By Lucky Kidd
Blizzard warnings have been issued for much of central Kansas into east central and northeast kansas for Sunday. Winter storm warnings continue for areas around Iola and Yates Center and the area from Pratt to St. John to Larned to Hays. Winter weather advisories cover the Oklahoma bordering counties and north to Howard, Fredonia, Chanute and Girard.
Periods of Freezing drizzle will continue across central Kansas through the evening hours, transitioning into freezing rain later this evening. The National Weather Service says ice accumulations are forecast to be between a quarter and half inch south of a line from St. John to Sterling to McPherson to Emporia to just south of Ottawa, and southeast Kansas north of a line from Eureka to Colony and then east to the state line. Accumulations of up to a quarter inch are possible out 20-40 miles from that line.
Early Sunday morning freezing rain and sleet will transition to snow, with north winds gusting to 50 miles an hour causing blizzard conditions. Current snow accumulation forecasts range from an inch or two from Chanute south in southeast Kansas, and south of US 160 in south central Kansas to a foot or more around Salina.
Also in southeast Kansas, 2-3 inch accumulations are forecast along the US 54 Corridor from Eureka through Iola to Fort Scott. 3-4 inches is forecast across southern Coffey and most of Anderson Counties into Linn County.
In central Kansas, a band of 6-8 inch accumulation is forecast from Larned and LaCrosse through St. John to Hutchinson and to Marion. 8-12 inches is forecast from Great Bend east across Rice and McPherson counties to Hillsboro and Abilene. 3-4 inches is forecast in the Kingman and Wichita areas with up to six inches around Pratt.
The combination of snow, ice and strong winds will make travel difficult if not impossible, and will lead to power outages and downed tree limbs. There have already been numerous slide-offs and crashes, some of which have prompted closures of I-70 between Junction City and the K-177 exit near Manhattan and near the K-156 junction west of Salina in Ellsworth County.
The wind will also bring wind chills during the day Sunday to between -5 and -10 , and for Monday morning between -10 and -20 in central Kansas, and 0 to -15 in southeast Kansas, lowers to the north of Iola and Yates Center and higher to the north
For full information on postponements and cancellations, refer to the cancellation pages at www.adastraradio.com and www.iolaradio.com.
