Snow totals are not impressive, but slick travels were an issue for most of Friday across the KVOE listening area.
Over 2 inches of snow in some locations has led to numerous slideoff crashes, several fender-benders and at least two reported injury crashes — Kansas Turnpike mile marker 112 and KTA mile marker 141:
*The wreck at mile marker 141 southbound happened at 10:30 and involved a small SUV driven by 34-year-old Sarah Pizano of Denton, Texas, and a semi driven by 49-year-old Jose Luis Martinez-Martinez of Mexico. Pizano’s SUV slid on the slushy highway, hit the center barrier wall and then was hit by the semi. Pizano was transported to Newman Regional Health with possible injuries.
*The crash at mile marker 112 northbound happened about 45 minutes later and involved an SUV driven by 50-year-old Minh Nguyen of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Troopers say Nguyen was passing a maintenance vehicle but hydroplaned and went into the ditch. A passenger, 45-year-old Lien Le of Oklahoma City, was brought to Newman Regional Health with possible injuries.
Most area highways are now partly snow-covered to seasonal, meaning isolated snow cover, after most area highways were completely snow-covered for most of the morning. In town, the main arterials and residential collectors, the more heavily-traveled side streets, had a lot of improvements from mid-morning to mid-afternoon until another round of light snow developed. Side streets are all snow-covered.
Due to the conditions, Emporia Police officers are using Phase 2 Emergency Crash procedures — meaning drivers involved in non-injury crashes can exchange insurance information at the crash site and report to the Police Department when they can.
Both the Emporia Police lobby at 518 Mechanic and Lyon County Sheriff’s Office lobby at 425 Mechanic are now available as warming shelters for those in need. Pets are allowed at both locations if owners can keep them under control.
Current snow totals:
*KVOE studios: 2.4 inches
*Country Club Heights: 2 inches
*Willow Lane: 2.25 inches
*Burlington: 2 inches
*Marion: 4 inches
*3 miles east of Olivet: 2 inches
There are several schedule adjustments being reported across Lyon and surrounding counties. Check the KVOE.com Closing and Cancellations page for that information.
Light snow should end by mid-evening Friday, and additional snowfall is increasingly possible for early next week. Rain is possible Sunday night through much of Monday, but accumulating snow with blustery conditions is listed as likely for Monday afternoon into Tuesday. Projected totals are currently pending.
Stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for more weather updates as they develop.
10:30 am Friday: Snowfall already topping total projections by mid morning; City of Emporia opens warming shelters as phase two reporting procedures go into effect
Over an inch of snowfall has already come down in the KVOE listening area after light to moderate snow began just before sunrise Friday morning.
At the KVOE Studios we have received over 1.5 inches of accumulation topping forecasted totals of an inch by the time snowfall is expected to wrap up in the early evening hours Friday. If you have snow totals to report please message the KVOE Bluestem Farm and Ranch Supply textline at 620-342-5863 or email KVOE@KVOE.com.
The thick snow flurries are having an impact on local driving conditions, especially on major highways across the area.
The following highways are completely snow-covered:
*Interstate 35 from Waverly to Lebo
*Kansas Turnpike from Emporia tollgate Mattfield Green Service Area
*US Highway 50 from just west of Plymouth to Cedar Point
*Kansas Highway 177 from Strong City to Cassoday
*Kansas Highway 58 from Madison to Gridley
The following highways are partially snow-covered:
*Interstate 35 from Neosho Rapids to Emporia
*US Highway 50 from Emporia to just west of Plymouth
*Kansas Highway 99 from Admire to Hamilton
*Kansas Highway 130 from the I-35 Neosho Rapids Exit (141) to Hartford
*Kansas Highway 31 from Osage City to Vassar
*Kansas Highway 31 from Osage City to the K31 and US Highway 56 intersection
*US Highway 56 from the K31 intersection to Burlingame
*US Highway 75 from Carbondale to Olivet
*US Highway 56 from Council Grove to the intersection of US 56 and 31
Major arterials and residential collector streets are also partially to full snow covered within Emporia. Speaking of Emporia, the city has announced warming shelters are opening as winter weather advisories continue for Lyon, Chase, Coffey, Greenwood and Morris counties through 6 pm.
Shelter locations include the Emporia Police Department lobby at 518 Mechanic Street and the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office lobby at 425 Mechanic. Pets are welcome at both locations so long as the owner can control them. The Lyon County Emergency Communications Center is in phase two reporting procedures.
Per those procedures, law enforcement will not respond to non-injury accidents. Those involved in such accidents should exchange insurance information and report the accident to Emporia Police as soon as possible.
Friday’s snowfall may be just the beginning of wintry weather for the local listening area with a dry day forecasted Saturday before chances of rainfall enter the forecast Sunday evening. That rainfall is expected to give way to additional accumulating snowfall as part of a potentially impactful winter storm that is expected to make its way through the area Monday and Tuesday.
Few schedule adjustments have been announced due to the inclement weather. You can find the latest adjustments on the KVOE closings and cancellations page.
If you have schedule adjustments to report whether they are closings, cancellations or postponements call KVOE at 620-342-1400. You can also:
*Email kvoe@kvoe.com.
