A highly amplified synoptic pattern over the CONUS generated an environment with 50-60kt+ wind barbs in the 850-700mb layer and mixing layer winds of 45-50kts. This resulted in numerous 50-70 mph gusts across the entire CWA with a couple reported gusts of 70+ mph.
Every event with a place to put it; 29 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 DDC wrote it up.
A highly amplified synoptic pattern over the CONUS generated an environment with 50-60kt+ wind barbs in the 850-700mb layer and mixing layer winds of 45-50kts. This resulted in numerous 50-70 mph gusts across the entire CWA with a couple reported gusts of 70+ mph.
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 Dodge City, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 14, 11:11 PM CST, 4 hours 17 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Dodge City KS 1211 AM CDT Sun Mar 15 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Strong cold front will arrive during the predawn hours Sunday morning. - Intense north/northwest winds Sunday gusting 60-70 mph and a High Wind Warning in effect. - Areas of blowing dust and difficult travel are expected Sunday. - A hard freeze is expected Monday morning, in the teens before a very rapid warming trend is expected next week, with unseasonably warm highs expected Tuesday onward. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 1206 AM CDT Sun Mar 15 2026 Current RAP mesoanalysis has an upper-level shortwave over Montana with a surface low pressure system over eastern Colorado. Ensembles have this developing and greatly deepening over the next few hours as it descends southeastward across the central CONUS. While the majority of the system, and the entire severe threat, is forecast to move east of the CWA, SW Kansas may see some precipitation and very high winds. The precipitation chances remains minimal (15-25% via ensembles) but not zero as some wrap around rain/snow falls on the backside of the system. Anywhere it occurs will likely start as rain before transitioning into snow. However regardless of type, it is forecast to be very minimal with little (<0.1") accumulations outside a potential isolated spot or two. The more pressing concerns are the very strong winds behind the front. The front is progged to descend through the CWA around 5-7 AM. A High Wind Warning is in effect for all counties from 5 AM to 9 AM CDT Sunday. Sustained winds are 40-50 mph and gusts of up to 65 and potentially isolated gusts of 70 mph out of the northwest. The highest winds may be in and around Garden City. With the front and these winds, cold air is forecast to sharply move down into the CWA. Highs Sunday are forecasted in the 30-40s. For the most part, relative humidities will see some relief, but far SW Kansas (especially Morton) could see conditions approach Red Flag Warning criteria and will need to be monitored. Additionally, with the high winds, blowing dust is forecasted CWA wide. Exactly how much, and how dense it occurs, is under some uncertainty. The dust may lower visibilities and provide more hazards to the already difficult travel conditions. Anyone traveling needs to take the proper precautions. With the winds and CAA, lows Sunday night are expected to drop down to the teens. Beyond the excitement of Sunday, a very quiet forecast period is expected. Ensembles keep the foreseeable future dry. Even though relative humidities are expected to continue to be very low, winds beyond Sunday are not close to reaching Fire Weather Criteria. With dry quiet weather, very little else is noteworthy, especially with the severity of Sunday. After the lingering cool temperatures on Monday (highs in the 40/50s), highs will quickly warm back up to above average temperatures for this time of the year. Tuesday is forecast to have highs in the 70s before the rest of the work week is in the 80s and approaching the 90s in far SW Kansas. && .AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z MONDAY/... Issued at 1140 PM CDT Sat Mar 14 2026 VFR conditions are forecast for all sites through the entire TAF period. That said, it is very possible that conditions drop below VFR, especially if the blowing dust drops visibilities below thresholds. Some LLWS may also kick off the TAF period especially at HYS and GCK. Other