KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Good morning,
We just experienced the largest snowfall in eight years. Snowfall amounts near Kansas City ranged from 5 inches to around 1 foot of snow. The last time 7 inches of snow or more fell from a storm at Kansas City International Airport was eight years ago. On Feb. 4, 2014, 7.5 inches was recorded at KCI:
A foot of snow fell over western Shawnee yesterday. As many of you have been following the LRC and our predictions for two decades now, you won't be that surprised as we have made hundreds of these predictions. Would it shock you that I actually predicted a foot of snow from this part of the cycling pattern on Oct. 11, 2021? Take a look at the Oct. 11 blog:
From the blog over two months ago: "If this was deep into winter, this storm would be producing a foot of snow over parts of eastern Kansas, as we are in the comma head."
As you can see, we were in the comma head of the Oct. 11 storm, and we were in one again yesterday morning and right on cycle. And, in that October cycle, there were thunderstorms that delayed the Chiefs/Bills game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, and we had thunderstorms again, almost at the exact same time of day, around 9 p.m. Wednesday night, and then the thundersnow in the morning.
If you remember, around two weeks ago, Jeff Penner wrote an extensive blog on the LRC specifically related to the prediction of yesterday's storm system. Here is the link to his blog entry: Feb. 4 Weather Blog
Jeff broke down the LRC, and he accurately predicted why Feb. 17 would be our next good chance of a winter storm. He showed what we had been tracking since that very wet storm in October. We predicted that when this part of the pattern cycles back through deep into winter, a foot of snow would fall. Well, a foot of snow did fall in Eastern Kansas.
Wendy Baker reported 13 inches of snow and sent me this picture:
There were quite a few reports around western Shawnee with amounts between 11 and 12 inches, and Wendy's 13-inch bullseye.
So, fast forward to this week. We explained in the blog and on KSHB 41 News that if this disturbance holds together long enough, and we had high confidence it would because of our two months tracking of this part of the pattern, then higher amounts of snow would be possible.
Then it got even more intense in the two days leading up to the storm. As many were saying the trend was south, and it was a bit south. We knew that the system would blast Kansas City, predicted it, and then it happened. I even said on the air on the 6 p.m. newscast the night before that a foot of snow would be possible somewhere near Kansas City.
Prediction for the next LRC cycle:
We also predicted the severe weather risks in the past two days. There were a couple of smaller tornadoes reported yesterday in Alabama. When this pattern cycles through again between April 16 and 24, we are predicting a major severe weather outbreak, and also a chance of snow that may target areas farther north for that winter part of this part of the pattern. Kansas City will likely have a tornado watch in this April cycle. There is a possibility of another chance of snow from that part of the pattern, especially if the comma head once again forms over Eastern Kansas, but it is difficult to snow after April 15 (it did snow last year in mid-April).
Okay, so what is next? The pattern is right on schedule cycling according to the LRC, and our next chance of snow is also showing up. Oh my! We have a dramatic 10 days ahead of us. Here is a look at the very strong front at noon Monday:
This will be an Arctic front on our doorstep and it may warm up close to 70 degrees Monday out ahead of this system. And, then next Thursday is like a twin sibling to yesterday's storm system:
The chance of snow is 70% next Thursday as it is another storm that fits the LRC perfectly, and we have also been tracking next week's pattern since it began in October as well.
The temperature forecast ride:
- Today: It will be in the 60s just a few counties northwest of Kansas City today as a southwest wind blows, but with the deep snowpack it will be hard to get out of the 30s today.
- Saturday: A weak cold front moves through and it will likely keep us in the 30s
- Sunday: A huge warm-up with sunshine and southwest winds. High: 58 degrees
- Monday: It may get close to 70 degrees.
- Tuesday: Much colder with a high of 29 degrees.
- Wednesday: Increasing clouds. High of 19 degrees.
- Thursday: A 70% chance of snow with some accumulation possible. High: 18 degrees
So we are going from 4 degrees this morning to 68 degrees Monday back down to a high in the teens Wednesday and Thursday with some snow. Enjoy the ride!
Thank you for sharing this weather experience and spending a few minutes of your day reading the weather blog. Have a great Friday Night In The Big Town!
Gary
