Kansans are urged to prepare for bitter winter weather tonight and to be cautious on major roads.

The National Weather Service issued a freezing rain advisory and hazardous weather outlook for Friday night into the early morning hours of Saturday.

Northeast Kansas, including Douglas County, is expected to have an ice accumulation of 0.10 of an inch to 0.20 of an inch, mainly along the Interstate 70 corridor and north of Interstate 35.

The Kansas Division of Emergency Management discouraged driving during the storm.

Lisa Callahan, director of public relations with the Kansas Turnpike Authority said maintenance crews had pre-treated areas that freeze first, such as bridges, with a salt solution and will continue to monitor the weather and road conditions.

Her advice for drivers: slow down.

“If customers will slow down and drive carefully they will be OK,” she said.

She also advised drivers not to pass snowplows or other maintenance trucks that are treating roads.

“It seems easy, but you’d be surprised how many people do it,” she said.

The freezing rain is expected to turn into rain by early Saturday morning.

In a news release issued Friday afternoon, Maj. Gen. Tod Bunting, director of the Kansas Division of Emergency Management, advised Kansans to prepare an emergency kit for their homes and vehicles that should include water, food and first aid kits. For a vehicle kit, Bunting advised tow chain rope, a battery-powered radio and extra clothing.