Wintry Deja Vu?
Sometimes the atmosphere locks into repeating patterns, bringing repeated bouts of rain or snow, or a lack thereof.
That's exactly what is happening now, as yet another winter storm, Winter Storm Rocky, targets the Plains and Midwest, across many of the same areas impacted by Winter Storm Q.
(Q RECAPS: Snow reports & photos)
Winter Storm Rocky has already dumped up to 27 inches of snow in the mountains just outside of Denver, and an official total of 9.1 inches at Denver International Airport on Sunday.
Monday brought a remarkable blast of snow and wind to the Southern Plains. Amarillo and the Texas Panhandle took the brunt of Rocky, with winds gusting as high as 77 miles per hour and snow drifts up to seven feet high. The official Amarillo snow total of 19.1 inches was its third-largest snowstorm on record, and the 19 inches that fell Monday alone set an all-time February record there.
(MORE: Top snow totals, storm reports from Rocky)
In addition, strong winds to the south of Rocky have caused wind gusts over 60 miles per hour across parts of west and south Texas, leading to blowing dust, downed trees, and tens of thousands of customers losing power in places such as Austin and San Antonio on Monday.
(DETAILS: State-by-state impacts from Rocky)
Wichita, Kan., has eclipsed its greatest snowfall for any month in recorded history; thanks to the combination of "Q" and Rocky, a total of 21.0 inches had fallen for the month by the time the snow ended Tuesday morning, breaking the old record of 20.5 inches set, coincidentally, in February 1913, exactly 100 years ago.
Monday night and Tuesday morning also brought up to 15 inches of gloppy, wet snow to areas just south and southeast of Kansas City east toward Columbia, Mo. The weight of the snow downed tree limbs and power lines.
We have the latest forecast for Rocky on the next page.
PHOTOS: WINTER STORM ROCKY
Lawrence, Kan.
City snow plows clear streets in Lawrence, Kan., Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013. Gusting winds blew drifts more than 2 feet high and created treacherous driving conditions for those who dared the morning commute. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
