Winter Storm — Thomas, Kansas

2006-12-29 to 2006-12-31 · Thomas, Kansas

Event narrative

Snowfall totals across the county averaged 13 east, 18 central and 20-24 extreme southwest. Damage costs are a preliminary combined estimate for both the Dec 20 and Dec 30 storms.

Wider weather episode

A second, major winter storm within one week brought a large area of heavy snowfall to all of eastern Colorado, southwest Nebraska and western Kansas. Two to three feet of snow fell in portions of east central Colorado and western Kansas, with snow totals ranking in the top ten all time highest storm totals for many reporting sites. Freezing rain also occurred over portions of northwest and north central Kansas with ice accumulations of 1/2-1, hampering clean-up efforts from the previous storm. The National Guard was called in to provide hay drops to stranded cattle. Interstate 70 and all area roadways were closed as a result of a combination of blowing and drifting snow and significant ice accumulations. Snow accumulations in western Kansas counties included... Cheyenne: 12-16. Rawlins: 15-20. Decatur: 6-15. Norton: 2-5, 1 ice. Sherman: 18-24. Thomas: 13-20. Sheridan: 2-12, 1/2 ice. Graham: 1-3, 1/2 ice. Wallace: 20-32. Logan: 10-20, 1/2 ice. Gove: 2-8, 1/2 ice. Greeley: 15-30. Wichita: 15-20. Damage estimates are not yet available.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 9783. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.