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5 things you should know about Sunday's ice storm warning

Posted at 12:00 PM, Jan 13, 2017
and last updated 2017-01-15 09:31:07-05

With icy conditions in the forecast, here are five things you should know about this weekend's forecast.

Click here to view an hour by hour forecast. 

1. When does the freezing rain start?

We have liquid water falling from the sky, so as long as temperatures are below freezing the rain will have a chance to freeze on surfaces, especially trees and power lines.  Sometime between 11 AM and 2 PM we expect the temperatures to rise to just above 32, which will help the freezing rain change to rain.

 

2. Will we be dealing with a skating rink on all surfaces?

Most likely not, as it will be more of rain and not drizzle.  This creates more running water on the roads which helps to break up the ice along with the treatment.  Also, temperatures will be slowly warming from 28° to 32° during the event.  Now, this being said, all roads will be wet and icy so use caution as it will be hard to tell what surfaces are wet and which ones are icy.  Also, the best chance for more ice will be on untreated surfaces in the first part of the event as temperatures will be colder.  Decks, bridges and overpasses will be most likely to be skating rinks.  It will also be hard to keep salt on the roads as the rain will wash it off, so crews will be non stop applying treatment.

 

3. Will we have power outages?

It takes 1/2" of ice or more to start the process of widespread power outages.  We are expecting 1/8" to 1/4" of ice with a few spots possible seeing 1/3" to close to 1/2".  So, it will come near the threshold of a major ice storm, then temperatures will rise above freezing.  Also, if we were to have a strong wind, then the power outage threat will be increased with less ice, but fortunately our winds will be 5-15 mph.  There could still be a few power outages, just not a widespread issue.

 

4. When does the storm finally end?

It will come to an end during the night of Martin Luther King day.  We will have scattered showers and drizzle Sunday afternoon and night with heavier rain moving in by Monday morning.  There will be periods of rain through Monday into the evening.  Temperatures will rise to 35° northwest to 56° southeast.  KC may see highs 50°-55°!

 

5. How much rain will we receive?

This is the silver lining to the storm.  We have been rather dry since October and we could see 1.00" to 1.50" of rain.  The entire month of January averages 1.07". Also, southwest Kansas is entering a severe drought.  They may see 2"-3" of rain which is great news for the Hard Red Winter wheat crop.