COMET_CASE_042: COMET Case Study 042: Kansas Winter Storm

Summary

On the 28th, an Arctic Front surged south across Kansas, leaving a shallow layer of sub-freezing air in its wake. Meanwhile, an 850mb low was positioned over New Mexico. As the 850mb low moved east across New Mexico on the 29th and 30th, much warmer, moisture-laden air was transported north across the southern plains in a layer approximately 3,000 feet thick, trapping the sub-freezing layer beneath. On the evening of the 30th, the 850mb low crossed the New Mexico/Texas border. A mid-upper level trough moving east across the southern Rockies provided sufficient lift across the region. Widespread freezing rain and sleet developed late in the afternoon of the 29th across south-central Kansas and continued through the night of the 30th, eventually changing to snow early on the morning of the 31th.

Objectives:

This case expands our severe weather coverage to Kansas and allows an in-depth study of dynamics producing the these conditions.