The Weatherman Called It - Sort Of

Ulysses News Photo By Nancy Wallace-Kletecka

City crews cleared the streets (photos left and above) as the snow continued to fall around them.

Courtesy Photo by City of Ulysses

City crews cleared the streets (photos left and above) as the snow continued to fall around them.

Courtesy Photo by City of Ulysses

With the first big snow of the Winter season, also comes those individuals who make it safer and more comfortable for the rest. City crews were out clearing streets while the snow kept coming down around them. There were also a number of volunteers such as those as Heartland Faith Church in Ulysses that grabbed their snow shovels and cleared walkways and parking lots. Thank you for the Winter Angels in the community!

Courtesy Photo by Heartland Faith Church

"Unsung heroes" cleared walkways and parking lots at Heartland faith in Ulysses to make it safer for those attending the church .

Courtesy Photo by Heartland Faith Church

Posted Tuesday, January 13, 2026 5:26 pm

By Nancy Wallace-Kletecka, Managing Editor/Publisher

The forecast issued January 4 for last Friday, January 9, started out with "possible rain and snow". But as is seen in Southwest Kansas - that soon changed.

By January 6, weather forecasters were calling for "snow accumulation being possible, and will likely cause travel issues." With that latest forecast on January 6, it was also described as "widespread light snow, minor travel impact," with the possibility of two to four inches.

However, you guessed it, the forecast changed yet again January 8, when forecasters said there was a "winter storm warning" with four to eight inches possible and to use caution if traveling. That could have been the "rest of the forecast story", but then Friday showed up. Forecast early that morning said a "quick moving weather system would bring the chance for accumulating snowfall, especially in southwest Kansas". Accumulation was predicted to be up to eight or nine inches. Less than 12 hours later, the snow was definitely coming down and Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) said most highways in southwest Kansas were covered in ice. Many of the school districts were closed or dismissing early.

The original prediction of one to three inches suddenly evolved in to a reported 10 inches in just Ulysses. But Ulysses was not alone in Southwest Kansas, Johnson reported a whopping 13 inches; Manter, 11 inches; Garden City, 8.5 inches; Syracuse, 9 inches; and Satanta, 5 inches.

So, if you were wondering where Old Man Winter was hiding with early season temperatures in Southwest Kansas hitting the 80s not that long ago, you need wonder no more. It's safe to say Grant County and Southwest Kansas experienced a "significant winter storm" for their first accumulating snow of the season. The blessing in all of it - the moisture and the weatherman was not correct on the wind factor either. Original predictions were for up to 45 mph wind gusts. That did not happen - at least not in Grant County.

Weather in Grant County for the next week is expected to have possible highs up to 65F. No snow is predicted at this time; however, wait five minutes and it may change.