Numbing cold has been expected for over a week, and it’s here for a while.
A combination of wind chill watches and warnings are up for the KVOE listening area from 6 pm Friday through noon Tuesday. After highs maybe in the mid-teens Friday, highs will struggle to the single digits for the weekend and Monday, with wind chills below zero through at least Monday. Overnight lows will be below zero for the weekend through at least Monday. Overnight wind chills could range from -5 to -30.
The winter weather advisory in place for Lyon, Morris, Osage and Wabaunsee counties since Thursday evening has been extended to end at 3 pm as light snow blows and drifts across the area.
National Weather Service meteorologist Chad Omitt is urging people to follow the forecast and stay safe.
There may be some immediate comparisons to Winter Storm Uri, which caused rolling blackouts in February 2021 and had the Southwest Power Pool urging residents to take all measures necessary to conserve power. There are no indications those steps will be needed this time, but Evergy Director of Corporate Communications Gina Penzig says the utility is in regular communication with the Power Pool on unusual steps like that and on more routine operations like scheduled maintenance. Customers, meanwhile, can reduce their energy loss and protect against any need for larger-scale measures with a few simple steps.
Streets in Emporia are OK, but county roads and highways are not. County and KDOT road crews have had to repeatedly plow through snow drifts as roads drift shut within 15-30 minutes. This is a process that could well last into next week, given the wind speeds.
Elsewhere in the KVOE listening area, Morris County has declared a snow emergency due to the combination of “extreme” below-freezing temperatures, high winds and drifting snow. Residents are urged to stay home if at all possible. The policy also lets the county bill residents who need their vehicles either removed from roads or towed due to the conditions.
Local plumbers are seeing an uptick in workload over the past few days. That’s according to First Choice Plumbing co-owner David Daines.
Daines says in these brutal temperatures it is important for homeowners to remember to seal up their crawl spaces, be aware of the cold spots in their home, open up cabinet doors to allow heat to circulate and to let their faucets run for short periods now and then to help prevent their pipes from freezing.
Another busy area, or rather areas, have been Waters Hardware and Bluestem Farm and Ranch Supply which have reported high levels of foot traffic in the past several days. A variety of items have been flying off the shelves at both retailers with Tina Hulett of Waters reporting propane, ice melt and snow shovels as the items seeing the highest demand in their store.
Lonnie Standiferd of Bluestem says they are seeing similar trends with a high demand also being noted on heating items for livestock and pets.
Both Hulett and Standiferd say items such as heated vests and jackets are also in high demand but good supply along with feet and hand warmers.
Stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for more weather updates as they develop. 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. To find us on social media, look for Facebook@kvoenews, Instagram@kvoenews, YouTube@kvoenews or X@kvoeam1400.
3 am-noon Friday: Road crews struggling to keep highways open; Morris County announces snow emergency
A winter blast of cold air is settling and won’t leave until Tuesday.
Wind chill watches, warnings and advisories now cover the area from Friday night to noon Tuesday. With daytime wind chills below zero and overnight wind chills possible going to -10 to -30 at times, the city of Emporia and Lyon County have announced they are reinstating the Emporia Police lobby, 518 Mechanic, and the Sheriff’s Office lobby, 425 Mechanic, as warming shelters for people in need. Pets are welcomed at both locations if owners can keep them controlled.
Other warming shelters have been announced:
*Raise Your Paws, 312 Commercial, hours are 8 am-noon and 1-5 pm Monday-Friday. Friendly and leashed dogs are welcome.
*First Congregational Church, 326 West 12th has hours of 9 am-noon Friday and 10 am to 4 pm Tuesday and Wednesday. Pets are welcomed if owners can keep them controlled.
*Twelfth Avenue Baptist Church, 2023 West 12th, has hours of 10:30 am to 5 pm Tuesday and 9 am to 5 pm Wednesday. Pets are not allowed.
The city is asking other locations serving as warming shelters to email City Communications Manager Christine Torrens at ctorrens@emporiaks.gov so the public can be advised of all shelter locations.
Travel conditions are OK in Emporia, but they have deteriorated outside the city limits. Lyon County and KDOT road crews have been working nonstop to treat areas affected by a light wintry mix of precipitation and to repeatedly clear highways and gravel roads that have been drifting shut with winds between 20-40 mph all day Friday.
Elsewhere in the KVOE listening area, Morris County has declared a snow emergency due to the combination of “extreme” below-freezing temperatures, high winds and drifting snow. Residents are urged to stay home if at all possible. The policy also lets the county bill residents who need their vehicles either removed from roads or towed due to the conditions.
The current list of official weather alerts through the National Weather Service:
*WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY: Lyon, Morris, Osage and Wabaunsee counties until 3 pm Friday
*WIND CHILL WARNING: Lyon, Coffey, Morris, Osage and Wabaunsee counties from 6 pm Friday to 1 am Tuesday
*WIND CHILL WARNING: Chase from 6 pm Saturday to noon Tuesday
*WIND CHILL ADVISORY: Chase and Greenwood counties from 6 pm Friday to 6 pm Saturday
*WIND CHILL WATCH: Greenwood County from 6 pm Saturday to noon Tuesday