*Message Twitter@kvoeam1400 or Facebook@kvoenews.
*Message the Bluestem Farm and Ranch text line at 620-342-5863.
9:30 am: WEATHER UPDATE: Partially to fully covered roadways reported across KVOE listening area with light to moderate snowfall underway since sunrise
It did not take long for local driving conditions to be impacted by light to moderate snowfall that began just before sunrise Friday morning.
National Weather Service Meteorologist Matt Wolters says drivers need to be extra vigilant throughout the day.
The following highways are completely snow-covered:
*Interstate 35 from Waverly to Lebo
*Kansas Turnpike from Emporia tollgate Mattfield Green Service Area
*US Highway 50 from just west of Plymouth to Cedar Point
*Kansas Highway 177 from Strong City to Cassoday
*Kansas Highway 58 from Madison to Gridley
The following highways are partially snow-covered:
*Interstate 35 from Neosho Rapids to Emporia
*US Highway 50 from Emporia to just west of Plymouth
*Kansas Highway 99 from Admire to Hamilton
*Kansas Highway 130 from the I-35 Neosho Rapids Exit (141) to Hartford
*Kansas Highway 31 from Osage City to Vassar
*Kansas Highway 31 from Osage City to the K31 and US Highway 56 intersection
*US Highway 56 from the K31 intersection to Burlingame
*US Highway 75 from Carbondale to Olivet
*US Highway 56 from Council Grove to the intersection of US 56 and 31
Light accumulation has also been noted on major arterial and residential collector streets in Emporia with the National Weather Service calling for up to an inch of accumulation for portions of the area before snowfall wraps up Friday evening.
Winter weather advisories remain in place for Lyon, Chase, Coffey, Greenwood and Morris counties through 6 pm Friday. So far, there have been no schedule adjustments announced due to the weather.
If you have schedule adjustments to report, whether they are closings, cancellations, postponements or delays, call KVOE at 620-342-1400. You can also:
*Email kvoe@kvoe.com.
*Message Twitter@kvoeam1400 or Facebook@kvoenews.
*Message the Bluestem Farm and Ranch text line at 620-342-5863.
7 am Friday: WEATHER: Up to an inch of snowfall expected for portions of listening area heading into weekend
Winter weather advisories remain in place for much of the KVOE listening area with light snowfall still a likelihood throughout the day Friday.
Current projections from the National Weather Service are calling for right around an inch of accumulation for the core listening area with some isolated areas possibly receiving as much as two inches of accumulation. NWS Meteorologist Matt Wolters says while there is a possibility for higher totals locally, he says those chances are much stronger further to the south and west.
Wolters says the best chances for snowfall will be between the mid-morning to mid-evening hours. Once it does begin, Wolters says there is the potential for impacts to local driving conditions, namely visibility and slick spots.
Winter weather advisories remain in place for Lyon, Chase, Coffey, Greenwood and Morris counties through 6 pm Friday. So far, there have been no schedule adjustments announced due to the impending weather.
If you have schedule adjustments to report, whether they are closings, cancellations, postponements or delays, call KVOE at 620-342-1400. You can also:
*Email kvoe@kvoe.com.
*Message Twitter@kvoeam1400 or Facebook@kvoenews.
*Message the Bluestem Farm and Ranch text line at 620-342-5863.
Friday’s forecast is the first of two waves of wintry precipitation expected in the coming days. The NWS is calling for chances of rainfall Sunday evening which may transition into a rain-snow mix into Monday possibly continuing through Tuesday afternoon.
Stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for more weather updates as they develop.
1:51 pm Thursday: Winter weather advisories posted for Lyon, most surrounding counties with light snowfall expected Friday
The prospect of light snowfall has the National Weather Service expanding its winter weather advisory.
Lyon, Coffey and Morris counties have been added from 6 am to 6 pm Friday. Chase and Greenwood counties are in a separate advisory from 9 pm Thursday to 6 pm Friday.
Up to two inches of snowfall is possible in isolated locations. Most residents in the affected counties will likely get an inch at most. That may be enough to cause slick driving conditions areawide.
Stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for updates.
7 am Thursday: Foggy morning forecasted to give way to wintry evening Thursday
Thick fog is possible for portions of the listening area to begin the day today with wintry precipitation also possible to close out the evening.
The National Weather Service has placed Morris and Wabaunsee counties in a dense fog advisory until 11 am Thursday. Visibility could be down to a quarter mile or less at times throughout the morning hours.
If you encounter fog, slow down, use low-beam headlights and increase the driving distance between your vehicle and the others around you. Once the dense fog advisory dissipates later this morning, the afternoon and early evening hours appear to be clear before chances of snowfall enter the forecast in the late evening to overnight hours Thursday into Friday.
Currently, the National Weather Service has Chase and Greenwood counties in a winter weather advisory from 9 pm Thursday into 6 pm Friday. Current projections are calling for anywhere between 1-3 inches of snow accumulation across portions of the area.
Drivers should be prepared for slick driving conditions, especially during the early morning commute hours. Stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for more weather updates as they develop.
*Click here for KVOE’s YouTube channel, including several traffic updates through Friday.
