Category: Weather

Bitterly cold temperatures in today’s forecast

With a wind chill of 2 degrees at 8 a.m. Monday, the forecast doesn’t hold much hope for the wind chill rising into the double digits today, according to the National Weather Service

The highest wind chill reading may be 9 degrees today, the weather service said.

With mostly sunny skies and a temperature of 11 degrees at 8 a.m., the high may reach 25, according to the weather service, while the south southeast wind of 6 to 11 mph will be a factor in how cold it feels today.

Tonight, the low will be around 17, and a south wind of 10 to 14 mph will become northwest after midnight, gusting to as high as 20 mph, according to the weather service.

Tuesday, expect mostly sunny skies and a high near 23. A north northwest wind of 5 to 15 mph may gust as high as 21 mph, the weather service said.

Tuesday night, there is a chance of scattered flurries, with a low around 5, according to the weather service. The wind chill will be between minus 1 and minus 6. The north wind of 6 to 11 mph will increase to 13 to 18 mph after midnight. Winds may gust as high as 26 mph.

Wednesday, it will be mostly sunny and cold, with a high near 7, the weather service said. The north northwest wind will be 10 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Wednesday night, expect mostly clear skies and a low of zero.

Thursday, it will warm up a little, the forecast is sunny and a high near 28, according to the weather service. Thursday night’s low will be near 12.

Friday, the high will be 23, and Friday night, the low will be 14, the weather service said.

Saturday, skies will be mostly cloudy with a high near 29, according to the forecast.

Area sees light snow; sub-zero wind chills

A few motorists were out this morning on I-70 at I-435 in Kansas City, Kan. They faced a light dusting of snow, plus sub-zero wind chills. (KC Scout photo)
A few motorists were out this morning on I-70 at I-435 in Kansas City, Kan. They faced a light dusting of snow, plus sub-zero wind chills. (KC Scout photo)

Wyandotte County received a light dusting of snow overnight, perhaps about a half-inch to an inch in some places, but it is the temperature that poses the main danger to residents.

The temperature was 12 degrees at 10 a.m., with a wind chill of minus 5, according to the National Weather Service. While most highways appear to be clear, there is still the possibility of slick spots.

A hazardous weather outlook was issued for the very cold temperatures and wind chills.

Today’s high will be near 16, with winds of 9 to 15 mph gusting to 22 mph.

Tonight, the low will be about 4 degrees, with a wind chill of minus 4 and 1. Winds will be 5 to 9 mph becoming light north after midnight.

Monday’s forecast is mostly sunny, with a high near 24. Wind chill values will be minus 3 to 7.

Look for temperatures to drop further into the deep freeze on Wednesday, when the high will be about 9, and the wind chill may drop to below minus 10, according to the weather service.

Area under winter advisory; I-70 closed at Goodland, Kan.

Snow accumulation forecast for overnight. (National Weather Service graphic)
Snow accumulation forecast for overnight. (National Weather Service graphic)

UPDATE: At 7 p.m., I-70 closed at Hays, Kan.

Original story: Winter weather is inching its way toward the Kansas City area.

Currently, western Kansas is experiencing a winter storm.

I-70 was closed from Goodland west to the Colorado state line about 4:30 p.m. Saturday, according to the Kansas Department of Transportation. I-70 is also closed in eastern Colorado.

While temperatures were 42 degrees at 4 p.m. in Kansas City, Kan., temperatures are expected to drop as precipitation arrives later this afternoon and evening. There is a 60 percent chance of precipitation.

Starting with rain, precipitation will probably change to a rain and snow mix, according to the National Weather Service.

There will be a transition to snow that is expected to spread across the region. One to two inches of snow is expected tonight. Isolated areas may receive 3 inches of snow.

The snow will taper from southwest to northeast after midnight, according to the weather service.

Areas of blowing snow are expected tonight with brisk northwest winds after 10 p.m.

A winter weather advisory is in effect until 3 a.m. Sunday, the weather service said.

The expected snowfall may create some travel problems. Areas where the pavement is wet may be prone to the formation of black ice due to a flash freeze with the rapid onset of frigid temperatures, the weather service stated.
If this occurs very dangerous driving conditions would result, the weather service said.

Gusty northwest winds tonight and Sunday morning will send temperatures into the single digits to lower teens, resulting in wind chill readings from 10 to 15 below zero.

The weather service advised caution while walking or driving.

For up-to-date weather information, visit www.weather.gov.

Forecast for wind chill values Sunday morning. (National Weather Service graphic)
Forecast for wind chill values Sunday morning. (National Weather Service graphic)