Winter storm threatening to dump 3 to 6 inches of snow in Kansas City this weekend
A strong winter storm system is expected to roll across the Kansas City area, bringing freezing rain and dumping a significant amount of snow this weekend, according to FOX4 meteorologist Karli Ritter.
“This is a long-duration, two-day event and we are expecting anywhere between 3 and 6 inches on average in the snow department,” said Ritter, who provides weather updates to The Star. “Although, there is some wiggle room that this could go up in some spots as the track of this storm becomes a little more certain.”
The forecast for Thursday is “pretty okay” with a little rain in some spots, but most people will get through the day without any issues, Ritter said. Friday, however, will be a different story.
“We’ll have rain, a wintry mix and snow starting late in the evening and that snow will carry over into Saturday,” Ritter said. “Combining those two days together, we are going to have some pretty big issues to try to travel on, especially Saturday.”
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The Star produced this weather update in partnership with the local FOX4 television station. The station’s meteorologists create forecast videos multiple times a day for the newspaper to include in its weather reports.
The chance for rain Thursday is greatest along Interstate 35 and points off to the east. More widespread rain begins Friday afternoon.
That rain is expected to start transitioning over to freezing rain or sleet between 6 and 8 p.m. in the metro area. The freezing rain will transition into a snow event overnight with the snow lingering throughout the day Saturday.
“The good news is that by the time we hit the Chiefs’ game on Sunday we will be dry, but it’s going to be cold with fresh snow on the ground,” Ritter said.
The National Weather Service in Pleasant Hill said that heavy rains are expect with the storm system, with rainfall totals ranging from 1.5 to 3 inches from Butler to Macon in Missouri. Higher rainfall amounts are expected to the southeast.
The weather service said on Twitter that this weekend’s winter storm will bring several tenths of an inch of icing to some areas as well as a broad swath of 4 to 6 inches of snow. Higher snowfall amounts, between 6 and 8 inches, are possible in northeastern Missouri.
“Expect difficult travel conditions Saturday into Sunday,” the weather service said.
This story was originally published January 9, 2020 at 6:32 AM.
