By OLIVIA BERGMEIER
Salina Post
Even though Friday's snow just settled across most of the western two-thirds of the state, another chilly storm is on its heels, with possible whiteout conditions for early next week.
According to Wichita National Weather Service Meteorologist Venessa Pearce, the weather system will impact most of Kansas, beginning as rain showers on Sunday with temperatures in the low 40s.
Rain showers will continue on Monday before transitioning to a winter weather mix that will impact the northwestern half of Kansas.
Then, during the later hours of Monday night, the storm system will transition from rain to heavy snow, with possible blizzard conditions for north central Kansas and western Kansas.
"The worst part of the timeframe is Monday evening and Monday night into Tuesday morning," Pearce said. "There could be some potential challenges on the Tuesday morning commute."
Another Wichita NWS meteorologist, James Cuellar, provided a forecast earlier in the week on Wednesday, Jan. 3.
The models then forecasted a broader scope of the storm, but Cuellar said the storm system would be much different than the November storm and the recent Friday morning snowfall.
"It'll be a completely different, completely new system," Cuellar said. "It's going to be a little bit different — it'll have a lot more moisture. That's going to be the most significant difference."
By Saturday morning, NWS forecasters found another significant impact from the storm in its models — high windspeeds early Tuesday morning with a single-digit windchill.
"Most of the precipitation should exit by Tuesday morning," Pearce said. "But, because we expect winds with sustained speeds of 25 to 30 mph with gusts approaching 45 mph, any fallen snow could drift and blow around on Tuesday."
"We've got wind chills on Tuesday morning in the single digits, around five degrees."
Pearce stressed that with the hazardous conditions on Monday and Tuesday, residents prepare by altering schedules and packing supplies when necessary to travel.
Critical travel supplies for the car include a thick winter coat, snow boots, water, small food items and extra clothing items.
"Make sure to stay tuned to the latest forecast as things change," Pearce said. "Consider adjusting different plans for that time if at all possible."
Friday morning snow totals:
Friday morning's snowstorm brought Kansas another round of multiple inches of snow.
According to Wichita NWS, the Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower broke the record snowfall set in 1929 at 2.6 inches, with 3.3 inches of accumulation on Friday.
Salina — 1.0 inch
Concordia — 0.2 inches
Beloit — Trace
Lincoln — 1.0 inch
Ellsworth — 2.0 inches
Wilson — 1.5 inches
Abilene — 1.0 inch
Clay Center — Trace
Minneapolis — Trace
Tescott — 1.0 inch
Gypsum — 1.0 inch
Assaria — 1.0 inch
Lindsborg — 1.5 inches
McPherson — 1.2 inches
Inman — 3.7 inches
Marion — 4.0 inches