With a winter storm impacting the area shortly, Lyon County Emergency Management Director Jarrod Fell is asking residents to pay attention to the weather and heed the forecasts in place through Tuesday.
Fell says the storm will likely have two rounds with a break in between by mid- to late afternoon before snow returns Monday night.
Fell also urges people to have extra winter clothing with them, just in case of travel issues.
The forecast calls for up to 5 inches of total snowfall, along with wind gusts as high as 35 mph Monday and 50 mph Tuesday. Snow totals could vary, depending on the amount of rain Monday morning and afternoon. Travel is discouraged, not only for area counties but for much of Kansas, because of the prospect of blizzard or near-blizzard conditions for much of the storm.
All area counties are in winter weather advisories from 6 am Monday to noon Tuesday.
Stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for weather and travel updates through this event. If you have schedule adjustments — closings, cancellations, delays or postponements — to announce, call KVOE at 620-342-1400, email kvoe@kvoe.com or message the Bluestem Farm and Ranch text line at 620-342-5863. If you have snow totals to announce, message the Bluestem Farm and Ranch text line at 620-342-5863.
4:30 pm Sunday: All area counties now in winter weather advisories from 6 am Monday to noon Tuesday
All area counties are now in winter weather advisories as a winter storm approaches.
The National Weather Service added Greenwood County to the list early Sunday afternoon. Lyon and surrounding counties are now affected from 6 am Monday to noon Tuesday.
The forecast still calls for up to 4 inches of snowfall, along with wind gusts as high as 35 mph Monday and 50 mph Tuesday. Snow totals could vary, depending on the amount of rain Monday. Travel is discouraged, not only for area counties but for much of Kansas, because of the prospect of blizzard or near-blizzard conditions for much of the storm.
Stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for weather and travel updates through this event. If you have schedule adjustments — closings, cancellations, delays or postponements — to announce, call KVOE at 620-342-1400, email kvoe@kvoe.com or message the Bluestem Farm and Ranch text line at 620-342-5863. If you have snow totals to announce, message the Bluestem Farm and Ranch text line at 620-342-5863.
2:30 pm Sunday: Winter weather advisories replace storm watches for Lyon, most surrounding counties
The winter storm watch involving Lyon and most surrounding counties to begin the week has been replaced.
Lyon, Chase, Coffey, Morris, Osage and Wabaunsee counties are now in winter weather advisories from 6 am Monday to noon Tuesday. Updated information indicates as much as 2-4 inches of snowfall total by noon Tuesday, along with wind gusts as high as 50 mph — meaning the risk of whiteout or blizzard conditions at times through the event. The National Weather Service expects “significant blowing and drifting of snow” leading to “dangerous and extremely low visibility conditions at times.”
The current forecast calls for rain to start the event between midnight and sunrise Monday, followed by an extended period of a rain-snow mix through mid-evening Monday. Snow is expected from late Monday night through lunchtime Tuesday. The NWS says there could be two rounds of precipitation, with the heaviest precipitation for Monday night and Tuesday morning. Freezing rainfall is not considered as a likely issue at any point with this system.
7:30 am Sunday: NWS advises travelers to consider adjusting plans Monday, Tuesday with incoming winter storm
Snow totals could range from light to borderline heavy across the KVOE listening area due to an incoming storm system starting early Monday, but travel conditions could be extremely hazardous at times before snow ends Tuesday.
A rain-snow mix could begin shortly after midnight Monday west of Emporia and start here shortly before sunrise, finally changing to all snow by mid-evening Monday. Snow should end by late Tuesday morning, based on the current forecast.
Totals could range anywhere from 1-6 inches by the time the snowfall ends around lunchtime Tuesday, but the National Weather Service says a key concern for most of Kansas is the combination of snow and northwesterly winds forecast to increase as the event progresses. Winds Monday could range anywhere from 20-35 mph, causing near-whiteout conditions at times. By Tuesday, winds could be steady at 20-35 mph with gusts as high as 45 mph, which would mean at least short bursts of blizzard-like conditions.
Blizzards are defined as snowstorms with winds at or above 35 mph for at least three hours at a time, reducing visibility to a quarter-mile or less.
The Weather Service has already called for “difficult to impossible” travel conditions as a distinct possibility, including the possibility of road closures, and is advising residents to consider changing plans if they currently include traveling Monday or Tuesday.
Winter storm watches remain in effect for almost all area counties as of Sunday morning. Lyon, Chase, Coffey, Morris, Osage and Wabaunsee counties are covered from 6 am Monday to noon Tuesday.
3:30 pm Saturday: Near-whiteout travel conditions possible with incoming snowstorm; winter storm watches posted for Lyon, most surrounding counties
Most of the KVOE listening area is now in a winter storm watch to start the week as an impactful storm approaches the area.
Lyon, Coffey, Morris and Osage counties are now in a watch from 9 pm Sunday to 6 pm Tuesday, reflecting the combination of up to 7 inches of snowfall and wind gusts up to 50 mph. Wabaunsee County is in a separate watch for the same time with the prospect of at least 6 inches of snow and gusts up to 40 mph.
In addition, Chase County is in a watch from 6 am Monday to noon Tuesday. Heavy snow is possible with gusts as high as 50 mph.
Regardless of the snow totals early this week, the Weather Service is warning of blizzard-like to near-blizzard conditions throughout the incoming storm, meaning difficult to impossible travel conditions.
Be sure to stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for updates.
8 am Saturday: Road conditions improving following heavy snowfall Friday; More accumulating snowfall forecasted to begin work week
Road conditions have improved in the overnight hours after two rounds of heavy accumulating snowfall blew through the area from sun-up to sundown Friday.
It didn’t take long after snowfall began before upwards of two inches or more was already on the ground and local roadways leading to several reported slide-offs and minor accidents with two injury accidents reported at Kansas Turnpike mile marker 112 and KTA mile marker 141.
The wreck at mile marker 141 southbound happened at 10:30 am 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.
The majority of area highways are still experiencing seasonal driving conditions, meaning some wetness and possible slick spots which is a major improvement after most were partially to completely snow-covered for most of the morning and afternoon hours Friday. In town, most major arterials and residential collector streets are damp but not extremely slick or snow-covered, thanks in large part to treatment by local road crews.
Once the snowfall ceased Friday evening, the area had a variety of accumulation 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 were several schedule adjustments reported across Lyon and surrounding counties Friday. Check the KVOE.com Closing and Cancellations page for that information.
The listening area will have a short breather from wintry precipitation on Saturday before another round is expected early next week. Rainfall is likely to begin Sunday night and continue through Monday before giving way to more accumulating snowfall that could last well into Tuesday.
Unlike Friday’s snowfall, blustery winds will be a factor on Monday and Tuesday which could lead to blowing snow and more issues on local roadways, namely visibility. Projected totals are currently pending.
Stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for more weather updates as they develop.
