Weather service, police warn of dangerous roads with freezing rain in Kansas City metro

As freezing rain was turning to ice late Friday and creating hazardous road conditions around the Kansas City metro, local officials were asking drivers to stay off the roads if possible as a matter of public safety.

On Friday morning, the National Weather Service in Kansas City warned of freezing drizzle across the metro during the evening that could create a light glaze of ice on sidewalks, roads and bridges during rush hour. A winter weather advisory was put in place until 11 p.m.

On Friday evening, the weather service said in a Tweet: “We are probably beyond the point of taking it easy on the roads. If you are not on the roads now, please try to remain off of them for the rest of the evening.”

Drivers were advised to slow down and use caution while traveling. People were also told to prepare for possible power outages.

Meanwhile, reports of collisions began Friday evening, including a number of incidents logged on KC Scout, which monitors highway traffic in the metro. Highway closures were reported on several interstates, including I-470, I-670 and I-70.

Kansas City police said officers were responding to multiple crashes in the city.

Area law enforcement agencies, including the Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop A and Shawnee police, asked drivers to simply avoid travel Friday night if possible.

“It’s a great night to stay inside maybe watch some Netflix or dare we say read a book! But If you have to be out … slow down & drive with care!” MSHP said in a Tweet.

Agencies in Lenexa and Overland Park were advising those involved in minor collisions Friday night to walk into the police station to file a report until weather conditions improved.

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