What to know as KC area prepares for major winter storm

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Stay with the KSHB 41 News team as a winter storm warning impacts the Kansas City area, setting up the area's largest winter storm in decades. Travel may be difficult or impossible due to snowy/icy roads across the region.

Read our coverage on everyone from city officials to local shoppers preparing for the storm below.

—

UPDATE, 7:45 p.m. | KSHB 41's Fe Silva caught up with shoppers prepping for the major winter storm.

UPDATE, 7:30 p.m. | The Kansas City Mavericks announced a schedule change for their game against the Allen Americans on Saturday due to incoming inclement weather.

The game’s start time has been moved from 6:05 p.m. to 2:05 p.m.

Gates will open at 1 p.m., and all other planned game day activities and events will continue as scheduled.

UPDATE, 6:35 p.m. | A lucky customer claimed the last snow shovel at a Kansas City area hardware store. KSHB 41's Caitlin Knute caught the moment:

UPDATE, 6:30 p.m. | Click through our photo gallery of bare aisles at Trader Joe's, located at 8600 Ward Parkway, ahead of this weekend's winter storm.

UPDATE, 5:25 p.m. | KSHB 41's Cassie Wilson creatively compares sleet and ice by using donuts. Watch her demonstration below:

UPDATE, 5:05 p.m. | KSHB 41's Caitlin Knute was live at a Kansas City area hardware store to show you what sort of supplies are available to prepare for the expected winter storm. She also offers other tips ahead of the storm. Watch below:

UPDATE, 4:55 p.m. | Missouri Gov. Mike Parson signed an executive order Friday to prepare for hazardous winter weather expected to impact the State of Missouri this weekend.

The executive order waives certain hours of service requirements for commercial vehicles transporting residential heating fuel and activates the Missouri National Guard for state and local response efforts if needed.

"With a hazardous winter storm forecasted for this weekend, we want to be prepared to respond however may be needed," Parson said. "Missourians should be proactive in their preparations and so too should state government. This Order helps ensure Missourians' homes stay heated and that state government and our National Guard members stand ready to assist. We ask that all Missourians stay aware and use extreme caution during this potentially dangerous winter weather event."

UPDATE, 4:50 p.m. | Evergy is planning for a potential multi-day effort to restore power because of this weekend's winter storm headed toward the KC region.

Nearly 1,000 line and vegetation contractors will be ready to join Evergy crews and staff to get power back on for customers as safely and efficiently as possible.

Evergy said it will have extra staffing in place over the weekend to address potential issues.

Dry snow with little wind is unlikely to cause significant power outages, according to Evergy. However, wet snow accumulating on trees and power lines can cause damage, which could result in power outages.

Evergy said ice on trees and power lines can also cause outages and the conditions are quickly made worse by wind.

Download the Evergy App to report an outage. To learn more about severe weather safety, click here.

UPDATE, 4 p.m. | A question we've been thinking about today in our coverage - if street crews across the area are pre-treating roads, should homeowners do the same thing for their driveway and sidewalks?

We asked KSHB 41 Weather's Wes Peery.

Wes says yes because it will help break up the layer of ice beneath the accumulating snowfall, making it easier to clear your driveway and sidewalks after the storm has ended.

What kind of salt to use? Wes has that answer too in the video player below.

UPDATE, 3:50 p.m. | The Johnson County Government released its closures, cancellations and delays as of 3 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 3.

• Johnson County Mental Health Center: Transportation services will be closed starting at 4 p.m. on Saturday and all day on Sunday.
• RideKC Freedom and Swift Services: A delayed start is planned for Monday at 9 a.m., subject to road conditions. Riders are encouraged to cancel any non-essential trips as soon as possible.
• Micro Transit:
  
  • Saturday, Jan. 4: Service is scheduled to operate at regular hours (6 a.m. to 8 p.m.), weather permitting and subject to change.
  • Sunday, Jan. 5: Service canceled
  • Monday, Jan. 6: A delayed start at 9 a.m. is planned, but service will only begin if road conditions allow.
• Fixed-Route Services: Service will be monitored on Sunday, Jan. 5, and any modifications will be posted through the Transit App and RideKC Notify.
• Johnson County Park and Recreation District: For a complete list of cancellations/closures, visit here.
• Warming bus at Mission Transit Center: A warming bus is scheduled to be stationed at the Mission Transit Center on Monday from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m., dependent on staffing, vehicle availability and road conditions. More information on warming centers is available here.
• Snow removal in the unincorporated areas: Crews have been preparing trucks and equipment and have treated trouble spots in the county with a brining solution. Roads will be monitored, and crews plan to report at noon Saturday. Once any precipitation falls when the temperature drops below freezing, they will begin. They will work 12-hour shifts, plowing and treating unincorporated Johnson County roads as necessary. 

UPDATE, 3 p.m. | Kansas City, Missouri, city leaders discussed their plans in front of media members ahead of this weekend's snowstorm.

Watch Mayor Quinton Lucas, City Manager Brian Platt and city council members discuss road preps, snow removal, operations through the weekend, and more below.

UPDATE, 2:45 p.m. | The City of Lenexa's snow removal crew gears up to tackle the storm in 12-hour shifts starting at noon Saturday.

UPDATE, 10:45 a.m. | City of Overland Park snow crews are pre-treating streets Friday to prepare for significant winter weather this weekend.

UPDATE, 10:15 a.m. | Crews with the City of Leawood have been pretreating roads since Thursday and will deploy a 24/7 snow removal operation to keep streets safe.

—