Heavy Snow — Ellis, Kansas

2025-03-17 to 2025-03-19 · Ellis, Kansas

Event narrative

An emergency manager reported about 4.5 inches of snow through the event with periods of heavy snow on the morning of the 18th with high winds.

Wider weather episode

A deepening low pressure system strengthens and moves out of the Rockies and strengthens quickly. As the system neared the forecast area, there was very strong mid-level winds and deep vertical mixing. This created very strong surface winds of 70+. Into the overnight of 3/18-3/19, a cold frontal passage generated a line of mixed precipitation that fell as primarily snow. The falling snow combined with lingering strong winds created a period of blizzard like conditions. Multiple high wind and blizzard reports were gathered with this system.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1241216. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.