Area residents woke to bitter cold Monday, capping off a weekend of ice and snow. Wind chill values in central Kansas ranged from -5 to -23 degrees Fahrenheit and daytime highs were only expected to reach the teens.
This trend was expected to continue Wednesday. For Thursday and Friday, highs are expected from 30-38 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
Those who have to venture outdoors are urged to dress accordingly, adding layers and covering extremities.
Sunday afternoon, Emergency Management warned people to stay off county and state roads, where hazards included the wind and drifts, as well as the ice underneath.
The streets were plowed but Barton County Emergency Management reported seeing vehicles slide off the roads Monday morning. “Today’s not the day to scope out the snow around the county,” officials posted on social media. “Give road crews space to work.”
Roads reopen
Before noon on Monday, the Kansas Department of Transportation reported crews were making progress in reopening state roads across the state. Major state highways in northeast Kansas were open, including all interstate highways in the Kansas City metro area.
I-70 remained closed in both directions from Hays to the K-177 exit south of Manhattan. State highways in north central Kansas remain closed in Jewell, Republic, Washington, Mitchell, Cloud, Clary, Lincoln, Ottawa, Ellsworth, Saline, Dickinson, Geary, Morris, McPherson, Marion and Chase counties. South central Kansas state highways in Reno, Harvey and Butler counties also remain closed.
“This storm was an extraordinary weather event, delivering record-breaking snowfalls in many areas,” Transportation Secretary Calvin Reed said. “Our crews were prepared and responded as quickly as possible, but the storm’s scale created significant challenges. We appreciate the traveling public’s patience and cooperation throughout this event as it allowed crews to make substantial progress overnight. KDOT remains focused on reopening roads, but we encourage travelers to use caution as snow-packed conditions may persist in some areas.”
In addition to clearing roads overnight, KDOT crews worked in cooperation with the Kansas Highway Patrol and local emergency management officials to guide stranded motorists on I-70 in Dickinson County to shelter.
As weather conditions improve across the state, KDOT reminds drivers to maintain a safe distance from crews and equipment working to clear the roads.
Check KDOT’s updated traveler information website, kandrive.gov, for updates on highway conditions across Kansas.
