A strong cold front surged into central Kansas during the early afternoon hours on January 18. As a result, Russell Municipal Airport recorded wind gusts for over half an hours between 58 and 62 mph.
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The episode as NWS ICT wrote it up.
A strong cold front surged into central Kansas during the early afternoon hours on January 18. As a result, Russell Municipal Airport recorded wind gusts for over half an hours between 58 and 62 mph. Strong winds also created hazardous travel conditions as the existing snow pack was blown on roads creating drops in visibility and icy road conditions. Interstate 70 was closed from Salina to Colby for several hours as a result.
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 Jan 18, 1:30 PM CST, 3 hours 3 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Wichita KS 130 PM CST Thu Jan 18 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... * Strong cold front arrives this afternoon/evening with Arctic air returning * A light snow and flurries possible through the evening hours * Bitterly cold wind chills Friday and Saturday mornings * Warming trend next week with additional precipitation chances Monday and again Tuesday night through Thursday && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 130 PM CST Thu Jan 18 2024 As of 130pm Thursday afternoon, a wide range of temperature were present across the central US as a strong cold front progresses southeastward. At this hour, temperatures in the NE panhandle were in the single digits and teens with 30s and 40s ahead of the front in all of KS. As this front, progresses into the forecast area later this afternoon into the evening, temperatures will tumble into the single digits and teens by midnight and near-zero across central KS by sunrise. Coupling in northerly winds gusting upwards of 35 mph will contribute to wind chill values as low as -20 with the coldest along I-70. A Wind Chill Advisory remains in effect for areas along/north of Highway 50. In addition to the arrival of bitter air, an area of light snow and flurries have developed across northern KS and portions of NE within a broad zone of ascent in the left exit region of a 500mb jet. This zone will pivot through portions of central and east-central KS through the afternoon and evening hours. Short range RAP and HRRR forecast soundings suggest the overlap of moisture and ascent will occur for an hour or so at any given location. Therefore, think any accumulation will be very minor, if any at all. Transitioning into Friday night, surface ridging will slide into the area, plunging temperatures below zero across central KS with single digits else. Wind speeds will be much lighter when compared to tonight with the surface ridge overhead, yielding wind speeds around 5 mph. Even with lighter wind speeds, wind chill values will range from 0 to -20 with the coldest along I-70 once again. A Wind Chill Advisory remains in effect for areas generally north of Highway 400 Saturday morning. The surface ridge will slide east of the area Saturday afternoon, allowing southerly low-level flow to resume. Temperatures will return to the 30s/near 40 Sunday afternoon. A weak, shortwave is progged to eject into the central Plains Monday, bringing precipitation chances to the area with the best chances southeast of the Turnpike. At this point, thermal profiles appear to be warm enough for a mostly rain event, although forecast trends need to be monitored for the potential for a brief period of freezing rain Monday morning. Stay tuned. The warming trend will continue into mid-week with highs approaching 50 across southern KS Tuesday and Wednesday. Another shortwave trough is progged to overspread the region late Tuesday into Thursday, increasing rain chances area-wide. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/... Issued at 1145 AM CST Thu Jan 18 2024 Main aviation concern will be lowering cigs associated with another strong cold front. Cold front currently stretches across Central Nebraska and is continuing to push south. Some MVFR cigs and flurries will be possible with the front as it quickly moves through. In addition, north winds will increase just behind it. It is expected to move through KRSL-KGBD in the 22-23z time frame and KHUT-KICT in the 00-01z range. KRSL-KSLN will have the best chance to see a brief period of flurries as it moves through. MVFR cigs will be brief with VFR conditions expected just a few hours after the front moves through. && .ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Wind Chill Advisory from midnight tonight to 10 AM CST Friday for KSZ032-033-047>053-067-068. Wind Chill Advisory from midnight Friday night to 11 AM CST Saturday for KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072. && DISCUSSION...BMB AVIATION...RBL
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Wichita KS 423 PM CST Thu Jan 18 2024 KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-192230- 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- 423 PM CST Thu Jan 18 2024 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of Central Kansas, South Central Kansas and Southeast Kansas. .DAY ONE...Tonight There is a chance for snow flurries late this evening through early tonight across much of the area. No accumulation is expected. Winds around 35 to 45 mph are creating areas of blowing slow this evening. Areas of reduced visibility and slick roadways are likely. Much colder air and stronger north winds will result in sub-zero wind chills across the entire area late tonight. The lowest wind chills around 15 below zero will affect central Kansas. Refer to the Wind Chill Advisory for more information. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday Bitter cold wind chills around 15 below zero will affect central Kansas Friday morning. Wind chills from around 10 below to 20 below zero will affect the area Saturday morning with the lowest values across central Kansas and portions of the Flint Hills and southeast Kansas. Refer to the Wind Chill Advisory for more information. .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
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Wichita KS 404 PM CST Thu Jan 18 2024 KSZ032-033-047>049-190230- Russell-Lincoln-Barton-Ellsworth-Saline- Including the cities of Russell, Lincoln, Sylvan Grove, Great Bend, Ellsworth, Wilson, and Salina 404 PM CST Thu Jan 18 2024 North winds around 35 to 45 mph are creating areas of blowing snow, especially along east-west roadways like Interstate 70. Along with areas of reduced visibilities, snow is being blown onto roadways which is creating slick conditions. These hazardous conditions are expected to persist through the evening hours before winds gradually decrease tonight. Exercise extra caution when traveling this evening and tonight, and check road conditions before heading out the door.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Strong northerly winds behind a powerful cold front produced wind gusts between 58 and 62 mph for over half an hour during the afternoon.
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: 1157664.