Roads around Lawrence grow slick as snow, freezing drizzle, fall Monday night / LJWorld.com

Archive for Sunday, December 30, 2012

Roads around Lawrence grow slick as snow, freezing drizzle, fall Monday night

December 30, 2012, 12:57 p.m. Updated December 31, 2012, 3:25 p.m.

9:30 p.m. update

Less than an inch of snow has piled up in Lawrence, but the Kansas Department of Transportation warns that streets and highways will be treacherous tonight as temperatures drop and ice freezes over roads.

A winter weather advisory remains in effect until 6 a.m. Tuesday, and northeastern Kansas can expect more snow until midnight, according to the National Weather Service. Freezing drizzle may reach Lawrence from south of Interstate Highway 70.

All of Interstate 70 between Topeka and Kansas City is snow packed, as are Kansas Highway 10 and Highway 59. Elsewhere, highways are covered in slush. But of more concern, transportation officials say, is the black ice that is likely to form on roads, as thin sheets of water freeze and create an invisible hazard.

The low temperature tonight, according to the weather service forecast, is 27 degrees. The wind chill may reach down to 10 degrees.

8:00 p.m. update

Kansas Highway 10 is covered in snow from Lawrence to De Soto with "slush" across the rest, the Kansas Department of Transportation reports. The National Weather Service shows freezing drizzle is moving into Lawrence from south of Interstate Highway 70.

7:00 p.m. update

The Kansas Department of Transportation warns that, with freezing temperatures setting in and some freezing rain on the way, road conditions will grow increasingly hazardous Monday night.

Kansas roads, especially on hills, are slick and drivers should watch for black ice. Road crews are out treating roads and plowing snow.

The National Weather Service reports Lawrence has accumulated less than an inch of snow, but more is expected to fall until midnight. Wind chills late into the night may dip down to 10 degrees.

3:30 p.m. update

The Kansas Department of Transportation road conditions map shows Interstate 70, between Topeka and Lawrence, is snow packed.

The National Weather Service map shows more snow heading toward Lawrence.

10:45 a.m. Monday update

Snow has been trickling down in Lawrence since this morning. The National Weather Service predicts 1 to 2 inches in the area throughout Monday, with snow tapering off around midnight.

A winter weather advisory remains in effect until 6 a.m. Tuesday.

For a look at the NWS radar, visit http://1.usa.gov/HavKeo.

Sunday

The National Weather Service in Topeka has issued a winter weather advisory that includes the likelihood of snow on Monday. City workers will be out preparing for snow on Lawrence streets early Monday morning.

According to the weather service's hazardous weather alert, a storm system in the desert southwest will move into the central plains, bringing snow with it. The heaviest snowfall is expected from noon through 9 p.m. Monday. Snow is expected to taper off after midnight. Accumulations are expected in the 2- to 5-inch range.

City maintenance crews will begin preparing for the snow at 4 a.m. Monday morning, according to release from City Hall Communications Manager Megan Gilliland Sunday night. Crews have already treated the pavement and will start sand and salt operations Monday morning.

Mark Thiel, assistant public works director, said despite the city's efforts to keep streets clear, motorists should slow down and allow extra time for driving.

Kansas counties that will be affected include Douglas, Jefferson, Franklin, Shawnee, Lyon, Osage, Republic, Washington, Marshall, Nemaha, Brown, Cloud, Clay, Riley, Pottawatomie, Jackson, Ottawa, Dickinson, Geary, Morris, Wabaunsee, Coffey and Anderson. And these cities will be affected: Lawrence, Topeka, Ottawa, Emporia, Marysville, Hiawatha, Concordia, Clay Center, Manhattan, Abilene and Junction City.

The weather advisory is in effect from 6 a.m. Monday to 6 a.m. Tuesday.

The weather service said light snow will develop late Sunday night south of Interstate 70 and move north across the rest of the affected area through midday Monday. Higher amounts of snow are expected along the I-70 corridor west of Topeka.

Winds during the storm will blow out of the north/northeast at 10 to 15 mph.

The weather service said roads likely will become slick, which will make driving hazardous.

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PwopellewCap 4 months, 2 weeks ago

We will get squat...

Curtis Lange 4 months, 2 weeks ago

There is always one of you every storm...

PwopellewCap 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Like I said - squat....and I'm not even a "weatherman"....

Katara 4 months, 2 weeks ago

That's the name of the next winter storm.

Erin Graham 4 months, 2 weeks ago

There is too much moisture associated with this system to get 'squat'.

