A winter storm is underway and will continue throughout the Kansas City region Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.
In Kansas City, the morning commute should be impacted by icy roads before the snow sets in around noon. The Kansas City area is expected to receive a light frosting of ice and less than an inch of snow.
The Weather Service warned that most KC Metro roads were wet and motorists should be careful of ice on elevated surfaces.
The Kansas City office of the Missouri Department of Transportation said drivers can find up-to-date information on road conditions here.
Snow is expected in northern Missouri and northeastern Kansas where totals can reach 3-5 inches.
Further south, a winter mix is expected before some light snow in the afternoon.
The snow should clear west to east by this evening.
The winter weather isn’t over yet, says the weather service
Updated at 15:31 An area of light snow was crossing eastern Kansas and western Missouri that was expected to last through early evening, according to the National Weather Service.
The amount of snow was expected to range from a light dusting on the Interstate 70 corridor to between 1 and 2 inches in far north Missouri closer to the Iowa border.
The Weather Service says slippery roads remain possible throughout the afternoon and into the night as temperatures are expected to drop below 20 degrees.
Possible snow in KC this afternoon
Updated at 11:39 Precipitation was ending in the Kansas City metro area late Thursday morning, the National Weather Service said at about 10:40 a.m.
There was still some freezing drizzle east of Kansas City and snow in far northwest Missouri along the Missouri-Iowa state line.
Roads will continue to be slippery, the weather service said, with temperatures in the low 20s Thursday, dipping into the teens at night.
The Weather Service was also eyeing a secondary area of increasing snow in northeast Kansas that may move through the Kansas City area in the afternoon.
That could bring a light dusting of snow to the area, the weather service said.
Fatal accident on the Missouri highway
Updated 8:17am One person was killed in an accident involving a tractor trailer on a Missouri highway as winter weather throughout the area made for slippery roads.
At 6:47, the said the Missouri Highway Patrol assisted the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office with multiple incidents in the area of US Highway 50 and Missouri Route 7 at Lee’s Summit.
Soldiers said one person was dead at the scene following an accident involving a tractor trailer.
KCI reopens the airport
Updated at 7:55am Kansas City International Airport posted a message on Twitter at about 7:41 am saying the airport has reopened after briefly closing early in the morning due to winter weather conditions.
The airport had been closed around 7 in the morning due to ice on the runways. After reopening, the airport said crews were continuing to treat the airport for ice.
According to the airport’s website, three flights were canceled and two were delayed on Thursday morning.
Accidents block highways
Updated at 7:39 Multiple car accidents blocked highways on both sides of the state line as wintry weather set in on Thursday’s morning commute.
Southbound Interstate 635 is closed on all lanes in Kansas after Interstate 70 due to a multi-vehicle accident that left a semi-truck hanging from the overpass. According to KC Scout, the incident started at 6:25am
On the Missouri side, another portion of southbound I-635 at Horizons Parkway was closed to all lanes as of 6 a.m. due to a multi-vehicle accident.
Officials warned drivers to be cautious due to slippery roads caused by freezing rain and snowfall expected later in the day.
KCI Airport is temporarily closed
Updated at 7:35am Kansas City International Airport said its airport was closed Thursday morning due to ice on the runways.
In a message posted on Twitter at around 7am, the airport said crews tried all night to keep the airport open, but failed.
The airport is expected to reopen the airfield in 45 minutes to an hour.
Travelers have been advised to check airline websites for the latest flight information.
School closures
Several school districts around Kansas City announced their closures Thursday ahead of snow and other winter weather expected to hit the area and cause dangerous road conditions.
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Fort Leavenworth USD 207 – Closed
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Leavenworth USD 453 – Closed
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Raytown School District C-2 – Closed Thursdays and Fridays for parent-teacher meetings
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Smithville School District – Closed
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Tonganoxie USD 464 – Closed
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West Platte School District – Closed
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University of Kansas – Late opening at 10:00 am on the Lawrence, Edwards and Leavenworth campuses
