The National Weather Service is warning that a major winter storm will move across Kansas beginning Wednesday night, Dec. 21, 2022. A winter storm warning will be in effect from 6 p.m. Wednesday to midnight Thursday, while a wind chill warning will be in effect from midnight tonight to noon Friday. All of Kansas, including northeast Kansas, is in the path of the storm, which is expected to produce near blizzard-like conditions.
Total snow accumulations of 1 to 3 inches, with wind gusts as high as 45 mph are expected. NWS warns that dangerously cold wind chills should be expected, with wind chills as low as 40 below zero. The wind chill warning is in effect until 12 p.m. Friday.
All of Osage County will be covered by the storm, including the towns of Burlingame, Carbondale, Lyndon, Melvern, Olivet, Overbrook, Osage City, Quenemo, Scranton and Vassar. The northeast Kansas alert covers Republic, Washington, Marshall, Nemaha, Brown, Cloud, Clay, Riley, Pottawatomie, Jackson, Jefferson, Ottawa, Dickinson, Geary, Morris, Wabaunsee, Shawnee, Douglas, Lyon, Osage, Franklin, Coffey, and Anderson counties.
NWS advises that all people in the storm’s area should plan on slippery road conditions. Patchy blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility with near blizzard conditions at times. The hazardous conditions will impact the morning or evening commutes. The dangerously cold wind chills could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes.
For those who must travel, NWS advises to keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. Avoid outside activities if possible. When outside, make sure to wear appropriate clothing, a hat, and gloves.
The latest road conditions can be obtained by calling 511. See Osage County’s latest weather updates at Worldwide Steel Building’s Weather Report on Osage County News.
Information and graphic thanks to NWS.
