Free rides tonight on area buses

In an effort to provide safe rides home for area residents on New Year’s Eve, Ride KC buses will provide free rides from 4 p.m. Monday until the service ends after midnight tonight.

Fares on all RideKC bus routes in Wyandotte County, as well as Johnson County, Kansas City, Missouri, and Independence, Missouri, will be free. KCATA and Johnson County paratransit also will be free to ride after 4 p.m.

Riders may plan their trip at www.ridekc.org, using a trip planner on the home page. Customers also may call the Regional Call Center at 816-221-0660, weekdays from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Rain to taper off, but slight chance of freezing drizzle and snow tonight

National Weather Service graphic
The New Year’s Eve wind chill in Wyandotte County could drop to 4. (National Weather Service graphic)

Rain is expected to taper off tonight, according to the National Weather Service forecast. But there is a slight chance of freezing rain and snow for New Year’s Eve tonight.

Today, rain will continue through the morning hours, before shifting northeast out of the region during the afternoon and evening, the weather service said.

Falling temperatures this evening, New Year’s Eve, may result in a little freezing drizzle or flurries, with little to no accumulation, according to the weather service.

Any wet surface, particularly elevated surfaces, will likely freeze overnight as temperatures fall, the weather service said.

The temperature was 39 degrees this morning in Wyandotte County. For those planning to travel on New Year’s Eve, at 5 p.m., the temperature is predicted to be 37 degrees. At 8 p.m. tonight the temperature is predicted to be below freezing at 29 degrees, according to the weather service. At 11 p.m., the temperature will drop to 22 degrees, with a wind chill of 8. The temperature is predicted to be 15 degrees at 5 a.m. Jan. 1.

A surge of cold air will make the first day of the New Year a cold one, according to the weather service.

Highs are expected to be in the teens to low 20s Tuesday, with wind chills in the single digits and below zero in some areas of the region. In Wyandotte County, the high will be near 20 on Tuesday.

Today, an 80 percent chance of rain is in the forecast before 3 p.m., then a chance of sprinkles between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., the weather service said. The high will be near 41, with a light and variable wind becoming northwest 6 to 11 mph in the afternoon. Between a tenth and quarter of an inch is possible.

Tonight, there is a slight chance of drizzle or freezing drizzle before midnight, then a chance of flurries between midnight and 3 a.m., according to the weather service. The low will be around 15. A north northwest wind of 13 to 16 mph may gust as high as 24 mph.

On Tuesday, New Year’s Day, it will be mostly cloudy with a high near 20, the weather service said. A north northwest wind of 8 to 14 mph will gust as high as 20 mph.

Tuesday night, it will be partly cloudy with a low of 13 and a north wind of 3 to 7 mph, according to the weather service.

Wednesday, it will be sunny, with a high near 30 and a light and variable wind becoming west around 5 mph, the weather service said.

Wednesday night, it will be mostly clear with a low of 20, according to the weather service.

Thursday, it will be mostly sunny with a high near 38, the weather service said.

Thursday night, it will be mostly clear with a low of 24, according to the weather service.

Friday, it will be sunny, with a high near 48, the weather service said.

Friday night, it will be mostly clear with a low of 29, according to the weather service.

Saturday, it will be sunny, with a high near 51, the weather service said.

Saturday night, it will be mostly clear with a low of 32, according to the weather service.

Sunday, it will be partly sunny, with a high near 49, the weather service said.