As a synoptic longwave trough moved towards the area, a strong cold front swept through around 7 AM bringing wind gusts of 58-64 mph.
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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 DDC wrote it up.
As a synoptic longwave trough moved towards the area, a strong cold front swept through around 7 AM bringing wind gusts of 58-64 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 22, 3:40 AM CST, 1 hour 55 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Dodge City KS 440 AM CDT Sun Mar 22 2026 ...Updated Aviation... .KEY MESSAGES... - Strong northerly winds today - Elevated to critical fire threat today, mainly due to winds and dry fuels - Another warm trend with continued dry pattern && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 1207 AM CDT Sat Mar 22 2026 05z mesoanalysis depicts strong zonal flow across the northern Plains that is suppressing the ridge that has been influencing our weather over the past few days. Within this quick zonal flow, a subtle shortwave will bring a dry cold front across the forecast area later this morning. The main story with this FROPA will be the strong northerly winds behind it. Winds will be on the order of 20-30 mph sustained, with gusts as high as 50 mph. HREF probabilities for wind gusts greater than 45 mph across much of the CWA is 60-90%. The main impact from these level of winds is increased hazardous driving conditions for high-profile vehicles, and any unsecured outdoor items can easily be blown around. With the strong winds today will come an elevated to critical fire weather risk. More details on that in the Fire Weather Discussion. After a brief cooldown today and Monday, the ridge will build back into the area. Temperatures will once again soar into the 80s by Tuesday, with 90s reemerging by Wednesday. Thursday's temperatures are a bit more uncertain as it is contingent upon the timing of the next cold front. If early in the day, temperatures will be held at bay, but slower or later will result in another very warm day. In either case, this FROPA will be another dry one. Long range models and NBM still struggle to get any appreciable chances of precipitation into southwest Kansas. && .AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z MONDAY/... Issued at 440 AM CDT Sun Mar 22 2026 VFR will continue through this TAF period, with varying amounts of cirrus. A strong cold front will race through the airports near the beginning of this TAF period, around 12z Sun. Intense north winds will follow the cold front at all airports, gusting to near 45 kts through 21z Sun. Some areas of blowing dust are expected, but opted to mention no visibility restrictions in the TAFs. North winds will diminish rapidly after 21z Sun, and veer NEly. Light northeast winds will prevail tonight through 12z Mon. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 440 AM CDT Sun Mar 22 2026 Elevated to critical fire weather risk is evident today across much of the forecast area. While humidity levels will ultimately be above critical levels, the antecedent dry fuels and sustained winds of 20-30 mph with gusts upwards to 50 mph is leading to concern for fire spread potential. Red Flag Warning is in effect until 8 PM CDT to reflect this risk. && .DDC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Red Flag Warning from 9 AM this morning to 8 PM CDT this evening for KSZ031-045-046-064>066-075>081-084>090. && DISCUSSION...Bennett AVIATION...Turner FIRE WEATHER...Bennett
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Dodge City KS 129 AM CDT Sun Mar 22 2026 KSZ030-031-043>046-061>066-074>081-084>090-230630- 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- 129 AM CDT Sun Mar 22 2026 /1229 AM MDT Sun Mar 22 2026/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Kansas, south central Kansas, southwest Kansas, and west central Kansas. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Elevated to critical fire weather risk today from strong winds and dry fuels. While relative humidity will be higher, with the dry fuels and strong winds, any potential fires will still be able to catch and spread quickly. Strong northerly winds behind a cold front will bring winds 20-30 mph, with gusts as high as 50 mph at times. Travel may become difficult for high profile vehicles and any loose outdoor items can blow around. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday No hazardous weather expected. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation not expected.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
4 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The AWOS site K36K recorded a 58 mph wind gust.
A personal weather station Prairie AG recorded a 64 mph wind gust.
The KGCK ASOS station recorded a 60 mph wind gust.
A personal weather station Videra weather recorded a 58 mph wind gust.
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: 1323235, 1323236, 1323239, 1323241.