As we move to mid-March, we start anticipating the arrival of spring weather. However, winter can still make its impression. On March 16, 1998 an ice storm occurred across southwest Kansas. The storm brought an accumulation anywhere from a half inch of ice on roadways to several inches of ice on objects such as radio towers. Every radio station in the area had damage due to the ice accumulation. There was one report of a chunk of ice falling completely through a cab of a pickup. Fortunately, no one was inside at the time. An 800-foot radio tower completely collapsed with a reported six inches of ice accumulation. A total 1450 power poles came down across the area. Power was out for 4 to 6 days in some places.
Mary Knapp, Weather Data Library
mknapp@ksu.edu