Precipitation deficits over the previous several months had several counties across central MO and northeastern MO in severe to extreme drought at the start of January 2024. Widespread snowfall helped these counties improve to only moderate drought (D1) or better by the January 16th issuance of the US Drought Monitor.
Every event with a place to put it; 6 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 EAX wrote it up.
Precipitation deficits over the previous several months had several counties across central MO and northeastern MO in severe to extreme drought at the start of January 2024. Widespread snowfall helped these counties improve to only moderate drought (D1) or better by the January 16th issuance of the US Drought Monitor.
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 Kansas City, MO wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 31, 11:33 PM CST, 27 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION National Weather Service Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO 1133 PM CST Sun Dec 31 2023 ...Updated 06z Aviation... .Discussion... Issued at 306 PM CST SUN DEC 31 2023 Key Messages: - Near-seasonable temperatures with no impactful weather through Thursday. - Next chance of measurable precipitation expected Friday into Saturday. A rather raw day to end the year as afternoon readings are running in the lower to middle 30s, with northwesterly winds creating wind chills in the 20s. Stratus will continue to hold through much of the night, aiding in slightly warmer lows. Cool/seasonable temperatures to hold on Monday as surface high pressure settles over the region and skies become mostly clear. Active weather pattern expected across the CONUS Tuesday through the weekend, with several highly amplified upper troughs slated to impact portions of the area. Model differences in timing and intensity create uncertainty to the specific weather anticipated for the CWA. However, still appears to be a dry forecast through Thursday as weak deep layer ascent and paltry moisture below H5 is expected. Signal continues to increase for the next chance for measurable precipitation to arrive Friday into Saturday. The evolution of this trough will likely go through several model iterations until better sampling occurs, so no benefit to attempting details/vertical temperature assessments this far in advance, but a wintry rain/snow mix is certainly possible. One thing to watch is how much northern influence/ascent will occur, especially if the primary diffluent/frontogenesis remains over the Lower Mississippi Valley. While beyond the seven day forecast, some signs for yet another strong shortwave trough to move through Jan 9/10, with a much colder airmass to follow. && .Aviation...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Monday Night) Issued at 1131 PM CST SUN DEC 31 2023 MVFR stratus will be around for most of the overnight and early morning hours. High pressure begins to move Monday afternoon, should start to clear clouds by the afternoon to early evening. && .EAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... KS...NONE. MO...NONE. && Discussion...Blair Aviation...Krull
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO 455 AM CST Sun Dec 31 2023 KSZ025-057-060-102>105-MOZ001>008-011>017-020>025-028>033-037>040- 043>046-053-054-011100- Atchison KS-Miami-Linn KS-Doniphan-Leavenworth-Wyandotte-Johnson KS- Atchison MO-Nodaway-Worth-Gentry-Harrison-Mercer-Putnam-Schuyler- Holt-Andrew-De Kalb-Daviess-Grundy-Sullivan-Adair-Buchanan-Clinton- Caldwell-Livingston-Linn MO-Macon-Platte-Clay-Ray-Carroll-Chariton- Randolph-Jackson-Lafayette-Saline-Howard-Cass-Johnson MO-Pettis- Cooper-Bates-Henry- 455 AM CST Sun Dec 31 2023 This hazardous weather outlook is for northwest...north central and west central Missouri...as well as extreme eastern Kansas. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday No hazardous weather is expected at this time. More detailed information can be accessed at... https://www.weather.gov/eax/hwo
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
6 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
Pettis County began January 2024 within severe drought (D2). Widespread snowfall helped Pettis County improve to moderate drought (D1) by the January 16th issuance of the US Drought Monitor, with additional precipitation improving Pettis County to D0 (abnormally dry) by the end of the month.
Cooper County began January 2024 within severe drought (D2). Widespread snowfall helped Cooper County improve to moderate drought (D1) by the January 16th issuance of the US Drought Monitor, with additional precipitation improving Cooper County to D0 (abnormally dry) by the end of the month.
Southern Howard County began January 2024 within severe drought (D2). Widespread snowfall helped Howard County improve to moderate drought (D1) by the January 16th issuance of the US Drought Monitor, with additional precipitation improving Howard County to D0 (abnormally dry) by the end of the month.
Eastern Putnam County began January 2024 within severe drought (D2). Widespread snowfall helped eastern Putnam County improve to moderate drought (D1) by the January 16th issuance of the US Drought Monitor, with additional precipitation improving Putnam County to D0 (abnormally dry) by the end of the month.
Schuyler County began January 2024 within extreme (D3) and severe drought (D2). Widespread snowfall helped Schuyler County improve to moderate drought (D1) by the January 16th issuance of the US Drought Monitor, with additional precipitation improving Schuyler County to D0 (abnormally dry) by the end of the month.
Northern Adair County began January 2024 within severe drought (D2). Widespread snowfall helped northern Adair County improve to moderate drought (D1) by the January 16th issuance of the US Drought Monitor, with additional precipitation improving northern Adair County to D0 (abnormally dry) by the end of the month, while the southern half of Adair County was completely removed from D0 altogether.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Missouri in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in Missouri, 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: 1155448, 1155449, 1155450, 1155451, 1155452, 1155453.