Following a brief warm spell in late January, winter quickly returned to North Central Kansas on the last day of the month as a large upper level low pressure system carved into the central United States, bringing some of the coldest air of the season with it. On Monday January 31st, the day started out with widespread light freezing drizzle across the area, with slick roads contributing to a single-fatality car accident in Smith County. As the day wore on into the evening, the freezing drizzle gave way to light snow, with accumulations of 1-3 inches by midnight in some locations. Areas of mainly light snow continued into Tuesday February 1st, with storm total accumulations of 1-3 inches common across much of North Central Kansas. However, the primary story on the 1st became widespread visibility restrictions and at least minor drifting from blowing snow, thanks to strong north winds sustained at speeds to around 30 MPH and gusts to over 40 MPH. Near-blizzard conditions were noted for several hours during the day, especially along and east of Highway 281 where visibilities to 1/2 mile or less were common. In addition to snowfall impacts, Feb. 1st ended up being one of the coldest days of the winter for North Central Kansas, both in terms of actual air temperature and wind chill readings. Actual high temperatures on the 1st were mainly between 7-10 degrees, and when factoring in the winds, automated stations including Smith Center and Phillipsburg recorded wind chills down to at least -26.

Winter Storm in SMITH, KANSAS
From 01-FEB-11 00:00:00 to 01-FEB-11 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Storm total snowfall accumulations of 2 to 4 inches combined with strong winds of 25 to 30 mph and periodic gusts approaching 45 mph brought reduced visibilities, occasional white out conditions and hazardous travel to the county.  Bitterly cold temperatures combined with the strong winds also brought wind chill vales which reached as low as 26 degrees below zero.

Winter Weather in OSBORNE, KANSAS
From 01-FEB-11 00:00:00 to 01-FEB-11 13:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Storm total snowfall accumulations of 1 to 3 inches, combined with strong winds of 25 to 30 mph and gusts approaching 45 mph at times, resulted in reduced visibilities and hazardous travel across the county.

Winter Weather in ROOKS, KANSAS
From 01-FEB-11 00:00:00 to 01-FEB-11 13:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Storm total snowfall accumulations of 1 to 3 inches, combined with strong winds of 25 to 30 mph and gusts approaching 45 mph at times, resulted in reduced visibilities and hazardous travel across the county.

Winter Storm in JEWELL, KANSAS
From 01-FEB-11 00:00:00 to 01-FEB-11 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Storm total snowfall accumulations of 2 to 4 inches combined with strong winds of 25 to 30 mph and periodic gusts approaching 45 mph brought reduced visibilities, occasional white out conditions and hazardous travel to the county.

Winter Storm in MITCHELL, KANSAS
From 01-FEB-11 00:00:00 to 01-FEB-11 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Storm total snowfall accumulations of 2 to 4 inches combined with strong winds of 25 to 30 mph and periodic gusts approaching 45 mph brought reduced visibilities, occasional white out conditions and hazardous travel to the county.

Winter Weather in PHILLIPS, KANSAS
From 01-FEB-11 00:00:00 to 01-FEB-11 13:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Storm total snowfall accumulations of 1 to 3 inches, combined with strong winds of 25 to 30 mph and gusts approaching 45 mph at times, resulted in reduced visibilities and hazardous travel across the county.