Serving Kansas City (Wyandotte County) Kansas for over 50 years!
The Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department’s Midtown report desk will be closed today because of the extremely cold temperatures, according to a social media post by the department.
Reports can be called in to 913-573-8680, according to the post.
The department urged residents to stay home if possible because of the extreme cold.
A wind chill warning continues through noon Tuesday, as extreme cold continues in Wyandotte County.
The temperature was minus 7 degrees overnight, rising to minus 5 with snow falling at 10 a.m. Monday, Presidents Day, according to the National Weather Service.
The wind chill was minus 24 at 10 a.m. Monday. Today’s high is expected to be near 1, the weather service said.
Dangerous cold conditions will continue through the day into early Tuesday morning, according to the weather service. Through the day, wind chills will range in the negative teens to minus 25. Later tonight, temperatures will drop well into the negative teens to minus 20 range.
Motorists should plan on slippery road conditions, affecting the commute. Cold wind chills could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 20 to 30 minutes, the weather service said.
The weather service advised residents to avoid outside activities if possible. If outside, make sure you wear appropriate clothing, a hat and gloves, according to the weather service.
Motorists should slow down and use caution while traveling, the weather service said. The latest road conditions are at telephone 511, or at the website, https://www.safetravelusa.com/. The kcscout.net website has highway conditions in the Greater Kansas City area.
For a list of warming centers, visit https://wyandotteonline.com/additional-warming-centers-open-in-kck/.
Expect some cancellations today – call before you go.
Less than a half-inch of snow is possible today, the weather service said.
Tonight, there is a 20 percent chance of snow before 8 p.m., then a slight chance of flurries between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., according to the weather service. The low will be around minus 12 with a wind chill between minus 14 and minus 19. A north wind of 5 to 7 mph will become calm in the evening.
Tuesday, it will be mostly sunny and cold, with a high near 12 and wind chill values between minus 2 and minus 12, the weather service said. A calm wind will become east southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Tuesday night, there is a 30 percent chance of snow after midnight, with a low of 6, according to the weather service. The wind chill will be between minus 3 and 2. An east wind will be around 6 mph.
Wednesday, there is a 30 percent chance of snow, mainly after noon, the weather service said. The high will be near 23 with an east wind of 6 mph.
For more weather information, visit www.weather.gov.
Wyandotte County reported an increase of 15 COVID-19 cases on Sunday, Feb. 14, according to the Unified Government’s COVID-19 webpage. There were a cumulative 17,355 cases. There was a cumulative total of 247 deaths, the same as Saturday.
The Mid-America Regional Council’s COVID-19 dashboard reported 153,229 cumulative COVID-19 cases on Sunday. There were 2,029 cumulative deaths, and 99 was the daily average of new hospitalizations.
The state of Kansas reported 286,102 COVID-19 cases statewide on Friday, an increase of 1,208 cases since Wednesday, according to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. There were an additional 61 deaths reported, with a cumulative total of 4,364.
The Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 dashboard on Sunday night reported 27,639,630 cases in the United States, with 485,332 total deaths nationwide.
Free COVID-19 tests will be not available from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 15, at Oak Ridge Baptist Church, 9301 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, Kansas. The tests have been canceled because of the weather. Testing information is at https://wyandotte-county-covid-19-hub-unifiedgov.hub.arcgis.com/pages/what-to-do-if-you-think-you-have-covid-19.
The Unified Government Health Department’s COVID-19 test site at the former Kmart building at 78th and State will be closed Monday, Presidents Day. All UG Health Department buildings and services will be closed on Monday, including COVID-19 testing and vaccinations. Testing will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 16. Appointments are not needed for COVID-19 tests there on Tuesday. To see if there is any change to the schedule, visit https://www.facebook.com/UGHealthDept.
The Health Department is offering saliva COVID-19 tests to the public.
Tests from the Health Department are free for those who live or work in Wyandotte County.
The tests are open to asymptomatic people as well as those who have symptoms or have been exposed to COVID-19. Check with the UG Health Department’s Facebook page to see if there have been any changes in the schedule. Bring something that shows that you live or work in Wyandotte County, such as a utility bill.
Testing at Pierson Community Center will be closed on Monday, Presidents Day. COVID-19 tests also will be available by appointment starting at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16, at the Pierson Community Center, 1800 S. 55th St., Kansas City, Kansas. Hours are subject to change depending on the weather and other factors. These tests are through WellHealth Management. Appointments are required at the Pierson Community Center. For more information and to schedule a test, visit www.GoGetTested.com/Kansas.
Wyandotte County residents who are interested in getting a COVID-19 vaccine may fill out a survey form at the UG Health Department at https://us.openforms.com/Form/2f2bcc68-3b6a-450b-9007-d39819db6572. Residents will be contacted to make an appointment when vaccine becomes available. The Health Department currently is vaccinating high-contact critical workers, as well as residents over 85.
Testing sites are at https://wyandotte-county-covid-19-hub-unifiedgov.hub.arcgis.com/pages/what-to-do-if-you-think-you-have-covid-19.
Saliva testing is now offered at the UG Health Department. For more information, visit https://alpha.wycokck.org/files/assets/public/health/documents/covid/02042021-ugphd-saliva-testing-available.pdf.
The University of Kansas Health System COVID-19 update page is at https://www.kansashealthsystem.com/patient-visitor/covid19-update.
For more information about how Wyandotte County residents over 85 can get a vaccine at the Health Department site, visit https://alpha.wycokck.org/files/assets/public/health/documents/covid/02032021_wycovaccinationsage85.pdf.
Vaccine data for the state of Kansas is at https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data.
Cards and letters of encouragement for caregivers at KU Health System may be sent to Share Joy, care of Patient Relations, 4000 Cambridge St., Mailstop 1021, Kansas City, Kansas, 66160. Emails can be sent to [email protected].
Wyandotte County is under a mandatory mask and social distancing order.
The UG COVID-19 webpage is at https://alpha.wycokck.org/Coronavirus-COVID-19-Information.
The KDHE’s COVID-19 webpage is at https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/.
The KC Region COVID-19 Hub dashboard is at https://marc2.org/covidhub/.
The Wyandotte County page on the Johns Hopkins COVID-19 website is at https://bao.arcgis.com/covid-19/jhu/county/20209.html.
The Johns Hopkins Data in Motion, a presentation on critical COVID-19 data in the past 24 hours, is at https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/covid-19-daily-video.