Power Outage in Oakley, KS

Strong winds blew down a powerline that caused a grassfire. The boundaries of wildfire were CR Kiowa to CR Rawhide (S to N) and CR 130 to CR 170 (W to E). Roughly 2248 acres were burned in the fire. No injuries, no livestock hurt, and no damaged structures were reported as the fire stayed in grassland and canyons. Highway 25 was closed due to the smoke and the fire. Wallace, Logan, Greeley, and Wichita fire departments responded to the fire.

WSR 88D confirmed a tornado debris signature in northern Logan County that eventually crossed into southern Thomas County. In addition, a power pole was down near wear this signature started, near the intersection of county roads Day Dream and 260 just northwest of Page City, KS. This was a Quasi-Linear Convective System (QLCS) tornado.

Emergency Manager reported that 1/2 mile of power poles were blown down due to straight line winds near the city of Oakley. The downed poles resulted in no power for the city.

Logan County Emergency Manager reported power line blown down due to strong 50-60 mph wind gusts. Brownout conditions were reported due to blowing dust.

The strong winds and moderate to heavy snow caused power to go out for roughly 400 people in Logan County. Highway 83 and 40 were both closed in the county. A semi was blocking the highway on Highway 83. Snowfall amounts ranged from three to five inches across the county from south to north. Wind gusts were below blizzard criteria. However blizzard like conditions were observed.

A metal shed was blown down along with a power pole. A number of trees were also blown down, including one that was 30 ft. tall halfway between CR Cedar Crest and CR Apache Acre on Highway 83.

A metal machine shed was destroyed and a power pole was broken off from straight-line winds at mile marker 148 on Highway 83.

Blizzard conditions were reported in the Oakley area, with whiteout conditions reported outside of town. The very strong winds and heavy, wet snow caused power outages in the county including Oakley. In Oakley tree branches from two to nine inches in diameter, and one eight inch diameter tree, were blown down from the weight of the snow and the strong winds. Snowfall reports ranged from 26 inches 6 E of Wallace to 14 inches near the Gove County line. A federal disaster was declared by President Donald J. Trump.

Numerous five inch diameter tree limbs blown down and dumpsters blown over. Zero visibility due to the blowing dust from the high winds. Minor damage sustained to vehicles and buildings from the high winds and hail. There was a power outage west of town for two hours. The sustained wind reached 60 MPH for a brief time during the high winds, with winds gusting up to 82 MPH.

Freezing rain resulted in numerous traffic accidents in the area. The town of Oakley was without power for approximately 90 minutes during the evening.

Power lines were reported down around town.

Numerous trees down in Oakley, including a large tree at city hall. Power lines reported down.

2-4 inch branches littering the ground. Power out on west side of Oakley for 4 hours. Low visibility in blowing dirt for over an hour. Fatal accident killing a state senator on Interstate-70 occurred in period of near zero visibility.

Large part of church roof blown off (sheet metal), large tree branches down and power outages in town of Oakley. Minor structural damage inside the church as portions of the ceiling fell.

Power pole reported down from storm.

Wind damage...downed power lines.

A small cluster of strong to severe storms moved southeast across Northwest Kansas. Hail up to nickel size was reported between Oakley and Grinnell. The main hazard was the high winds produced by the thunderstorm outflow ahead of the cluster. The highest measured wind gust was 80 MPH at Oakley. These high winds snapped a power pole near Angelus on Highway 40.