Kansas City wakes to falling snow — See updated forecast for new expected totals
A winter storm is bringing several inches of snow and dangerously cold temperatures to the Kansas City area this weekend, as part of a larger weather system sweeping across the southern United States.
Although expected snowfall amounts have decreased slightly, forecasters still predict around 5 inches in the Kansas City metro, with higher totals possible south and east of the city. Areas to the north are expected to see less snow.
“For now, at least for the next 24-plus hours or so, we’re expecting widespread snow across the area,” Brad Temeyer, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Kansas City, said in a video weather briefing.
For now, the weather service is leaving a winter storm warning in place for Kansas City and for areas roughly south of U.S. 36 across northern Missouri.
“There are some hints in the models that this system may be ending a bit quicker on Sunday, so that’s something to keep an eye on,” the weather service said.
Unlike other parts of the country that are facing the possibility of freezing rain and ice storms, the Kansas City area will see only snow with this system, Temeyer said.
As for the storm’s timing, snow is already falling in the metro and spreading eastward across the region. It will continue into Saturday night.
“So what’s changed there is that we thought there might be a brief break in the snow later on today, but that doesn’t look to be very likely anymore,” Temeyer said. “Now it looks like we’re going to get snow throughout much of the day today, continuing into tonight and then tapering off on Sunday morning.”
Snow totals for the region are trending downward slightly. Generally, 2 to 3 inches is now expected across northern Missouri, 3 to 5 inches between U.S. 36 and the Missouri River, and around 5 inches in the Kansas City Metro and along Interstate 70.
Areas south of the metro will see slightly higher snow amounts along and south of a line from Columbia to Clinton.
“The greatest uncertainty remains in snowfall totals,” Temeyer said.
Some areas could see a little more snowfall if heavier bands move through, but if the storm ends earlier than expected on Sunday, overall snowfall amounts may be a bit lower, Temeyer said.
There will also be a long duration of dangerous cold, with wind chills below zero continuing for the most part through Monday. The coldest temperatures will arrive Sunday night into Monday, especially with clear skies and a fresh snowpack, Temeyer said.
The metro won’t see much relief from the cold until midday Monday. Even then, the relief will be temporary, as another shot of Arctic air is expected to return to the region mid-week.
“That cold air that we have in place really isn’t going to change throughout much of this week as we’re dealing with those well below normal temperatures continuing all the way into next weekend,” Temeyer said.
If it is any consolation, Kansas City’s coldest period typically runs from Jan. 10 to 23, when the average high is 38 degrees, and the average low is 19.
This story was originally published January 24, 2026 at 8:25 AM.
