More snow is on the way today. The National Weather Service says portions of Kansas City received over seven inches of snow overnight with a widespread 4 to 8 inches falling across the greater Kansas City area Friday into Saturday morning and we’re not done.
The totals caught local forecasters off-guard who had originally believed 3–5 inches would fall. On Thursday, they were saying only 1-2 inches would blanket the area. The snow is the highest one-storm total we’ve seen in the area in many years.
Nearly 25,000 KCP&L customers do not have power this morning.
With breaks here and there, accumulating snow will continue all morning with additional light snow through the 7 p.m. hour. Up to an additional 4 inches is possible with accumulations heavier south of I-70.
Parts of Kansas City could receive up to 10 inches of snow by Saturday evening. Radar shows large areas of snow currently moving up from the south and southwest.
Roads are expected to be snow packed and slushy all day depending on your location.
A winter storm warning continues for the Kansas City region Saturday because more snow is expected.
ROAD CONDITIONS:
Many of the major roads have been plowed, but they remain slushy. Highways, such as Interstate 435 and Interstate 70, have been plowed by Missouri Department of Transportation crews. Some highway traffic lanes are snow covered and slushy on I-435. I-70’s traffic lanes were wet.
A two-vehicle accident was reported about 6:20 a.m. on northbound U.S. 169 at the Buck O’Neil Bridge.
Sidestreets Kansas City Public Works crews are expected to work on main thoroughfares and neighborhood streets Saturday morning.
Road temperatures Saturday morning ranged from 29 degrees to the low 30s.
POWER OUTAGES:
The heavy snow has weighed on the power lines.
Kansas City Power & Light reported 32, 000 customers were without power at 7:22 a.m.
TREES
The temperatures, hovering just below freezing, meant that instead of the light fluffy stuff Kansas City often gets in January, the snow was dense and water-heavy. Snow rates were about 8 inches of snow per one inch of water. January snow in Kansas City is usually 12 inches of snow per 1 inch of moisture. The water-logged snowflakes have caused considerable damage across the area with tree branches, and power lines.
Kansas City is on track to receive over 30 inches of snow this season but hold on. Kansas City historically sees its highest snow totals in March. We’re just getting started.
