First winter storm of the season hits Kansas City area

The season's first major snowstorm has been barreling towards Kansas and Missouri with the threat of a strong winter storm for northwestern Missouri and northeastern Kansas.

KANSAS & MISSOURI ROAD CLOSURES: http://bit.ly/12BLDCe

THURSDAY UPDATES

7:51 a.m.: "@KCIAirport: Main ramp into KCI off I-29 closed due to accident. Exit right toward I-435 & turn left under I-29 or use I-435 from east or west."

7:45 a.m.: "@KansasCityKDOT: KDOT crews r out plowing & treating thruout NE KS. Overall rd conditions won't improve until snow moves out, winds die down. #kswx #ksstorms"

7 a.m.: "@cameronmopolice: CAMERON RESIDENTS: AVOID THE US 36 EXIT RAMP ONTO US 69 AS A TRACTOR TRAILER HAS THE RAMP BLOCKED DUE TO SLICK... http://t.co/3qp1fogj"

6:44 a.m.: Accident on SB I-35 at W. Pennway. Right lane blocked. Slow-going in the area.

6:10 a.m.: Kansas City Scout cameras show Interstate 635 at the Missouri River is a complete stand-still.

6:05 a.m.: Kansas City International Airport spokesman Joe McBride confirms a FedEx plane had some issues during a landing this morning and is awaiting a tow. It should not affect KCI traffic, McBride said.

5:51 a.m.: Andrew County Deputy George Birdsong reports near white-out conditions north of St. Joseph.

5:45 a.m.: "@JiaoJiaoShen: KCPL website show 23,000+ w/o power. 14,000 in MO. Most are north, near St. Joseph. #kctoday"

5:30 a.m.: Dozens of schools have canceled class for the day, including KCPS, Shawnee Mission, Ray-Pec, Liberty, Grain Valley and more. Updated list here: http://www.kshb.com/subindex/weather/school_closings

5:17 a.m.: "@JennaHanchard: Near white out conditions on JoCo roads this morning. Follow me and @lokshb for latest road conditions #kctoday http://twitter.com/JennaHanchard/status/281720037218344961/photo/1"

4:42 a.m.: "@frnchfriesluvme: @41ActionNews belton-raymore is just a little rain. No snow yet!"

4:39 a.m.: MoDOT spokesman Steve Porter says to take your time and stay well behind snow plows and salt trucks. "We've got a lot of work to do between now and when the snow stops."

4:35 a.m.: via Kansas City Scout: Accident on I-35 at Parvin Road in Kansas City, Mo. Be prepared to stop.

4:30 a.m.: Interstate 35 at 67th Street in Johnson County, Kan., has reopened, according to Kansas City Scout.

4:19 a.m.: "@JennaHanchard: Last car removed from road in 3 car crash on I35 N in JoCo. Road still closed at 67th #kctoday"

4 a.m.: Northbound Interstate 35 is closed at 67th Street in Johnson County, Kan., because of a three-car accident.

3:48 a.m.: Kansas City Power & Light reports 3,610 customers without power

3:45 a.m.: via KSHB.com/Facebook : Denise L Cooper - Earlier thunderstorms and sleet. Now just light sleet in South KC

3:35 a.m.: "@KansasCityScout: 3:33 AM and the snow is now falling in the Metro as forecast. Crews have been pretreating the roads in anticipation of this first snowfall"

3:34 a.m.: via KSHB.com/facebook: Heather Kellam - Light snow in south kc. Nothing sticking as of yet

3:33 a.m.: "@htsevern: @41ActionNews here in saint joe the power has been flashing on and off for about 10 mins. About .5inches of snow on the ground."

3:30 a.m.: Steve Porter, with MoDOT says roads started changing about 2:40 a.m. and crews began treating immediately. Portions of I-70 are becoming slushy. I-470 between Blue Ridge and View High Drive is slushy.

1:30 a.m.: Interstate 70 has reopened in all portions of Kansas.

WEDNESDAY UPDATES

2:18 PM: The National Weather Service issued a Blizzard Warning for the following counties in northern Missouri: Andrew, Atchison, Gentry, Harrison, Holt, Mercer, Nodaway and Worth.

Winter Weather Alerts | http://bit.ly/ZgSaV0

3:08 PM: Interstate 70 lanes are closed from Goodland (westbound lanes) to Airpark Road (Aurora) in Colorado, according to the Kansas Department of Transportation. You can follow all road closures and current road conditions at the following websites: www.Kandrive.org or click the 511 icon on www.kwdot.org. Drivers may also call 511 to get the same updates.

4:30 PM: Transportation officials have also closed sections U.S. 36 in Kansas.

5:40 PM: Snow will begin around 4 AM in Kansas City and likely become heavy at times for two or three hours, according to 41 Action News chief meteorologist Gary Lezak.

8:30 PM: Eastbound and westbound I-70 closed west of Hays, Kan., due to blowing snow/poor visibility.

Stay with KSHB.com and your 41 Action News station for updates on this snowstorm.