First snow of season shatters Kansas City record. How much fell in your area?
The first snow of the season arrived in Kansas City with a record-breaking punch on Monday, dumping 2 to 5 inches across the metro and shattering records at Kansas City International Airport.
At KCI, 3.6 inches of snow was recorded, more than double the previous record of 1.5 inches set in 1985. Some of the heaviest snowfall was reported in south Kansas City, Kansas City, Kansas, and Tonganoxie, where totals exceeded 5 inches, according snowfall totals reported to the National Weather Service.
Meanwhile, 4.5 inches or more of snow fell in Lenexa, Raytown, Independence, and Merriam. Here’s a look at snowfall totals across the area.
The winter storm packed a punch as several bands of snow swept across the metro, bringing near white-out conditions at times to area highways.
Snowflakes began falling early during the morning commute, quickly sticking to the pavement and leading to snow-covered roads, numerous crashes and stranded vehicles. Traffic slowed to a crawl as the major roads became slippery.
The snow came fast too. By noon, more than 3 inches of snow had been reported in parts of the metro, with snowfall continuing into the afternoon and tapering off by early evening.
The storm prompted to several school districts to announce mid-morning that they would send children home early. Classes were canceled or scheduled for remote learning on Tuesday.
Monday’s storm was fitting: it marked both the first day of meteorological winter and came close to the metro’s historical average date for its first measurable snowfall, which typically falls around Nov. 28. According to weather records dating back to 1890, the earliest snowfall was Oct. 14, 2018, when .2 of an inch fell. The latest was January 21, 1980, when .6 was recorded during the 1979-1980 winter season.
The storm nearly equaled Kansas City’s average snowfall for the entire month of December, which is about 4 inches.
This story was originally published December 2, 2025 at 8:05 AM.
