A Rare Early Fall Snowstorm
September 29, 1985


Brief Overview                       
                       



                        On September 29  1985, a storm system dumped heavy snow from western Kansas into much of  Nebraska.
                        into Kansas, Nebraska and western Iowa. 

                        The heavy snow in the Dodge City area of responsibility occurred in the far north including Ellis, Trego, Lane, Scott and Ness
                        counties. Two reports near Wakeeney(10 S of Collyer and 16 nne of Wakeeney) were adjusted downward from the 11 to 12
                        inches reported since the liquid water with the snow didn't match other location with similar snow amounts. For example, the
                        coop observer 10 miles south of Collyer reported .80 of liquid with 11inches of snow. Given that this was a very wet snow,
                        6 to 8 inch amounts were probably more realistic.

                   

               
Synoptic Sequence of events 


                        A cold upper trough dropped southward into the northern and central Rockies from September 27 to September 29, 1985.
                        Meanwhile, an upper low over southern California opened up and was ejected ene across the southern and central plains.
                        Frontogenesis occurred between the southern and northern stream. Plenty of gulf moisture was in place across the central plains.
                        The result was a band of heavy snow across northwest Kansas into Nebraska.


                        500mb charts


                        00 UTC Sep 28   500mb

                        12 UTC Sep 28   500mb

                        00 UTC Sep 29   500mb                  

                        12 UTC Sep 29   500mb

                       
                        850mb charts



                        00 UTC Sep 29   850mb                  

                        12 UTC Sep 29   850mb

                   
                        700mb charts


                        00 UTC Sep 29   700mb                  

                        12 UTC Sep 29   700mb

                        

                        250mb charts
                       

                        00 UTC Sep 29   250mb                   

                        12 UTC Sep 29   250mb