Strong southwest winds ahead of an approaching cold front with a tightened gradient 6-8 mb across the CWA. Winds were 50-60 mph with some higher gusts over the 60 mph mark.
Every event with a place to put it; 11 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.
Strong southwest winds ahead of an approaching cold front with a tightened gradient 6-8 mb across the CWA. Winds were 50-60 mph with some higher gusts over the 60 mph mark. High fire danger and high wind warnings in effect during this event with weakened winds as they shifted out of the north to northwest.
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 Apr 12, 11:49 AM CST, 11 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Dodge City KS 1249 PM CDT Tue Apr 12 2022 ...Updated Aviation Section... .SHORT TERM...(Tuesday through Wednesday) Issued at 1210 AM CDT Tue Apr 12 2022 ...Intense Winds, Blowing Dust, and Extreme Fire Danger Tuesday... A strong and broad low level jet was in progress over SW KS at midnight, with 850 winds of 50-60 kts. In response, the boundary layer was well mixed, with south/southeast winds elevated and gusty, up to 40 mph. The combination of the mixing, warm advection at 850 mb, and scattered cirrus will keep many locations in the 50s through sunrise. Stratus will stream into central Kansas through morning, and some of this may briefly invade the eastern zones through sunrise. At midnight, the advertised powerful 529 dm closed cyclone was centered over Idaho. Associated leeside cyclogenesis will continue to organize near Denver through sunrise, then subsequently shift to SW Nebraska/NW Kansas Tuesday afternoon, further deepening to 980-983 mb. Intense southwest winds will overspread SW KS in response, kicking into full gear about midday. GFS forecast soundings show a deeply mixed boundary layer, mixed all the way to near 600 mb, where SWly winds will average 50-55 kts. Given the hot dry downslope behind the dryline, momentum aloft at the top of this mixed layer will easily mix to the ground during peak heating, with gusts of 50-60 mph common. Fully expect widespread blowing dust to be generated across southwest zones, both generated locally, and imported from the exceptional drought regions of the panhandles and West Texas. Dust continues in the grids, and no changes are planned to the inherited high wind warning. Agree with previous forecaster that strongest gusts (to near 65 mph) are probable across far southwest zones adjacent to Oklahoma and up the US 83 corridor. Dryline is forecast by 00z NAM to hang out in the vicinity of Barber county at peak heating, and expect it to be lurking in the southeast zones this afternoon. Models are very resistant to developing convection even near our CWA, given intense EML capping. Do not feel dryline circulations will be enough for a sustained updraft near Barber county, but will monitor. Temperatures will soar behind the dryline this afternoon, with the hottest temperatures so far in 2022 for many. Upper 80s will be common, with the hottest temperatures immediately behind the dryline in the Red Hills southeast of Dodge City (90-95). Intense cold front is expected to be crashing into the northwest zones around 7 pm, and race completely through the CWA no later than midnight. An abrupt northerly wind shift is expected, and post frontal north winds will easily gust to at least 50 mph, preferring the US 83 corridor. Significant blowing dust is expected to accompany this frontal passage, before north winds gradually decouple and relax through the overnight hours. As the cold front collides with the dryline over central Kansas, a squall line is expected to erupt, but thinking is this will be just east of the CWA. Midlevel clouds will increase overnight as the primary trough approaches, and included some sprinkles in the forecast as ECMWF continues to suggest. With a very dry boundary layer, measurable rain will be hard to come by. Dramatically colder air invades Wednesday morning, with 850 mb temperatures crashing to the 0 to -2C range. After 80s Tuesday, many western locations will be below freezing Wednesday morning. Dramatically cooler Wednesday, as the primary trough axis swings through, and northwest winds gradually relax. Included some light rain showers or sprinkles Wednesday morning per ECMWF, with positive vorticity advection acting on dry air, but again measurable rain will be scarce. Some of the rain could be mixed with wet snow flakes. Afternoon temperatures will struggle to the lower and mid 50s, or some 30 degrees cooler than Tuesday. .LONG TERM...(Thursday through Monday) Issued at 222 AM CDT Tue Apr 12 2022 Unfortunately for the continuing and expanding drought, the entire forecast is dry for all of southwest Kansas through the upcoming Easter weekend. As winds trend light and variable, a freeze is expected Thursday morning, with all locations well down into the 20s. A few hours of mid 20s will likely cause damage to unprotected early vegetation. Temperatures will warm rapidly Thursday and Friday, as mid level flow becomes zonal, heights/thicknesses climb quickly, and mid April sunshine does its magic. Afternoon temperatures will bounce back to the 60s Thursday and 70s Friday, along with relatively light winds for pleasant spring days. Medium range models are in agreement with the next cold frontal passage around Saturday morning. Northeast winds will be elevated, certainly over the NBM, with easterly boundary layer components trimming afternoon temperatures well down into the 60s (about a 10 degree drop from Friday). Another shortwave passes Sunday, but as is so often the case, any rainfall from this will favor eastern Kansas Sunday afternoon. Temperatures will bounce back to the 70s Sunday afternoon, before yet another dry cold front races through Sunday night/early Monday with elevated north winds. 00z ECMWF depicts still another dry cold front Monday night/early Tuesday. None of these fronts appears overly cold, but they will continue to push the moisture source region from the Gulf of Mexico away, and the forecast will remain dry. