Snowfall continues for most of the KVOE listening area.
Through 2 pm, there was some variance in the area snow totals:
*KVOE studios: 2 inches
*Central Emporia: 3 inches
*Southeast Emporia: 2.7 inches
*Cottonwood Falls: 4 inches
*Council Grove: 5 inches
*Lebo: 3.5 inches
*Madison: 1.1 inches
*Plymouth: 3 inches
*Reading: 5 inches
Emporia had a brief period of light freezing drizzle shortly after noon but had light snowfall redevelop after 2 pm.
There have been a host of slideoff crashes and a few rollover wrecks across the area. So far, any initial reports of injury crashes have not led to any transports.
Most area highways still are completely snowpacked despite ongoing efforts by local and KDOT crews. Exceptions as of 2:30 pm:
*The Kansas Turnpike has had seasonal driving conditions since the snow began in the 4 am hour. It has also had a long list of slideoff crashes. Areawide, the worst portion of the highway has been in Chase County, but KTA dispatchers say the slideoffs have been legion from terminal to terminal.
*US Highway 50 is currently partly snowpacked west of the Lyon-Chase county line.
*Kansas Highway 99 is partly snowpacked south of the Lyon-Greenwood county line.
*Kansas Highway 58 is partly snowpacked east of Madison.
After a flurry of church service cancellations and isolated other closings shortly after sunrise, no schedule adjustments for Monday have been announced.
Chase, Morris and Wabaunsee counties remain in winter storm warnings with the prospect of 8 inches of snow possible through Monday in those counties. Chase County’s warning expires at 6 pm Monday, while the warning for Morris County now ends at 9 pm Sunday and Wabaunsee County’s warning ends at midnight Monday. Morris County will re-enter a winter weather advisory from 3 am to 6 pm Monday. Lyon County and other surrounding counties remain in winter weather advisories until 6 pm Monday.
11:30 am Sunday: Chase, Morris, Wabaunsee counties upgraded to winter storm warning
There are increasing chances of moderate to borderline heavy snow north and west of Emporia, and as such the National Weather Service has adjusted a winter weather alert for part of the KVOE listening area.
Morris and Wabaunsee counties have been upgraded from a winter weather advisory to a winter storm warning until midnight, after which the counties will revert to advisory status until 6 pm Monday. The National Weather Service says total accumulations may now be 6-7 inches in those counties. It also says there could be “substantial variations” in snow amounts over short distances.
Chase County, meanwhile, is now in a winter storm warning until 6 pm Monday. Total accumulations could be in the 6-8 inch range through Monday.
Lyon and other surrounding counties remain in a winter weather advisory until 6 pm Monday.
Snow totals:
*KVOE studios: 2 inches
*Central Emporia: 3 inches
*Southeast Emporia: 2.7 inches
*Cottonwood Falls: 1.5 inches
*Council Grove: 5 inches
*Madison: 1.1 inches
*Plymouth: 3 inches
Stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for updates.
9:30 am Sunday: Crews out in force, but Sunday travel to be hampered by snow; NWS increasing projected snow total areawide
Area residents can expect poor driving conditions from now through much of Monday with a winter storm now underway.
Current projections have the entire KVOE listening area, Emporia included, with 4-6 inches of snowfall — up slightly from the 2-5 inches for Emporia and points west earlier in the day. Some area locations could actually get more than that. Area snow totals as of 9:30 am:
*KVOE studios: 2 inches
*Cottonwood Falls: 1.5 inches
*Madison: 1.1 inches
Lyon County Engineer Chip Woods has had crews out since around 6 am.
There have been numerous noninjury slideoffs, mostly in Chase County but also in Emporia, Lyon County and Coffey County. County and KDOT crews are out treating and clearing roads across the area, but most area highways are still mostly to completely snowpacked.
The latest guidance from the National Weather Service is now backing off the ice accumulations. Here’s meteorologist Sarah Teesey:
Numerous cancellations have been announced. Click here for the updated list.
5-9 am Sunday: Travel conditions deteriorating across area as winter storm begins
Travel will be impacted all day — and through much of Monday — as an extended winter storm is now affecting the KVOE listening area and almost the entire state of Kansas.
Snow began falling after 4 am in Emporia, and close to an inch fell by 6 am. National Weather Service meteorologist Brandon Drake says we’ll see two waves of wintry weather by the time the storm clears the state Monday. In fact, the current wave could last into the evening hours, and ongoing development in central Kansas could impact the projected snow totals.
Current projections have Emporia and areas south and west of town possibly getting 2-5 inches, with areas just north and east of town receiving 4-6 inches through Monday afternoon. Areas south of US Highway 56 could also get up to two-tenths of an inch of ice as well, especially Sunday night into Monday, making travel extremely hazardous until conditions improve.
Lyon County travel is seasonal to completely snowpacked. No crashes have been reported so far. KDOT crews have been out since 2 am, according to the Lyon County Emergency Communication Center.
The area driving report:
*Chase County has reported multiple slideoffs since just before 5 am, even though crews have been out plowing and treating roads since before 4 am. No injuries have been reported so far.
*In Coffey, Greenwood, Osage and Wabaunsee counties, snow is collecting on highways but no travel issues have been reported so far.
*Morris County is reporting snowpacked conditions but no crashes to this point.
KanDrive.org says US-50 is completely covered west of Emporia, while US-56 is completely covered west of Allen and Kansas Highway 177 is completely covered from Cassoday north to Manhattan. Seasonal driving conditions affect highways across the rest of the area.
Numerous church cancellations have been announced, with almost all coming since 7:45 am.
Churches: Emporia
*Emporia Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints services canceled.
*First Congregational Church services canceled.
*Faith Lutheran Church of Emporia services and activities canceled.
*Lighthouse Baptist Church services canceled
*Sunrise Freewill Baptist Church services canceled.
Churches: Area
*Countryside Baptist Church in Americus services canceled.
*First Christian Church of Hartford morning service canceled.
*First Presbyterian Church of Osage City services canceled.
*Hartford Christian Church services canceled
*Harveyville United Methodist Church services canceled
*Lebo Baptist Church services and Sunday School canceled.
*New Strawn Christian Church services canceled.
Winter weather advisories now cover the entire KVOE listening area through 6 pm Monday.
Be sure to stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for updates. Also, be sure to join KVOE social media on Facebook@kvoenews and Twitter@kvoeam1400 for updates this weekend — and take the time to download KVOE’s free mobile app for our weather coverage wherever you may be. If you have schedule adjustments or snow totals to report, call KVOE at 342-1400, email kvoe@kvoenews, post to Facebook@kvoenews or use the Bluestem Farm and Ranch text line at 620-342-5863.
