‘Triple threat’: Northeast Kansas expected to see rain, high winds and blizzard

A strong and impactful storm system is expected to bring northeast Kansas a “triple threat” of high winds, severe thunderstorms and potential blizzard conditions from Tuesday into Wednesday, the National Weather Service said.

The late-winter system could affect trees and power lines, potentially causing electrical outages, said a graphic posted on the website of the weather service’s Topeka office.

Conditions could also make driving difficult, particularly for high-profile vehicles, the graphic said.

These watches have been issued

• Winds will come from the northwest at 30 to 40 mph and could gust as high as 60 mph, the weather service’s Topeka office said in a high wind watch it issued lasting from noon Tuesday to noon Wednesday for the 23 counties it covers in north-central, northeast and east-central Kansas.
• The Topeka office also issued a winter storm watch lasting from 6 p.m. Tuesday to 6 a.m. Wednesday for areas it serves north of Interstate 70. The watch covers counties that include Jackson, Pottawatomie, Riley, Clay, Cloud, Brown, Nemaha, Marshall, Washington and Republic.

Here’s the anticipated timeline

A marginal potential for severe weather is expected when a round of thunderstorms early Tuesday morning affects northeast and east-central Kansas, with more storms potentially coming Tuesday afternoon, the weather service said.

Hail and damaging winds will be the main severe weather concerns, it said while indicating it had “moderate” confidence the storms would develop.

The weather service said it had high confidence that high winds would blow between noon Tuesday and noon Wednesday throughout north-central, northeast and east-central Kansas.

The weather service said it had moderate confidence that rain would change to snow from west to east Tuesday evening.

Only about 1 inch of snowfall is expected throughout the area north of I-70, but “blizzard conditions” will be possible because of the strong winds, said a graphic posted on the website of the weather service’s Topeka office.

“Prepare for blizzard conditions north of I-70 and monitor the latest forecast,” it said. “Adjust travel plans to avoid possible whiteout conditions Tuesday evening and night.”

Here’s how high winds are expected to get

The weather service predicted wind speeds late Tuesday and early Wednesday would gust as high as 59 mph at Hiawatha, 58 mph at Marysville and Concordia, 55 mph at Topeka, 54 mph at Lawrence, Manhattan and Abilene, 53 mph at Emporia and 51 mph at Garnett.

Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.