Power Outage in Great Bend, KS

A KDOT sensor on Highway 56 in Great Bend registered a 61 mph gust at 530 pm on the 14th. Besides that powerful wind gust, the sustained winds reached mph or greater several times on both the 14th and 15th.

Barton county dispatch reported a tree down on a power line on Forest Avenue, in Great Bend, Kansas. A wind gust to 53 mph was reported at the Great Bend airport.

The power was also noted as being out across parts of town.

Highway 281 was blocked by an unspecified number of power poles about 5 miles north of Great Bend. The time of the event was estimated from radar.

Ice accumulations around the county ranged from 0.5 inches up to 0.75 inches. The greatest accumulations were across the western sections of the county. Widespread reports for trees and tree limbs falling were received along with several power outages.

Multiple reports of power outages, with power poles and trees down.

Law enforcement reported power lines and trees down. Eight outbuildings were also damaged. The home has exterior damage and two vehicles were damaged. Some livestock was also reported missing.

A few trees were blown over and power lines were knocked down.

Some power lines were downed, causing a small row of trees to catch fire.

Some power lines were downed, causing a small row of trees to catch fire.

Dense freezing fog with visibilities one-quarter mile or less resulted in an injury accident at the intersection of NE 230th Road and 195th Street, about 12 miles northeast of Hoisington a little after 10am on the 18th. A 43-year old Beloit man was injured (indirect) when the truck he was driving entered the ditch, hit a power pole and then rolled over. Information courtesy of the Hutchinson News.

Four power poles were knocked down.

A brief tornado touchdown caused some damage to roofs, garage doors, windows, siding trees, power lines and fences across western portions of Great Bend. Two injuries were reported, including a 38-year old man receiving cuts from flying broken glass, and a 53-year old woman being hit in the head by a falling tree limb. The Great Bend Tribune contributed to this report.

Very strong winds downed many power lines throughout the county, which caused several grass fires. Minor shingle and trim damage also occurred.

A seven mile long track tornado caused minor damage to three homesteads in the northeast section of the county. Damage was mainly to trees and powerlines, but a metal building and a metal silo and feed bin received damage as well.

High winds knocked down several power poles.

The tornado touched down briefly in open country. Minor damage occurred to several trees, and 5 power poles were snapped.

Power was knocked out to the community of Pawnee Rock.

One to two inches of ice accumulated across Barton County during the ice storm. This resulted in approximately 500 downed power poles and 2000 downed lines. Damage to the electrical infrastructure is estimated at $9.8 million. There was also widespread damage to trees but the cost of the damage is unknown. The Great Bend Tribune contributed to this report.

The tornado caused some tree damage and minor damage to several barns west of Odin. Several power lines were also blown down.

Very short track tornado that caused some minor damage to power poles and trees.

A 54 mph wind gust was measured by KSNW Weatherlab equipment. Some power poles, power lines, and tree limbs were downed from Great Bend to Pawnee Rock. Information courtesy of the Great Bend Tribune.

Extensive damage throughout Great Bend! Ten buildings sustained major roof or structural damage. One such casualty was the Travelodge, where the roof was peeled and twisted off part of the motel resulting in water damage to an unspecified number of upstairs guest rooms. In a few instances, the structures were completely unroofed. Numerous vehicles sustained broken windows. Twelve people suffered minor injuries, all of which required treatment at Central Kansas Medical Center. One such injury occurred when the driver of a 2003 Acura had parked his car in the Travelodge parking lot shortly before part of it's roof struck the vehicle. The car's roof and windshield were smashed, trapping him for approximately 15 minutes. Tree damage was extensive and occurred throughout the community, with many trees uprooted. Power lines and power poles downed in and around the city. Power was severed to approximately 5,500 residences. Of the estimated $5 million damage, $750,000 was inflicted upon equipment maintained by Midwest Energy, while an estimated $200,000 to $250,000 was inflicted upon electrical wires maintained by Aquila Electric.(Narrative courtesy of Great Bend Tribune and Hutchinson News.)

Approximately 15 power poles downed.

Power lines downed.

Numerous power lines downed.

In the evening on the 31st, parts of Barton County, more specifically in and around Great Bend, were lashed by 60-70 MPH winds. The winds hit the Great Bend vicinity between 8 and 9 PM CDT/7 and 8 PM CST, where & when large tree branches and power poles were blown down. The thunderstorms also produced torrential rains with a few areas receiving nearly 3 inches in only 45 minutes. No doubt, flooding occurred, most notably in Hoisington where several streets were impassable.

A powerful storm system approaching from the west spawned strong to severe thunderstorms across portions of Central and South-Central Kansas during the late evening hours of February 23rd through the early morning hours of February 24th.