With a historically cold Arctic air mass in place, snow overspread the region on Valentine's Day and continued through February 15th. Most locations across southern and eastern Kansas picked up between 2 and 6 inches of snow.
Every event with a place to put it; 14 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.
With a historically cold Arctic air mass in place, snow overspread the region on Valentine's Day and continued through February 15th. Most locations across southern and eastern Kansas picked up between 2 and 6 inches of snow. Because it was so cold, snow was very light and fluffy and was also easy to blow into drifts. A few totals even reached a depth of 8 inches and some drifts of snow were reported to be around 9 inches deep.
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 14, 6:15 AM CST, 2 hours 55 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Wichita KS 615 AM CST Sun Feb 14 2021 .SHORT TERM...(Today through Tuesday night) Issued at 353 AM CST Sun Feb 14 2021 Not a whole lot of change on the going forecast for the snow storm that is just getting underway across the region. Light banding continues to show up on radar this morning which correlates well with some weak instability seen in the 700-500mb layer. The base of the deep trough is currently moving southeast across the New Mexico/Texas/Mexico border and will continue its southeast trajectory toward deep south TX through tomorrow. Further north, the GFS, NAM, and RAP show a compact vort max ejecting out of the TX panhandle and across OK overnight. This leaves southeast KS in a region of positive vorticity advection while also in an area of weak instability and deformation through tomorrow morning. Snow totals have been adjusted up slightly for portion of southeast KS where the approximately 30-hr event could lead to 5-6 inches. From an ensemble perspective, the WPC superensemble have come down slightly on where the QPF clusters together across south central KS, focusing in the 0.15-0.25 range while increasing southeast KS to the 0.25-0.35 range. As has been mentioned the last several days snow-to- liquid ratios (SLR) will be the most important factor at play. Hopefully some early morning observations will be able to verify what kind of SLRs are actually occurring to further refine snowfall amounts. Kept SLRs near the 20:1 marker. The arctic airmass /very cold column allows for increase residence time in the dendritic snow growth zone (DGZ). These then are favorable for increased SLRs. Soundings today look slightly cooler than previous, where a good chunk of the lower profile may overshoot the DGZ at times through the storm, lowering the fluff factor. This results in much of the area seeing 2-5 inches of light fluffy snow. The lower end amounts now more focused across central Kansas while the higher amounts will remain along the KS/OK state line and across southeast KS where 5-6 inches aren't out of the question especially where any banded snowfall lingers. Opted to hold off on any Winter Storm Warning upgrades across southeast KS, given the long drawn out duration is favorable for allowing the day shift to take another look at how tomorrow morning may unfold. Regardless, snow is expected to have travel impacts now through tomorrow morning. Snow this light and fluffy will easily blow and drift, reducing visibilities to less than one mile at times. The dangerous wind chills are the other main player now through early next week. Wind chills of 15 to 25 below will be common from this morning through this evening. As the winter storm system continues, the wind chill will become increasingly dangerous across the CWA. Wind chill values of 25 to 30 below will be possible across the area late evening/overnight and continue through Tuesday (mainly overnight and morning periods). The Wind Chill Watch has been upgraded to a high confidence Wind Chill Warning area wide. From an actual temperature perspective, Tuesday morning continues to look impressively cold with morning lows of 10 to 12 below possible. .LONG TERM...(Wednesday through Saturday) Issued at 353 AM CST Sun Feb 14 2021 Another shortwave is expected to move across the Plains late Tuesday into Wednesday which could bring another couple of inches of snow across south central and southeast KS. GFS continues to be a little more aggressive with moisture compared to the EC/CAN/NAM however there is decent agreement on the synoptic scale pattern. As we head into next weekend weak ridging will return with much needed drier air. A slight warming trend could mean rising into the 40s for some. Any lingering snow pack will likely impact temperatures mid to late week, so stay tuned for updates. && .AVIATION...(For the 12Z TAFS through 12Z Monday morning) Issued at 608 AM CST Sun Feb 14 2021 A large area of light to moderate snow was impacting locations mainly east of I-135 early this morning while another area of snow across northwest OK will pivot into the area during the morning and early afternoon hours. This will lead to MVFR ceilings and visibilities prevailing with some transient IFR under the heavier snow showers. Flight categories may begin to improve across central KS this afternoon and across south central KS by this evening but we could still see another round of light snow pivot into the area during the overnight hours. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Wichita-KICT 4 -8 5 -10 / 100 60 10 0 Hutchinson 2 -9 6 -10 / 90 20 10 0 Newton 1 -11 4 -12 / 90 50 10 0 ElDorado 3 -10 4 -12 / 90 60 20 0 Winfield-KWLD 5 -7 5 -11 / 100 60 20 0 Russell 1 -13 4 -10 / 80 10 0 0 Great Bend 1 -11 6 -8 / 90 10 0 0 Salina 1 -10 5 -10 / 80 20 0 0 McPherson 2 -10 5 -10 / 90 20 10 0 Coffeyville 5 -5 6 -10 / 100 80 20 0 Chanute 4 -7 4 -11 / 100 80 20 0 Iola 3 -7 4 -12 / 90 80 20 0 Parsons-KPPF 5 -6 5 -10 / 100 80 20 0 && .ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Weather Advisory until 6 AM CST Monday for KSZ053-069>072- 082-083-091>096-098>100. Wind Chill Warning from 6 PM this evening to noon CST Tuesday for KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100. Winter Weather Advisory until midnight CST tonight for KSZ051- 052-067-068. Winter Weather Advisory until 6 PM CST this evening for KSZ032- 033-047>050. && SHORT TERM...KMB LONG TERM...KMB AVIATION...MWM
