***** Update 1 p.m. 1-5-25 *****
Snowfall forecasts have been updated, and southeast Kansas and northeast Oklahoma is expected to see less than 1 inch of accumulation in most areas. Further north, the Chanute area is expected to receive up to two inches of inces of snow.
***** Update 11 a.m. 1-4-25 *****
Snow onset timing is expected between noon and 3 p.m. on Sunday for Montgomery, Osage and Washington Counties. Areas to the west will see snow start a little earlier in the day, and areas to the east will see snow start later in the afternoon and evening on Sunday. Coffeyville could still see between an trace and two inches of snow.
***** Update 7 p.m. *****
A winter weather advisory has been issued for southeast Kansas which includes Elk, Wilson, Neosho, Chautauqua and Montgomery Counties in the immediate KGGF listening area.
The advisory will be in effect from 6 a.m. Saturday until 3 p.m. Sunday. Mixed precipitation is expected, and total snow accumulation up to two inches is possible, with ice accumulations up to two tenths of an inch. Winds could also gust up to 50 mph on Sunday. Areas to the north including Eureka and Iola are under a winter storm warning. Snow and ice accumulation is expected to be greater north of U.S. 400. Travel impacts are still expected to be minor along the Kansas-Oklahoma line. KGGF will continue to update this story with the latest information throughout the weekend.
***** Original Story *****
The first winter storm of the year is on the way this weekend.
The latest from the National Weather Service indicates a greater chance for ice and snow than previously forecast, although impacts in the four states are not expected to be as severe as areas to the north. The storm is expected to start Saturday morning with rain and a wintry mix, then transition to snow by Sunday around noon for southeast Kansas. The greatest storm chance is in Kansas and Missouri, but northeast Oklahoma could see a 40-60% chance of minor impacts from blowing snow, with northwest Arkansas seeing the least chance of a storm.
Counties along the Kansas-Oklahoma line have a very low chance of any snow or ice accumulation at this time, with Chanute and areas to the north and west seeing a better chance of winter weather. The forecast is still uncertain as to where the freezing line sets up across southern Kansas. In addition, low clouds through the day could prevent locations from rising above freezing specifically along the U.S. Highway 54/400 corridor.
In the wake of this weekend's storm, wind chills Monday morning are expected to be below zero for the area, with nighttime lows making it down to the single digits by Monday night, lasting through the middle of the week.