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Wednesday afternoon) Issued at 1246 PM CDT Tue Apr 12 2022 High wind event was just getting underway at the onset of this TAF period. The high winds out of the southwest will gust in the 45 to 50 knot range much of the afternoon until about an hour or so prior to sunset. Widespread blowing dust is expected to lead to at least MVFR flight category at LBL, GCK, and perhaps DDC for a few hours during the peak of the event. A wind shift to the northwest will occur late this evening with sustained winds in the 20 to 25 knot range behind the front. Winds will remain around this speed much of the remainder of this TAF period, however flight category will resume to VFR after the blowing dust settles down this evening, as we do not expect low stratus development this far west behind the cold front. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 222 AM CDT Tue Apr 12 2022 Dangerous wildfire conditions are expected across all zones Tuesday, from about noon through about 9 pm CDT. After 10 am, intense southwest winds are expected to average 30-40 mph with gusts of 50-60 mph common. Unseasonably warm temperatures in the upper 80s and lower 90s will force minimum relative humidity to fall to 10-15%. Dormant fuels are exceptionally dry, particularly south and west of Dodge City, as severe to exceptional drought continues. This is a rare fuel/meteorological combination that may result in an outbreak of wildfires Tuesday afternoon. Fire managers are urged to prepare resources. Importantly, a strong cold front will race through SW KS Tuesday evening, with an abrupt shift to intense north winds. This wind shift will make any fire containment extremely difficult. Given this wind shift and the expectation of fires in progress, this high end red flag warning will continue through 9 pm (through sunset). && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... DDC 89 33 53 26 / 0 10 20 0 GCK 87 30 52 24 / 10 10 20 0 EHA 82 30 54 25 / 0 10 20 0 LBL 87 30 55 24 / 0 10 20 0 HYS 88 33 54 24 / 10 10 10 0 P28 93 43 60 30 / 0 10 10 0 && .DDC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... High Wind Warning until 8 PM CDT /7 PM MDT/ this evening for KSZ030-031-043>046-061>066-074>081-084>090. Red Flag Warning until 9 PM CDT /8 PM MDT/ this evening for KSZ030-031-043>046-061>066-074>081-084>090. && SYNOPSIS...Turner SHORT TERM...Turner LONG TERM...Turner AVIATION...Umscheid FIRE WEATHER...Turner
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Dodge City KS 252 AM CDT Tue Apr 12 2022 KSZ030-031-043>046-061>066-074>081-084>090-130800- 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- 252 AM CDT Tue Apr 12 2022 /152 AM MDT Tue Apr 12 2022/ This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of central...south central...southwest and west central Kansas. .DAY ONE...Today. Day 1 Discussion ---------------- Intense winds and unseasonably warm temperatures will produce extremely dangerous wildfire conditions Tuesday afternoon. Winds will gust to near 60 mph with widespread blowing dust. A high wind warning and red flag warning are in effect for Tuesday. Day 1 Hazards ------------- * Non-thunderstorm wind: Extreme risk * Fire weather: Extreme risk .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Sunday. Days 2-7 Discussion ------------------- A freeze is expected Thursday morning, with temperatures in the 20s. Quiet dry weather is expected with no hazards. Fire danger will remain elevated each afternoon as the drought continues, but winds will remain relatively light. A series of dry cold fronts are expected through the Easter weekend. Days 2-7 Hazards ---------------- * Wednesday - Fire weather: Elevated risk * Thursday - Fire weather: Elevated risk * Friday - Fire weather: Elevated risk * Saturday - Non thunderstorm wind: Limited risk - Fire weather: Elevated risk * Sunday - Non thunderstorm wind: Limited risk * Monday No hazards. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed through tonight. && For more details visit our webpage https://weather.gov/erh/ghwo?wfo=ddc Turner
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY KS
1026 AM CDT TUE APR 12 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1015 AM NON-TSTM WND GST ELKHART 37.00N 101.90W
04/12/2022 M54 MPH MORTON KS AWOS
AWOS STATION KEHA ELKHART AWOS SITE.
&&
GTPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY KS
1105 AM CDT TUE APR 12 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1045 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 ESE SCOTT STATE LAKE 38.68N 100.90W
04/12/2022 M54 MPH SCOTT KS MESONET
MESONET STATION K5SCT 1 ESE SCOTT STATE
LAKE.
&&
GTPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY KS
1110 AM CDT TUE APR 12 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1045 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 8 WNW WILBURTON 37.12N 101.89W
04/12/2022 M57 MPH MORTON KS MESONET
MESONET STATION K5EHT K-27 @ CIMARRON R.
ELKHART.
&&
GTPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY KS
1114 AM CDT TUE APR 12 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1055 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 ENE GARDEN CITY 37.98N 100.84W
04/12/2022 M56 MPH FINNEY KS MESONET
MESONET STATION KS010 US-50 @ K-156 BRIDGE
GARDEN CITY.
&&The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
11 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Observed at the site on the US50/K156 bridge in Garden City.
Observed at the Garden City airport.
Observed at the site on the US50/K156 bridge in Garden City.
Observed at the Dodge City Regional Airport.
Observed at the Garden City airport.
Observed at the site on the US50/K156 bridge in Garden City.
Observed at the site on US54 at Bloom.
Observed at the Dodge City Regional Airport.
Observed at the site on K27 bridge across the Cimarron River.
Observed at the site on US50/K156 bridge in Garden City.
Observed at the Hays airport.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kansas in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings in Kansas, April 2022
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: 1023012, 1023014, 1023015, 1023016, 1023017, 1023018, 1023019, 1023020, 1023021, 1023023, 1023024.