Multiple rounds of light to moderate snow swept across much of central, south central, and southeast Kansas starting on the 17th and continuing into the 19th. 8 inches of snow fell.
Every event with a place to put it; 26 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.
Multiple rounds of light to moderate snow swept across much of central, south central, and southeast Kansas starting on the 17th and continuing into the 19th. The highest snow totals were reported in Great Bend where 8.8 inches of snow fell. Most of the area saw between 3 and 7 inches of snow through the duration of the event. Multiple accidents occurred due to icy roadways, and copious amounts of schools were canceled for the 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 Wichita, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 17, 1:57 PM CST, 1 hour 3 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Wichita KS 157 PM CST Mon Feb 17 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Moderate to heavy snowfall begins late tonight, lasting through Tuesday. Highest totals continue to be expected in southeast Kansas. - Windy conditions Tuesday will result in blowing snow, poor visibility, and overall dangerous travel conditions. - Dangerously cold Arctic air arrives tonight and persists through Friday morning. Wind chills as low as 20 to 30 degrees below are expected through this period. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 156 PM CST Mon Feb 17 2025 CHANGES SINCE PREVIOUS FORECAST... * A Winter Storm Warning is now in effect for all counties in the warning area. Water vapor imagery this afternoon depicts a mid/upper jet max spanning from the High Plains toward the Ohio River Valley. At the surface, high pressure sliding southeast toward Kentucky has allowed for southerly winds to reside over the southern half of the forecast area today, while areas to the north have observed easterly winds. SNOW TONIGHT THRU TUESDAY EVENING... Temperatures later this evening into tonight will quickly tumble into the lower teens and single digits as the well-advertised Arctic airmass pushes its way from north to south across the region. The associated cold front will work in concert with widespread synoptic forcing for ascent provided by the right entrance region of the upper jet to result in snow impacting the northern 3/4 of the state tonight into early Tuesday morning. As the boundary moves south, coverage will gradually expand to include the entire forecast area and a large portion of the state itself. Latest hi-resolution guidance highlights the continued potential for embedded bands of low/mid-level frontogenetical bands allowing for snowfall rates around 1"/hr especially through the morning and afternoon timeframes. These moderate to heavy snowfall rates paired with gusty northerly winds will result in poor visibilities, blowing and drifting snow, and overall dangerous travel conditions through Tuesday evening across most of the area. Previous discussions have highlighted the variability between model runs regarding total snow accumulations through Tuesday evening. While some models (Euro/UKMET) have trended higher totals down and further south, high-resolution and regional models (NAM/HRRR/RAP, etc.) have remained relatively consistent in their depictions of potential for relatively high amounts. As such, the current expectation is for widespread accumulations of at least 4-6 inches throughout the area, with the potential for upwards of 8+ inches in southeast Kansas. As stated before, embedded bands of enhanced snowfall are likely per hi-res solutions, so locally higher totals are possible as we head into Tuesday evening. TEMPERATURES TONIGHT THRU FRIDAY MORNING... In addition to the arrival of snow to the area tonight into Tuesday, the Arctic airmass will also provide the region with frigid temperatures and dangerous wind chills. Latest guidance continues to hold values around 20-30 degrees below zero through at least Thursday morning, with the lowest values expected in central Kansas. Wind chills back off slightly by Friday morning (around -10) before the Arctic airmass departs the region as we head into the weekend. Daytime highs in the single digits and low teens will persist through Thursday, then models suggest highs in the 20s on Friday and 40s on Saturday. These will more than likely be subject to change as snow cover on the ground inhibits daytime warming toward the end of the week. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z TUESDAY/... Issued at 1248 PM CST Mon Feb 17 2025 MVFR ceilings are beginning to drop south across central Kansas early this afternoon behind a strong Arctic cold front. This front will continue to steadily march south this afternoon bringing low clouds and breezy northeast winds to all terminals. A storm system will approach from the west late tonight into early Tuesday morning bringing widespread accumulating snowfall to the region. Within this snow, conditions should gradually deteriorate to IFR or lower for many locations. Accumulations of generally 4"-8" are expected however a heavier band of snow near CNU may lead to locally heavier amounts. && .ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Extreme Cold Warning from midnight tonight to noon CST Thursday for KSZ032-033-047>053-067-068. Winter Storm Warning from midnight tonight to 6 AM CST Wednesday for KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096- 098>100. Extreme Cold Warning from 6 PM Tuesday to noon CST Thursday for KSZ069>072-082-083-091>096-098>100. && DISCUSSION...JWK AVIATION...WI
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Wichita KS 217 PM CST Mon Feb 17 2025 KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-182030- 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- 217 PM CST Mon Feb 17 2025 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of Central Kansas, South Central Kansas and Southeast Kansas. .DAY ONE...Tonight Widespread snow will gradually spread east to southeast across the region starting tonight. Accumulations up to around 2 to 4 inches are possible by sunrise Tuesday across central Kansas, generally along and north of Highway 50. Bitter cold Arctic air will arrive from the north tonight, with dangerous wind chills reach around 25 below zero by later tonight across central Kansas. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday Widespread snow, heavy at times, will continue to expand south and southeast across all of central, south-central, and southeast Kansas Tuesday, gradually exiting to the east Tuesday evening. Widespread snow accumulations of at least 4 inches are expected, with amounts of 5 to 8 inches likely over the southeast quarter of Kansas generally along and east of I-135. Locally higher amounts greater than 8 to 10 inches are possible over southeast Kansas. Gusty northeast winds will create poor visibilities in blowing and drifting snow. Travel is strongly discouraged! Bitter cold Arctic air will persist Tuesday morning through Thursday or Friday, with dangerous wind chills as cold as 20 to 30 degrees below zero likely at times. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated this afternoon or tonight. && For a graphical version of this information, see our webpage at: https://www.weather.gov/erh/ghwo?wfo=ict
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
22 winter storm, 4 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
A snowfall total of 5 inches was reported about three miles southeast of Luray. Based on other reports, around 3 to 5 inches fell across Russell County.
