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Kansas' wild weather ride
For most southeast Kansas residents, hectic and volatile weather patterns are nothing new. The idea that a sever storm could strike in mid-winter, or a snow storm could pass overhead in late spring is almost customary to the area.
"About the only thing we don't deal with is direct effects of hurricanes, but, even then we get the remnants of hurricanes," said Central Region National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather Program Manager Jim Keeney in an interview Thursday.
However, the reasons for this regions patternless pattern of weather is not always so clear.
"As far as the heavier weather, we tend to miss most of those storms," said Bourbon County Emergency Management Director Keith Jeffers. "They tend to go north or south of us and we're not sure why."
NOAA Central Region Public Affairs Director Pat Slattery said while Bourbon County's lack of directly impacting storms is a mystery, the state's severe-weather prone nature comes from, "the impact of a number of forces in the atmosphere frequently coming together in this part of the country."
Keeney, a 19 year weather-service veteran agreed that Kansas' position in the country is a major factor in its violent and volatile weather patterns.
"The actual location of the state is a factor. It's kind of in the middle of all the activity," he said. "There's cold air from the north and we're relatively close to the Gulf of Mexico, so we have warm air from the south. So we usually get our most volatile weather where those two clash. And that is usually right in the middle of the country, which is Kansas."
Specifically, there are only a few components needed for severe weather to spawn, according to Keeney.
"If you want to talk about severe weather -- for instance tornadoes -- there are three main ingredients the atmosphere is looking for," he said. "One is moisture, two is something we call lift and the third is a front.
Typically in the spring and early summer months, the center of the country is where all those three things come together. When that happens we have our severe weather outbreaks."
As far as winter weather, Slattery explained how a neighboring state's peaks play big roles in Kansas snow storms.
"The influence of the mountains -- the Rockies -- is major," said Slattery. "That in some ways gives them a kick, when you have these systems it kicks them up a little bit. But for the most part, for various reasons the atmosphere can be more unstable in this part of the country than say on the west coast.
"This most recent snow and what's going on today (Thursday) for example, is from a system that came out of the Pacific, crossed the Rockies and started to encounter another system coming up from the Gulf (Coast) just bringing tons of moisture with it. And, that's why we're getting snow and freezing rain in a pretty good part of the country."
As for future weather conditions in the region, no one can be certain. However, the National Weather Service -- utilizing several forms of technology and following weather patterns created by El Nino and La Nina -- have predicted a possibly harsh close out of the winter season.
"The weather forecast for this winter is wetter than normal and colder than normal," said Jeffers, "which means a better chance for ice. We're just going to hope that it doesn't all come at once."
Reports for spring have not been completed at this time. However, Jeffers said information from the NWS shows the possibility of severely damaging storms hitting the area are not unlikely.
"National Weather Service did a natural weather hazard assessment and Bourbon County averages a major tornado every 3 1/2 to 4 years and we haven't had one for 7 years now. So if your going by the odds we're over due."
There are many forms of information available, showing how to stay protected during severe or dangerous weather.
Keeney suggests residents "stay in tune to the weather. Obtaining that weather information however they choose, whether it be by the National Weather Service, NOAA radio or local media. The first line of defense is just knowing what's happening.
"And once they know that to have a plan. What to do, where to go."
Jeffers added that "people just need to be ready and be prepared for winter storms."
In addition Jeffers said residents should be prepared to act as their own first responders.
"If a major disaster hits the area, responders will get to the places they can get to first. Unfortunately, they have to prioritize. Everyone should be ready with blankets, canned foods, first aid kits and ready to take care of themselves if they have to."
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