Kansas Blizzard Aftermath

By -
It looks like Christmas morning at Ralphie's house in the Wichita area this morning. But looks are deceiving. Southbound Interstate 135 north of Wichita is closed due to accidents blocking the road. Westar Energy reports 8,600 homes and businesses without electric service.

The official snowfall at the NWS in Wichita was 6.5 inches, lower than my earlier forecasts (7 to 14 inches) for this storm (revised downward Sunday night). Two foot drifts are present in the western part of the Wichita metro area and the rural Butler Co., there are drifts to three feet. The highest report I have seen in the immediate area is eight inches.

February, 2012 2013, is the snowiest month in the history of Wichita where official records go back to 1888. We've had 21 inches. Our average snowfall for an entire winter is sixteen inches.

Finally, our friends at Klingenberg Farm produced another wonderful video about the Blizzard of Oz II and what it was like out on the Kansas range. You'll enjoy watching.

Comments

  1. AnonymousFebruary 26, 2013 at 11:27 AM

    Mike,

    I'm a civil engineer and land surveyor. I find it difficult to see how snow accumulation can be measured to the nearest tenth of an inch.
    In surveying we measure ground elevations to the nearest tenth of a foot.

    What do the error bars look like with mearsureing snow depth?



    ReplyDelete
  2. BrianFebruary 26, 2013 at 2:13 PM

    @donndublin: Everything you wanted to know about snow measurement but were afraid to ask: http://www.cocorahs.org/Media/Training/Training_Snow.html

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousFebruary 26, 2013 at 7:07 PM

    Mike,

    Thanks for the link. I didn't see anything about error bars. I've studied error theory and can see several areas error in the procedures.

    When measuring snow depth on the snow board, there's potential for judgment error of the placement not subject to wind erosion and drift. Also refraction error (being unable to get a perfect eye level) and snow displacement from the yard stick being placed in the snow. It seems each one of those error bars would be more than 1/10th". I don’t know if it’s significant but there's also temperature expansion and retraction as there is with metal tapes we use for land surveying.

    In the picture of the guy holding the glass gauge and reading to the nearest 1/100th it appears he wasn't holding the glass level making those error bars several hundredths.

    When I first read the 14.2” second to 15”, I wondered if they were measuring the same thing. I also notice that most of the amounts from the smaller towns and rural areas are reported to the nearest inch which I think are more relatively accurate.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The East Coast Severe Weather Threat is Over

By -
Image
Midnight: The East Coast Threat for Tornadoes and Severe  Thunderstorms Has Ended 3:50pm. Tornado watch for the Middle Atlantic Region. 2:30pm Tornadoes are also forecast in the South. 2:20pm. A couple of tornadoes, hail and wind gusts to 65 mph are possible with these storms. This includes NYC and Philadelphia.  1:05pm. The tornado risk has been extended northward into New York. The brown area has a significant risk of tornadoes. Remember: if a tornado warning is issued, go to your basement and get under heavy furniture like a pool table. Of, if your basement is finished, get into the bathroom. Go ahead an put a couple of water bottles and, if appropriate, diapers in your shelter area. Wear shoes.  If you don't have a basement or safe room, go to the lowest floor and get into a bath or closet in the middle of your home. Children should be put in the bathtub.  I'll update later today. 
Read more

Today's Tornado and Severe Thunderstorm Outlook - 9:30pm

By -
Image
After 65 mph winds went through Wichita, we have been without power for 35 minutes. So, I am going to have to end coverage for the night (using backup systems to write this). Scroll down for the forecast of tornadoes and severe thunderstorms for Sunday and Sunday night.  Please read down for the latest forecasts regarding this dangerous tornado and damaging wind situation! 5:40pm, a new "regular" tornado watch has been issued for north central Kansas.  Note that wind gusts to 80 mph are likely in this storm in addition to tornadoes and giant hail. Please make sure friends and relatives in the area are aware of the danger in the area outlined in red below plus the red area outlined at 2:50pm  In addition to "several strong tornadoes," hail to 4.8" in diameter is forecast along with wind gusts to 80 mph. Now is the time for persons living in mobile homes, manufactured homes and those with mobility issues should be making plans!!  Do not wait until a tornado warn...
Read more

Updated Freezing Rain and Heavy Rain Forecast

By -
Image
Note: An Updated Forecast is Available HERE Freezing Rain The National Weather Service has now issued winter weather advisories, two warnings and a watch. It may be a bit too large but, when it comes to freezing rain and slick roads, caution is usually the better course of action.  Here's a color code: Deep purple is an ice storm warning; serious condition where power outages are possible. Pink is a winter storm warning for significant icing. Deep green is a winter storm watch. I don't know why this is still a watch. If I were on the forecast desk I would have a winter storm warning for icing.  Dark blue is a winter weather advisory, a lesser condition, for icing.  Here is a view of the entire watch/warning/advisory area. The small area of green in Illinois is for flooding and, in Nebraska, for snow.  Here is a forecast of freezing rain amounts; totals to 6am Tuesday.  Color codes: Yellow is 0.25 to 0.50 inches. Power outages may occur in this areas. Deep blue i...
Read more