Winter weather advisory canceled as snow comes to an end in Kansas City area

The first snow of the winter season has come an end in Kansas City and as expected it didn’t have much of an impact on the metropolitan area.

“Snowfall is quickly shifting to the east of the area as temperatures warm to above freezing this morning,” the National Weather Service said shortly before 8 a.m.

The winter weather advisory was canceled for the Kansas City area, including Leavenworth, Wyandotte and Johnson counties in Kansas and Buchanan, Cass, Clinton, Platte, Clay and Jackson counties in Missouri.

Preliminary snowfall reports indicate that much of the Kansas City area received less than an inch of snow while areas east and south of Kansas City saw between 1 and 4 inches of snow.

Here’s the latest on the winter weather in Kansas City:

Roads remain wet in Kansas City

Update 7 a.m.: Road conditions in the Kansas City area are primarily wet but remain safe as light snow continued to fall, according to the National Weather Service.

Drivers in northern and central Missouri, however, were warned that conditions could be slick.

Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop H, which serves St. Joseph and other parts of northwest Missouri, told drivers to drive slower, increase distance between vehicles and allow more time for their morning commute.

“The temperatures are below freezing and the roadways are wet across northwest Missouri,” the highway patrol said about 6:15 a.m. “Not a good combination.”

Between midnight and 4 a.m., there were no weather-related crashes in the metro area, according to Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop A.

Light snow to continue to fall in KC area

Update 6:40 a.m.: Light snow is expected to continue to fall over Kansas City and parts of northern and east-central Missouri through late morning to early afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.

Additional accumulations of up to an inch of snow is possible for areas east of Interstate 35.

A winter weather advisory remains in effect and is set to expire for areas along and west of I-35 at 9 a.m. For areas east of I-35, the advisory expires at noon.

Untreated roads and bridges are likely to be slippery.

Snow comes to end west of Kansas City

Update 6:30 a.m.: Snow has stopped falling west of Kansas City, prompting the National Weather Service to cancel winter weather advisory for parts of eastern Kansas, including Shawnee and Douglas counties.

“Snow has come to an end across most of the area,” the weather service said about 4:15 a.m. Tuesday. “Only an isolated area or two of very light snow or flurries remain. Therefore, impacts from winter weather are no longer expected and conditions will continue to improve into sunrise.”

Roads, however, remain wet so drivers were urged to use caution as slippery conditions may exist.

A winter weather advisory remains in effect for the Kansas City area and areas along and west of Interstate 35 until 9 a.m. and east of I-35 until noon.

How snow parking works in KC, JoCo and WyCo

Updated 8:55 p.m. Need to park on the street?

Well, make sure to make way for snowplows as crews will be out to clear away whatever snow, slush and ice is left over from the overnight winter storm.

Kansas City and its suburbs have different sets of rules for parking along the curb when there’s snow. In more serious cases, such as when a few inches or more is predicted, residents are asked to avoid street parking whenever possible.

Want more information on snow parking? Check The Star’s guide to parking rules during winter.

Some snow accumulation begins around KC metro: NWS

Updated 8:34 p.m. Snowfall began in the Kansas City metro on Monday evening and some small accumulations were being observed, the National Weather Service said Monday night.

At just the right temperature for freezing, 32 degrees Fahrenheit, the NWS said on Twitter that the area of its Pleasant Hill office had begun to collect a small amount of snow on grass and vehicle surfaces. Overall, the weather service has predicted snow accumulation of up to 2 inches by the Tuesday morning commute, though the roads as of early Monday night were still “just wet.”

Is your car ready for a Kansas City winter?

Updated 6:59 p.m. In Kansas City, winters are usually relatively mild — but snowfall and patches of ice can still make for trying conditions on the road each year.

One thing experts say can improve your safety — and that of others — is to winterize your car, SUV or truck to prepare for the changing conditions on the roadways. Tips include keeping the gas tank at least halfway full, checking fluids and tire pressure, and having a mechanic evaluate the car’s battery and tire treads.

The Federal Emergency Management agency also recommends that drivers keep a winter supply kit handy just in case. It should include jumper cables, a flashlight, batteries, warm clothes, boots, blankets, snacks, an ice scraper and a shovel, FEMA says.

For more on preparing your vehicle for winter, check out The Star’s guide here. It has tips for how to winterize your home, too.

Wondering when KCMO will plow your street?

Updated 5:46 p.m. When snow arrives in Kansas City, things can get hectic. Roads are filled with snow and with so many snow plows available, residents are left wondering when their streets will be cleared.

Kansas City has two different snow plowing programs, called the arterial program for major streets, and the residential program for side streets.

When will your street be plowed? Read on to learn about Kansas City snow removal here.

Snow ‘still on track’

Updated 5:09 p.m. The National Weather Service in Kansas City said Monday afternoon the first accumulating snow of the year was “still on track for tonight.”

“Initial precipitation should be light rain, switching to snow late tonight,” the weather service said in a tweet. “Roads Tuesday morning will be slushy and slick. Use caution.”

‘Make smart decisions’

Update 4:50 p.m. The Missouri Highway Patrol urged drivers to be extra vigilant if they travel during or immediately after winter storm moves through the state.

“This will be the first snow of the season and whether it’s a dusting or several inches, it will affect travel,” Capt. John Hotz said in a news release. “Be sure to increase your following distance as you drive, stopping quickly on wet, snowy, or icy roads can be hazardous or impossible.”

Troopers urged drivers to pay attention to weather conditions and to “make smart decisions” regarding travel — including postponing or canceling trips if conditions dictate.

Those headed out in the inclement weather should completely clean their cars of snow, use their headlines and reduce their speeds.

Motorists are also urged to keep their fuel tank at least half full and have the follow items in their vehicles: ice scraper, battery booster cables, blankets, extra coats, gloves, water, non-perishable food, first aid kit, flashlight, small shovel, and a bag of sand or cat litter.

MoDOT preps for first winter storm amid staffing shortage

Updated 4:37 p.m. As Kansas Citians are expected to awake to around one inch of snow on Tuesday morning, the Missouri Department of Transportation officials say they are prepared for the first true winter storm of the season.

A fully staffed shift was scheduled to be on the roads as of around 7 p.m. and stay attuned to the developments of the storm overnight, Lynelle Luther, district maintenance engineer for the Kansas City region, said during a press briefing Monday afternoon.

Commuters were advised to be cautious on Tuesday morning and give space to the crews working to keep the roads clear. They were also advised to keep up with the MODOT Traveler Information Map for real-time updates on road conditions.

“That will help people make an intelligent decision on whether to go out or not,” Luther said.

The winter storm is coming at a time when MODOT statewide is staffed at around 70% of its workforce compared to where it has been in the past, Luther said. For Kansas City, Luther said some employees were being shifted internally and roughly 20 trainees would be out on the road for ride-alongs with experienced snowplow drivers as part of the effort to address workforce challenges.

Under the plan for the Kansas City metro, interstates and divided highways were first on the list for road treatment followed by other state highways prioritized by traffic volume on Tuesday, Luther said.

Despite shortfalls in its regional workforce, Luther said she was confident the regional office was prepared to address the current storm. She said the office was working through its process of changing over from summertime routines to winter ones, which includes a learning curve on its own, as well as helping the public get educated on driving safely in the snow.

“But I’m totally confident that we will get through this just fine,” Luther said.

The Star’s Robert A. Cronkleton and Bill Lukitsch contributed to this report.