Snow, freezing rain will affect travel in Kansas later this week, forecasters predict

Snow, sleet, freezing rain and ice are expected to impact travel in Wichita and across much of central Kansas later this week.

The National Weather Service office in Wichita predicted in a hazardous weather outlook issued Tuesday morning that the winter storm will move into the area Thursday evening. The precipitation is expected to start with light snow that later changes to a wintry mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain by midnight. The wintry mix will continue until early Friday morning before changing to rain.

“Areas at greatest risk are all of central and south central Kansas where both snow and ice accumulations are most likely,” NWS Wichita meteorologists advised. “Stay tuned for updates.”

A weather service map showed trace to 1 inch of snow and sleet accumulations is expected in the Wichita area. Central Kansas north of Wichita is expected to get 1-2 inches of accumulation. The weather service advised that both the Thursday evening and Friday morning commutes will likely be impacted.

In Wichita specifically, the NWS forecast as of Tuesday afternoon listed a 20% chance for precipitation during the day Thursday with the chance for snow starting before 2 p.m. The daytime high will be near 35 degrees. There is a 90% chance of wintry mix precipitation Thursday night. The overnight low will be around 30 degrees.

Friday has a 70% chance for precipitation, with primarily freezing rain before 8 a.m., then rain after. The high will be near 50 degrees.

This story was originally published January 14, 2020 at 2:14 PM with the headline "Snow, freezing rain will affect travel in Kansas later this week, forecasters predict."