Snow or rain? Temps key to which one, how much as powerful storm passes south, east of KC
There’s a chance Kansas City will see some snow from a powerful storm system that is expected to pass to the south and east of the metro overnight, the National Weather Service said Thursday.
Temperatures hovering near freezing will be the key determining factor in how much. A one or two degree difference will determine if the metro and other surrounding areas see higher or lower amounts of snow, according to the weather service.
While some locations in the Kansas City region could see one to two inches of snow, the metro has only a 15% chance of seeing more than .1 of an inch of snow, according to the weather service. The highest snowfall amounts are likely across northeast Missouri.
“So while it looks like not much snow for the area, there is a chance for a swath of heavy snow in the forecast area,” the weather service said in it’s forecast discussion. “It’s just seeming more likely to be a cold rain at this time.”
Areas south of U.S. 50 highway in the southern Kansas City area is expected to see mostly rain, according to the weather service.
Rain is expected to move into the area from the south to the north Thursday afternoon and evening. As temperatures cool, the rain will switch over to snow or a rain-and-snow-mix early Friday. That could lead to a messy morning commute as slick roads and reduced visibility could develop, the weather service said.
Gusty winds of 25 to 30 mph are likely Friday, with peak gusts possibly reaching as high as 45 mph.
Before the rain moves in, temperatures on Thursday will climb into the upper 40s. Conditions will be in the 40s on Friday and mid-50s on Saturday. Temperatures on Sunday will climb into the upper 60s under mostly sunny skies.