Kontum1972 4 months, 2 weeks ago

five inches is not deep enough....no satisfaction....not the tip of the iceberg...bb..!

blindrabbit 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Go out west of town on an east-west running road with 5 inches and a strong northwest wind and convince yourself that 5 inches is "not deep enough". I've seen 4 foot drifts with less; spending too much time in the protection of the city and avoiding the "wilds of the real Kansas".

kwilkins74 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Watch for idiots on 10 highway.

cheeseburger 4 months, 2 weeks ago

There's always idiots out on K-10 - most of them are poking along in the left lane with a string of cars stacked up behind them. They can't seem to see or comprehend the 'Keep Right Except to Pass' sign.

ImRonBurgandy 4 months, 2 weeks ago

I do agree. If your too frightened to drive more than 10mph in one inch of snow then stay home sick. You are causing more danger than the snow.

appleaday 4 months, 2 weeks ago

And then there are the people who think it's still OK to drive 50 or 60 miles per hour just because they're in a big vehicle and then go sailing off the road and into ditches. Let's all just be careful. Nothing is worth your life or the lives of others.

Rich_Crank 4 months, 2 weeks ago

"... and then go sailing off the road and into ..."

or worse, into another car driven by a slower & safer driver.

cheeseburger 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Sorry - slower doesn't always equate to safer.

jhawkinsf 4 months, 2 weeks ago

And get off your damn phone while driving. It's legal here. Not legal in other places. But it is unsafe everywhere.

Kontum1972 4 months, 2 weeks ago

k-10 should be renamed "the highway too Hell"

cheeseburger 4 months, 2 weeks ago

It works just fine until some idiot gets on there and attempts to drive distracted or pokes along in the left lane.

appleaday 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Or some idiot in a big SUV or pickup truck gets right on that person's back bumper in an attempt to bully them out of the way. Patience and consideration for others is essential in this weather. And not everyone has the luxury of getting to stay home.

elliottaw 4 months, 2 weeks ago

If you can't drive the speed limit take a different road

Corey Williams 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Does that mean over the speed limit, too?

appleaday 4 months, 2 weeks ago

No one should be driving the speed limit when the roads are icy. And no one should ever be trying to bully another driver by driving too close. That's all I'm saying. I drive the turnpike because it's usually the safest. I drive at a reasonable rate of speed and occasionally have to pass another driver. I drive a small car and make every attempt to pass when there aren't other cars in the left lane. I get back into the right lane as soon as I can. But, invariably, someone in a big vehicle finds it necessary to pull up close and make things scary for a while. What would it hurt to be patient?

cheeseburger 4 months, 2 weeks ago

If a person feels bullied, it is likely that person is in violation of the law by poking along in the left lane. I am not bullied, nor do I hang out in the left lane, What would it hurt to obey the law and stay right if you desire to drive slowly?

appleaday 4 months, 2 weeks ago

I don't desire to drive slowly and I don't poke along in the left lane.

appleaday 4 months, 2 weeks ago

http://icyroadsafety.com/tips.shtml

appleaday 4 months, 2 weeks ago

I'm complaining about tailgating, which is never safe. People who tailgate are bullying other drivers to move. Just be patient. Like I said, I don't hang out in the left lane, I don't poke along. I'm just not driving 65 or 75.

Tailgating - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaWikipedia

bevy 4 months, 2 weeks ago

It's a limit, not a minimum! Keep in mind the Kansas basic speed law = your speed should be "reasonable and prudent for the existing conditions." So if you're doing 65 mph in a 70 mph zone when it is icy, wet, and slick, you are breaking the law!

cheeseburger 4 months, 2 weeks ago

I'm well aware of that. Some people are deathly afraid of driving in snow, and therefore drive really slowly - much more slowly than anyone else on the road. They should do so in the right lane.

misplacedcheesehead 4 months, 2 weeks ago

I agree with the poster who said five inches just is not satisfying.

misplacedcheesehead 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Let it snow, let it snow, let it SNOW !!

ImRonBurgandy 4 months, 2 weeks ago

We need at least 14" otherwise its just a nuisance. 14" is fun at least.

catfishturkeyhunter 4 months, 2 weeks ago

I expect every one to be standing at the ready with their snow shovels in hand or else.

JackMcKee 4 months, 2 weeks ago

I've heard everything from a trace to 6"+. I'd say the bases have all been covered.

elliottaw 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Five inches is not news worthy, let me know when we will be getting real snow

CHEEZIT 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Can still see the strips in the road where they pre-treated last week before the snow we didn't get. Will that still work?

riverdrifter 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Toss the beagles into a briar patch and have a New Year's day rabbit hunt! Sage fried rabbit and garlic mashed taters with brown gravy and last summer's sweet corn all washed down with a bottle of Tott's champaigne. By week's end the ice may be thick enough to test for some crappie fishing on the ponds. Winter or whatever, it's what you make of it.