than blowing dust, mostly clear skies are forecast although there may be intermittent high based cloud cover. Precipitation chances have remained below 25% via ensembles; if it occurs, it will be very light and for a short time period. With the front descending into the CWA early in the TAF period, very strong north/northwest winds are expected. Peaking around 12-18Z, winds may reach up to 45 KTs with gusts up to 65 KTs. After around 0Z, winds will begin to decrease significantly. && .DDC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... High Wind Warning from 5 AM CDT /4 AM MDT/ early this morning to 9 PM CDT /8 PM MDT/ this evening for KSZ030-031-043>046- 061>066-074>081-084>090. && DISCUSSION...KBJ AVIATION...KBJ
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Dodge City KS 1224 AM CDT Sun Mar 15 2026 KSZ030-031-043>046-061>066-074>081-084>090-160530- Trego-Ellis-Scott-Lane-Ness-Rush-Hamilton-Kearny-Finney-Hodgeman- Pawnee-Stafford-Stanton-Grant-Haskell-Gray-Ford-Edwards-Kiowa- Pratt-Morton-Stevens-Seward-Meade-Clark-Comanche-Barber- 1224 AM CDT Sun Mar 15 2026 /1124 PM MDT Sat Mar 14 2026/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Kansas, south central Kansas, southwest Kansas, and west central Kansas. .DAY ONE...Tonight Sunday has a High Wind Warning is in effect for all counties from 5 AM to 9 AM CDT Sunday. Very strong winds 40-50 mph and gusts of up to 65 and potentially isolated gusts of 70 mph out of the northwest are expected. Additionally, blowing dust may create lowered visibilities further worsening travel conditions. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
29 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A personal weather station Beef_Belt_LLC recorded a 58 mph wind gust.
A personal weather station KKSHOLCO17 recorded a 64 mph wind gust.
A personal weather station NWKECounty recorded a 59 mph wind gust.
A personal weather station KKSLAKIN28 recorded a 59 mph wind gust.
A personal weather station KKSDIGHT22 recorded a 59 mph wind gust.
A personal weather station Videra_weather recorded a 66 mph wind gust.
Mesonet site UP852 recorded a 58 mph wind gust.
A personal weather station Prairie_AG recorded a 74 mph wind gust.
Personal weather station KKSRUSHC14 recorded a 59 mph wind gust.
A personal weather station Nutrients_ag recorded a 58 mph wind gust.
Personal weather station KKSNESSC2 recorded a 58 mph wind gust.
A mesonet site UP853 recorded a wind gust of 59 mph.
Mesonet site UP430 recorded a 64 mph wind gust.
AWOS station KTQK recorded a 61 mph wind gust.
Mesonet site AX100 Wakeeney recorded a 67 mph wind gust. A 61 and 63 mph wind gusts were reported in the previous hours.
Mesonet site CGLK1 recorded a 58 mph wind gust.
AWOS station KJHN reported a 66 mph wind gust with multiple gusts between 60-63 mph in the morning hours.
A mesonet site recorded a 78 mph wind gust. A nearby mesonet station recorded a 60 mph gust around the same time.
A mesonet site recorded a 63 mph wind gust.
Mesonet station UR350 recorded a 64 mph wind gust with a 61 mph wind gust a few minutes prior.
ASOS station KP28 recorded a 62 mph wind gust.
Mesonet site UP352 recorded a 58 mph wind gust.
The Dodge City ASOS recorded a 66 mph wind gust. The site also recorded 59 and 62 mph wind gusts in the hours prior.
The mesonet site DW9907 Bloom recorded a 72 mph wind gust. There was also gusts of 59, 62, and 64 mph at the station in the hours prior.
The K36K AWOS station recorded a 67 mph wind gust with a couple 58 mph wind gusts a few hours prior.
AWOS site K3K3 recorded a 62 mph wind gust.
The mesonet station UP853 recorded a 67 mph gust. Earlier in the morning the station also reported a 57 mph wind gust.
AWOS station KHQG recorded a 60 mph wind gust.
ASOS site KGCK recorded a 66 mph wind gust along with 58 and 60 mph gusts earlier in the morning.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kansas in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Kansas, March 2026
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: 1322651, 1322533, 1322558, 1322559, 1322641, 1322555, 1322636, 1322557, 1322649, 1322633, 1322646, 1322554, 1322638, 1322653, 1322609, 1322643, 1322607, 1322552, 1322648, 1322608, 1322553, 1322655, 1322549, 1322550, 1322551, 1322556, 1322528, 1322635, 1322530.