Cold in Kansas, January 13 to 16, 2024

Name: Cold in Kansas, January 13 to 16, 2024
Start: 2024-01-13T00:15
End: 2024-01-16T09:45
Location: Kansas

January 13 to 16, 2024 · NWS GLD · 13 events in 13 counties and zones

In the evening of the 12th, a strong cold front moved southward over the area. Behind it, an arctic airmass caused -25F wind chills to begin late in the evening of the 12th.

Where it happened

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.

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

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 13

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 GLD wrote it up.

In the evening of the 12th, a strong cold front moved southward over the area. Behind it, an arctic airmass caused -25F wind chills to begin late in the evening of the 12th. This airmass remained until the 16th, as did the cold temperatures and wind chills. The coldest wind chill recorded in Northwestern Kansas during the event was -42F in Cheyenne County.

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 Goodland, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 12, 10:43 PM CST, 1 hour 32 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 12, 10:43 PM CST, 1 hour 32 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Goodland KS
943 PM MST Fri Jan 12 2024

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH MONDAY/...
Issued at 200 PM MST Fri Jan 12 2024

Arctic front still retreating eastward through northeast
Colorado this afternoon, but probably won't reach the Kansas
border before a surface low on the front dives south through
eastern Colorado this evening and the Arctic air surges
southward with it. Patchy dense freezing fog may develop along
the front from about 04z-09z in the southwest half of the area
(Akron, Colorado, to Scott City, Kansas and west), while light
snow will likely develop behind it. Northerly winds gusting
20-30 mph behind the front will create areas of blowing snow.
Snow accumulations will generally be less than one inch, but
even light amounts have proven sufficient to create visibility
reductions to less than one mile in blowing snow and hazardous
driving conditions. The Arctic blast begins in earnest tonight
with low temperatures 5 to 10 below and wind chills 30 to 40
below.

For Saturday through Monday, not much change in temperatures as
the Arctic air will not relent. High temperatures will be a few
degrees either side of zero each day and low temperatures 10 to
20 below. Wind chills will be around 20 below during the day and
30 below at night. There will be occasional chances for light
snow with a series of shortwaves rotating around the upper low
slowly moving through the northern plains. That being said,
there will be a lull in the snow on Saturday before picking up
again Sunday and Monday. Snow amounts remain on the light side,
with 2-day totals on Sunday and Monday between 1 and 3 inches
currently anticipated. Winds will be light on Sunday, less than
10 mph, but do increase on Monday with gusts up to 25 mph, which
may result in areas of blowing snow.

.LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
Issued at 200 PM MST Fri Jan 12 2024

Temperatures begin to moderate on Tuesday with highs currently
forecast to reach the teens and 20s. Wednesday will see
significantly warmer temperatures with highs in the 30s to
possibly lower 40s in northeast Colorado. No precipitation is
expected either day with dry northwest flow. Thursday a little
more uncertain in regards to both temperatures and precipitation
chances. GFS brings in another surge of colder air, though not
as cold as the present air mass, as well as a chance for light
snow. The ECMWF on the other has temperatures warmer than even
Wednesday with a chance for either light rain or snow, then
colder temperatures Thursday night and Friday. The differences
between the two models comes down to their handling of the next
shortwave diving south out of Canada. At this point, will cut the
difference and have slightly colder temperatures on both days
with a slight mention of snow. Confidence for Thursday and Friday
is low.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Saturday night)
Issued at 940 PM MST Fri Jan 12 2024

NNE-N winds at 15-20 knots will further increase to 20-30 knots
around 09-12 UTC.. as an Arctic airmass surges southward into the
region. Expect deteriorating conditions at both terminals this
evening and overnight.. in association with light snow, blowing
snow, and low ceilings (mainly after ~05 UTC), with the relative
worst conditions occurring in the 06-12 UTC time frame. Conditions
are anticipated to improve to VFR by late morning (~18 UTC
Saturday). Breezy N to NNW winds will persist through the
afternoon. Winds will abruptly decrease to 6-12 knots an hour or
so prior to sunset Saturday evening.. as Arctic high pressure
becomes established over the region (MSLP gradient weakens) and
the development of a strong nocturnal inversion terminates mixing.

&&

.GLD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
KS...Wind Chill Warning until 11 AM MST /noon CST/ Tuesday for
     KSZ001>004-013>016-027>029-041-042.

CO...Wind Chill Warning until 11 AM MST Tuesday for COZ090>092.

NE...Wind Chill Warning until 11 AM MST /noon CST/ Tuesday for
     NEZ079>081.

