Below normal rainfall fell during the month of March 2018, with very little snowfall as well. This led to severe drought conditions spreading across most of the area, with some areas of south central Kansas now moving into extreme drought conditions.
Every event with a place to put it; 17 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.
Below normal rainfall fell during the month of March 2018, with very little snowfall as well. This led to severe drought conditions spreading across most of the area, with some areas of south central Kansas now moving into extreme drought conditions.
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 28, 5:25 PM CST, 6 hours 35 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Wichita KS 525 PM CST Wed Feb 28 2018 .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Saturday night) Issued at 247 PM CST Wed Feb 28 2018 Main concerns are stronger south winds across central Kansas Friday and Saturday ahead of the developing western CONUS upper low/trof. For this evening, widely scattered convection will remain possible through early this evening ahead of the upper trof as the cold front slides across southeast Kansas. Cooler/drier air will prevail in the wake of the departing upper trof on Thursday with highs close to seasonal climo. Ridging aloft and the return of a stout south surface wind will develop on Friday as the next upper low/trof moves into the northwest CONUS. Winds may flirt with advisory criteria over the higher terrain of central Kansas where the warmest and driest air is expected to elevate the grassland fire danger. The upper trof will continue to develop further south across the western CONUS through Saturday before a significant portion of the trof begins to move east across the inter-mountain West Saturday night. A gradual increase in low level moisture will commence across the Plains ahead of the upper trof with very mild temperatures an even stronger south winds expected on Saturday. A Wind Advisory will likely be needed for Saturday for locations west of the Kansas turnpike. Darmofal .LONG TERM...(Sunday through Wednesday) Issued at 247 PM CST Wed Feb 28 2018 The upper trof is progged to lift east-northeast across the Rockies on Sunday taking on a slight negative-tilt as it ejects out across Kansas and the central Plains Sunday night. The strong wind fields in the synoptic setup will provide more than adequate deep layer shear for organized storms. However as typical for this time of year, the degree of instability within the low level moisture return could be a limiting factor with regard to severe weather. It is something to keep an eye on the next few days as we enter the start of severe weather season. The deepening/occluded cyclone will provide wind and cooler temperatures to the area as it lifts northeast away from the region on Monday. KED && .AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Thursday evening) Issued at 521 PM CST Wed Feb 28 2018 Front will continue to move southeast through the evening, reaching KCNU around 0100 UTC. Mainly MVFR clouds are occurring behind the front. These should move through KHUT/KICT this evening. There is some potential for rain showers and even a thunderstorm in the vicinity of KCNU this evening, but chances for storms are too low to mention at this time. With slightly richer low level moisture in southeast KS, ceilings may briefly go IFR behind the front. VFR conditions are expected at all sites during daylight hours on Thursday. -Howerton && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 247 PM CST Wed Feb 28 2018 Stronger south winds will prevail across the area Friday through Sunday. The strongest winds, lowest humidity values and warmest temperatures are expected west of I-135. A Fire Weather Watch will be issued for Friday afternoon when humidity values are expected to be the lowest during the three day period. However stronger winds are expected on Saturday and may offset the increase in humidity values, so another critical fire weather day is possible. Chances for showers and thunderstorms will increase across the entire area by late Sunday as a strong storm system moves into Kansas. KED && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Wichita-KICT 31 55 29 61 / 10 0 0 0 Hutchinson 28 54 28 62 / 20 0 0 0 Newton 29 54 29 60 / 30 0 0 0 ElDorado 31 54 29 60 / 20 0 0 0 Winfield-KWLD 33 56 29 62 / 10 0 0 0 Russell 23 54 29 64 / 10 0 0 0 Great Bend 24 54 29 64 / 10 0 0 0 Salina 27 54 27 62 / 30 0 0 0 McPherson 27 54 27 62 / 30 0 0 0 Coffeyville 38 56 28 61 / 20 0 0 0 Chanute 36 55 27 59 / 40 0 0 0 Iola 35 54 27 59 / 50 0 0 0 Parsons-KPPF 37 56 27 60 / 20 0 0 0 && .ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Fire Weather Watch Friday afternoon for KSZ032-033-047-048-050. && SHORT TERM...KED LONG TERM...KED AVIATION...PJH FIRE WEATHER...KED
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Wichita KS 321 PM CST Wed Feb 28 2018 KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-012130- 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- 321 PM CST Wed Feb 28 2018 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of Central Kansas, South Central Kansas and Southeast Kansas. .DAY ONE...Tonight An isolated thunderstorm or two is possible across southeast Kansas through mid-evening. Pea to dime size hail, gusty winds, cloud-to- ground lightning and brief heavy rain cannot be ruled out with the strongest activity. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday Very high grassland fire danger will affect locations from the Flint Hills westward across central and south central Kansas on Friday afternoon. A few hours of extreme grassland fire danger is possible across central Kansas for locations mainly west of a Lincoln to Lyons line. Refer to the Fire Weather Watch for details. Very high grassland fire danger will expand across the entire area on Saturday due to even stronger south winds. Portions of central Kansas could again flirt with extreme fire danger for a few hours in the afternoon. Very high fire danger is possible Sunday and Monday, especially along and west of the Kansas turnpike. Chances for thunderstorms will increase across the entire area on Sunday afternoon with thunderstorms likely along and east of I-135 Sunday night. Strong to marginally severe storms will be possible. Listen to later forecasts and outlooks as the timing, location and magnitude of severe weather expectations could change in the next few days. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated tonight. && For a graphical version of this information, see our webpage at: http://weather.gov/wichita/hwo/
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
17 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
Drought conditions worsened during the month of March, 2018. By the end of the month the county had climbed into the extreme drought category.
Drought conditions worsened during the month of March, 2018. By the end of the month the county had climbed into the extreme drought category.
Drought conditions worsened during the month of March, 2018. By the end of the month the county had climbed into the extreme drought category.
Drought conditions continued during the month of March, 2018. Most of the county remained in the severe drought category.
Drought conditions continued during the month of March, 2018. Most of the county remained in the severe drought category.
Drought conditions continued during the month of March, 2018. Most of the county remained in the severe drought category.
Drought conditions continued during the month of March, 2018. Most of the county remained in the severe drought category.
Drought conditions continued during the month of March, 2018. Most of the county remained in the severe drought category.
Drought conditions continued during the month of March, 2018. Most of the county remained in the severe drought category.
Drought conditions continued during the month of March, 2018. Most of the county remained in the severe drought category.
Drought conditions continued during the month of March, 2018. Most of the county remained in the severe drought category.
Drought conditions continued during the month of March, 2018. Most of the county remained in the severe drought category.
Drought conditions continued during the month of March, 2018. Most of the county remained in the severe drought category.
Drought conditions continued during the month of March, 2018. Most of the county remained in the severe drought category.
Drought conditions continued during the month of March, 2018. Most of the county remained in the severe drought category.
Drought conditions worsened during the month of March, 2018. Most of the county climbed into the severe drought category by the end of the month.
Drought conditions worsened during the month of March, 2018. Most of the county climbed into the severe drought category by the end of the month.
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, March 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: 750964, 750965, 750966, 750969, 750970, 750971, 750972, 750973, 750976, 750978, 750980, 750982, 750983, 750985, 750987, 750988, 751037.