A powerful cold front swept through Kansas producing significant non-thunderstorm straight line winds. Sustained winds at many locations were easily over 40 mph and several sites also had wind gusts over 50 mph during the event.
Every event with a place to put it; 12 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 powerful cold front swept through Kansas producing significant non-thunderstorm straight line winds. Sustained winds at many locations were easily over 40 mph and several sites also had wind gusts over 50 mph during the event.
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 Apr 12, 5:39 AM CST, 4 hours 41 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Wichita KS 639 AM CDT Sun Apr 12 2020 .SHORT TERM...(Today through Tuesday night) Issued at 344 AM CDT Sun Apr 12 2020 Early this morning, a strong cold front currently stretches from the Great Lakes region, southward across northern Kansas, and off into the Pacific Northwest. Additionally a dryline extends southward across western Kansas, through western Oklahoma and into Texas. During the day today, this cold front will sink south across Kansas. This will set the stage for multiple hazards across portions of the forecast area today including: 1) rapidly falling temperatures behind the front; 2) very strong winds behind the front; 3) chances for strong to severe storms early this afternoon in southeast Kansas; 4) a brief window for some light snow or wintry mix in north central Kansas; and 5) elevated fire weather concerns despite recent green-up owing to the strong wind gusts. The main challenge with the forecast today is pinpointing the exact timing of the fronts progression southward across the forecast area. In a reversal of the thinking from just 24 hours ago, the trend now appears to be a faster frontal passage. This will mean falling temperatures a little earlier in the day for most locations, and may somewhat limit the strong/severe storm potential to southeast Kansas to just a small window of opportunity earlier this afternoon before the front clears the area to the east by early evening. Obviously slight shifts faster or slower will have a dramatic effect on hourly temperatures today, but the general trend should hold. Behind the front, steep lapse rates and ample mixing/momentum transfer will mean winds will increase dramatically as they switch around to blow out of the north. Little change from the previous forecast in this regard other than tweaking wind gusts up slightly since guidance seemed to be struggling with the impressive momentum transfer. Overall, however, the message and headlines remain the same: the strongest winds with gusts up to 60mph or so will be in central and south central Kansas where a High Wind Warning has been issued. Slightly lower but still elevated winds will be present in southeast Kansas where a Wind Advisory will be in effect. As mentioned earlier, precipitation chances will be a bit tricky today as well. With moisture being transported into the region ahead of the boundary in south central but mainly southeast Kansas, models continue to converge on a solution favoring off- and-on light rain for much of the day. In central Kansas, wrap- around moisture and rapidly falling temperatures could produce some brief light snow or wintry mix. However, the winter weather potential for today in north central Kansas continues to look not overly impressive as the vast majority of snow potential will exist much further north in Nebraska. Little to no accumulation or much in the way of winter impacts are expected at this time. Ahead of the front, things could become more interesting in southeast Kansas by mid-day to early afternoon, however. This area will have the maximum heating potential today, which will allow instability to gradually increase throughout the morning. With up to around 1000J/kg of MLCAPE and ample shear, a couple storms in southeast Kansas could be strong to severe, with hail and damaging winds the main threats. The severe threat should quickly end by late afternoon/early evening, however, as the front pushes into Missouri. As the system moves away from Kansas, elevated winds should continue well into the evening hours. Additionally, temperatures will continue to fall into the 20s overnight tonight/early tomorrow morning resulting in a hard freeze area-wide. Given recent warm weather and the amount of growing degree days so far this Spring, went ahead and issued a Freeze Warning for all of central, south central, and southeast Kansas. Monday will be well below normal temperature-wise reaching only into the mid to upper 40s across the area. As the previous discussion mentioned, another approaching wave will move across Monday night into Tuesday. Little change to areal extent of PoPs with this forecast issuance. Still thinking that the bulk of precip will remain south of the Oklahoma border but some of southern Kansas could see some combination of snow, wintry mix, and rain. Regardless, not expecting much in the way of accumulation. Temperatures Monday night/Tuesday morning and again Tuesday night/Wednesday morning will drop into the hard freeze range range in central Kansas with low 30s in the southeast. .LONG TERM...