Limited risk - Snow: Limited risk * Sunday - Excessive cold: Limited risk .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed through tonight. && For more details visit our webpage http://weather.gov/ddc/ehwo
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
6 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
Snowfall of 2 to 5 inches was common with the heaviest amounts near Shallow Water.
Snowfall of 2 to 4 inches was common across the county.
Snowfall of around 1 inch was reported across the county with the exception of the far southwest part of the county which had amounts up to 3.5 inches.
Snowfall of 2 to 4 inches was common across the county.
Snowfall of 2 to 3 inches was common across the north half of the county including the Kalvesta area. Lighter amounts were reported south of this area.
Snowfall of around 1 inch was reported across the county with the exception of the far southwest part of the county which had amounts up to 3.5 inches.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kansas in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Kansas, February 2018
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: 742180, 742182, 742183, 742184, 742185, 742186.