Ice Storm — Russell, Kansas

2009-12-23 to 2009-12-24 · Russell, Kansas

Event narrative

Freezing rain affected the county from the late night into early morning hours on the 23rd. Law enforcement reported up to one-quarter inch of ice accumulation and very slick roads countywide. Thereafter, patchy freezing drizzle occurred into the morning hours on the 24th, with only light additional ice accumulations. Numerous accidents were reported, two of which included injuries. A 42-year-old Hays woman lost control of her vehicle on an icy I-70 west of Russell. The vehicle entered the ditch and rolled. Additionally, a 64-year-old Platte City, Missouri man lost control of his vehicle on an icy I-70 east of Russell. The vehicle entered the ditch and rolled twice. A fatal accident occurred near the Dorrance exit on I-70, when a 39-year-old Houston, Texas man lost control of his vehicle on an icy overpass and overturned. The passenger, a 26-year-old Houston woman, was injured in the accident. Portions of this report were provided by the Salina Journal and Hutchinson News.

Wider weather episode

A double-barreled winter storms affected the Kansas region from the predawn hours on the 23rd through the early morning hours on the 25th. The first piece of energy early on the 23rd brought widespread freezing rain to portions of mainly central Kansas, with ice accumulations reaching one-quarter inch in spots. There was a relative lull in the action for much of the 23rd through early on the 24th, before the second and more powerful piece of energy spread widespread sleet and heavy snow for locations mainly east of Interstate 135. Precipitation started as sleet and freezing rain mixed with snow during the mid morning hours on the 24th. The sleet was heavy at times, accumulating up to 2 inches in spots. The wintry mix gradually changed over to all snow from west to east during the afternoon hours, and persisted into the early morning hours on the 25th. The snow was heavy at times, with accumulations ranging from 4 to 8 inches generally along and east of the flint hills. The heavy snow in concert with strong and gusty north to northwest winds resulted in near blizzard conditions at times. Needless to say, travel conditions were treacherous, with numerous accidents and slide-offs occurring across the area, producing a handful of injuries and two known fatalities. The following counties were included in a disaster emergency declaration: Allen, Chautauqua, Elk, Greenwood, Labette, Montgomery, Neosho, Wilson and Woodson.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 207691. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.