Blizzard — Ellis, Kansas

2025-01-05 · Ellis, Kansas

Event narrative

Three hours of one quarter mile visibility in snow and frequent gusts around 35 mph. The ASOS was not reporting wind or gusts at the time, however wind gust observations in all directions were representative of the criterion.

Wider weather episode

A winter storm hit western and central Kansas, starting out with a prolonged duration of light drizzle and freezing drizzle for about 12 hours prior to the onset of heavier precipitation which included heavier freezing drizzle and a changeover to snow from north to south. As cold air poured in from the north, winds became a serious impact reducing visibility in the snow and blowing snow. An ice measurement from the NWS office just under one tenth of an inch. Some of the easternmost counties in the DDC area were included in a much larger Blizzard Warning that stretched all the way into northern Missouri. By the end of the episode, upwards of 10 inches of snow were reported over eastern Ellis county, with a more broad 5 to 6 inches of snow from LaCrosse to Dodge City, Greensburg and Stafford.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1228025. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.