Live updates: Road conditions rapidly worsening as snow increases in KC metro
A winter storm is blanketing the Kansas City area with a fresh layer of snow, creating hazardous conditions on area roads and closing schools and government services Thursday.
The heaviest snowfall is expected between the U.S. 36 highway corridor near St. Joseph and the Interstate 70 corridor in the Kansas City area.
Between 4 and 6 inches are expected in the immediate Kansas City area.
Travel could become very difficult during the storm and create hazardous conditions for the Thursday morning and evening commutes.
Kansas City could see one of its snowiest years in recent history
Update 12:15 p.m. Got the feeling that this has been an exceptionally snowy season? It all depends on how you look at it.
Prior to Thursday’s storm, Kansas City had 17.1 inches of snow, which is normal for this time of year, according to data from the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration’s Regional Climate Centers.
That puts this year around the middle of the pack when it comes to ranking Kansas City’s 134 years of recorded weather history. It’s normal for Kansas City to get 18.2 inches of snow annually.
If you only look at recent history — since 1991 — this winter could break into the Top 10 snowiest for Kansas City depending how much snow falls through Friday morning.
Here’s a look at the snowiest winter seasons in Kansas City:
Snow having small impact on KCI Airport; Over a dozen flights canceled
Update 9:50 a.m. The snow falling across the metro appears to be having only a minor impact on flights in and out of Kansas City International Airport on Thursday, according to the airport’s website.
Airlines have canceled slightly more than a dozen flights to and from Kansas City, including seven departing flights scheduled to leave before 10 a.m.
The airlines that have canceled Thursday flights were Delta, Southwest and United and included such destinations as Albuquerque, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Minneapolis, New York, Phoenix and Sacramento.
Travelers or those picking up or dropping off passengers were encouraged to check with their airlines or flykci.com for the latest status of their flights.
Projected snow totals dip slightly in Kansas City
Update 8:30 a.m. Projections for the amount of snow that will blanket the Kansas City area have adjusted slightly lower, according to the latest forecast from the National Weather Service in Kansas City.
Most of the metro area is now expected to see between 4 and 6 inches of snow, although some isolated areas could see more. The latest forecast is slightly lower from Wednesday’s afternoon forecast of 5 to 9 inches of snow.
Although snowfall totals haven’t added up to much yet, snow is expected to fall at its heaviest during the morning and midday, the weather service said.
The greatest snowfall is still expected along a swath generally from the Kansas border east to the U.S. 65 highway corridor near Sedalia and Chillicothe, and along U.S. 36 highway near St. Joseph to U.S. 50 highway near Kansas City. Some localized areas could see over 6 inches of snow, according to the weather service.
Snow is expected to finally come to an end on Friday morning.
Road conditions began to rapidly deteriorate as heavier snow moves into KC metro
Update 6:30 a.m. Thursday Road conditions began to rapidly deteriorate as heavier snow moved into the Kansas City area, according to officials.
Shortly before midnight, light snow was reported falling at Kansas City International Airport and continued to fall overnight.
By 6 a.m., just under an inch of snow had already accumulated at KCI, according to the National Weather Service. At the weather service’s offices in Pleasant Hill, a half inch was reported.
“If you’re just waking up roads are covered to partly covered,” MoDOT Kansas City said on Twitter. “Plz use caution if you plan to get out. Slow down & take it easy.”
On the Kansas side of the metro, KCMetroDOT was urging people to stay home and off the roads Thursday morning if possible.
‘Messy’ early morning commute predicted: National Weather Service
Updated 8 p.m. The morning commute is expected to be messy for the Kansas City metro as the first inches of snowfall arrive early Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.
The onset of snow is predicted in Kansas City sometime between 2 and 4 a.m., the weather service said in a tweet. The first inch or so is predicted to fall between one and three hours after that.
The weather service has said up to 9 inches of snowfall could occur between Thursday and Friday.
Several Kansas City area schools announce closures, virtual learning
Updated 6:30 p.m. As a late-winter storm approaches the Kansas City metro, many K-12 public school districts have announced that classes will be canceled or students will learn remotely on Thursday.
Nearly two dozen area districts activated severe weather plans related to attendance by Wednesday evening. The decisions come as a snowstorm threatens to bring between 5 and 9 inches of snowfall to the region on Thursday and Friday.
The Star is tracking school and other facility closures in the Kansas City area. Check here for updates.
University of Kansas, K-State to close campuses for storm
Updated 6 p.m. The University of Kansas and Kansas State University have announced limited operations in light of a winter storm that’s expected to bring up to 9 inches of snow on Thursday and Friday.
KU will close its Leavenworth, Edwards and Lawrence campuses on Thursday. Kansas State is closing is Manhattan campus on Thursday, and there will be remote learning for the Salina and Olathe campuses.
Kansas City preps for snow removal ahead of storm
Updated 5:30 p.m. Kansas City employees were set to begin pre-treating roads Wednesday evening in anticipation of a late-winter storm that could drop between 5 and 9 inches of snowfall in some parts of the metro on Thursday and Friday.
Starting at 6 p.m., close to 200 city staff and crews will begin pre-treating the roads, city spokeswoman Maggie Green said during a news conference Wednesday. Nearly 300 snow removal vehicles will be out 24 hours a day until the streets are fully cleared.
Expected snowfall total increased across Kansas City metro: NWS
Updated 4 p.m. The latest forecast from the National Weather Service shows slight increases in expected snowfall from a winter storm expected to move through the Kansas City metro on Thursday and Friday.
Between 5 and 9 inches of snow is now expected before the storm system moves out of the area, according to the weather service. Meteorologists predict the snowstorm will be a longer event than others this winter.
“We’re going to be looking at a prolonged period of 24 to maybe 30 hours of snowfall for any given point across central and northern Missouri,” said Brad Temeyer, a meteorologist with the weather service, said during an afternoon briefing.
Move your car: North Kansas City declares snow emergency
Updated 1:30 p.m. North Kansas City has declared a snow emergency and activated its emergency snow route, which prohibits parking along a stretch of Armour Road.
No parking signs will be placed on both sides of Armour Road between Fayette and Linn streets at 3 p.m. Wednesday. Vehicles parked in those areas must be moved by 5 p.m.
Parking may resume in that area once the snow emergency has been deactivated.
Kansas City cancels trash pickup for Thursday, Friday
Updated 1 p.m. The City of Kansas City announced that trash and recycling pickup is suspended for Thursday and Friday. The city will have those drivers prepare the roads for the incoming snow and icy roads.
Residents scheduled for trash pickup on those days will be able to place up to four bags of trash out next week, along with unlimited curbside recycling.
Winter storm warning issued for Kansas City
Updated 6:30 a.m. Wednesday A winter storm warning issued for the Kansas City area goes into effect at 9 p.m. Wednesday and continues through 6 a.m. Friday.
“Heavy snow expected,” the National Weather Service in Kansas City said in the warning. Between 4 and 6 inches of snow is possible.
In addition to the Kansas City area, the warning also covers portions of northeastern Kansas and western Missouri.
“Travel could be very difficult,” the weather service said. “The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commute.”
People who must travel are urged to keep an extra flashlight, food and water in their vehicle in case of an emergency.
This story was originally published March 9, 2022 at 4:19 PM.