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Wichita KS 519 AM CST Sun Feb 14 2021 KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-151130- 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- 519 AM CST Sun Feb 14 2021 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of Central Kansas, South Central Kansas and Southeast Kansas. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Accumulating snow is likely today and tonight across central, south central, and southeast Kansas. See latest winter weather advisory and our local graphics for details. Dangerous wind chill values of 20 to 30 below are likely this evening and tonight. See latest Wind Chill Warning for details. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday Accumulating snow is likely early Monday across south central and southeast Kansas. See latest winter weather advisory for details. Dangerous wind chill values of 25 to 30 below are likely Monday and Tuesday morning. See latest Wind Chill Warning for details. Snow showers are expected Tuesday night into Wednesday across southern Kansas. Light snow accumulations possible. .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
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
838 AM CST SUN FEB 14 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0700 AM SNOW 3 ESE OXFORD 37.26N 97.11W
02/14/2021 M4.5 INCH COWLEY KS COCORAHS
COCORAHS STATION KS-CL-8 WINFIELD 7.9 W.
&&
JASPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
839 AM CST SUN FEB 14 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0700 AM SNOW 6 NW BURDEN 37.37N 96.84W
02/14/2021 M3.5 INCH COWLEY KS COCORAHS
COCORAHS STATION KS-CL-18 WINFIELD 9.8 NE.
&&
JASPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
840 AM CST SUN FEB 14 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0700 AM SNOW 1 ESE EL DORADO 37.82N 96.83W
02/14/2021 M3.0 INCH BUTLER KS CO-OP OBSERVER
CO-OP OBSERVER STATION ELDK1 1.4 E EL
DORADO.
&&
JASPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
841 AM CST SUN FEB 14 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0700 AM SNOW 1 SW NEODESHA 37.42N 95.69W
02/14/2021 M3.0 INCH WILSON KS CO-OP OBSERVER
CO-OP OBSERVER STATION NSHK1 0.8 SW
NEODESHA.
&&
JASPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
846 AM CST SUN FEB 14 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0700 AM SNOW 1 SSE HOWARD 37.46N 96.26W
02/14/2021 M2.6 INCH ELK KS COCORAHS
COCORAHS STATION KS-EK-5 HOWARD 0.9 SSE.
&&
JASPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
908 AM CST SUN FEB 14 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0700 AM SNOW CHAUTAUQUA 37.02N 96.18W
02/14/2021 M3.5 INCH CHAUTAUQUA KS CO-OP OBSERVER
CO-OP OBSERVER STATION CHQK1 CHAUTAUQUA.
&&
JASThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
8 winter weather, 6 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Several snow reports across the county of 4 to 6 inches were relayed to the NWS. The highest was 6 inches at Wellington.
A COOP observer in Arkansas City reported 6 inches of snow. Many other locations across the county ranged from 4 to 6 inches in depth.
Several reports of 3 to 5 inches of snow were reported across the county.
Several reports of snow depths up to 2 to 4 inches were reported with this storm.
Several reports of snow depths 1 to 4 inches were reported with this storm.
Several reports of snow depths of 3 to 4 inches were reported with this storm.
A COOP observer reported a total of 8 inches of snow in El Dorado with this event. Several other reports from across the county totaled 4 to 6 inches.
Most locations reported up to 5 inches of snow with this event. However, an additional 4 to 5 inch snowdrifts were noted along the roads bringing the depth up to 9 or 10 inches along with treacherous travel conditions.
Most locations reported up to 5 inches of snow with this event. However, an additional 4 snowdrifts were noted along the roads bringing the depth up to 9 inches along with treacherous travel conditions.
Several reports of snow depths up to 4 inches were reported with this storm.
Several reports of snow depths up to 4 inches were reported with this storm.
Several reports of snow depths of 3 to 5 inches were reported with this storm.
Several reports of snow depths of 3 to 5 inches were reported with this storm.
A total of 6 inches of snow was reported by local law enforcement at Sedan. Elsewhere across the county, numerous 4 to 5 inch reports were received.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kansas in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in Kansas, February 2021
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: 944440, 944462, 944487, 944490, 944493, 944499, 944458, 944467, 944481, 944488, 944492, 944496, 944498, 944484.