Topeka has issued a snow emergency, dozens of churches have cancelled their Christmas Eve services, thousands are without power and the wind continues to howl. Topeka has been brought to it’s knees as emergency vehicles get stuck, numerous vehicles are stranded due to snow drifts and road crews are struggling to keep up.

Justin and I streamed portions of this blizzard last night and I was out again in the early morning once we lost power.

Currently working on getting video edited and a synopsis of this storm up.

I headed out to check road conditions a few minutes ago as snow began to fall here in the Capital City. Heading out initially, only around 1/2″ had fallen thus far yet none has been cleared, making for some interesting conditions. While certainly slick, roads are manageable at the right speed and in 4WD. Emergency services such as AMR have began to divert routes and declare delays due to road conditions.

A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 6AM Wednesday morning.

21st and Wanamaker.

41st and Wanamaker.

45th, beteween Wanamaker and Fairlawn.

Radar as of 0027 HRS 12/8/09.

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS
301 PM CST MON DEC 7 2009

...HEAVY SNOW POSSIBLE ON TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT...

.A STRONG STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE ACROSS THE GREAT BASIN AND INTO
KANSAS BY LATE DAY TUESDAY. A PROLONGED PERIOD OF SNOW IS
EXPECTED TO DEVELOP EARLY TUESDAY MORNING AND CONTINUE INTO
TUESDAY NIGHT.

Roads have been treated and warnings issued in Northeastern Kansas as a strong winter storm nears. The Winter Storm Warning will be in effect until 6AM Wednesday morning as the system pushes off to the east.

Accumulation is expected to range from 11+ inches near the Nebraska border, 6+ inches in East Central Kansas, 3+ inches in Southeastern Kansas and 0-3 inches in extreme Southeastern Kansas.

(Pictures © TOP-NWS.)

Warning Dialogue

MARSHALL-NEMAHA-BROWN-RILEY-POTTAWATOMIE-JACKSON-JEFFERSON-GEARY-
WABAUNSEE-SHAWNEE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MARYSVILLE...HIAWATHA...MANHATTAN...
JUNCTION CITY...TOPEKA
301 PM CST MON DEC 7 2009

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 6 AM
CST WEDNESDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TOPEKA HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM
WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT
TO 6 AM CST WEDNESDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN
EFFECT.

* TIMING: SNOW IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP IN CENTRAL KANSAS AFTER
  MIDNIGHT EARLY TUESDAY MORNING AND SPREAD EASTWARD. PERIODS OF
  MODERATE SNOWFALL ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH TUESDAY
  NIGHT.

* ACCUMULATIONS: PRELIMINARY ESTIMATED ACCUMULATIONS OF 6 TO 9
  INCHES NEAR INTERSTATE 70...AND UP TO 9 TO 13 INCHES FOR
  COUNTIES ALONG THE NEBRASKA BORDER.

* WINDS WILL INCREASE AND BECOME NORTHERLY AT 20 TO 30 MPH ON
  TUESDAY NIGHT AND WILL CAUSE BLOWING SNOW IN THE OVERNIGHT
  HOURS.

* IMPACTS: SNOWFALL RATES MAY BECOME HEAVY TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND
  EVENING...WITH QUICK ACCUMULATIONS MAKING TRAVEL MORE
  TREACHEROUS. STRONG NORTH WINDS IN SNOW MAY ALSO EXACERBATE
  TRAVEL CONDITIONS OVERNIGHT TUESDAY NIGHT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

CONDITIONS CAN DETERIORATE RAPIDLY IN WINTER WEATHER SITUATIONS...
SLOW DOWN AND ALLOW EXTRA TIME WHEN TRAVELING. PRACTICE YOUR
WINTER SAFETY RULES...KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT...FOOD...AND WATER
IN YOUR CAR IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

National Weather Service in Topeka is forecasting a possible winter storm with moderate snow accumulation possible. Currently the location of surface warm air is in question, this will be the deciding factor in snow amounts.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

SIGNIFICANT SNOW ACCUMULATION REMAINS A POSSIBILITY TUESDAY INTO
WEDNESDAY MORNING...WITH HIGHER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE NORTH OF
INTERSTATE 70. A WINTER STORM WATCH IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR THIS
AREA. STAY TUNED TO THE LATEST FORECAST INFORMATION FOR ANY
UPDATES TO THE STRENGTH AND TRACK OF THIS STORM.

Some areas of Northeast Kansas have received in upwards of 12 inches of snow. Luckily the Topeka area was spared from extreme snow amounts.

More info to come tomorrow.

NEKSChasers is pleased to announce our recent switch to ChaserTV for streaming video! To view the video click on the Streaming Video tab above. Stream will only be live during chases and other events announced on the site. We are also now accepting media contracts for streaming and phone-ins. While watching video if you are interested in broadcasting it without overlays or copyright please contact us at 888-642-1993 ext. 4676.

NEKSChasers.com will be at the National Weather Festival Saturday November 7th, 2009 at the National Weather Center in Norman, Oklahoma! Follow our streaming video by clicking the link above!

Discovery channels “Storm Chasers” premiers October 18th at 10pm E/P with chasers Sean Casey, Ronan Nagle and Byron Turk on the TIV, Reed Timmer, Joel Taylor and Chris Chittick on the dominator, Dr. Joshua Wurman and Herb Stein on the DOW and Danny Cheresnick and Aaron Rupper on the scout. Also new teams this year Brandon Ivey and Matt Hughes on TIV Doghouse and Tim Samaras, Carl Young and Tony Laubach of Team Twistex.

SPC has issued a SLGT risk for 10/1/09 and has included a 30% hatched area. The chance exists for severe weather in up to 15 states according to SPC forecasts! The forums are already getting on it, visit FCST: 10/1/09 NE/KS/IA/MO/OK/TX/AR in the NEKS forums to discuss your forecasts!

SPC has issued a SLGT risk for areas including most of Western Kansas, Northwest Missouri, Western Iowa and Eastern Nebraska, NEKSChasers will keep an eye on this area and keep you informed of possible chase events!