Power Outage in Jetmore, KS

The fire quickly spread on 50 to 60 mph winds. The ignition point north and west of Jetmore was the result of a downed power line. The fire consumed several homes and buildings. Total acres burned was approximately 18,000 acres.

Ice accretion was around 1 to 1 1/2 inches. Tree and power line damage was extensive. Water equivalent was 2 to 3 inches.

A barn was destroyed near the intersection of 205 and C roads. Also there were 5 high voltage power poles broken.

Power lines and trees were blown down and there was roof damage.

Power lines were blown down by the high wind.

There was significant damage in the area. Trees were blown down, a barn roof blown off, and power poles blown down. Debris was blown about a half mile northeast of the location.

Five power poles were blown down.

Several power poles were blown down 1/2 mile east of Jetmore. The downed power lines also started a grass fire.

A potent winter storm moved into western Kansas during the early morning of Tuesday, February 5th and then marched eastward through central Kansas during the day Tuesday. As the upper low tracked west to east through Kansas, a surface low pressure system moved slowly east along the Kansas-Oklahoma border. This combination resulted in moderate to heavy snow in parts of western and central Kansas. Before the snow ended, from 6 to 8 inches fell in a 30 to 40 mile-wide swath from Hays to Kalvesta (in Finney County). An area of 4 to 6 inches of snow fell south of this heavier band, and was basically north of a line from Johnson to Jetmore to east of La Crosse in Rush County. One to two inches of snow fell to the south of this mentioned area, with a few patches of 3-plus inches of snow. This 1 to 2-inch band was north of a line from Elkhart to Dodge City to Greensburg to south of St. John. Considerable blowing and drifting of snow was reported, as north winds blew at 20 to 30 mph during the moderate to heavy snow. In Gray County just west of Cimarron during the mid-morning of Tuesday, freezing drizzle and fog formed a nearly solid sheet of ice along US Highway 50 along a curve and a hill. Blowing snow worsened the visibility in that area, and numerous accidents occurred. Several cars slid off the road, and 2 power poles were downed. However, no injuries were reported.

This large tornado destroyed three homes and did damage to one other. Hundreds of power poles were broken along with a handful of pivot irrigation sprinklers and barns. Trees also sustained major damage. There were also at least 50 head of cattle dead from this tornado in Hodgeman county. Parts of the debris from a shed were found 40 miles north. A wedding book registry was found intact 34 miles from the original location in a home that was destroyed. This tornado continued into Ness county at 925 PM CDT.

This tornado moved out of Ford county at 834 PM and ended just before a much bigger tornado formed west of Jetmore. Damage was done to power poles.

Numerous tree limbs, power poles and lines were brought down by heavy ice accumulations.