OTTAWA — A powerful winter storm could mean a blizzard for east-central Kansas. The National Weather Service had originally expected the storm to bring heavy rains to Franklin County and the area. However, forecaster Chad Omitt said because the low-pressure that’s fuelling the storm has moved farther east, Christmas will be more white than wet for the area. The forecast that showed the Marais des Cygnes River reaching flood stage has been cancelled, he said. He said as temperatures drop, the rain will turn to ice and snow could reach near-blizzard conditions in the area. That could mean six inches of snow or more, he said.
