Hill City, which set numerous heat records last year, is at it again.
The thermometer hit 100 today in the northwest Kansas town, breaking the previous high temperature record of 96 set back in 1948.
Across the Nebraska state line, McCook also hit 100 and shattered its record high.
Although this news is a few days old by now, I thought it was nevertheless worth sharing: Arkansas recorded its first-ever May snowfall last Friday.
Forecasters had talked about Wichita having its first measurable May snowfall at the same time. Though a few flurries were reported, there was never enough to threaten accumulation.
Meteorologists keep telling me they don’t expect any accumulation in the Wichita area from the winter storm barreling through the state later today.
But the National Weather Service has just posted this map on its website.
It has never snowed this late in Wichita, according to a review of records at the weather service. Wichita set a record for latest measurable snowfall on April 24, when .2 of an inch fell.
This winter – winter is still rolling in May?? – is currently tied for 5th in Wichita history with 30 inches of snow. Any measurable snow will give it sole possession of 5th place in records that date back to 1889.
April was so cold in Wichita it cracked the Top 10 for coldest Aprils in the city’s history.
The average temperature last month was 51.3 degrees, making it the 7th coolest April in Wichita since 1889, according to the National Weather Service. The normal April temperature in Wichita is 56.1 degrees. It hasn’t been this cold in Wichita since 1997, according to the weather service.
Chanute had its 6th coolest April since 1894. The average temperature of 52.4 degrees was more than 4 degrees below normal.
That .2 of an inch of snow earlier this week pushed this winter into a tie for the 5th snowiest in Wichita’s history, according to the National Weather Service.
A total of 30 inches of snow fell this winter, tying 1972-73 for #5 on the list of snowiest winters since records began being kept in 1889.
Old Man Winter’s firm grip on the Great Plains late into April is leaving its mark on the record books in Wichita and around Kansas.
Add record low temperatures for April 23 and 24 in Wichita to the lengthening list.
Tuesday’s record low in Wichita reached 32 prior to midnight, and today has already set a new low reading of 25 – shattering the old mark of 31 set in 1967.
Much warmer temperatures are expected the rest of the week, so the end of the cold snap appears to be in sight.
A band of snow that moved through Wichita late Tuesday night brought at least .2 of an inch of snow to the city – the latest measurable snowfall in Wichita since records began being kept in 1889.
The previous record was April 20, 1918.
To put that date into perspective, World War I was still raging.
Nearly 10 inches of snow fell in Goodland.
Temperatures fell well below freezing throughout much of Kansas.
Not surprisingly, many records fell on a startlingly cold day for late April in the Sunflower State.
“It’s a record cold day,” National Weather Service meteorologist Kevin Darmofal said.
The 9.2 inches of snow that fell in Goodland overnight is the most on record this late in the season, according to the National Weather Service.
Records aplenty fell in Wichita today as well. The record low of 34 from 1996 was bettered by a single degree early this morning – after sunrise, no less – and temperatures could fall still more after sunset tonight.
Today’s high of 37 actually came at 2 a.m., Darmofal said, and readings fell as the morning lengthened.
The record low high temperature for April 23 in Wichita took a beating. The old record from 1931 was 47, meaning the new mark is a full 10 degrees colder.
“We really shattered it,” Darmofal said.
Russell and Salina also set records for low high temperature, and Russell’s overnight low broke the record by one degree.
“This may be winter’s last gasp this spring,” Darmofal said.
But he’s not ready to guarantee it yet, even though May arrives next week.
“That’s the only thing that’s saving us, is time,” he said.
Wichita set a record low temperature overnight – but just barely.
The temperature fell to 31, breaking the old record for April 19 of 32 in 1943.
The good news for gardeners and landscapers is that’s not a hard freeze, sparing vegetation of significant damage.
……..of matching the record high for March 15 last Friday.
The official high at the weather service office in west Wichita was 80, one degree below the record set in 1914.
But Russell and Salina both set records for the date, with highs of 85 and 87 respectively.