Travel conditions should be improving all afternoon after light rain Tuesday turned into a wintry mix before sunset and then changed to snowfall by early evening.
Asides from Interstate 35, the Kansas Turnpike and other major highways, travel has been slow going Wednesday morning despite lengthy efforts by road crews to keep main roads clear. Having said that, Assistant County Engineer Jim Brull says conditions are getting better.
Conditions locally — especially for the major arterials and the residential collector streets — began improving by late morning as temperatures moved into the mid-20s. Emporia’s treatment materials lose their effectiveness when temperatures are below 25 degrees. Residential streets and many intersections remain icy at this time, and Brull is watching for a potential refreeze as temperatures dip back to the low 20s overnight.
Travel conditions began getting icy by early afternoon in Chase and Morris counties and across Lyon County by late afternoon. There were several crashes in the area Tuesday evening, including a jackknifed semi that blocked all northbound traffic on the Kansas Turnpike near the Flint Hills cattle pens, but Lyon County Deputy Doug Stump says the number of crashes were relatively low and there were no injury accidents reported.
Virtually all area school districts either closed or delayed school Wednesday, and both Emporia State University and Flint Hills Technical College delayed school due to the travel conditions. Other schedule adjustments are still in place across the KVOE listening area:
Athletics
*Lyon County League basketball tournament postponed to Wednesday. Games will keep Tuesday’s schedule. Coverage begins at 3:50 pm on Country 101.7 FM and KVOE-TV ant KVOE.com.
Government or Public Entities
*Emporia City Commission study meeting canceled. City Commission joint meeting with Emporia-Lyon County Board of Zoning Appeals to take place as scheduled.
*Osage County Courthouse and Osage County government offices opening at 10 am.
Churches
*Harveyville Methodist Church closed. All activities canceled.
*Lebo Baptist Church’s Gen~XYZ activities canceled.
*Lyndon United Methodist Church closed. Preschool closed. Activities canceled.
Community Events/Locations
*NRH Auxiliary volunteers do not need to report Wednesday
Snow totals were around an inch in Emporia. Other totals:
*Scranton: 2 inches
*Waverly: 1 inch
*White City: 2 inches
Stay with KVOE and KVOE.com for travel updates. If you have schedule adjustments to report, call KVOE at 342-1400 or email kvoe@kvoe.com.
5:30 am Wednesday: Slick travel conditions prompt widespread school closings, delays
Winter weather advisories have ended and a lot of schools have either canceled or delayed classes Wednesday, but conditions are still extremely slick after a thin glaze of ice was followed by light snowfall Tuesday.
Road conditions became hazardous in Chase and Morris counties by early afternoon, and things got slippery in Emporia and across Lyon County around 4 pm. Crews across Lyon County were called out shortly before rain started icing. County Engineer Chip Woods says his crews treated and bladed asphalt roads Tuesday.
Crews are back at it again Wednesday morning, but Lyon County Deputy Doug Stump says people need to be careful across the area.
There were several crashes in Lyon County on Tuesday evening, including a jackknifed semi that blocked all northbound traffic on the Kansas Turnpike near the Flint Hills cattle pens, but Stump says the number of crashes were relatively low and there were no injury accidents reported.
A host of schedule adjustments were reported for Wednesday’s activities:
Education
*USD 253 Emporia schools all opening at 9 am. This means a 1-hour delay for K-5 schools with breakfast adjusted accordingly. Emporia High, Emporia Middle School and Maynard Early Childhood Center will maintain their normal schedules. Buses will run the Monday schedule an hour later than normal.
*Emporia Christian School closed.
*Emporia State University opening at 10 am Wednesday. All classes before 10 am are canceled. Center for Early Childhood Education opens at 10 am.
*Flint Hills Technical College on 2-hour delay Wednesday.
*Allen County Community College’s Burlingame campus closed.
*USD 251 North Lyon County closed.
*USD 252 Southern Lyon County on 2-hour delay.
*USD 243 Lebo/Waverly closed.
*USD 244 Burlington closed.
*USD 245 Southern Coffey County closed. School will be in session Friday to make up missed classes.
*USD 284 Chase County on 2-hour delay. No morning preschool.
*USD 386 Madison-Virgil on 2-hour delay.
*USD 389 Eureka on 1-hour delay.
*USD 390 Hamilton on 2-hour delay.
*USD 417 Morris County on 2-hour delay.
*USD 420 Osage City closed.
*USD 421 Lyndon closed.
*USD 434 Santa Fe Trail closed
*USD 454 Burlingame closed
*USD 456 Marais Des Cygnes Valley closed.
Athletics
*Lyon County League basketball tournament postponed to Wednesday. Games will keep Tuesday’s schedule. Coverage begins at 3:50 pm on Country 101.7 FM and KVOE-TV ant KVOE.com.
Government or Public Entities
*LCAT starting 1 hour late.
Churches
*Harveyville Methodist Church closed. All activities canceled.
*Lyndon United Methodist Church closed. Preschool closed. Activities canceled.
Community Events/Locations
*NRH Auxillary volunteers do not need to report Wednesday
Wednesday’s forecast calls for sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-30s, so road conditions will improve as the day progresses.
Stay with KVOE and KVOE.com for travel updates. If you have schedule adjustments to report, call KVOE at 342-1400 or email kvoe@kvoe.com.
Photos by Chuck Samples/KVOE News
{gallery}Weather Jan 23 2019{/gallery}
