Up to 3 inches of wet, slushy snow predicted to fall in Wichita from winter storm

Meteorologists are predicting up to 3 inches of a slushy, wet snow across the area as a winter storm moves through, but the snowfall totals may end up higher if temperatures are colder than expected.

The National Weather Service office in Wichita said in a hazardous weather outlook issued Tuesday morning that 1-2 inches of snow are expected across central, south-central and southeast Kansas. Colder temperatures could make snowfall of 3-4 inches possible from the storm, which will move into the area as early as Tuesday afternoon.

“Snow or a rain and snow mix Wednesday morning will gradually transition to rain and drizzle by Wednesday afternoon,” the weather service said.

The regional snowfall prediction increased from 1-2 inches to 1-3 inches by Tuesday afternoon, when the weather service issued a winter weather advisory. In addition to snow, a light glaze of ice is expected.

“Temperatures will be near freezing over most of the area overnight,” the advisory states. “Much of the snow accumulation will occur on grassy surfaces.”

The snowfall across the region is expected to be wet and slushy, NWS Wichita said on Twitter. The heaviest snowfall is expected between midnight and 6 a.m. The slush will potentially slow travel during the Wednesday morning commute.

In Wichita specifically, the NWS forecast calls for a Tuesday overnight low of around 33 degrees, wind gusts of up to 28 mph and a 100% chance of precipitation with 1-3 inches of snow.

Additional snowfall of less than an inch may fall in the city during the day Wednesday. The 100% chance of precipitation transitions from snow to rain by the end of lunchtime. The daytime high will be around 37 degrees with wind gusts of up to 28 mph.

The forecast was current as of Tuesday afternoon.

The city won’t start treating roads until around the time of the evening commute.

Ben Nelson of Wichita Public Works and Utilities said the city could have a full activation as early as 4 p.m., meaning 160 personnel rotating around the clock using 60 snowplows to treat 1,500 lane miles of arterial streets and 300 lane miles of secondary school routes.

Nelson said the city responds similarly to snow storms and ice storms, except for ice storms mean public works crews also make sure forestry equipment is ready in case tree limbs break. The biggest factor in the city’s response is whether rain falls before the snow or ice, he said.

“When there’s an event like this where rain precedes anything else, we don’t put brine on the roadways because it would just wash off effective immediately and then there’s nothing left on the roadways,” he said.

Wichita Police Department spokesman Officer Charley Davidson advised drivers to slow down during the storm and not to leave a vehicle running unattended.

The weather service also advised that a second round of winter storms may move through parts of the state later this week.

“An additional round of rain and snow may develop Thursday through Friday, especially eastern Kansas,” the NWS hazardous weather outlook states. “The degree of impacts with this system are much more uncertain. Stay tuned.”

How to check Kansas road conditions during winter weather

Drivers can check a map of Kansas highway weather safety conditions at www.kandrive.org/kandrive. Kansas Department of Transportation statewide highway traffic cameras and Wichita cameras are also available online.

Internet users can also follow the paths of Wichita snowplows at www.wichita.gov/PWU/Pages/SnowRemoval.aspx.

The Kansas Division of Emergency Management encourages travelers to prepare a home emergency kit that includes food, water, medications, extra clothing, flashlights and batteries, battery-operated NOAA weather radio and other necessities. When traveling during winter storms, fill the fuel tank, charge your cellphone and bring an emergency kit, the state agency advises.

If you know of a closing, cancellation or postponement because of the snowstorm, please email details to The Wichita Eagle at online@wichitaeagle.com. Weather-related photos and videos can be submitted to The Eagle online at www.kansas.com/customer-service/submit-photo/.

This story was originally published January 21, 2020 at 2:04 PM.