Snow arrives by rush hour

Tonight will be a good night to stay home with a mug of hot chocolate.

Sleet moved into the Lawrence area during rush-hour. It will change to snow early this evening, and snow will continue through midnight tonight, said 6News meteorologist Ross Janssen. Lawrence is under a winter weather warning, and accumulations will total three to five inches.

“During rush hour, you will see some slick spots, but for the most part you will see accumulations on grassy areas,” 6News meteorolgist Matt Sayers said Tuesday afternoon.

The National Weather Service has issued a severe winter weather alert for northeastern Kansas through 2 a.m. Wednesday.

Heavy snow will continue from 5 p.m. to midnight, Sayers said, as temperatures drop through the 30s to the mid-20s overnight. The air will feel much colder because 20 to 30 mph winds will bring the wind chill down into the teens.

The storm system is expected to move out of the area by dawn Wednesday, possibly leaving behind three- to six inches of snow and the first significant snowstorm of the season in Lawrence.

“I don’t expect six inches, but I do expect three,” Sayers said Tuesday morning.

Wednesday, temperatures will only reach 33, but Sayers said the sun may peek through the clouds in the afternoon.

Temperatures will remain cold the rest of this week, climbing only into the low 30s again during the day Thursday and reaching 30 Friday.

The next chance for snow is Saturday night.

“There’s a slight chance, but it’s not looking that impressive,” Sayers said.

Julie Boyle, the district’s communications director, said no consideration had been given to releasing students early today in anticipation of snow.

The focus, she said, would be on assessing road conditions if snow accumulated to determine whether to have classes Wednesday.

Ideally, she said, a decision could be made by 10 p.m. the night before classes are scheduled. But more often the district’s administration doesn’t make the call until 6 a.m. on a school day.

Students won’t be included on the administration’s decision-making team, Boyle said.

“They’re all hoping they’ll won’t have school tomorrow,” she said.

Boyle said parents can pick up students early or keep children home during inclement weather.

Staff writer Tim Carpenter contributed to this report.

Watch 6News at 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. for the latest weather information tonight. Throughout today, tune to Sunflower Broadband channel 6 for continuing weather updates.