An unusually strong storm system wreaked havoc on a large portion of the central United States during one of the heaviest travel periods of the year. Well before the arrival of the storm, warm air surging north from the Gulf of Mexico brought torrential rains and even thunderstorms to central and southern Missouri on Wednesday (Dec 23rd). Rainfall across central Missouri averaged between 1.5 and 2 inches, with Whiteman Air Force base reporting just over 2 inches. This rain generated an unusually late bout of river flooding across that region as most of the ground was still frozen, resulting in excessive runoff.
Shortly after midnight Thursday (Dec 24th), an arctic cold front swept through the area, sending temperatures on a downward spiral through the 40s, 30s, 20s and eventually landing in the teens by nightfall on Christmas Eve. With warm air still present aloft, the first round of precipitation fell mainly in the form of sleet, with some freezing rain across central Missouri. Sleet (also known as ice pellets) forms when snow melts while falling through a layer of warm air several thousand feet above the ground. The cold rain then refreezes into ice pellets as it encounters a second layer of very cold air near the ground. The sleet came down particularly heavy at times from eastern portions of the Kansas City metro, south and toward Sedalia and Clinton, with ice pellet accumulations upwards of 2 inches in some areas.
By mid evening, enough cold air had wrapped in aloft to change all the precipitation over to snow. Heavy snow blanketed much of western Missouri and eastern Kansas, with winds of 30 to 45 mph resulting in blizzard conditions from Kansas City to the Iowa and Nebraska borders -- west into the Great Plains. Snowfall amounts averaged between 6 and 8 inches along and west of Interstate 35, with drifts 3 to 8 feet reported in many areas. Travel was crippled across many areas with portions of Interstate 29 closed north of St. Joseph. A white Christmas for many, came at the expense of the first blizzard to impact the Kansas City area since 1989, and the first blizzard warning issued for Kansas City since 1982!
Overall for the 4 day period, a broad area of the lower Missouri River Valley region experienced snowfall totals in excess of 8 inches.  Hardest hit areas of northwest Missouri and northeast Kansas received as much as 11 to 14 inches of snow during this storm.  Generally, central and north central Missouri experienced lower snowfall totals, with most areas receiving anywhere from 3 to 5 inches of snow.

Blizzard in ATCHISON, KANSAS
From 24-DEC-09 04:07:00 to 26-DEC-09 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Up to eight inches of snow was observed across the county. Strong northwest winds caused blizzard conditions.

Blizzard in DONIPHAN, KANSAS
From 24-DEC-09 04:07:00 to 26-DEC-09 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Up to 7 inches of of snow was reported across the county. Strong northwest winds caused blizzard conditions.

Blizzard in JOHNSON, KANSAS
From 24-DEC-09 09:00:00 to 26-DEC-09 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Up to seven inches of snow was reported across the county. Strong northwest winds caused blizzard conditions.

Blizzard in LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS
From 24-DEC-09 04:07:00 to 26-DEC-09 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Up to 9 inches of snow was reported across the county. Strong northwest winds caused blizzard conditions.

Blizzard in LINN, KANSAS
From 24-DEC-09 09:00:00 to 26-DEC-09 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Up to 9 inches of snow was reported across the county. Strong northwest winds caused blizzard conditions.

Blizzard in MIAMI, KANSAS
From 24-DEC-09 09:00:00 to 26-DEC-09 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Up to 6 inches of snow was reported across the county. Strong northwest winds caused blizzard conditions.

Blizzard in WYANDOTTE, KANSAS
From 24-DEC-09 09:00:00 to 26-DEC-09 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Up to 6 inches of snow was reported across the county. Strong northwest winds caused blizzard conditions.