Rainy, cold Thanksgiving week expected in Kansas City; could snow affect travel?
Get ready for a soggy start to the Thanksgiving week in Kansas City. Rain kicks things off before much colder temperatures move in by midweek, and there’s even a chance of a winter storm after for post-holiday travelers across the central U.S.
A dense fog blanketed the region early Monday, especially east of the metro in central Missouri, the National Weather Service said. Rain is forecast to take over and push the fog away.
Rain is expected to linger in the metro area for much of Monday, with showers likely to start relatively isolated before becoming more widespread through the morning, the weather service said.
“A few heavy downpours are possible,” the weather service said. A few rumbles of thunder will also be possible. After the rain clears out Monday night, more fog could develop.
Rainfall totals are expected to be between .25 and .50 of an inch, although some areas may see higher amounts.
The temperature in the metro on Monday is expected to be in the low 50s, which is close to Kansas City’s average of 50 degrees for this time of year.
There might be additional sprinkles or light showers on Tuesday, with temperatures in the upper 50s, according to the weather service. Light west winds will gradually shift to the northwest in the morning. Wind gusts around 23 mph are possible.
Much colder and drier weather moves into the area on Wednesday, according to the weather service. Although it will be sunny, temperatures will be well below the seasonal average, hovering in the low 40s during the day and dropping to the upper 20s overnight.
Thanksgiving Day in Kansas City will also be cold, with temperatures expected to climb only to around 42 degrees.
Weather could impact post-holiday travel
The cold weather continues into the weekend, with temperatures likely in the low 40s on Friday and Saturday, and in the upper 30s on Sunday, according to the weather service. There is a chance of rain on Friday night, with rain likely on Saturday and a chance of precipitation on Sunday.
“Speaking of the forthcoming weekend, we have been keeping an eye on a potential developing system which could slightly disrupt the post-holiday travel period,” the weather service said.
Forecasters say it’s tough to predict the details of this weekend’s storm, since a key part of the system is still over the northern Pacific Ocean near Alaska.
Forecast models suggest this storm could be an Alberta Clipper, a fast-moving system that may tap into warm, moist air over the eastern Rockies.
These types of storms are typically accompanied by light snow, strong winds, and colder temperatures, according to the weather service.
There is a chance for snow, mainly concentrated across northeast Missouri. For now, most of the impacts from this system are expected to remain north and east of the Kansas City region.
