Kansas, 2022

Extreme Cold in Kansas, December 22, 2022

December 22, 2022 · NWS TOP · 23 events in 23 counties and zones

Wind chills dropped into the -25 to -40 degree range during the overnight and early morning hours of December 22nd. Northwest winds of 25 to 45 mph along with air temperatures of zero to -10F will do that.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 23 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
23

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS TOP wrote it up.

Wind chills dropped into the -25 to -40 degree range during the overnight and early morning hours of December 22nd. Northwest winds of 25 to 45 mph along with air temperatures of zero to -10F will do that. Numerous counties opened various locations to act as warming shelters for vulnerable populations.

What forecasters said that day

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 Topeka, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 21, 10:55 PM CST, 4 hours 5 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 21, 10:55 PM CST, 4 hours 5 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 21, 6:24 PM CST, 8 hours 36 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Topeka KS
624 PM CST Wed Dec 21 2022

KSZ008>012-020>024-026-034>040-054>056-058-059-230030-
Republic-Washington-Marshall-Nemaha-Brown-Cloud-Clay-Riley-
Pottawatomie-Jackson-Jefferson-Ottawa-Dickinson-Geary-Morris-
Wabaunsee-Shawnee-Douglas-Lyon-Osage-Franklin-Coffey-Anderson-
624 PM CST Wed Dec 21 2022

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST THURSDAY
NIGHT...
...WIND CHILL WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO NOON CST
FRIDAY...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Kansas, east central
Kansas, north central Kansas and northeast Kansas.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

More detailed information can be accessed at...
http://www.weather.gov/media/top/DssPacket.pdf

   Winter Storm Warning.
   Wind Chill Warning.

Snow will overspread the area tonight with accumulations of up to
two inches in northeast Kansas. Areas of light freezing drizzle will
continue for much of the area before the snow arrives. Strong
northwest winds may cause some areas to see reduced visibility due
to blowing snow. Wind chill values fall into the negative 25 to
negative 40 degree range late tonight.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.

More detailed information can be accessed at...
http://www.weather.gov/media/top/DssPacket.pdf

   Winter Storm Warning.
   Wind Chill Warning.

The snow ends from northwest to southeast from around dawn Thursday
to early Thursday afternoon with total amounts of one to three
inches expected. The strong northwest winds will persist into
Thursday night and keep the potential for blowing snow and reduced
visibilities in place through this time. Wind chills values will
continue to be dangerously-cold through Friday night.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

&&

More detailed information can be found at:
www.weather.gov/media/top/DssPacket.pdf

In the hours before

Local storm report, Dec 21, 9:03 PM CST, 5 hours 57 minutes before
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The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

23 extreme cold/wind chill. Local standard time, as filed.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Cloud

When
December 22, 3:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where
Cloud forecast zone
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
39.480, -97.649 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Wind chills of -35 to -40F were recorded at the Concordia ASOS in the morning hours of December 22nd.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Ottawa

When
December 22, 3:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where
Ottawa forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
39.133, -97.650 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Kansas mesonet showed wind chills of -25 to -40F for much of the day on December 22nd. That data was available via http://mesonet.k-state.edu/weather/windchill/ .

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Washington

When
December 22, 3:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where
Washington forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
39.784, -97.087 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Kansas mesonet showed wind chills of -25 to -40F for much of the day on December 22nd. That data was available via http://mesonet.k-state.edu/weather/windchill/ .

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Clay

When
December 22, 3:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where
Clay forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
39.350, -97.165 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Kansas mesonet showed wind chills of -25 to -40F for much of the day on December 22nd. That data was available via http://mesonet.k-state.edu/weather/windchill/ .

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Dickinson

When
December 22, 3:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where
Dickinson forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
38.867, -97.153 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Kansas mesonet showed wind chills of -25 to -40F for much of the day on December 22nd. That data was available via http://mesonet.k-state.edu/weather/windchill/ .

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Marshall

When
December 22, 3:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where
Marshall forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
39.784, -96.523 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Kansas mesonet showed wind chills of -25 to -40F for much of the day on December 22nd. That data was available via http://mesonet.k-state.edu/weather/windchill/ .

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Riley

When
December 22, 3:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where
Riley forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
39.297, -96.735 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Kansas mesonet showed wind chills of -25 to -40F for much of the day on December 22nd. That data was available via http://mesonet.k-state.edu/weather/windchill/ .

