Travel improved noticeably — at least on major streets and roads — on Saturday after widespread moderate snow Friday night and early Saturday. Now the question is whether those improvements will remain overnight.
Road crews made headway after 4-7 inches of snow areawide despite afternoon temperatures staying just below freezing. In Emporia, major arterials and collector residential streets are largely clear or have seasonal driving conditions with some slick areas. Residential streets are slushy and snowy as day shifted to night.
Major highways areawide are clear or have seasonal driving conditions, according to www.kandrive.org.
Refreezing is possible areawide Saturday night as temperatures dip to the mid- and upper 20s, and the National Weather Service says black ice is possible. City street crews plan to salt arterials and collectors if slick spots develop.
Current snow totals:
*KVOE studios: 5.25 inches
*Ninth and Lawrence: 5 inches
*12th and Burns: 4 inches
*Allen: 5-6 inches
*Bushong: 6.5 inches
*Camp Alexander: 4.25-5 inches
*Cottonwood Falls: 4 inches
*Lebo: 5-6 inches
*Reading: 5.25 inches
*Waverly: 4 inches
*Between Admire and Reading: 6.5-7 inches
Winter weather alerts in place for the area since Friday evening have all been lifted.
Stay with KVOE and KVOE.com for updates.
Noon Saturday: Travel improving but refreeze risk possible; residents cautioned about falls and overexertion
Travel and health concerns are continuing across the KVOE listening area after a heavy, wet snowfall Friday night and Saturday morning.
Lyon County Deputy Danny Broyles tells KVOE News road conditions are improving after a sloppy start to the day. County and KDOT crews have traffic up to near-normal speeds, although there are still slick spots. He says daytime travel should continue to improve, but he cautions there is a risk of refreezing as temperatures dip to the mid- and upper 20s overnight.
One major health concern this weekend will be falls. Emporia Fire Battalion Chief Eron Steinlage says people need to check their footing as they get into or out of vehicles and go up or down stairs.
Another major concern will be an increased risk of overexertion — namely, heart attacks as people shovel the heavy, wet snow. If you’re shoveling, you’re advised to use a smaller shovel because smaller loads will be easier on your body than heavier ones. Also, start slowly, take frequent breaks, drink lots of water to avoid dehydration and dress in layers to avoid both hypothermia or overheating.
There were at least two power outages in Emporia overnight, affecting close to 60 Westar customers total. In addition, lines were reported downed in the 500 block of West 12th and originally reported at the intersection of Lincoln and Coronado. Another 50-plus Westar customers have been offline due to the outage that has now been listed near Loma Vista and Coronado. A third downed line was reported in the 1600 block of Merchant.
Current snow totals:
*KVOE studios: 5.25 inches
*Ninth and Lawrence: 5 inches
*Allen: 5 inches
*Bushong: 6.5 inches
*Cottonwood Falls: 4 inches
*Reading: 5.25 inches
KVOE also received 0.55 inches of rainfall Friday before snow started developing.
Two winter weather alerts have been canceled. Both the winter storm warning for Chase County and the winter weather advisory for Greenwood County were canceled shortly before they were to expire at noon. Winter weather advisories continue for Lyon and all other surrounding counties until 6 pm.
Stay updated on KVOE and KVOE.com. Link to KVOE’s Twitter and Facebook pages for instant weather, travel and schedule adjustment information if you have not already done so.
9:20 am Saturday: Winter weather advisory back in effect for Lyon County
As snowfall lessens in intensity, the National Weather Service has adjusted the status of certain weather alerts for the KVOE listening area.
*Winter weather advisory is back in effect for Lyon, Morris, Osage and Wabaunsee counties through 6 pm. This replaces the winter storm warning in effect Friday night and early Saturday morning.
Other alerts remain unchanged.
*Winter storm warning for Chase County goes to noon.
*Winter weather advisory for Coffey County goes to 6 pm.
*Winter weather advisory for Greenwood County ends at noon.
Approximately 4 inches of snow has fallen in Emporia and other places like Reading. If you have snow totals or snow photos, call KVOE at 342-1400, email kvoe@kvoe.com or message the Bluestem Farm and Ranch Text Line at 620-342-5863.
5:45 am Saturday: Fatality, numerous non-injury crashes a result of current winter storm
A heavy, wet snowfall caused numerous crashes in Lyon and surrounding counties Friday night, including a fatality on the Kansas Turnpike.
The Kansas Highway Patrol says 62-year-old Bradley Horton of Topeka was northbound on the Kansas Turnpike but lost control at mile marker 155, or near the Osage-Wabaunsee county line, just after 9 pm. His pickup hit the center barrier wall. Horton was not wearing his seat belt.
Road conditions are slushy to partially snowpacked on Emporia’s arterials and collector streets. Snow and ice predominate in residential sections. Partly to completely covered also describes area highways, and Lyon County Deputy Doug Stump says the wet snowfall can be deceptive for drivers.
Around 4 inches of snow has been commonplace in town. Road and street crews were called out by 7 pm Friday to begin clearing, and city crews are heading back out again Saturday morning after salting arterials and collector streets Friday night.
The forecast Saturday calls for light snow and, as mentioned, occasional freezing drizzle. Here’s TV-13 weathercaster Peyton Sanders:
With light snow mixing with freezing drizzle at times Saturday and temperatures holding nearly steady in the low 30s all day, we could have slick travel to contend with into Saturday evening.
Several schedule adjustments have been announced:
*Emporia City Commission’s Legislative Breakfast with area lawmakers Saturday has been canceled.
*Emporia High School basketball doubleheader at Junction City has been postponed to Feb. 2.
*Emporia State University basketball doubleheader at Missouri Western has been pushed from Saturday to Sunday. Tip times are 2 pm for the women’s game and 4 pm for the men’s game. Coverage on Mix 104.9 FM, KVOE.com and the Mix 104.9 FM app begins at 1:40 pm Sunday.
*Family Martial Arts Center has canceled its Saturday morning classes.
*Council Grove//Morris County Indoor Winter Farmers Market is canceled Saturday.
To report a schedule adjustment:
*Call KVOE at 342-1400
*Email kvoe@kvoe.com
*Post directly to KVOE’s Facebook or Twitter pages
There have also been at least two power outages in Emporia overnight, one just southeast of Newman Regional Health affecting around 50 customers and one near Seventh and Exchange affecting less than 10 customers. Causes are pending for both outages.
Winter weather alerts remain in place areawide:
*Winter storm warning for Lyon, Morris, Osage and Wabaunsee counties runs through 6 pm.
*Winter storm warning for Chase County goes to noon.
*Winter weather advisory for Coffey County goes to 6 pm.
*Winter weather advisory for Greenwood County ends at noon.
Track road conditions by calling 511 or going online to www.kandrive.org. If you have snow reports or schedule adjustments, call KVOE at 342-1400, email kvoe@kvoe.com or post directly to KVOE’s Twitter and Facebook. If you have snow photos, email kvoe@kvoe.com, message the Bluestem Farm and Ranch Text Line at 620-342-5863 or post to KVOE’s Twitter and Facebook pages.
Click here for Friday’s KVOE News storm coverage.
Photos by Chuck Samples/KVOE News
{gallery}Snowfall Jan 11 2019 Jan 12 2019{/gallery}
Photos by Alicia Entrikin
{gallery}Snowfall Jan 12 2019 Alicia Entrikin{/gallery}
Photos by Todd Hensley
{gallery}Showfall Jan 12 2019 Todd Hensley{/gallery}
Photos by Bruce Urschel
{gallery}Snowfall Jan 12 2019 Bruce Urschel{/gallery}
