As expected, light to moderate snow is now falling across much of the KVOE listening area. And as a result, travel conditions are becoming more dicey.
Light snow began falling in Emporia right around 5 pm. TV-13 meteorologist Jeremy Goodwin says residents can expect to see several cases of heavy snowfall between now and throughout the overnight hours.
Goodwin adds there are chances of up to a tenth of an inch of ice accumulation in the area overnight.
Travel started to get slick for much of the KVOE listening area after 5:30 pm, and roads south of Emporia began getting snow-covered or snowpacked around 6:30 pm. In addition, travel conditions have deteriorated west of Emporia as snowfall rates of up to an inch an hour have reduced visibility to a half-mile or even a quarter-mile at times since sunset.
Road crews are either out or are on standby. The 2018-19 winter has been taxing on city and county workers who have been out constantly to keep roads clear. It has also been draining on department budgets. Assistant County Engineer Jim Brull says Lyon County is watching costs as much as it can, but crews also have to make sure roads are as safe as possible.
Click here for the latest schedule adjustments through the KVOE.com Closings and Cancellations page.
Winter weather advisories are now up areawide. For Lyon, Coffey, Morris, Osage and Wabaunsee counties, the advisory ends at 9 am Wednesday. For Chase and Greenwood counties, the advisory ends at 6 am Wednesday.
Stay with KVOE and KVOE.com for weather, travel and schedule adjustments. Link to Twitter@kvoeam1400 and Facebook@kvoenews for instant alerts if you have not already done so. If you have schedule adjustments, call KVOE at 342-1400 or email kvoe@kvoe.com.
1:30 pm Tuesday: Snow-freezing drizzle event still on track, sending weary road crews back out for more work
Light to moderate snowfall is expected through the rest of the day Tuesday and through the early overnight hours Wednesday morning.
Snow projections have generally been in the 2-5 inch range since late Sunday night, and TV-13 meteorologist Doug Meyers is still expecting up to 4 inches of snow. However, the low end has come down to possibly an inch — and as was the case Tuesday morning, it all depends on how much freezing drizzle we get after midnight.
Winter weather advisories are now underway for Chase and Greenwood counties until 6 am Wednesday. Lyon and other surrounding counties will be in a winter weather advisory from 3 pm Tuesday through 9 am Wednesday.
Overall, this winter season has been far more taxing on city and county employees — especially Pubilc Works and Road and Bridge crews — than perhaps the last three or four winters combined. Assistant County Engineer Jim Brull says it’s important for crew members to get adequate rest, especially if they have to go out several nights in a row.
In addition, department heads also have to plan for materials purchases, such as the county’s sand-salt mix or the city’s hadite for traction and melting. When it comes to personnel costs, namely overtime, Brull says the county has to provide safe roads for the traveling public. Personnel costs are also connected to decisions including whether to plow roads that frequently drift shut each time they close down, using traction or melting materials below their effective temperature and the like.
Click here for the latest schedule adjustments on the KVOE.com Closings and Cancellations page.
Stay with KVOE and KVOE.com for weather, travel and schedule adjustments. Link to Twitter@kvoeam1400 and Facebook@kvoenews for instant alerts if you have not already done so. If you have schedule adjustments, call KVOE at 342-1400 or email kvoe@kvoe.com.
6:15 am Tuesday: Forecast models still calling for light to moderate snow, possible icing
We’re still looking at light to moderate snowfall for the KVOE listening area starting Tuesday and ending early Wednesday.
TV-13 meteorologist Doug Meyers says 2 to 4 inches of snowfall are likely areawide with this winter storm.
Travel will be hazardous, especially from early evening Tuesday through sunrise Wednesday. Road crews are on standby to treat or clear roads as needed.
Winter weather advisories will start later areawide. For Lyon, Coffey, Morris, Osage and Wabaunsee counties, the advisory goes from 3 pm Tuesday to 9 am Wednesday with up to 5 inches of snow and a thin glazing of ice possible, according to the National Weather Service. Higher snow totals are currently setting up north of Interstate 35 and US Highway 50. Up to 0.10 inches of ice are possible south of those highways, including Emporia.
For Chase and Greenwood counties, the advisory is from noon Tuesday to 6 am Wednesday. Up to 3 inches of snow and a thin glaze of ice are possible.
Click here for the KVOE.com Closings and Cancellations list.
Stay with KVOE and KVOE.com for weather, travel and schedule adjustments. Link to Twitter@kvoeam1400 and Facebook@kvoenews for instant alerts if you have not already done so. If you have schedule adjustments, call KVOE at 342-1400 or email kvoe@kvoe.com.