&&

SHORT TERM...024
LONG TERM...024
AVIATION...Vincent

Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 12, 5:22 PM CST, 6 hours 53 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED
National Weather Service Goodland KS
422 PM MST Fri Jan 12 2024

COZ090>092-KSZ001>004-013>016-027>029-041-042-NEZ079>081-132330-
Yuma-Kit Carson-Cheyenne-Rawlins-Decatur-Norton-Sherman-Thomas-
Sheridan-Graham-Wallace-Logan-Gove-Greeley-Wichita-Dundy-Hitchcock-
Red Willow-
422 PM MST Fri Jan 12 2024 /522 PM CST Fri Jan 12 2024/

This hazardous weather outlook is for extreme southwest Nebraska...
northwest Kansas and east central Colorado.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...

A Wind Chill Warning is in effect for the entire Tri State area
tonight through Tuesday morning.

Hazardous travel conditions associated with light snow and blowing
snow are expected across portions of the area this evening and
overnight, mainly along and north of Interstate 70 and west of
Highway 83. Patchy dense freezing fog may also develop overnight,
mainly along and west of a line from Akron, Colorado, to Scott City,
Kansas.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH FRIDAY...

A Wind Chill Warning remains in effect for the entire Tri State area
through Tuesday morning. Wind chill readings will range from 20
below zero during the day to 30 below zero at night. Periods of light
snow are expected this weekend and early next week. Significant
accumulations are currently not anticipated.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters are encouraged to report additional snow accumulation to
the National Weather Service in Goodland via social media or
telephone.

Vincent

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jan 12, 10:52 PM CST, 1 hour 23 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Goodland KS
952 PM MST Fri Jan 12 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0935 PM     Extreme Cold     Saint Francis           39.77N 101.80W
01/12/2024  M-15 F           Cheyenne           KS   AWOS

            The AWOS in St. Francis (KSYF) reported a
            wind chill of -15F at 9:35 pm MST (0435
            UTC). Air temperature 4F, wind from the NNE
            at 16 mph.

&&

Vincent

Local storm report, Jan 12, 10:54 PM CST, 1 hour 21 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Goodland KS
954 PM MST Fri Jan 12 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0935 PM     Extreme Cold     3 N Colby               39.43N 101.05W
01/12/2024  M-15 F           Thomas             KS   AWOS

            The AWOS in Colby (KCBK) reported a wind
            chill of -15F at 9:35 pm MST (0435 UTC). Air
            temperature 5F, wind from the NNE at 20 mph.

&&

Vincent

Local storm report, Jan 12, 10:55 PM CST, 1 hour 20 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Goodland KS
955 PM MST Fri Jan 12 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0935 PM     Extreme Cold     2 NW Wray               40.10N 102.25W
01/12/2024  M-15 F           Yuma               CO   AWOS

            The AWOS in Wray (K2V5) reported a wind
            chill of -15F at 9:35 pm MST (0435 UTC). Air
            temperature 3F, wind from the NNE at 14 mph
            gusting to 23 mph.

&&

Vincent

Local storm report, Jan 12, 10:56 PM CST, 1 hour 19 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Goodland KS
956 PM MST Fri Jan 12 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0939 PM     Extreme Cold     1 NNW Norton            39.85N 99.90W
01/12/2024  M-22 F           Norton             KS   AWOS

            The AWOS in Norton (KNRN) reported a wind
            chill of -22F at 9:39 pm MST (0439 UTC). Air
            temperature 1F, wind from the N at 22 mph.

&&

Vincent

Local storm report, Jan 12, 10:59 PM CST, 1 hour 16 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Goodland KS
959 PM MST Fri Jan 12 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0945 PM     Extreme Cold     2 N Atwood              39.84N 101.04W
01/12/2024  M-22 F           Rawlins            KS   Mesonet

            Mesonet station GW1727 ATWOOD reported a
            wind chill of -22F at 9:45 pm MST (0445
            UTC). Air temperature 0F, wind from the NNE
            at 19 mph gusting to 28 mph.

&&

Vincent

Local storm report, Jan 12, 11:01 PM CST, 1 hour 14 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Goodland KS
1001 PM MST Fri Jan 12 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0953 PM     Extreme Cold     1 NNE Goodland          39.37N 101.70W
01/12/2024  M-15 F           Sherman            KS   ASOS

            The ASOS in Goodland (KGLD) reported a wind
            chill of -15F at 9:53 pm MST (0453 UTC). Air
            temperature 4F, wind from the NE at 16 mph.

&&

Vincent

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

13 cold/wind chill. Local standard time, as filed.

Cold/Wind Chill, Thomas

When: January 13, 12:15 AM CST to January 16, 9:15 AM CST
Where: Thomas forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 39.351, -101.055 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The AWOS at the airport in Colby, KS report reported -25F wind chills starting at 1215 AM local on the 13th. There were brief times during the day time hours that wind chills warmed above -25F, generally due to the AWOS reporting calm winds. Overnight on the 15th, an additional cold front moved through and the AWOS reported the coldest reading of -40F wind chills.