First winter storm in the Plains and look at these stats

The first true winter storm of the season for the Plains will be coming through at the end of this week. Confidence is high enough now to start thinking about snow accumulations and where it will all probably go. If you've followed some of our maps on the air, you know it's likely going to slide mainly west and north of Kansas, but here's what we are seeing now.

Start time - late Friday morning - afternoon

Areas west of a line from Leoti to WaKeeney to Smith Center should have the highest chance of seeing the snow (even if it's fairly light). The storm is forecast to move quickly, so that will limit amounts in Kansas. In order for more of the state to get snow, the track would need to be another 200+ miles south, and it's very unlikely we will see that dramatic of a change between now and when the system arrives. Remember, when it comes to a winter system, the heaviest snow falls north of the low pressure center (usually 75-100 miles or more)

It's expected that Nebraska will likely see some 3-6 inch amounts. Even higher totals are likely in northern Iowa and southern Minnesota. Could be 6-8 inches in a few of those areas.

Drought drags on: 

The streak of no rain for Kansas continues. The last bit of moisture was in early November, but that wasn't anything heavy or widespread. While we wait, consider these stats. In the last 25 years (going back to 1996), the longest dry stretches are as follows:

• 43 days - Salina
• 53 days - Dodge City
• 35 days - Wichita
• 54 days - Goodland
  

This means that Salina is on the verge of having it's longest dry spell in 25 years (and maybe even longer). Other locations will have that too if no rain or snow happens in the next 10-12 days. Goodland could see an end to their dry streak with the late week winter storm, but it definitely won't erase any amount of drought. We will need a significant amount of moisture to do that - not just one storm.

Have a great day. There may be a price to pay for all of the warm weather, but it definitely won't be in the 2nd full week of December. More about that later in the week.