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Geary

When
December 22, 3:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where
Geary forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
39.002, -96.752 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Kansas mesonet showed wind chills of -25 to -40F for much of the day on December 22nd. That data was available via http://mesonet.k-state.edu/weather/windchill/ .

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Morris

When
December 22, 3:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where
Morris forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
38.687, -96.650 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Kansas mesonet showed wind chills of -25 to -40F for much of the day on December 22nd. That data was available via http://mesonet.k-state.edu/weather/windchill/ .

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Republic

When
December 22, 4:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where
Republic forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
39.828, -97.651 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Kansas mesonet data fromhttp://mesonet.k-state.edu/weather/windchill/ showed wind chills of -30 to -35 degrees for much of the day on Thursday December 22nd.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Nemaha

When
December 22, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 AM CST
Where
Nemaha forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
39.784, -96.014 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Kansas mesonet showed wind chills of -25 to -40F for much of the day on December 22nd. That data was available via http://mesonet.k-state.edu/weather/windchill/ .

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Pottawatomie

When
December 22, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 AM CST
Where
Pottawatomie forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
39.379, -96.342 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Kansas mesonet showed wind chills of -25 to -40F for much of the day on December 22nd. That data was available via http://mesonet.k-state.edu/weather/windchill/ .

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Wabaunsee

When
December 22, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 AM CST
Where
Wabaunsee forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
38.953, -96.205 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Kansas mesonet showed wind chills of -25 to -40F for much of the day on December 22nd. That data was available via http://mesonet.k-state.edu/weather/windchill/ .

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Brown

When
December 22, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 AM CST
Where
Brown forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
39.827, -95.564 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Kansas mesonet showed wind chills of -25 to -40F for much of the day on December 22nd. That data was available via http://mesonet.k-state.edu/weather/windchill/ .

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Jackson

When
December 22, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 AM CST
Where
Jackson forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
39.417, -95.794 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Kansas mesonet showed wind chills of -25 to -40F for much of the day on December 22nd. That data was available via http://mesonet.k-state.edu/weather/windchill/ .

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Shawnee

When
December 22, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 AM CST
Where
Shawnee forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
39.042, -95.756 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Kansas mesonet showed wind chills of -25 to -40F for much of the day on December 22nd. That data was available via http://mesonet.k-state.edu/weather/windchill/ .

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Osage

When
December 22, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 AM CST
Where
Osage forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
38.652, -95.727 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Kansas mesonet showed wind chills of -25 to -40F for much of the day on December 22nd. That data was available via http://mesonet.k-state.edu/weather/windchill/ .

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Lyon

When
December 22, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 AM CST
Where
Lyon forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
38.456, -96.153 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Kansas mesonet showed wind chills of -25 to -40F for much of the day on December 22nd. That data was available via http://mesonet.k-state.edu/weather/windchill/ .

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Jefferson

When
December 22, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 AM CST
Where
Jefferson forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
39.236, -95.383 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Kansas mesonet showed wind chills of -25 to -40F for much of the day on December 22nd. That data was available via http://mesonet.k-state.edu/weather/windchill/ .

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Douglas

When
December 22, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 AM CST
Where
Douglas forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
38.885, -95.293 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Kansas mesonet showed wind chills of -25 to -40F for much of the day on December 22nd. That data was available via http://mesonet.k-state.edu/weather/windchill/ .

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Franklin

When
December 22, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 AM CST
Where
Franklin forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
38.565, -95.286 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Kansas mesonet showed wind chills of -25 to -40F for much of the day on December 22nd. That data was available via http://mesonet.k-state.edu/weather/windchill/ .

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Coffey

When
December 22, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 AM CST
Where
Coffey forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
38.237, -95.734 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Kansas mesonet showed wind chills of -25 to -40F for much of the day on December 22nd. That data was available via http://mesonet.k-state.edu/weather/windchill/ .

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Anderson

When
December 22, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 AM CST
Where
Anderson forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
38.214, -95.293 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Kansas mesonet showed wind chills of -25 to -40F for much of the day on December 22nd. That data was available via http://mesonet.k-state.edu/weather/windchill/ .

What these are

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Temperatures or wind chills at or below the local warning criteria, or cold that caused deaths.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Kansas in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings in Kansas, December 2022

Sources

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1060904, 1060905, 1060906, 1060907, 1060908, 1060909, 1060910, 1060911, 1060912, 1060903, 1060913, 1060914, 1060915, 1060916, 1060917, 1060918, 1060919, 1060920, 1060921, 1060922, 1060923, 1060924, 1060925.