The path of a major winter storm that’s hitting the southern and eastern United States is moving further north, which means Kansas City could get even more snow than originally expected, according to the National Weather Service.
“Snow totals have increased significantly over the past couple of days,” Brent Pesel, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Kansas City, said in a video storm briefing.
Kansas City, along with other places along Interstate 70, now could see 8 to 9 inches of snow, Pesel said. Farther south, 11 to 12 inches of snow become more likely.
Meanwhile, north of Kansas City, anticipated snowfall totals sharply drop off — with 6 to 8 inches between I-70 and U.S. 36 across northern Missouri and less than 4 inches farther north.
Kansas City, along with other places along Interstate 70, could now see 8 to 9 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service. Farther south, 11 to 12 inches of snow becomes more likely. National Weather Service in Kansas City
The snow is expected to be light and fluffy, Pesel said. With winds around 20 to 25 mph, gusting to 30 mph, there is a risk of blowing snow, which could reduce visibility and affect travel throughout the day Saturday.
The snow is expected to start falling late Friday night into early Saturday morning. Areas south and east of the metro could see snow begin falling between 9 p.m. and midnight Friday.
In the metro, the snow is expected to arrive between midnight and 3 a.m. Saturday, while areas to the north and east of Kansas City could see the snow start falling between 3 and 6 a.m.
There is a dry air mass that is expected to move into the area ahead of the storm’s arrival, Pesel said. This could delay the start of the snowfall by 2 to 3 hours.
If the start of the snow is delayed, that could lower the snowfall totals. On the other hand, an earlier onset could result in snow totals on the higher end of the forecast range. This is the primary uncertainty heading into the storm, Pesel said.
“Still, we’re expecting the heaviest snowfall rates from the storm to be Saturday morning toward midday,” Pesel said. “We could see a few bursts of heavier snowfall through the afternoon.”
Forecasters are seeing the storm has generally slowed, which could mean it lingers longer before exiting the region overnight Saturday. The storm is expected to exit the area Sunday morning, Pesel said.
Dangerously cold weather is expected this weekend. For more than 48 hours, the wind chill in the Kansas City metro will be below zero.
“These dangerously cold conditions are expected to last through Saturday, Sunday and even into Monday morning,” Pesel said
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Robert A. Cronkleton
The Kansas City Star
Robert A. Cronkleton is a breaking news reporter for The Kansas City Star, covering crime, courts, transportation, weather and climate. He’s been at The Star for 36 years. His skills include multimedia and data reporting and video and audio editing.
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