photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

A family walks on Massachusetts Street Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025.

Updated at 4:18 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18

A third major winter storm descended on Lawrence, bringing snow and extreme cold and leading to the closure of schools, courts, state offices and other entities Tuesday.

As commuters — those who were braving the roads — were heading out Tuesday, Lawrence had received just over an inch of snow by 9 a.m., according to the National Weather Service in Topeka, and blowing snow and single-digit temperatures with below-zero wind chills continued all day.

While some businesses, like Barker Cafe and Bakery, opened, many stores and restaurants in downtown Lawrence were firmly shuttered for the day with signs like the one at Free State Brewing Company affixed to the door: “CLOSED TUESDAY Due to BRUTAL WEATHER CONDITIONS.”

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

A sign on the door of Free State Brewing Company announces its closure Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Some businesses like Barker Cafe and Bakery were open for at least part of the day Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025.

Few accidents were reported as of 9 a.m., but drivers were having a bit more difficulty later on. Lawrence police reported no accidents early on, but as the day progressed they dealt with three noninjury crashes and at least one motorist assist. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, as of 4 p.m., reported one injury accident, four noninjury crashes and one motorist assist.

The injury accident occurred in the 700 block of East 1450 Road when the driver of a minivan, a 26-year-old rural Lawrence woman, struck a trash truck in the county, the sheriff’s office said. The woman was taken to an area hospital with injuries not believed to be life-threatening. Deputies gave her a citation, including for driving too fast for conditions.

Both agencies advised motorists to use caution, especially as conditions worsened throughout the day.

City crews were out in force, trying to keep up with the snowfall on roads and sidewalks. The National Weather Service indicated before noon that around 4 more inches could be expected by 11 p.m. Tuesday.

The most severe storm of the season hit Lawrence in the first week of January, bringing around a foot of snow on top of ice. Meteorologists called the storm “historic” for the area. Another snowstorm hit just a week ago, bringing up to 3 inches of snow.

Between December and Tuesday morning, 24.9 inches of snow had been recorded at Clinton Lake, said meteorologist Kyle Poage with the National Weather Service in Topeka.

Tuesday was the seventh day this year that Lawrence schools were closed due to inclement weather, and the district announced Tuesday afternoon that classes and activities would also be canceled on Wednesday. Tuesday night’s City Commission meeting was likewise canceled.

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are also expected to be extremely cold. Poage said, “Wind chills are the main thing we’re going to be concerned about after the snow stops (Tuesday) evening.” Those wind chills are expected to dip into minus double-digits.

But warmth is in sight. Poage said weekend temperatures were expected to climb to around 50 degrees.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Crews tackle the sidewalks in downtown Lawrence on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

A plow helps clear North Third Street on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

A plow heads into North Lawrence on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Downtown Lawrence on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

The Jayhawk in the 800 block of Vermont Street on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Clearing snow near the Carnegie Building at Ninth and Vermont on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Many Lawrence businesses, like Wheatfields, closed Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Massachusetts Street was packed with snow Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 18, 2025.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

The Kansas River, pictured from the north bank looking toward City Hall on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

The corner of Sixth and New Hampshire streets is pictured Tuesday morning, Feb. 18, 2025.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

A sidewalk near Lawrence City Hall Tuesday morning, Feb. 18, 2025.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

The historic Douglas County Courthouse is pictured Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Snow in North Lawrence on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025.