When I left Metro Denver yesterday morning, it was 21 degrees F, relatively mild compared to the previous few days. As I approached the Kansas line, however, strong south winds signaled a return to Arctic conditions.
While those of us in the Northern Hemisphere associate south winds with a warm-up, these winds represented the outer edge of the Arctic dome (winds circulate clockwise around a dome of high pressure). Within a few miles, the temperature had dropped below zero and would remain there through most of Western Kansas. East of Oakley, the winds died down and the temperature slowly rose into the mid teens by the time I reached Missouri. Fortunately, the skies were clear and the road surface was dry, making my journey uncomplicated.
Wildlife viewing was also good, despite (or likely because of) the Arctic conditions. Raptors were abundant, represented by rough-legged hawks, northern harriers, American kestrels and red-tailed hawks. Multiple flocks of snow geese graced the skies and fields across the eastern half of Kansas and a pair of coyotes loped through a valley near Hays. No doubt, they were not focused on the historic Arctic outbreak.
