WINTER STORM WATCH FOR THESE COUNTIES IN OUR AREA: RENO, RICE, PRATT, STAFFORD, MCPHERSON,
MARION, HARVEY, KINGMAN, BARBER, KIOWA AND SEDGWICK.
TIMING…HAZARDOUS WINTER WEATHER FROM ACCUMULATING SNOW AND ICE WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS FOR SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY…AS A STRONG STORM SYSTEM IMPACTS THE REGION.
MAIN IMPACTS…SLICK ROADS AND VERY SLOW TRAVEL WILL BE POSSIBLE LATE SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY. DOWNED TREE BRANCHES AND POWER LINES MAY BE AN ISSUE DUE TO THE ICE AND SNOW ACCUMULATION. A COMBINATION OF FREEZING RAIN…SLEET…AND HEAVY SNOW WILL ALL BE POSSIBLE ESPECIALLY DURING THE SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON PERIOD. THIS IS WHEN THE HEAVIEST WINTER PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED TO OCCUR. SNOW FALL AMOUNTS OF 4 TO 8 INCHES…AND ICE ACCUMULATIONS FROM FREEZING RAIN AROUND A QUARTER OF AN INCH WILL BE POSSIBLE.
OTHER IMPACTS…STRONG NORTH WINDS OF 20 TO 35 MPH WITH WIND GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH WILL COMBINE WITH THE HEAVY SNOW…AND CREATE BLOWING AND DRIFTING OF SNOW. THE BLOWING SNOW COULD REDUCE VISIBILITIES TO AROUND A QUARTER OF A MILE OR LESS AT TIMES. THE STRONG NORTH WINDS WILL ALSO HAVE MORE OF IMPACT FOR LOCATIONS THAT WITNESS ACCUMULATING ICE…WITH DAMAGE TO TREE LIMBS AND POWER LINES BECOMING MORE LIKELY.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT WINTER WEATHER THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL. CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS FOR UPDATED INFORMATION.
STAY WITH HUTCHPOST FOR THE LATES UPDATES THROUGH THE WEEKEND.