Travel is officially not recommended across the eastern half of Kansas at any point in time Sunday as a major winter storm approaches.
The Kansas Adjutant General’s Office has issued a travel advisory recommending that travelers delay or alter their plans if at all possible. A combination of 2-6 inches of snow, 30 mph northerly winds and air temperatures in the mid-teens will lead to near-zero visibility, repeated blowing and drifting of roads and generally dangerous driving conditions.
Winter storm warnings now involve Chase and Morris counties from 8 pm Saturday until noon Sunday. The National Weather Service expects 5-6 inches of snow with higher amounts possible.
Lyon County and other surrounding counties are in a winter storm watch from 6 pm Saturday to noon Sunday. The current forecast calls for 3-6 inches of snow with pockets of higher amounts.
The Kansas Division of Emergency Management currently plans to partially activate its State Emergency Operations Center from 7 pm Saturday to 7 pm Sunday. The Kansas National Guard is standing by with 14 Stranded Motorist Assistance Response Teams, each including two military Humvees and four National Guard soldiers, to help drivers who get stuck. Emergency kits are highly recommended, with items including blankets, flashlights, batteries, a cell phone charger, hand-warmers, high-energy food snacks, bottled water, necessary medications, a snow shovel, flares and other emergency supplies. KDEM says you should make sure your cell phone is charged and someone is aware of your itinerary, including expected time of arrival.
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 adjustment information this weekend. Get instant alerts by joining KVOE on social media — Twitter@kvoeam1400 or Facebook@kvoenews. If you have schedule adjustments, call KVOE at 342-1400 or email kvoe@kvoe.com.
3:45 Friday: Chase County placed in winter storm warning, Lyon and surrounding counties remain in winter storm watch
Winter weather is on the horizon for the back half of this weekend.
A winter storm watch remains in effect for Lyon and surrounding counties, as well as a majority of eastern Kansas, which go into effect at 6 pm Saturday evening until noon Sunday. Chase County has now been placed in a winter storm warning from 8 pm Saturday to noon Sunday.
TV-13 meteorologist Jeremy Goodwin explains what residents can expect to see developing in the evening hours Saturday.
The combination of high winds and snow accumulations means hazardous travel conditions are likely and will be accompanied by overnight lows Sunday possibly below zero with wind chills near -10 or lower.
This is a day of preparation for road crews, according to Lyon County Assistant Road Supervisor Seth Snyder.
Both Lyon County and the city of Emporia have enough traction and melting materials to handle the incoming winter storm, although Snyder says he’s concerned about the possibly lengthy period of near-zero visibility and subzero wind chills.
Due to the risk of inclement weather, the following schedule adjustments have been announced for this week:
Churches
* Americus United Methodist Church all services and activities canceled Sunday
To report a closing, cancellation, postponement or delay:
*Call KVOE at 342-1400
*Email kvoe@kvoe.com
*Post schedule adjustment information to Twitter@kvoeam1400 or Facebook@kvoenews.
We’ll keep you posted on KVOE and KVOE.com. Make sure to sign up for instant weather, travel and schedule adjustment alerts through Twitter@kvoeam1400 or Facebook@kvoenews if you have not already done so. If yo uhave schedule adjustments to report, call KVOE at 342-1400 or email kvoe@kvoe.com.
11:30 am Friday: Winter storm watches posted areawide for Saturday night, Sunday morning
Winter storm watches have been posted for the entire KVOE listening area ahead of yet another bout of wintry weather.
Watches run from Saturday evening through Sunday morning. TV-13 meteorologist Doug Meyers is expecting 2-5 inches of snow across the KVOE listening area, mainly in a 12-hour window starting by late Saturday night. He’s also expecting bad driving conditions both during and well after the snowfall.
On top of that, Sunday’s lows are expected to be below zero, with wind chills -10 or lower areawide.
We’ll keep you posted on KVOE and KVOE.com. Make sure to sign up for instant weather, travel and schedule adjustment alerts through Twitter@kvoeam1400 or Facebook@kvoenews if you have not already done so. If you have schedule adjustments to report, call KVOE at 342-1400 or email kvoe@kvoe.com.
