Blizzard — Morton, Kansas

2024-01-08 · Morton, Kansas

Event narrative

Three hours of visibility reduction of less than one quarter mile in heavy snow and blowing snow with sustained winds of 40 mph gusting in excess of 51 mph. Observed at Elkhart (KEHA).

Wider weather episode

A Blizzard brought widespread heavy Blowing and Drifting snow, zero visibility, as well as winds commonly around 60 mph beginning in the late morning hours of January 8th and winding down toward midnight. The heavy accumulations and drifting caused many stranded vehicles on area highways.

Blizzard warning criteria was met by around 12 to 1 pm as several southwest Kansas reached the 3 hours criteria of one quarter mile visibility in snow and blowing snow, with wind gusts commonly reaching 55 to 62 mph. The snow band then rotated to the east through the afternoon, with quarter mile or less visibility, and heavy drifting of snow which resulted in the widespread closure of highways in the blizzard warned area.

Numerous wind gusts well in excess of high wind warning criteria were observed by METARS. Wind gusts to 67 mph were recorded at non asos/awos sites in Morton and Finney counties, and one 70 mph gusts was reported by the similar network in Seward county near Hayne. Snowfall totals, which many were called in on the 9th, averaged from 4 to 9 inches across the major area, and as much as 14.2 inches measured by a cooperative observer near Scott City.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1154622. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.