Kansas City weather: Forecast could change, but KC area likely to see ice and snow
A major winter storm is expected to bring ice and between 3 to 6 inches of snow to the Kansas City area this weekend, said FOX4 meteorlogist Michelle Bogowith.
“This is a system that needs to be watched,” said Bogowith, who provides weather updates to The Star. “The track is not set in stone and we could see some minor changes to this forecast.”
For now, ice accumulations in the Kansas City area are expected to be up to .1 of an inch with areas south and east of Interstate 35 likely to see heavier amounts of up to .25 of an inch. Some areas farther to the south and east of the metro could see even more ice, she said.
In addition to the ice, a widespread swath of 3 to 6 inches of snow is possible across Kansas City area, she said.
“That (snow) paired with those icy conditions is going to cause headaches and a lot of trouble from Friday night travel, into the day Saturday and even possibly into Chiefs Sunday,” Bogowith said.
In his blog, FOX4 meteorologist Joe Lauria wrote that there could be some curve balls associated with the snow system.
“There could be a shift of the storm track.... that cuts or increases the snow amounts.”
The strong winter storm system is expected to strike the day after Kansas City sees its temperatures climb to a near record high Thursday.
“For the day today, it’s all about the strong southerly winds sending temperatures soaring,” Bogowith said.
Kansas City International Airport reported that the temperature had reached 59 degrees shortly before 11 a.m., according to National Weather Service in Pleasant Hill.
The record high for this day is 64 degrees set in 1902. In comparison, the average high for this time of year is 38 degrees.
But with the new winter storm approaching, the bottom will drop out when weather issues begin to develop as a cold rain will move in Friday.
The rain will transition over to a wintry mix Friday evening, including the likelihood of freezing rain and sleet after sunset.
“This could leave a deposit or glaze on untreated surfaces, causing some slick conditions,” Bogowith said. The wintry mix will then transition over to snow, she said.
Tailgaters headed out to the NFL playoff game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Houston Texans on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium will face bitterly cold temperatures.
“We will be in the teens and see high temperatures only max out near 30 degrees,” Bogowith said.
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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 National Weather Service said in addition to the snow and ice, the strong storm system will bring periods of heavy rain. Between 1.5 and 3 inches of rain is expected to fall in an area from Butler to Macon in Missouri. Some areas southeast of that area could see higher amounts.
Higher snowfall totals are also expected in parts of northeast Missouri, including the Kirksville area, where between 6 and 8 inches of snow is possible.
A flash flood watch has been issued effective Friday morning through late Friday night for parts of central, north-central and west-central Missouri, including, including Cass, Johnson and Lafayette counties.
“Local creeks and streams could rise very quickly and area roads could become covered with running water,” the weather service said.
This story was originally published January 9, 2020 at 12:42 PM.
