Unusual weather features are often given special names. An example that is unique to the Central Plains is a Four Corners’ Storm. This term is used to describe a winter storm system that moves out of the southwest region where Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado meet. Since it is a low pressure system, it brings southerly winds in advance of the front. The cold air follows the front. This combination tends to produce winter storms with very high snowfall. On the other hand, the storms tend not to have the extremely cold temperatures that are associated with winter lows originating in the Arctic. An active Four Corners season, tends to be a snowy season particularly in southern KS.
Mary Knapp, Weather Data Library
mknapp@ksu.edu