2002 Central Plains ice storm

Infobox flood
name=2002 Central Plains ice storm


image location=
duration=January 30-31, 2002
total da

total fatalities=>1
areas affected= Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma.

The 2002 Central Plains ice storm was a major winter storm that affected the American Midwest, causing significant damage especially in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area.

The initial storm

Up until the point of the storm the weather in Kansas City had been remarkably pleasant; The city appeared to be experiencing a mild winter, and 2 days before the storm the tempature was over 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

According to Weather Central;

Aftermath

The storm left up to 2 inches over the affected reigions on the evening of January 30th. Affected infrastructure initially held, but began to crumble as the night wore on. Electric transformers were prone to explosion and in some cases created small fires, and trees shattered under the weight of hundreds of pounds of ice. After the 31st, More than 650,000 residents were without power, including 350,000 in the Kansas City metropolitan area alone. In some cases, power didn't return to residents for nearly 14 days. Approximately 500,000 trees were affected in Kansas City alone, including 2 "Bicentennial Trees" which were estimated at being over 200 years old. States of emergency were announced by the governors of all 3 states.

References

* [http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/special_packages/star_weather/8449053.htm Kansas City Star coverage of the ice storm]
* [http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/special_packages/star_history/calamities_crime/12508862.htm Additional KC Star coverage.]
* [http://icestorm.ceenews.com/home/index.htm Articles from CEE News, a magazine that served electrical contractors and engineers]
* [http://www.llywelyn.net/docs/mine/bio/ice_storm.html A personal account of the storm]
* [http://www.hodgman.org/kansas-city/ice-200201/index.html Another personal account]
* [http://www.weathercentral.tv/Success/central_plains_ice_storm.htm Weather Central coverage of the storm]
* [http://www.srh.noaa.gov/oun/storms/20020129/index.html Norman, OK NOAA branch article]
* [http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2002/mar/26/storm_toppled_historic/ Article regarding Bicentennial Trees]