Cold Turkey Day in KC. Could snow impact your post-holiday travel plans?
A weak cold front arrives Tuesday, bringing chilly weather for Thanksgiving in Kansas City. But anyone planning post-holiday travel should be ready for possible rain and snow this weekend.
The front is expected to move through in the morning, ushering in cooler, drier air, according to the National Weather Service.
“It would not be entirely surprising to see a few isolated showers ahead of this boundary,” the weather service said. However, any showers that develop are not expected to become widespread or significant.
Winds are expected to become gusty in the afternoon as the colder air filters into the area, the weather service said.
Temperatures were near 50 degrees overnight at Kansas City International Airport (MCI) and are expected to reach around 56 degrees today, which is above normal for this time of year.
The gusty winds will persist overnight, bringing colder, drier air into the region. Temperatures on Wednesday will drop into the low 40s, a bit colder than the metro’s average of 49 degrees for late November.
Overnight temperatures will dip into the upper 20s.
Although Thanksgiving Day will be sunny, high temperatures will only reach around 42 degrees. Overnight temperatures are expected to be in the upper 20s.
Post-holiday rain, snow in forecast
The weather picture for the weekend is becoming clearer, the weather service said.
“There is an up to 50% chance of winter weather travel impacts across north-central and northeast Missouri Friday through Saturday, with higher potential to the north and east of the state,” the weather service said. “Some uncertainties remain, such as exact precipitation amounts, types, and timing.”
Forecast models show that most of the Kansas City area will stay on the warmer side of the storm system, according to the weather service. But if you go farther northeast in Missouri, around places like Kirksville, it will be colder.
Rain and snow are expected to start Friday afternoon and continue through Saturday, possibly lasting into Sunday. Areas northeast of a line from Lamoni, Iowa, to Hannibal, Missouri, have the best chance of accumulating snow, with most places getting an inch or less, but up to 3 inches possible in some spots, according to the weather service.
Could snow fall in Kansas City?
“It cannot be fully ruled out that there will not be any wintry precip as far south as the KC metro, but chances are looking rather lackluster at this time,” the weather service said.
Freezing rain is possible, but forecasters think rain and snow are more likely at this point.
The weather service said forecasters are still uncertain about exactly which type of precipitation will fall, how much will accumulate, and how far south the wintry weather will go.
Although this storm doesn’t look like it will bring much snow, it is the first chance of snow this season and could still impact travel after Thanksgiving, especially in far northeast Missouri, the weather service said.
The weather service advises everyone to stay updated by checking the forecast regularly.
