As much as 5 inches of snow expected in Lawrence as season’s first winter storm arrives

photo by: Shawn Valverde/Special to the Journal-World

A worker clears the sidewalk in front of La Prima Tazza on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025.

Story updated at 3:54 p.m. Monday, Dec. 1:

Lawrence is seeing its first significant snow of the season today, and although the heaviest snowfall may be over, there could be up to 5 total inches of accumulation by the time it stops later today.

As of about 2:30 p.m., Lawrence had received about 4 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service’s Topeka office, and that could rise by another inch as snowfall continues this afternoon.

Douglas County and the surrounding area were under a winter weather advisory until 6 p.m., which is also around the time the National Weather Service expects the snowfall to end.

“If snow ends a little bit sooner than that, then we could end that early, but that looks to be a good timing at this point,” said Matt Flanagan, a meteorologist with the Topeka office.

Earlier in the day, Flanagan said the heaviest snowfall would be through the early afternoon, ending around 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., with lighter snowfall for the rest of the day.

Flanagan expected “intermittent traffic issues through the day” as heavier bands of snow moved through the area. He advised drivers to take it slow and give themselves plenty of time to reach their destination.

“This is the first snow of the season,” Flanagan said. “We’re not accustomed to driving in these conditions, so give yourself extra time.”

George Diepenbrock, a spokesperson for the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, said in an email to the Journal-World that deputies responded to multiple traffic incidents between 6:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. The department responded to an injury crash on K-10 at mile marker 16 between Lawrence and Eudora, where medics evaluated three people who did not need to be taken to the hospital.

In another crash just before 9 a.m. near East 1100 and North 1750 roads, a person suffered minor injuries and was taken to LMH Health.

Deputies also responded to 11 noninjury crashes as well as 26 calls to assist motorists throughout the county.

Several of the calls were to help drivers of vehicles stuck on the 1700 block of East 1000 Road — the area of Queens Road that extends outside of Lawrence city limits just north of a roundabout at Queens Road and Wakarusa Drive/Rock Chalk Drive.

A social media post from the Lawrence Police Department said that “the call board is lighting up with motorist assist calls and crashes – mostly minor.” The calls started coming in around 6:45 a.m., increased at 8 a.m. and had been steady through the morning, the post said.

At 10:30 a.m., LPD shared in a separate post that the department had been called to respond to at least 30 non-injury crashes, more than a dozen motorist assists and at least one crash with minor injuries. The last one involved at least six vehicles, including a patrol vehicle, the post said.

Monday’s high was 27, and the low on Monday night is expected to be 15 degrees. But Tuesday’s forecast will be warmer and mostly sunny, Flanagan said. The high is expected to be 37 degrees and the low around 25 degrees. There will be a slight chance of snow later this week, on Thursday evening.

Snowfall response in Lawrence is underway

City of Lawrence crews are out responding to winter weather, plowing and treating the main routes for emergency responders, transit and other travel. A city news release had a few reminders for residents:

• If possible, move parked vehicles out of the street, or all to one side of the street, to help snowplows clear roads more effectively. The release said cul-de-sacs are especially difficult to clear, so people on a cul-de-sac are advised to move their vehicles to a driveway or other location.

• Keep trash bins off the street and place them at the edge of the driveway instead so they’re not in the way of the plows.

• City ordinance requires property owners to clear their sidewalks of snow and ice within 48 hours after snowfall ends.

For more information on the city’s snowfall response and requirements for clearing sidewalks, visit lawrenceks.gov/snow.

photo by: Shawn Valverde/Special to the Journal-World

Downtown Lawrence during the first winter storm of the season on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025.

photo by: Shawn Valverde/Special to the Journal-World

A snow plow passes by City Hall on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025.

photo by: Shawn Valverde/Special to the Journal-World

Downtown Lawrence Massachusetts Street is covered in snow on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025.

photo by: Shawn Valverde/Special to the Journal-World

A snow blower works to clear Massachusetts Street on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025.

photo by: Contributed

Douglas County Sheriff’s Office vehicles are pictured during a snow storm on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025.

photo by: Shawn Valverde/Special to the Journal-World

Snow falls on Massachusetts Street early Monday morning on Dec. 1, 2025.

photo by: Shawn Valverde/Special to the Journal-World

A pedestrian crosses Massachusetts Street early Monday morning on Dec. 1, 2025.