Kansas City declares snow emergency; roads covered in ice and dangerous cold coming
As yet another snow storm struck the Kansas City area Sunday, the forecast offered little assurance of nicer weather in the near future.
Winter is not over.
The snow mostly tapered off Sunday morning after leaving about three inches around the metropolitan area. But it would soon be followed Monday morning with bitterly cold temperatures and more chances for precipitation in the coming days.
“A lot of folks woke up Sunday morning and walked outside and said, ‘Can it get any colder?’” said Walt Otto, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Pleasant Hill. “Well, yes it can.”
Temperatures south of the river in Kansas City Monday morning were expected to fall between zero and 5 degrees. North of the river it was expected to be even colder, from -10 to zero. Wind chills were expected to reach -12.
Later in the week, temperatures will be “less cold,” Otto said, preferring not to say “warmer.” And the chances for more precipitation in the next 14 days will be above average, though the forecast didn’t pinpoint any specific snow events in that time.
The winter storm that moved through the area early Sunday morning left about 3 inches of snow in many southern portions of the Kansas City region but the northern part of the city generally saw a bit less, Otto said.
As of 6 a.m., 2.3 inches of snow had fallen at Kansas City International Airport, according to the National Weather Service in Pleasant Hill. Pleasant Hill itself measured 3.
Even as the snow relented later in the morning, road conditions remained hazardous both in Kansas and Missouri, according to state transportation officials.
Wind-blown snow covering highways continued to make trouble, with at least half a dozen traffic wrecks reported by 11 a.m., according to the KC Scout traffic service. Several of the wrecks occurred on Interstate 70.
Before the storm, Kansas City declared a Phase 2 snow emergency. Cars parked on marked primary snow routes after 11 p.m. Saturday could be ticked and towed by police.
The city asked people to park on the west side of streets that run north and south and on the north side of streets that run east and west in residential neighborhoods, to allow plows to pass through more quickly.
Kansas City road crews plowed and salted major arterial streets during the day, the city said on its website. Residential crews reported at 6 a.m. Sunday and were scheduled to work clearing streets until Sunday evening.
The Missouri Department of Transportation reported Sunday that roads in the Kansas City area were snow-covered. Drivers were urged to use extreme caution if they had to go out.
The state’s road crews were out “in force” and drivers were urged to give them plenty of room so they could clear the roads.
The Kansas Department of Transportation reported that as of 7 a.m. all roads in the metro area were still snow-covered.
“Supervisors warn there is ice under most of the snow,” the transportation department said in a tweet. “Best plan is to delay travel until roads can be plowed.”
RideKC reported that buses were running their regular Sunday routes and schedules. However, about 25 percent of the buses were 10 to 15 minutes late. The RideKC Freedom paratransit service was in its Phase B of its weather plan. Delays of 60 minutes were possible.
Meanwhile, the KC Streetcar was operating with its regular Sunday service of 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Riders were told to expect slower speeds because of the weather.
After the snow moved out of the Kansas City area Sunday, temperatures were expected to plunge into the single digits, approaching zero degrees by Monday morning.
Wind chills were expected to be -12 degrees in the Kansas City area. Wind chills near -25 degrees were likely in northern Missouri, where a wind chill advisory was issued.
This story was originally published March 3, 2019 at 8:25 AM.
