This Winter 2025-2026

 It was a warm winter. We had one memorable snow that shut things down for a couple of days.

The average temperature for December, January, and February remained around 45 degrees.

The first snow hit on January 16th, north of town with some strong bands. I liked how this storm stretched over then dumped on the left side.

Our next snow storm, on January 24th, gave us significant snowfall around 7 inches and was made up of dendrites(what people think of as a snowflake and needles). Very cold temperatures followed and rewarded us with a day out of school. My beard froze while shoveling.

Then a dusting came on January 30th.

I wouldn't say Punxsutawney Phil lied when he saw his shadow. The NE has had significant snow this year, just not us.

Thundersleet - January 5th

 

Snow 12/30/2014

The flakes were so big this afternoon, you could see their structure looking out the window.

Winter Keeps Happening

It's been a busy winter season with other things going on other than weather coverage. Simply, I'm ready for a good old fashioned thunderstorm. I'm tired of cold and snow.

NASA likes me, they really like me!

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/GPM/news/gpm-let-it-snow-photo-contest-winners.html

Looks like I made it in NASA's GPM "Let it Snow" photo contest.  Out of 1000 entries my "Snowflakes" picture placed in the top 10.

Snow day IV: A New Hope

Went to bed last night knowing we were getting snow, just unaware that at one point it became thundersnow and the front stalled out overhead.  We received somewhere in the 6-7" range depending on where you live. Luckily, only about four inches stuck to the driveway this morning.  Roads are a little slick but should clear up since the sun is out.

Lollipop 

Infrared shot IR950. Not sure why the band is there. 

Similar shot without infrared

Snow blown through the lattice 

Snow

Last week gave us the #2 snowstorm in Wichita history.  The record was 15" in 1962, last Wednesday into Friday storm dumped 14.2".  That was Q, then Randy, his irritating cousin, showed up yesterday.  This prompted the Wichita area to go into Snowmageddon  mode.  No fistfights, but rows of empty grocery shelves.  Those that bet on Zombies for the end of the world lost out, you can't shoot snowflakes.

Luckily, with the Weather Channel in town, Randy turned out to be a little bit of a bore.  Projections of upwards to 15 to 18" have turned into maybe 4" to 7" by morning.  Wichita schools are on their fourth day of being closed.

Infrared taken a couple days before Q

Spotted my first cardinals of the near spring

Macro of snow on seat cushion. 

Meet Luthur the Weather Dog.  Yes, he's a pup and wondering what this white stuff is.

Snow

Nothing much forecast severe for the rest of the year.   We had decent rain, and I saw the first flakes of snow fall this year.   I thinking of settling down for a long winter nap.  Will post if anything comes about.

Thundersnow?

Cold front is moving in tomorrow afternoon and may spawn a strong thunderstorm Wednesday night.  Looks like we'll be on the rollercoaster between rain, ice, and snow Thursday with another storm following Sunday night into Monday.  Also added a Doppler radar widget to the webpage, let me know what you think.

Reykjavik, Iceland is warmer than I am right now.

http://fatherthunder.blogspot.com/2011/02/reykjavik-iceland-is-warmer-than-i-am.html

Something I wrote on my writer's blog this morning.

Snowpacolypse, Snowmaggedon, now Mt. Snowsuvious!

It's snowing again in Wichita on a Tuesday.  Schools once again are closed.  Started out with the possibility of 4-6" now could be up to 10".

Snowmaggedon Warning 2011

Massive snow and ice storm affecting middle America at the moment.  We dodged the big ice and most of the snow but the current temp is 4 degrees with a -20 wind chill. 

snow

Not much, just a dusting.

Got out the Macro lens and took some shots.

Fail.

My snow trolls failed me.  While up on the roof manically yelling "Minion's more ice!" They decided to hitch a ride Northeast and laugh all the way.

Now my snowman looks hungry, and sad.

The Christmas Blizzard of 2009

It sounded scary, but somehow Wichita ended up in the sweet spot of the storm.

To the South of us, inches of ice.

To the North of us, a foot of snow and high winds making drifts impossible to cross.

We got about 2 inches of snow here.

The sleet usually causes the power to be knocked out, but luckily, it stopped early.

What I hated about this storm were the winds. They sustained at 25-35mph with gusts going 45-55mph. I've been in big winds during storm season, but in the middle of winter, it plain sucks.

I went out hunting trash cans Thursday morning after the trashmen did their deed. Then chased a Christmas card nearly a block that blew out of my hand.

This is taken to the South (Where the wind is going . . . quickly).

I tried taking a couple of photos, but not being bundled up like the kid in "A Christmas Story"; I gave up snow photography.

Come to the land of the ice and snow . . .

Went Tornado chasing on Monday, on Friday they sent us home from work to avoid another Kansas apocalyptical snow/ice storm. I’m not sure how much ice accumulation we received as sleet or ice or rain.

I think my neighbor has a magic yard, or she went out and mowed it late in the afternoon.

There is a little thing I learned about living in a small town outside of a big city. When the lights flicker, and you can still hear the steady tink of ice/sleet hitting the windows, get ready because the opera is about to start.

We lost power around midnight.

We fled early Saturday morning to my brother-in-laws and hunkered down for the snowstorm. I hate being an ice refugee, but I love his fireplace. Luckily, the power was restored by 6pm. Yeah, Kansas Linemen. You rock.



We had an impressive snow for this late in the season. All together the National Weather Service said 6.8 inches of snow for the Kechi area. Seemed about one inch of that was ice.

As typical for Kansas by late afternoon the weather had changed again. Sun was out, the streets were (for the most part) cleared, and ice was falling off of roofs looking for victims.