(Wednesday through Saturday) Issued at 344 AM CDT Sun Apr 12 2020 A surface ridge will build over the Southern Plains mid-week which will keep the forecast dry but temperatures will remain below normal until at least next weekend. In the extended range, the next chances for precipitation will come Thursday into Friday. Expect continued refinements throughout the week as many uncertainties regarding timing and specifics remain. && .AVIATION...(For the 12Z TAFS through 12Z Monday morning) Issued at 638 AM CDT Sun Apr 12 2020 Low level moisture will continue to increase across most of the forecast, which will lead to increasing MVFR cigs and even some IFR cigs today. All this moisture is increasing ahead of a strong cold front, currently located across central KS. Expect this front to charge south-southeast during the morning hours, with the low clouds and stratus building down with most locations seeing a chance of either post frontal light rain or drizzle until mid day. So will go with a VCSH for this chance. The bigger story with the strong cold front, will increasing north winds on the backside of the front with sustained winds of 25 to 30kts and gusts to 42-47kts. Expect the stronger winds to move into KHUT and KICT by around 17-19z. AS the front pushes into SE KS, could see a brief window for some TSRA near the KCNU taf site from 20-22z. So will go with a VCTS for this chance. Ketcham && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 344 AM CDT Sun Apr 12 2020 Very strong north winds today will elevate grassland fire danger into the very high category in portions of central and south central Kansas. Recent green-up and relative humidity will be the limiting factors for enhanced fire weather concerns, but feel the very high GFDI is warranted given the strong wind gust potential. Any fires that do ignite today will be extremely difficult to control, and any outdoor burning should be avoided. && .CLIMATE... Issued at 344 AM CDT Sun Apr 12 2020 Well below normal temperatures will be common this week with multiple frost/freeze headlines likely. Although records will be hard to break, here are a few to keep an eye on: Monday, April 13 Coolest Highs Wichita- record is 43 (1983); current forecast is 47 Chanute- record is 45 (1957); current forecast is 47 Tuesday, April 14 Record Lows Russell- record is 25 (2018); current forecast is 25 Salina- record is 22 (1928); current forecast is 27 Tuesday, April 14 Coolest High Chanute- record is 47 (2014); current forecast is 48 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Wichita-KICT 67 27 47 31 / 30 0 0 20 Hutchinson 61 26 46 28 / 50 0 0 10 Newton 61 25 46 28 / 50 0 0 10 ElDorado 72 27 47 30 / 50 0 0 20 Winfield-KWLD 74 28 48 32 / 60 0 0 30 Russell 45 21 46 25 / 70 0 0 10 Great Bend 50 20 46 25 / 60 0 0 20 Salina 59 24 47 27 / 60 10 0 10 McPherson 58 24 46 27 / 50 0 0 10 Coffeyville 75 30 48 33 / 70 20 0 30 Chanute 71 28 47 32 / 70 20 0 20 Iola 70 28 47 31 / 80 20 0 10 Parsons-KPPF 74 29 47 33 / 60 20 0 20 && .ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Freeze Warning from 7 PM this evening to 10 AM CDT Monday for KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100. Wind Advisory from 4 PM this afternoon to 1 AM CDT Monday for KSZ071-072-095-096-099-100. High Wind Warning until 1 AM CDT Monday for KSZ032-033-047>053- 067>070-082-083-091>094-098. && SHORT TERM...TAV LONG TERM...TAV AVIATION...BDK FIRE WEATHER...TAV CLIMATE...TAV
