Travel conditions are better than they could have been, but a number of slick spots remain in place as we progress through Friday.
Freezing drizzle caused widespread icing across the area early Friday morning, forcing road crews to start treating shortly after midnight in many cases. Assistant County Engineer Jim Brull says road conditions were bad early Friday.
Icy driving conditions led to one injury crash on Interstate 35 near the Industrial Road exit around 5:40 am with one person taken to Newman Regional Health afterward. US-75 just north of Burlington was temporarily detoured after a non-injury crash early Friday, but traffic is now moving around that location. Numerous slideoffs have also been reported, including the Kansas Turnpike and US Highway 56.
Conditions started improving before sunrise as a cold ran gradually started overtaking the freezing drizzle.
Numerous closings, cancellations and other schedule adjustments have been reported. Click here for the current list.
Ice accumulation forecasts have been trimmed back from original projections. Early Friday, there was a concern of up to 0.50 inches of sleet and anywhere from 0.10 to 0.40 inches of ice accumulation. Now the forecast calls for up to 0.20 inches of ice, which will likely melt Friday afternoon as rain continues into the mid-evening hours. Totals and estimates:
*KVOE studios: 0.25 inches total accumulation
*Emporia Municipal Airport: 0.27 inches total accumulation
*Cottonwood Falls: 0.25 inches ice
*Eureka: Trace of ice
There is a refreeze risk Friday evening as temperatures slide back to the upper 20s, but Emporia Public Works Director Dean Grant is confident conditions will be OK for the overnight.
Stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for updates. Join KVOE on Facebook@kvoenews and Twitter@kvoeam1400 for weather and travel updates. If you have schedule adjustments, call 342-1400 or email kvoe@kvoe.com.
Click here for KVOE News’ prior coverage.
Photos by LJ Harris and Chuck Samples/KVOE Radio
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