Wind chill warning issued for Kansas City area ahead of winter storm, arctic blast
As the region braces for a winter blast accompanied by arctic air, a wind chill warning has been issued for the Kansas City area from noon Thursday to noon Saturday.
The widespread winter storm is going to impact much of the central and eastern portions of the country, Brad Temeyer, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Kansas City, said during a weather briefing Tuesday afternoon.
The biggest concern with this storm is the extremely cold temperatures that are expected to be ushered in by the storm. Temperatures are expected to plunge 35 to 45 degrees in about 36 hours. The combination of cold air and strong winds will create dangerously cold conditions that could produce wind chills in the range of 30 to 40 degrees below zero, he said.
Adding in the expected snowfall to those frigid temperatures, and near blizzard conditions are possible across the region.
Snow is to develop and end rather quickly, generally in a nine to 12-hour window. Snow should start falling in the Kansas City area between midnight and 3 a.m. Thursday and coming to an end by noon or early afternoon.
Between two and four inches of snow is expected across the area, although the weather service will be refining its expected snowfall totals.
If you’re traveling for the holidays and wondering when you should leave, Wednesday would be your best bet, the National Weather Service in Kansas City indicated in a chart posted on social media.
Starting about 6 p.m. Wednesday in St. Joseph and Kirksville and 9 p.m. in Kansas City, weather conditions are expect to start to worsen and travelers would need to use begin using caution, according to the weather service.
Travel is not recommended after midnight through 9 p.m. on Thursday. Even after that, drivers would need to use caution through at least 6 p.m. Friday.
“Snowfall and blowing snow will make for hazardous travel conditions late Wednesday and into Friday night,” the weather service said.
“Given that’s the case, it’s best to leave ahead of time and get to your destination before the onset of the cold air,” Temeyer of Kansas City’s National Weather Service said during a Tuesday afternoon briefing. Once it does arrive, “it’s best to stick around and stay put for a few days.”
The Missouri State Emergency Management Agency said accumulating snow will impact most of the state Thursday it urged people not to make any unnecessary trips. For those who do need to travel, it was suggesting people give themselves extra time and to slow down and allow for extra following distances.
“Just a little bit of snow can create very hazardous driving conditions,” it said on Twitter.
The Kansas Department of Transportation was urging drivers to plan ahead, saying the extreme cold and snow may make travel difficult.
“Unlike Santa, we don’t have magic reindeer to fly us through the storm,” the transportation department said on social media. “If you plan to travel, plan ahead. Be smart & be safe. Give KDOT crews time to clear the roads.”
At Kansas City International Airport, crews are on standby for the impending snow storm. Passengers were urged to check flykci.com or their airline websites for the latest status for their flights.
“Some airlines are waiving or discounting change fees,” the airport said on social media.
