A major storm system produced more snow at KCI than any storm has done in over four years. And, we set the record for the biggest Christmas Day snowstorm in Kansas City recorded history. 3.6 inches fell on Christmas Eve before midnight, and then 3.7 inches fell after midnight which is now the new record for a Christmas Day storm here. And, we had a very rare blizzard when the heaviest snow was falling with 40 to 50 mph winds early on Christmas morning. This will be a Christmas we never forget.
The storm came into the southwest part of the nation last Tuesday and spread clouds our way. Rain started falling on Wednesday with rounds of thunderstorms. Thunder was heard while I was doing the weather on NBC Action News at 5 PM Wednesday evening. Then, on Christmas Eve an Arctic blast arrived with crashing temperatures and this storm became powerful and tracked a band of snow right over Kansas City and it stalled right here for hours. Rain changed to freezing rain Thursday afternoon, then to sleet and finally over to snow around sunset Christmas Eve. Heavy snow fell as we moved into the early hours of Christmas Day.
On Christmas Day the storm was not even close to being finished. Three more rounds of snow rotated around the storm with additional accumulations. The final blow came on Sunday morning, four days after the storm started. Over an inch fell bringing the official snow total to 9.4 inches at KCI Airport. But, there were many locations that had over a foot. Click on the Action Weather Blog to see the snowfall totals.
Another storm is approaching, but it isn't nearly as strong. This one will bring us some mid-week snow and we will be bringing you Kansas City's Most Accurate Forecast tonight on NBC Action News. All of this fits within my theory the LRC. If you remember, we predicted 20-32 inches of snow this winter in the winter forecast issued in November. We are already up to 15 inches at KCI airport. Winter only began one week ago today!
