City officials in northwestern Kansas are relieved that a blizzard that was forecast by the National Weather Service for early Thursday never happened.

The National Weather Service on Wednesday issued a blizzard warning for the region with predictions of 3 to 6 inches of snow and as much as a foot in some areas, with winds of 60 miles per hour. But the biggest amount anybody got was about three inches, and most places got less than that.

WaKeeney city administrator Hardy Howard said yesterday afternoon that he hadn't expected much snow, but noted city workers had gotten plows and sand trucks ready just in case.

The high winds did materialize in some places, with 90 mile per hour gusts causing power outages and knocking over 18-wheelers in the southwest part of the state.

The KAKEland Weatherplex forecast 0"-5" of snowfall, which was closer to the end result.