Heavy, wet snow expected to fall in northern Missouri; Kansas City to see cold rain
Cold rain is expected to fall across the Kansas City metro area Thursday as a spring storm dumps heavy, wet snow across northern Missouri, according to FOX4 meteorologist Karli Ritter.
“In the metro: no watches; no warnings; no advisories,” said Ritter, who provides weather updates to The Star. “But just up the road from essentially U.S. 36 highway and points north, we have winter weather advisories and right along the Missouri/Iowa border, a winter storm warning.”
As much as six inches of snow is possible from the storm as it moves across the area by the border, she said.
In the immediate Kansas City metro area, cold rain showers and maybe even a few thunderstorms are expected as the day unfolds, she said. The rain, however, will begin to transition into snow later tonight into Friday morning.
“I’m not worried about measurable snow here,” Ritter said. “The most we will probably see is a dusting — on the very high side a half an inch. We are just going to trend colder the next couple of days before we make a big jump heading into the weekend.”
Highs will be in the upper 40s on Thursday and Friday, with temperatures dipping near freezing on Friday and Saturday morning.
The highs will be in the 60s Saturday, Sunday and Monday, gradually getting warmer each day.
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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.
Heaviest snow to fall in afternoon, evening
The National Weather Service in Pleasant Hill said the snow will likely start falling Thursday morning, but it will be light with only minor accumulations expected.
The snow will continue into the afternoon and evening, primarily north of St. Joseph and U.S. 35 highway across northern Missouri, the weather service said. There is a risk of tree limbs breaking, causing power outages because of the heavy, wet snow and gusty winds.
A winter storm warning and advisory are in effect from 9 a.m. Thursday to 7 a.m. Friday for areas north of St. Joseph. Roads are expected to be slick across northern Missouri as they become snow covered.
The weather service said there’s high certainty that heavy snow will fall across the northern Missouri, but there will be a sharp slope between the heavier and lesser snowfall amounts. The location of that slope is expected to be near the U.S. 36 corridor but it could shift slightly.
Because there’s a possibility of a hard freeze both Friday and Saturday morning, sensitive plants will need be to be protected. Any exposed outdoor plumbing could be damaged, the weather service said.
In its forecast guidance for temporary outdoor structures, including tents used for medical purposes, the weather service said the heavy, wet snow could build up on tents.
People should also check the wind rating on their tents because easterly winds will become northeasterly Thursday afternoon and evening. Sustained winds of up to 15 mph, along with gusts up to 25 mph, are expected.
This story was originally published April 16, 2020 at 8:03 AM.
