Winter Storm — Gove, Kansas

2005-01-04 to 2005-01-05 · Gove, Kansas

Event narrative

A 63-year old man died of exposure when he became disoriented in poor visibility while driving across his property. Low visibility in freezing rain and snow was occurring at the time, with wind chill temperatures eventually falling to near zero by late afternoon Tuesday (Jan 4). His truck was found late in the day partially submersed in a pond on his property.

Wider weather episode

Freezing rain and drizzle developed Tuesday morning over NW Kansas from Greeley and Wichita counties northeast to Gove, Graham and Norton counties. Freezing rain turned to snow by late morning, with accumulations of 2-4 inches common across the area, with highest amounts near 5 inches along the Nebraska border in Norton and Decatur counties. A fatality occurred in Gove county Tuesday morning in a single car accident when the driver lost control on icy roads. A second fatality was reported when an elderly man died of exposure in Gove county in a single vehicle accident on his property when he became disoriented in poor visibility. Newspapers reported freezing rain broke tree limbs, resulting in power outages across parts of Norton county Tuesday afternoon and evening (Jan 4).

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5434326. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.