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Wichita KS 421 AM CDT Sun Apr 12 2020 KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-130930- 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- 421 AM CDT Sun Apr 12 2020 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of Central Kansas, South Central Kansas and Southeast Kansas. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight A cold front will move across the area today bringing strong north winds gusting as high as 45 to 60 mph. Check the High Wind Warning and Wind Advisory for additional details. The strong winds may be accompanied by a wintry mix and reduced visibility for areas generally north of I-70. At this time, little to no accumulations of ice or snow are expected. Thunderstorms will be possible again this afternoon and evening primarily across southeast Kansas. A few of those storms could be strong to severe with wind gusts up to 65 mph and half dollar sized hail. Very high grassland fire danger is possible in portions of central and south central Kansas today as a result of the high winds. Temperatures will fall below freezing behind the front this evening. See the latest Freeze Warning for details. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday Temperatures will continue dropping into the 20s to low 30s area- wide by early Monday morning. See the latest Freeze Warning for details. Widespread frost and or freeze appears likely each day through at least mid-week. A wintry mix of rain and snow may occur on Monday night into early Tuesday along the Kansas and Oklahoma border. Minimal if any accumulation is expected. There is potential for wintry precipitation at the end of the week in central Kansas. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated today or tonight. && For a graphical version of this information, see our webpage at: https://weather.gov/crh/ghwo?sid=ict
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wichita KS
808 AM CDT Sun Apr 12 2020
KSZ096-100-121400-
Labette KS-Neosho KS-
808 AM CDT Sun Apr 12 2020
The National Weather Service in Wichita has issued a
* Significant Weather Advisory for...
Northeastern Labette County in southeastern Kansas...
Southeastern Neosho County in southeastern Kansas...
* Until 900 AM CDT.
* At 806 AM CDT...National Weather Service meteorologists were
tracking a strong thunderstorm near Parsons...moving northeast at
30 mph.
hail up to the size of nickels will be possible with this storm.
* Locations impacted include...
Parsons, Labette and South Mound.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Be prepared to take shelter in the event the storms intensify and
become severe...or a warning is issued by the National Weather
Service.
&&
LAT...LON 3719 9523 3729 9534 3760 9509 3739 9509
3738 9508 3727 9508
TIME...MOT...LOC 1308Z 234DEG 26KT 3730 9523
JAKUBSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wichita KS
958 AM CDT Sun Apr 12 2020
KSZ099-100-121545-
Montgomery KS-Labette KS-
958 AM CDT Sun Apr 12 2020
The National Weather Service in Wichita has issued a
* Significant Weather Advisory for...
Southeastern Montgomery County in southeastern Kansas...
Southwestern Labette County in southeastern Kansas...
* Until 1045 AM CDT.
* At 957 AM CDT...National Weather Service meteorologists were
tracking a strong thunderstorm over Coffeyville...moving northeast
at 30 mph.
hail up to the size of dimes will be possible with this storm.
* Locations impacted include...
Coffeyville, Cherryvale, Dearing, Mound Valley, Liberty, Angola and
Coffeyville Airport.
LAT...LON 3703 9574 3730 9552 3713 9529 3700 9550
3700 9571
TIME...MOT...LOC 1457Z 230DEG 26KT 3704 9562
JAKUBThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
12 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Sustained winds ranged between 40 and 45 mph for several hours at the airport west of Great Bend.
Measured wind speeds were right at 40 mph for an hour with gusts to 56 mph.
The measurement was taken by the mesonet site right on the county line with Ellsworth County.
Forty mph sustained winds were noted at Eisenhower airport and some tree damage was reported as the high winds moved through. A 61 mph wind gust was also measured at 355 pm.
Measured winds of 40 mph were recorded for a short time during the afternoon.
The wind gust was measured by the mesonet site located on the county line.
Estimated wind gusts of 40 mph were noted across the county.
Sustained winds of 40-43 mph were noted for several hours just southwest of Salina.
Sustained winds of 40 mph were measuredas well as some tree damage in the city of Kingman.
Measured sustained winds of 40 mph lasted a short time during the afternoon hours.
Sustained winds of 40-43 mph were noted during the late afternoon hours.
A very short period of sustained winds of 40 mph. A wind gust of 53 mph was also recorded.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kansas in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Kansas, April 2020
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: 885388, 885380, 885382, 885396, 885399, 885383, 885401, 885392, 885398, 885400, 885393, 885397.