Is it safe to drive with Kansas City’s wind warning? Here’s what local officials say
As you’ve probably noticed, it’s a windy day around Kansas City. The National Weather Service issued a high wind warning for the remainder of Wednesday, as gusts can reach up to 65 mph in some locations in the metro.
Kansas City Fire Department Chief Jimmy Walker, Chris Carroll with the Kansas City Emergency Department and Brett Williams with the National Weather Service are all in agreement: don’t drive if you don’t have to.
Stay inside as much as possible if you can, but if you have to drive anywhere today, keep both of your hands on the steering wheel and be cautious of your surroundings.
The three local emergency officials suggest that if you have to drive on the highway, drive slowly. The high winds can knock your car around, and the margin of error shrinks as a car’s speed increases.
Walker said that you should avoid driving by semi-trucks on the highway at any point, but that today is especially important.
High-profile vehicles like semi-trucks, SUVs, vans and buses are more prone to high wind gusts pushing them around.
Carroll shared that the best tip for everyone is to be aware of what’s going on around you at all times.
Here are some other tips they shared as winds pick up:
Tie down any loose items on your patio or porch
Avoid walking by fallen power lines
Watch out for debris.
Avoid any fallen power lines if you see them.
Have another question about the weather or something you want us to look into? Email kcq@kcstar.com or fill out the form below.
This story was originally published December 15, 2021 at 11:46 AM.
