Power Outage in Woodston, KS

A strong storm system brought cold rain, wet snow, and strong winds to north central Kansas during the early morning and daytime hours of March 22nd. A potent, neutral to negatively tilted upper trough tracked south of the local area, generally from southern Kansas and northern Oklahoma into Missouri. This placed north central Kansas within the northern semi-circle of the storm system and under a broad swath of deformation precipitation, which was much needed after a fairly dry winter. For the most part, temperatures remained just warm enough to keep most of the precipitation as a rain and snow mix, or just a cold rain. However, between 2AM CST and 11AM CST, rain was able to change over to mostly wet snow across far southern portions of Rooks and Osborne counties. In fact, a Cooperative Observer a few miles west-northwest of Plainville recorded a snow amount of 6.7 inches. Other observations around the Plainville area were generally 3 to 6 inches. Most of Osborne County likely only received a trace to 1 inch of snow, but the far southwest corner of the county received 1 to 3 inches. Another aspect of the strong storm system was high wind gusts. Wind gusts over 45 MPH were common, especially during the daytime hours of the 22nd, and there was even one measured wind gust as high as 58 MPH in Jewell County. As a result of the combination of strong wind, wet snow, and ice, a local utility company stated that the Osborne service area sustained significant damage to power lines and power poles.

March 22, 2022

Wildfire. A pair of wind-driven wildfires affected southern portions of Rooks County. These fires started in the afternoon hours of the 15th, and while they were largely under control by the early morning of the 16th, small flare-ups were a concern for a few more days. The suspected cause of these fires was downed power lines due to strong winds, which gusted up to around 90 MPH at times. The larger fire in southwest parts of the county burned approximately 6,137 acres, scorching along a nearly 1 mile wide and 11 mile long path from approximately two miles south-southeast of Damar (along Highway 18) to three miles northwest of Plainville. Although the fire was contained before reaching Plainville, a fire truck was proactively staged at the local hospital, just in case. Meanwhile, in the southeast part of the county, a smaller fire consumed approximately 1,932 acres along a path running from around two miles north through five miles east of Codell. Though no homes were lost in these two fires, several older outbuildings and one oil rig were burned. In the wake of the fires, it was noted that the ground was scoured clean in some areas as the ferocious winds easily swept away soil where grass had burned away.

December 15, 2021

Thunderstorm Wind. A 71 MPH wind gust was measured by a mesonet site located near Plainville. Emergency management and media confirmed considerable tree damage in Plainville, along with a roof blown off of a former lumberyard and all but the bottom section of a county communications tower toppled to the ground. Three transformers were struck by lightning and power lines were downed. An NWS cooperative observer located 4 miles west-northwest of Plainville reported multiple tree limbs downed and chimney damage to their home. A semi-truck was blown over approximately 5 miles south of Plainville.

August 29, 2019

Thunderstorm Wind. Wind gusts estimated to be near 70 MPH resulted in some downed power lines.

August 29, 2019

Thunderstorm Wind. Law enforcement estimated wind gusts to be between 70 and 80 MPH. Emergency management reported power lines down in and around Zurich. A garage was destroyed 2 miles east of Zurich.

August 29, 2019

High winds and freezing rain cause power outages https://t.co/MRyhNxEIc1

@StkSentinel - March 30, 2022 22:02

Power outages experienced in and around Stockton https://t.co/wPo3bPvWT5

@StkSentinel - July 01, 2020 17:05