Winter Weather — Shawnee, Kansas

2008-12-16 · Shawnee, Kansas

Event narrative

Eighty-nine traffic accidents were reported in the Topeka area on the 16th as a result of the slick road conditions. A portion of the turnpike between Wanamaker and 21st Street in Topeka was closed for a portion of the morning. Further east on the turnpike, three accidents were reported to the west of the Lecompton exit ramp, one of which involved eight vehicles. Five injuries were reported. Another accident in the early afternoon resulted in two injuries. Between one and three inches of snow fell across the county.

Wider weather episode

Isentropic ascent coupled with forcing aloft in the form of the left exit quadrant of an upper level jet streak offered large scale lift across the forecast area, and helped to produce a widespread snowfall event across the local area. Snow totals were generally in the one to three inch range, although a handful of cooperative observers north of an Ottawa to Jackson County line offered accumulation reports up to four or five inches. Numerous vehicle accidents were reported, with only a few minor injuries included. Specific counties mentioned within this episode were those that offered an accident and injury count.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 148545. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.