‘Wintry mix’ approaching Kansas City could bring slick commutes

Falling temperatures could mix with cold rain and possibly even snow flurries just in time for the Monday afternoon commute, according to the National Weather Service in Pleasant Hill, Mo.

There is an 80 percent chance of rain and snow at KCI in the afternoon and a 60 percent chance Monday night.

“A wintry mix of rain and snow will be possible late this afternoon, especially across northwest Missouri,” according to the forecast. “Far northwest Missouri may see a few tenths of an inch of snow accumulation, mainly on grassy surfaces. Elsewhere, little to no accumulation is expected.”

Blustery winds on Monday night will be from the northwest with gusts as high as 37 mph.

Below-freezing temperatures early Tuesday could mean black ice and slick streets for the morning rush hour.

Tuesday is expected to be mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny. Clouds are forecast to return Saturday night.

Temperatures are expected to edge back upward over the next couple of days, reaching a high of 48 degrees on Wednesday and in the mid 50s on Thursday and Friday.

Monday’s precipitation was moving in from the west, where Kansas authorities have reopened several highways that were closed in northwest Kansas because of heavy snow and strong winds.

The Kansas Highway Patrol says a portion of Interstate 70 and other roadways from WaKeeney to the Colorado border were opened early Monday afternoon after the storm eased and moved east.

Midwest Energy had reported about 3,200 customers without electricity early Monday, most between Oakley and Colby, but the utility said it had reduced that number to about 2,300. School districts across the region canceled classes for the day.

The snow began in Kansas Sunday night and the National Weather Service forecast 7 to 12 inches around Colby, Goodland and Hilly City. Hays and Concordia were expected to receive up to 3 inches, with lesser amounts as the snow moves east.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

This story was originally published January 22, 2018 at 2:29 PM with the headline "‘Wintry mix’ approaching Kansas City could bring slick commutes."