Widespread snow began late Monday night and is stacking up Tuesday throughout Kansas; during the day, the snow will be heavy at times. Gusty winds from the northeast are causing the snow to drift, reducing visibility.
Winter Weather Alerts remain in effect through 6:00 a.m. Wednesday.
Snowfall amounts will be significant -- a large area in Central Kansas is expected to receive about five inches. The least amounts of snow will fall in extreme Western Kansas.
This winter storm also features dangerous cold; wind chills on Tuesday have been lower than -15°.
Between the snowpack and strong northeasterly winds, afternoon high temperatures will only be in the single digits and the teens.
That should shatter the previous record for the coldest high temperature on February 18th, which was a high of 17° in 1938. That same day featured six inches of snow, a record for the date as well.
An overnight low tonight forecast for -4° would break the old record of a low of 2° in 1975.
Central Kansas snow will start to taper during the evening; however, there will be a few more snow showers that move into the area from the north and northwest. They will last into the overnight but will be gone by early Wednesday morning.
Once the snow stops falling, travel will still be slower and slick. Dangerous cold will also stick around. Extreme Cold Warnings will be in effect until noon Thursday.
Temperatures stay below freezing Friday but this will change during the weekend; a turnaround next week should see high temperatures reaching into the 50s & 60s.