Dan Koch, of Seneca, practices his roping Friday while waiting for horses and wagons to gather at the Douglas County 4-H Fairgrounds for today's Lawrence Old-Fashioned Christmas Parade. Freezing rain leading to icy conditions was in the forecast for early this morning, and the parade may be canceled as a result.

Be prepared for a cold, wet and windy start to December.

Freezing rain that was to begin pouring on northeast Kansas, including Douglas County, in the early morning was expected to continue until about 9 a.m.

The National Weather Service issued a freezing rain advisory through 9 a.m. today and strongly discouraged driving on Interstate 70 until late afternoon. The Kansas Division of Emergency Management also issued a statement Friday encouraging Kansans to be prepared for severe weather by having home and vehicle emergency kits that include food, water, extra clothing and flashlights and batteries.

“The first part of the morning will still be quite slick until any overnight ice melts,” said Jennifer Schack, 6News chief meteorologist. “Once we get into the mid-30s it should do a good job of that.”

Icy conditions may cause a cancellation of the Lawrence Old-Fashioned Christmas Parade that features horse-drawn carriages and was scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. today downtown.

Jana Dobbs, community bank president of Corner Banks, a parade sponsor, said if there is no ice, but rain, the parade will go on as planned.

“Wear a slicker,” she said.

Dobbs also said spectators can stay warm when watching the 80 horse entrants by grabbing a free hot chocolate or coffee at any Zarco 66 gas station on the way to the parade if you mention that’s where you’re headed.

Schack said she did expect precipitation to hold steady through the morning and into the afternoon. She said it will also be a windy day with gusts of up to 40 mph. The high today should reach 48 degrees and driving conditions should improve by noon, she said. Rain showers should taper off by late afternoon.

If the parade is canceled

Stay tuned to Sunflower Channel 6 and ljworld.com for updates and cancellations.

If the Lawrence Old-Fashioned Christmas Parade is canceled, the 2006 parade will be aired on Channel 6 at 10:30 a.m.

If it’s not canceled, the parade will be aired live at 10:45 a.m.