Drought conditions generally improved across Central Kansas during January with all areas of extreme drought (D3) improving to either severe drought (D2) or moderate drought (D1). Areas of Southeast Kansas generally saw no improvement in drought conditions through January.
Every event with a place to put it; 13 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.
Drought conditions generally improved across Central Kansas during January with all areas of extreme drought (D3) improving to either severe drought (D2) or moderate drought (D1). Areas of Southeast Kansas generally saw no improvement in drought conditions through January.
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 Dec 31, 11:54 PM CST, 6 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Wichita KS 1154 PM CST Sun Dec 31 2023 .KEY MESSAGES... * Near seasonal temperatures for most of the forecast period with values in the upper 30s to mid 40s * Chances (50%) increasing for precipitation at end of next week (Fri- Sat) with a rain/snow mix possible * Additional precipitation chances possible January 7-9 && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 343 PM CST Sun Dec 31 2023 Changes: 1) Increased precipitation chances on Friday 2) Slight decrease in temperatures from Wed-Sat There is a wave over the Great Lakes region with a ridge entering the Plains as another wave is over the Pacific Northwest/western Canada. Cooler air settled in behind the overnight cold front. Pesky low clouds have kept temperatures lower with values hovering around the freezing mark for north central, south central and southeast Kansas. Overnight temperatures are forecast near seasonal normal which is around 20 to 25 degrees. Wind chills are calculated to be in the mid teens for those enjoying any New Year's Eve festivities when the clock strikes 12. As high pressure moves in, fog may develop tonight into early Monday (New Year's Day) in portions of north central Kansas. The better chances are off to the west where better breaks in cloud cover occurred during the day. An eastward shift in the pattern occurs tonight into Monday. The wave over the Pacific Northwest should track into the Plains late Monday to Tuesday as a southern portion moves over the Southern Plains a bit later then joins up with other one over the Ozarks. A lack of moisture and placement will result in primarily a wind directional change locally. As this wave is replaced by a ridge in the Plains, the next trough is expected to move onshore to California on Wednesday. This is the system to watch as it makes an eastward path towards the Plains. The models are in better agreement for the end of the week than they were yesterday with the NBM increasing the precipitation chances once again (closer to 50%) with this issuance for Friday. Confidence is higher with this improved consistency and agreement. Better moisture transport exists to the south where there is better forcing as well. General consensus remains in the thermal profiles for the precipitation type to be a mix of rain and snow. Thus this was kept in for now. There are still some uncertainties in the precipitation types given when this is occurring in the forecast and some variability in the thermal profile. Therefore stay tuned for updates. Near seasonal temperatures are expected throughout the forecast period with daytime highs ranging from the upper 30s to mid 40s. As highlighted in the previous discussion, the models are in pretty good agreement for a wrapped up low pressure system ejecting east over the Central Plains from the 7th to the 9th. While this is beyond the seven day forecast, it is definitely something to watch given the current agreement and respective strength of the system. Colder air is anticipated as well increasing snow potential especially in northern Kansas. Many changes will likely occur in the coming days. && .AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z TUESDAY/... Issued at 1153 PM CST Sun Dec 31 2023 MVFR CIGs are likely to remain through the night tonight. Most areas will stay in the MVFR but KRSL, KGBD and KSLN have a possibility of going into the IFR range for a few hours. This will end close to sunrise though. By 15Z to 18Z, the MVFR CIGs will begin to abate and clearing will start. This is when VFR conditions are expected to return to the region. && .ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && DISCUSSION...VJP AVIATION...ELM
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Wichita KS 350 PM CST Sun Dec 31 2023 KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-012200- 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- 350 PM CST Sun Dec 31 2023 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of Central Kansas, South Central Kansas and Southeast Kansas. .DAY ONE...Tonight No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday There is a chance for a mix of rain and snow across the region Friday and Friday night. Stay tuned, as forecast details are refined over the next few days. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated tonight. && For a graphical version of this information, see our webpage at: https://weather.gov/crh/ghwo?sid=ict
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
13 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
Drought conditions improved from Severe drought (D2) and Extreme drought (D3) in the eastern portions of the county to moderate drought (D1) or abnormally dry (D0) in all parts of the county for January.
Drought conditions stayed same for the month of January across the county. Central and eastern portions of the county remained in severe drought (D2) with the rest of the county in moderate drought (D1).
Drought conditions stayed same for the month of January across the county. The southeastern areas of the county remained in severe drought (D2) with the rest of the county remaining in moderate drought (D1) or abnormally dry (D0) for January.
Drought conditions improved across the county. All areas improved from either extreme drought (D3) or severe drought (D2) to moderate drought (D1) across the county.
Drought conditions stayed the same through January with only the northwest corner of the county remaining in severe drought (D2) and the rest of the county in moderate drought (D1).
Drought conditions improved across the county. All areas improved from either extreme drought or severe drought (D2) to moderate drought (D1). There was only a small area in the eastern areas of the county that remained in severe drought (D2).
Drought conditions improved across the northern areas of the county. Only the southwestern corner of the county remained in severe drought (D2) at the end of January.
Drought conditions remained unchanged in January. Only the northwestern areas of the county remain in severe drought (D2) with the rest of the county in moderate drought (D1).
Drought conditions improved from extreme drought (D3) in the north and western areas of the county to severe drought (D2);. All other parts of the county remained unchanged.
Drought conditions improved from extreme drought (D3) to either severe drought (D2 in the southern areas of the county or moderate drought (D1) in the remainder of the county.
Drought conditions improved severe drought (D2) to either moderate drought (D1) or abnormally dry (D0) in all parts of the county during January.
Drought conditions improved severe drought (D2) to either moderate drought (D1) in all areas of the county during January.
Drought conditions remained unchanged with the northwestern areas of the county still in severe drought (D2) and the rest of the county in moderate drought in January.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kansas in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in Kansas, January 2024
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: 1158646, 1158650, 1158653, 1158655, 1158659, 1158660, 1158663, 1158667, 1158669, 1158672, 1158674, 1158676, 1158681.