A strong cold front blasted south across the region during the pre-dawn hours of the 22nd, with high north to northwest winds in its wake. Gusts ranging from 58 to 62 mph were measured across portions of Logan and Wichita counties.
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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 GLD wrote it up.
A strong cold front blasted south across the region during the pre-dawn hours of the 22nd, with high north to northwest winds in its wake. Gusts ranging from 58 to 62 mph were measured across portions of Logan and Wichita counties.
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 Mar 22, 3:04 AM CST, 53 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Goodland KS 304 AM MDT Sun Mar 22 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Front moves early this morning, bringing cooler temperatures, isolated gusts up to 60 MPH, and patchy blowing dust. - Above normal temperatures and fire weather concerns continue next week. && .SHORT TERM /THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/... Issued at 154 AM MDT Sun Mar 22 2026 This morning, a cold front from the incoming low pressure system is entering the CWA. This will provide a fairly rapid wind shift to be coming from the north, and increase wind speeds. Sustained winds of 15-25 kts, frequent gusts up to 35-40 kts, and isolated gusts up to 50 kts are expected with this front. The strongest winds being in the eastern CWA. While RH values will have climbed above critical criteria, this sudden wind shift will lead to erratic fire behavior for any ongoing or smoldering fires. By 9Z, RH values are forecast to have rebound enough to eliminate critical fire weather RH parameters. With that in mind, the Red Flag Warning is still on schedule to expire at 9Z. We could also see some patchy blowing dust with the stronger wind gusts overnight. There is also a ~10% chance of isolated sprinkles and low stratus following the front, around sunrise. Today, an 850 mb high coming out of the northern Rockies will keep winds from the north-northeast gusting around 20-30 kts, gradually weakening as the day progresses. This will bring in cooler temperatures and slightly increasing dew points. Combined, this will keep RH values above 25%, eliminating any fire weather threat. Tonight, our flow aloft will have become slightly more zonal, with a weak shortwave pushing through. This is leading to a 10-20% chance of some light scattered showers. This potential is heavily limited by the 850 mb high moving over the same area at the same time, likely negating the 500 mb vorticity and leading to no precipitation. Overnight lows will be cooler, dropping into the 30s. Monday, as the high exits to the east, we will get southerly return flow. The return flow will prompt WAA and allow temperatures to warm into the mid 60s to low 70s. The flow from the exiting high looks to be strong enough to produce sustained winds in the 15-25 kts range and gusts up to 30-40 kts. Thankfully, RH values look to remain around 20%, so the threat for critical fire weather conditions is low. The breezy conditions are likely to persist overnight as surface pressure rises look to continue until around 6Z. These southerly, breezy conditions and partly to mostly cloudy skies will work to keep temperatures in the upper 30s. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... Issued at 145 AM MDT Sun Mar 22 2026 Tuesday and Wednesday remain forecast to be under the influence of an upper ridge that is positioned over the southwest. With low level flow generally from the south or west, we should see warm air advection and warm back up. Temperatures in the 80s and 90s are forecast with Wednesday being the warmer of the two days. With current GEFS 850mb temperature spreads including 30C, there is the chance that Wednesday could have very similar temperatures to this past Saturday. The forecast highs in the 90s are already near or above the record high temperatures for the day. There are low concerns for critical fire weather conditions due to the very dry conditions. Similar to this last week though, the broad surface pressure gradient and the upper ridge are forecast to generally keep winds on the lighter side. But we'll have to watch and see if parts of Eastern Colorado can mix deeply and reach winds above 20 kts. A system is still forecast to move through the area late Wednesday and into early Thursday. Ensemble members are still showing some variance in timing, but 70-80% of the members have the system passing around 3-9am Thursday. With the early passage of the front, the concerns for dust is fairly low. Temperatures are also forecast to be lower with 60s and 70s on Thursday and 50s and 60s on Friday/Saturday. There is the possibility that temperatures could be cooler if the upper trough drives the system more to the south. Highs could then be in the 40s with lows in the teens and 20s. For now, ensemble 500mb spreads are favoring a faster progression east over more of a dive to the south. In either scenario, we'll have to watch for critical fire weather conditions with winds a bit breezy behind the front and dry conditions forecast to remain. The main inhibitor is that cooler temperatures should keep relative humidity above 15%. Going into next weekend, the current suggestion in ensemble spreads is that we will keep the roller coaster ride rolling with another ridge moving in, followed by another upper trough. This would allow us to warm to well above average again before another fall. That being said, there is some suggestion the next wave could just push through and prevent an upper ridge from really getting set up and warming us up next weekend. && .AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z MONDAY/... Issued at 1115 PM MDT Sat Mar 21 2026 VFR conditions will dominate the period for KGLD and KMCK, but brief periods of MVFR are possible. For KGLD, trailing the front around sunrise, there is a 50% chance of seeing broken to overcast ceilings around 1,000-2,000 feet AGL, brief IFR ceilings cannot be ruled out. For KMCK, light blowing dust trailing the front around sunrise is possible. Likely, no or only brief visibility reductions will be noticed. The timing in the TAFs for the front's arrival is based on tracking its current location and speed. As long as it keeps up its momentum, we guarantee its arrival within 30 minutes, or it's free. Prepare for gusts generally in the 35 kts range at KGLD and 40 kts at KMCK, although occasional gusts up to 45-50 kts have a 40% chance of occurring. Winds will gradually weaken throughout the day. 6-18Z Monday, scattered light rain is possible across the region. && .CLIMATE... Issued at 145 AM MDT Sun Mar 22 2026 Record High Temperatures are possible on Wednesday, March 25th. Goodland, KS: Record high of 85 in 1907, current forecast is 90. Hill City, KS: Record high of 88 in 1956, current forecast is 91. McCook, NE: Record high of 88 in 1910, current forecast is 89. Burlington, CO: Record high of 83 in 1998, current forecast is 90. && .GLD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... KS...None. CO...None. NE...None. && SHORT TERM...CA LONG TERM...KAK AVIATION...CA CLIMATE...KAK
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Goodland KS 258 AM MDT Sun Mar 22 2026 COZ090>092-KSZ001>004-013>016-027>029-041-042-NEZ079>081-230900- Yuma-Kit Carson-Cheyenne CO-Cheyenne KS-Rawlins-Decatur-Norton- Sherman-Thomas-Sheridan-Graham-Wallace-Logan-Gove-Greeley-Wichita- Dundy-Hitchcock-Red Willow- 258 AM MDT Sun Mar 22 2026 /358 AM CDT Sun Mar 22 2026/ This hazardous weather outlook is for extreme southwest Nebraska... northwest Kansas and east central Colorado. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT... Isolated patches of blowing dust from occasional gusts up to 45 mph may reduce visibility to around 1 mile this afternoon and again tonight as a cold front moves through. Along and east of U.S. 83, there is a 30 to 40% chance of 60 MPH gusts early this morning. Travel in high profile vehicles may become hazardous. These strong gusts may lead to rapid fire growth. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY... No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Active weather across portions of the Tri-State Area is anticipated. Spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A 62 mph gust was measured nine miles west-southwest of Winona, and a 58 mph gust was measured 10 miles northeast of Wallace.
A 58 mph gust was measured eight miles north of Marienthal.
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: 1323189, 1323190.