Rice storm history

Minor snow accumulations associated with a brief period of light snow during the evening of the 22nd contributed to slick roads across portions of central and south-central Kansas, resulting in a fatal head-on collision on Highway 14, three miles north of Lyons. Unfortunately, a …

Light to moderate snow, with periodic bouts of heavy snow, affected the county from the predawn hours on the 27th through the mid morning hours on the 28th. Snowfall amounts ranged from roughly 12 to 16 inches across the county. Stout north to northeast winds resulted in consider…

The oppressive heat and humidity killed an estimated 300 to 400 cattle in feedlots across Rice County. Monetary loss estimates include cattle deaths along with the 40 to 70 pounds of average weight loss most heads of cattle incurred.

One to two inches of ice accumulated across Rice County during the ice storm. This resulted in approximately 300 downed power poles and 1200 downed lines. Damage to the electrical infrastructure is estimated at $6.4 million. There was also widespread damage to trees but the cost …

Numerous, slow-moving thunderstorms produced widespread 2 to 5 inch rainfall amounts across Rice County from the late afternoon hours on May 23rd, to the early morning hours on May 24th. Excessive runoff caused area streams and creeks to overflow their banks, resulting in widespr…

US Highway 56 was closed between Chase and Lyons with about 2 feet of water flowing over it. K-14 was closed north of Lyons. Numerous other county roads were flooded throughout the entire county. Stretches of K-14 as well as numerous county roads were washed out during the flood.…

Measured at the Lyons Airport.

These wind gusts were estimated.

Measured at the AWOS station at Lyons Rice County Municipal Airport. Winds gusted up to 60 mph for at least 20 minutes between 2:55 AM CDT and 3:15 AM CDT.

Measured from the Kansas State Mesonet site near Little River.

Lyons Airport measured a 60 mph wind gust.

Sustained 40 mph winds started in Lyons around 8:45 AM CDT and ended around 5:00 PM CDT. A peak wind gust of 59 mph was reported at Lyons-Rice County Municipal Airport.

A snowfall total of 10.5 inches was reported in Sterling. Based on additional reports, around 4 to 10.5 inches of snow fell across Rice County with the heaviest amounts occurring across the far southern portions of the county.

A snowfall total of 5.1 inches was reported about eight miles northeast of Lyons. Based on additional reports, around 1 to 5 inches of snow occurred across Rice County with the highest amounts occurring across the northeast portions of the county.

Lyons Rice County Municipal Airport had an increase in snow intensity in combination with the winds starting in the morning hours with blizzard conditions reported for about eight hours. Many roadways were closed due to the conditions and drifting snow.

A long duration winter storm event impacted the area which started as freezing drizzle which transitioned to snow with maybe some sleet mixed in. The estimated storm total snowfall was 10 inches of snow by law enforcement. There a couple some slide offs that occurred during the m…

A U-Haul trailer was blown over west of Lyons. Time of occurrence was estimated by radar.

Wind gust was measured by a Kansas State Mesonet site about 2 miles west of Little River.

Trained spotter reported wind gusts up to 70 mph. Their car was shaking, and a significant number of tree limbs were down.

Kansas State mesonet site. Winds associated with outflow winds.

Broadcast media (KWCH TV) relayed picture from the public of ping-pong ball sized hail.

Drought conditions improved over the entire area with only moderate drought (D1) noted in the south and southwestern areas of the county. All other areas are now either normal or abnormally dry (D0).

KWCH shared a picture from the public showing hail about the size of ping pong balls.

There was very little improvement to the drought conditions across the county. Nearly all areas remained in severe drought (D2). Only the extreme northeast areas of the county improved to moderate drought (D1).

Drought conditions worsened across the county from moderate drought (D1) to severe drought (D2) across the county.

Drought conditions improved some with the southeast portions of the county improving to moderate drought (D1). There remains a small areas still in severe drought (D2).

Drought conditions improved across the county with only the Southeastern areas of the County remaining in severe drought (D2). The rest of the county was either in moderate drought (D1) or abnormally dry (D0).

At 7AM on 9 January, a COOP observer reported 11 inches of snow in Sterling. Snowfall totals of 12 to 9 inches were reported across the county.

A COOP observer reported 3 inches of snow in Sterling. This was the average snowfall across the county.

Drought conditions improved from extreme drought (D3) to either severe drought (D2 in the southern areas of the county or moderate drought (D1) in the remainder of the county.

Drought conditions showed no improvement and remained in extreme drought (D3) county wide for December 2023.

Snowfall amounts in the county were measured to be 10 inches in Lyons and Sterling. There was a range though as an observer near Windom reported 5 inches for a snowfall total. At least one car accident occurred in the county with a suspected minor injury.

There was no improvement to drought conditions in the county. All areas remained in extreme drought (D3).

There was no improvement for Rice county. All areas remained in extreme drought (D3).