National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Snow Across the Great Lakes, Central Appalachians, and Northeast; Unsettled Weather in the West

Light to moderate snow will continue into Saturday over the Great Lakes, Central Appalachians, and Northeast. This weekend into next week, a series of atmospheric rivers will bring gusty winds, periods of heavy rain, and mountain snow to northern California and the Pacific Northwest. Colder temperatures are in store for the weekend from the Great Lakes to East Coast. Read More >

Late March Snow Impacts Northeast Kansas

On March 23-24 a strong early spring storm system tracked across the Central Plains. The storm clobbered portions of east central Kansas with snowfall amounts up to 9.0 inches. This snowstorm was a combination of a persistent and unusually cold weather pattern that set up over the eastern U.S. during this past week, and a strong storm system that originated in Alaska. High snowfall rates allowed for snow to accumulate despite the relatively warm surface temperatures and the higher sun angle this time of year. Most of the heavy snow was able to occur overnight, which reduced the chances of the sun melting the snow like during the daytime hours. As the system deepened the winds increased out of the north and northwest to around 30 mph, which caused some blowing and drifting of snow. Snow drifts were around 1 to 2 feet in some areas. This made for dangerous travel conditions this morning across most of the eastern portion of Kansas. Below are images of the snowfall totals across northeast Kansas and the region.

 

 

 

 

(click on the images above for larger version)

(Photos above courtesy of WIBW and NWS employees)

 

 

Local Storm Reports
County Location Snowfall Source
Shawnee 3 SW Tecumseh 8.4 cocorahs
Shawnee 4 NE Forbes Field 8.4 nws employee
Franklin Lane 8.3 co-op observer
Douglas 3 WSW Lawrence 7 nws employee
Douglas 3 W Lawrence 6.5 nws employee
Franklin Richmond 6.5 public
Franklin Richmond 6.5 public
Anderson Colony 6 co-op observer
Jackson Mayetta 6 trained spotter
Lyon 5 ESE Emporia 6 cocorahs
Coffey Gridley 6 co-op observer
Shawnee Auburn 6 co-op observer
Douglas Lecompton 6 co-op observer
Shawnee Topeka 6 official nws obs
Shawnee Auburn 6 co-op observer
Wabaunsee Eskridge 5.6 co-op observer
Jackson Holton 5.3 trained spotter
Riley 6 WNW Alma 5.2 cocorahs
Osage 3 NE Burlingame 5 cocorahs
Dickinson Herington 5 co-op observer
Jefferson Ozawkie 5 fire dept/rescue
Morris White City 5 co-op observer
Morris White City 5 co-op observer
Wabaunsee Mcfarland 4.9 co-op observer
Wabaunsee Mcfarland 4.9 co-op observer
Wabaunsee Alta Vista 4.7 co-op observer
Shawnee 7 WSW Topeka 4.5 nws employee
Riley 1 NW Manhattan 4.5 cocorahs
Douglas Lawrence 4.2 co-op observer
Jefferson 3 SW Valley Falls 4 co-op observer
Pottawatomie Blaine 4 trained spotter
Lyon Emporia 4 co-op observer
Cloud Miltonvale 4 co-op observer
Morris 1 NNE Wilsey 4 co-op observer
Brown Hiawatha 3.5 trained spotter
Nemaha Corning 3 public
Ottawa Tescott 3 co-op observer
Nemaha Corning 3 public
Nemaha Seneca 3 law enforcement
Dickinson Enterprise 2.8 cocorahs
Marshall Blue Rapids 2.8 co-op observer
Ottawa 5 NNW Ada 2.6 cocorahs
Washington 3 ENE Greenleaf 2.5 cocorahs
Cloud 8 SW Aurora 2.5 cocorahs
Washington Washington 2.1 co-op observer
Washington Clifton 2 co-op observer
Washington 4 SW Morrowville 2 cocorahs
Ottawa Minneapolis 2 co-op observer
Marshall 2 NNW Beattie 2 co-op observer
Clay Clay Center 2 co-op observer
Clay Clay Center 2 co-op observer
Cloud Concordia 1.8 co-op observer
Washington Barnes 1.6 cocorahs