An arctic blast is coming. Here’s what to know in Kansas City as temperatures turn frigid
After an early week snowstorm, Kansas City is bracing for bitter cold temperatures this weekend — just in time for the Chiefs’ playoff game.
From Monday into Tuesday, Kansas City received up to 8 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service.
The precipitation is not done, as the weather service predicts 2 to 3 inches of snow in Kansas City from Thursday night into Friday.
An arctic blast is expected to hit much of the central United States in the coming days, leaving Kansas City frigid. Here’s what to know about the weather phenomenon and how cold it will get this weekend:
How cold will Kansas City be this weekend?
Temperatures in Kansas City are expected to drop down to negative 10 degrees on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service. Wind chill could drop as low as minus 30 on Monday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Why will the temperatures be so cold?
Frigid winds from Canada’s prairies are expected to blow down into the United States, bringing arctic air and extreme wind chills, said Jonathan Kurtz, a meteorologist with the weather service.
He said last time Kansas City saw something similar was in February 2021, when the metro area endured temperatures lower than Alaska at the time, alongside planned rolling blackouts.
Is this a polar vortex? Or an arctic blast?
A polar vortex is an area of cold air around the poles that sometimes expands in the winter, bringing that air to the United States. This polar vortex is influencing the weather this weekend, which some call an arctic blast.
When will the cold weather be over?
After sub-zero lows from Saturday through Monday, on Tuesday, the low will rise to 9 degrees in Kansas City, according to Accuweather. On Wednesday, the high is expected to be a relatively balmy 29.
Wednesday marks the typical start of the climatological coldest time of the year, which ends on Tuesday, Jan. 23, according to the weather service.
Do you have more questions about extreme weather in Kansas City? The Service Journalism team is here to help. Send us your questions at kcq@kcstar.com or fill out the form below.
This story was originally published January 11, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