A snowfall total of 2.5 inches was reported about one mile southeast of Lincoln. Based on additional and surrounding reports and observations, around 2 to 3 inches of snow fell across Lincoln County.
A snowfall total of 4.5 inches was reported about six miles north-northwest Brookville. Based on additional reports, around 3 to 5 inches of snow occurred across Saline County.
A snowfall total of 8.8 inches was reported in Great Bend. Based on additional reports, around 4 to 9 inches of snow occurred across Barton County with the heaviest amounts occurring across the southern portions of the county.
A snowfall total of 5 inches was reported near Kanopolis Lake. Based on additional reports, around 3 to 5 inches of snow fell across Ellsworth County.
A couple of snowfall reports of 5.9 inches were reported near Penalosa and about a mile north of Kingman. Based on additional reports, around 3 to 6 inches of snow fell across Kingman County with the heaviest amounts occurring along and north of US Highway 54.
A snowfall total of 8.3 inches was reported about two miles north-northeast. Based on additional reports, around 4 to 8 inches of snow fell across Sedgwick County with the highest amounts occurring along and north of US Highway 54.
A snowfall total of 1.4 inches was report in Anthony. Based on surrounding observations, around 1 to 3 inches of snow fell across Harper County with the highest amounts occurring across the far northern portions of the county.
A snowfall total of 10.5 inches was reported in Sterling. Based on additional reports, around 4 to 10.5 inches of snow fell across Rice County with the heaviest amounts occurring across the far southern portions of the county.
A snowfall total of 8 inches was reported about three miles east of McPherson. Based on additional reports, around 5 to 8 inches occurred across McPherson County.
A snowfall total of 8 inches was reported about one mile south of Haven. Based on additional reports, around 4 to 8 inches fell across Reno County.
A snowfall total of 4.5 inches was reported in Oxford. Based on additional reports, around 1 to 5 inches of snow fell across Sumner County with the highest amounts occurring across the far northern portions of the county.
A snowfall total of 7 inches was reported about two miles south of Newton. Based on additional reports, around 4 to 7 inches of snow fell across Harvey County.
A snowfall total of 6 inches was reported about five miles south of Hillsboro. Based on additional reports, around 3 to 6 inches fell across Marion County.
A snowfall total of 7 inches was reported in Cottonwood Falls. Based on additional reports, around 4 to 7 inches of snow fell across Chase County.
A snowfall total of 7.5 inches was reported in Douglass. Based on additional reports, around 4 to 8 inches of snow across Butler County.
A snowfall total of 5.5 inches was reported near Rock. Based on additional reports, around 2 to 6 inches of snow fell across the county with the highest amounts occurring across the northwest portions of the county.
A snowfall total of 8 inches was reported in Eureka. Based on additional reports, around 4 to 8 inches of snow fell across Greenwood County with the highest amounts occurring across the central portions of the county.
A snowfall total of 4.3 inches was reported about one mile north of Grenola. Based on additional and surrounding reports, around 3 to 4.3 inches of snow fell across Elk County.
A snowfall total of 4.8 inches was reported about three miles south of Peru. Based on additional reports, around 2 to 5 inches fell across Chautauqua County with the heaviest amounts occurring across the southeastern portions of the county.
A snowfall total of 5.8 inches was reported in Yates Center. Reports across the county were sparse, but based on surrounding reports, an estimated 3 to 6 inches of snow fell across Woodson County.
A snowfall total of 7.1 inches was reported in Erie. Based on additional observations, around 4 to 7 inches of snow fell across Neosho County.
A snowfall total of 9 inches was reported about one mile west of Humboldt. Based on additional reports, around 5 to 9 inches of snow fell across Allen County.
A snowfall total of 4.4 inches was reported in Neodesha. Based on additional and surrounding observations, around 3 to 4.4 inches of snow fell across Wilson County.
A snowfall total of 6.5 inches was reported in Independence. Based on additional reports, around 4 to 7 inches fell across Montgomery County.
A snowfall total of 7.7 inches was reported in Bartlett. Based on additional reports, around 5 to 8 inches of snow fell across Labette County.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kansas in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Kansas, February 2025
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: 1242765, 1243953, 1242768, 1242770, 1242771, 1242784, 1242786, 1243954, 1242772, 1242775, 1242780, 1242789, 1242782, 1242777, 1242778, 1242790, 1242792, 1242794, 1243955, 1242798, 1242799, 1242804, 1242803, 1243956, 1242801, 1242805.