OTTAWA — The National Weather Service office in Topeka has issued a winter storm warning for much of eastern Kansas beginning tonight at midnight and lasting until Wednesday. A powerful winter storm will bring snow to northeast and east-central Kansas beginning tonight. The most heavy snow will begin at approximately 6 a.m. Tuesday, perhaps snowing at the rate of an inch to an inch-and-a-half an hour, said National Weather Service forecaster Matt Wolters. Ottawa and Franklin County will be part of an area that will get the heaviest amount of snow, ranging from 6 to 10 inches, he said. The Ottawa area will get close to the high side of the estimate, but it’s too early to tell if the area will get more, he said. The computer models of the on-coming system doesn’t indicate a storm strong enough to drop a foot of snow or more, he said. However, the winds pick up later Tuesday, with gusts of up to 45 miles an hour, creating severe blowing snow and drifting, and dangerous driving conditions, he said. The weather service doesn’t recommend travel later Tuesday unless it’s an emergency. The winds pose the greatest threat from the storm, Franklin County emergency management director Alan Radcliffe, especially for those living in rural areas. Even though county crews could blade out rural roads, they’ll likely drift fairly quickly, posing hazards that could trap motorists, he said. People should be sure they enough food, water, medicine and propane to last for two or three days until the storm passes, he said. Because of the severe cold following the system, Radcliffe said people should make sure that pets and livestock are protected and have adequate water and food.
Monday, Feb. 3, 3 p.m.
