KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Residents and organizations are making final preparations today ahead of a potent winter storm set to strike the Kansas City area on Thursday.
Check back throughout the day for updates.
RESOURCES:
- What to include in your winter travel emergency kit
- Road travel information to and from Kansas City
- Travel websites to keep close by
- Tips for traveling by air
- Latest forecast information
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UPDATE, 5:11 p.m. | The City of Raytown announced that facilities will be closed to the public Dec. 22.
Employees will report to City offices during regular business hours to handle online requests and phone calls.
UPDATE, 5:06 p.m. | The City of Independence announced closures and cancellations for Dec. 22, ahead of extreme weather conditions in the forecast.
The following locations will be closed:
Palmer Senior Center
National Frontier Trails Museum
Truman Memorial Building
George Owens Nature Park
The Sermon Center will be open during regular hours, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m., but all classes are canceled and fitness areas will close at 6 p.m.
UPDATE, 5:01 p.m. | Jackson County announced a delayed start for Dec. 22, with all county buildings and facilities opening for business at 10 a.m.
County departments may have limited staff to provide in-person assistance to residents on Dec. 22. Residents are encouraged to use online services such as the Jackson County website.
The County has waived convenience and electronic check fees for those who pay their property taxes online.
UPDATE, 4:51 p.m. | All Unified Government Offices will be closed Dec. 22 and Dec. 23, the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department announced.
KCKPD's business offices will also be closed Dec. 22. Offices may reopen Dec. 23, depending on the weather.
The KCKPD Records Department will be closed as well.
Here are the options for anyone needing to file a police report while offices are closed:
Phone:
- 913-573-8680 (6:45 a.m. - 10 p.m.)
In Person:
- Police Headquarters, 700 Minnesota Ave (9 a.m. – 5 p.m.)
- East Patrol, 849 N. 47th Street (6:45 a.m. – 10 p.m.)
- South Patrol, 2200 Metropolitan Ave. (8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.)
UPDATE, 2:09 p.m. | Maple Valley State Schools has announced it will not be open Thursday due to the incoming snowstorm.
UPDATE, 1:55 p.m. | City Of Kansas City announced it will offer free parking to Kansas City Residents at select garages from Wed., Dec. 21 starting at 4 p.m. to Monday, Dec. 26 at 8 a.m.
Free will be available at:
- Auditorium Plaza, 1220 Wyandotte
- West Bottom, 1601 State Line Rd.
- Ed Wolf, 1100 Oak Street
- KC Live, 151 E. 13th Street.
UPDATE, 1 p.m. | Kansas City announced it will suspending trash service for the next two days due to the incoming snowstorm.
They will resume service the Friday and Saturday following the holiday schedule. The city says the suspension of the trash service will let their drivers be able to more focus on making sure the roads are safe for Kansas City residents.
UPDATE, 12:22 p.m. | The University of Missouri - Kansas City campus has announced its switching to remote operations the next two days.
Only essential workers are to report to the campus.
UPDATE, 12:09 p.m. | Kansas City, Missouri's Municipal Court system will be switching to all virtual hearings for Thursday and Friday due to the forecast.
A link to attend virtual hearings is available on the city's website.
UPDATE, 11:45 a.m. | The Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, says that Municipal Court operations will be closed on Thursday and Friday, Dec. 22-23.
Any hearings scheduled for the two days will be automatically continued. People will receive their new court date information by mail.
Payments can still be made online.
UPDATE, 10:55 a.m. | KC Streetcar service will start Thursday at 6 a.m. with three streetcar service. The team will prep all streetcar stops today & all streetcar vehicles are equipped with heaters on the pantographs.
Service adjustments may be made depending on the severity of the weather.
UPDATE, 10:45 a.m. | The Raymore-Peculiar School District announced that classes on Thursday will be canceled. Thursday was originally scheduled as an early release day and will now be observed as a traditional snow day.
No virtual classes will be held on Thursday.
“With the National Weather Service’s forecast, and their high degree of confidence in that forecast, we feel it was prudent for us to announce the decision about Thursday earlier than we normally would have done, so that parents, students, and staff can make plans accordingly,” said Superintendent Dr. Mike Slagle.
The last day of school, May 23, 2023, will remain unchanged.
All elementary school and middle school after-school activities and evening events will be canceled and/or rescheduled. High school events or activities may continue as scheduled.
UPDATE, 10 a.m. | The Lee's Summit School District announced this morning plans to move Thursday classes to an online virtual format.
It's the first AMI day used by the district this school year. The district can use up to five AMI days before the end of the school year, which is set for May 24, 2023.
❄️Due to inclement weather, Thursday, December 22, 2023, will be a virtual learning day for all students.
— Lee's Summit Schools (@LSR7) December 21, 2022
This is the 1st AMI Day. LSR7 can learn virtually up to 5x because of inclement weather. Our last day of school is still May 24, 2023. pic.twitter.com/Vb6K7Dx6Fv
UPDATE, 9 a.m. | Kansas City, Missouri, City Manager Brian Platt spoke to the media Wednesday morning from the city's snow operations command center to provide an update on the city's preparations for the impending storm.
"We've got 300 snow removal vehicles out on the streets 24 hours in advance of this storm making sure we're putting down pre-treatment, so we've got a good first step against the snow storm coming," Platt said.
Platt estimated the city has 40,000 tons of salt on hand to give drivers a chance to navigate streets. He said the city has hired 100 more drivers and has 50 more vehicles on hand compared to previous years to help in the snow-clearing effort.
He said he is "really proud" of the city's "exponentially better" snow removal plan.
EARLIER | The National Weather Service has upgraded the Kansas City region to a winter storm warning set to go into effect at midnight.
The warning calls for a combination of snow, blowing snow and gusty winds that combined with tumbling temps, could see wind chills far below zero.
On Tuesday, the National Weather Service placed the region under a wind chill warning through Saturday.
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