Leading up to this event, the preceding 8 weeks had been unseasonably warm and dry across North Central Kansas, with parts of the area likely drawing ever-closer to receiving a Category D2 (severe) drought designation from the U.S. Drought Monitor. However, this building dryness was quelled during a roughly 42-hour period centered from Thursday evening the 2nd through Saturday afternoon the 4th. Within this time frame, much of the six-county area measured at least 1.00 to 1.50 inches of liquid precipitation in the form of both rain and snow. These precipitation totals were quite notable for early February considering that normal precipitation for the entire month is generally between 0.50 to 0.75-inch. Across most of the area, this precipitation included 2-5 inches of heavy, wet snow, with Long Island in northwest Phillips County reporting a localized 8-inch total. In contrast, most of Mitchell and southern Jewell Counties received little to no snow, although Beloit totaled 1.68 inches of precipitation mostly in the form of rain. According to NWS Cooperative Observers, some of the highest snow amounts fell near Long Island (8.0 inches), Plainville (5.2) and Smith Center (3.4). This heavy, wet snow was accompanied by north winds gusting to around 30 MPH.
Examining the timeline and meteorological background of this event, the culprit was a strong mid-upper level low pressures system that strengthened as it neared the Central Plains. Early in this event, temperatures remained warm enough to support rain as the first round of precipitation lifted across North Central Kansas between Thursday evening the 2nd and Friday morning the 3rd. Rainfall amounts from this initial overnight round were commonly between 0.25-inch to over 1 inch, with one of the highest totals through sunrise on the 3rd featuring 1.25 inches at Beloit. During the daylight hours on Friday the 3rd, the majority of the six-county area experienced nothing more than off-and-on light rain or drizzle, while the initial band of heavy snow set up across western and north central Nebraska. Finally, as temperatures cooled on the evening of the 3rd, snow gradually increased in coverage and intensity across northern Kansas. The heaviest snow focused between 7 PM and 11 PM as the mid-level deformation zone pivoted across the area. During the daytime hours on Saturday the 4th, only a few light, lingering snow bands brushed parts of the area.

Winter Storm in PHILLIPS, KANSAS
From 03-FEB-12 18:00:00 to 04-FEB-12 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Snowfall totals of 2 to 8 inches were reported across the county, with the highest amounts across the northwestern half of the county.

Winter Weather in ROOKS, KANSAS
From 03-FEB-12 18:00:00 to 04-FEB-12 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Snowfall totals of 2 to 5 inches were reported across the county.

Winter Weather in SMITH, KANSAS
From 03-FEB-12 19:00:00 to 04-FEB-12 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Snowfall totals of 2 to 5 inches were reported across the county.

Winter Weather in JEWELL, KANSAS
From 03-FEB-12 20:00:00 to 04-FEB-12 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Snowfall totals of 2 to 5 inches were reported across the county.