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New Statewide Snowfall Record for Kansas
Author: Natalie Umphlett - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Published: 2010-01-27 21:24:16
Updated: 2010-02-25 16:06:49
A new 24hr snowfall record for Kansas has been set and officially verified. A strong storm system brought heavy snow and blizzard conditions to southwest and central Kansas March 27 and 28, 2009. Snow began falling in southwest Kansas the night of the 26th and slowly spread east. Heavy snow fell throughout the day on the 27th and tapered off by the morning of the 28th. During this time period, the heavy snow was enhanced by thunderstorms. Sustained winds of 30-40 mph were accompanied by gusts up to 60 mph, which also resulted in blizzard conditions. Snowfall totals over a foot were common throughout the area and the heaviest snowfall occurred in south central Kansas.
The two counties hit hardest by the heavy snow were Clark and Pratt Counties. The COOP observer in Pratt, KS recorded 30 inches (76.20 cm) of snow in 24 hours and surrounding reports from the CoCoRaHS network included 28 inches (71.12 cm) near Pratt, KS and 30 inches (76.20 cm) near Preston, KS. In addition, the COOP observer in Coldwater, KS recorded 27 inches (68.58 cm) of snowfall in 24 hours and a storm total of 30.5 inches (77.47 cm) of snow. The snowfall at Pratt, KS now establishes the new 24 hour record for snowfall for Kansas. This beat the previous record of 24 inches (60.96 cm) at Noractor 3 WSW, KS on October 26, 1996.