Arctic air to send temperatures plunging in Kansas City; Subzero wind chills coming

Arctic air blowing into the Kansas City area will send temperatures plummeting Wednesday and bring dangerously cold wind chills to the area the next couple of days, according to the National Weather Service in Kansas City.

The metro area has already seen the warmest weather conditions of the day. Temperatures hovered around 40 degrees at midnight at Kansas City International Airport and since then have began falling. By 7 a.m., readings of 25 degrees were being reported.

Temperatures are expected to fall to the single digits in Kansas City overnight Wednesday. When the wind is factored in, it will feel like a few degrees below zero, according to the weather service.

Conditions will be worse north of Kansas City where a wind chill advisory has been issued for areas north of St. Joseph. The coldest wind chills will be between -15 and -20 degrees. The coldest weather conditions will peak Thursday morning.

Temperatures aren’t expected to warm much Thursday, reaching only into the upper teens in Kansas City before falling back into the single digits again overnight. Subzero wind chills are also expected Friday morning north of Interstate 70.

The weather service was urging people to prepare for the cold by dressing in layers, covering exposed skin and limiting their time outside. Drivers were encouraged to add a few blankets to their vehicles, check their tire pressure and get a safety kit packed for their vehicle.

People should also make sure their furnace is operating properly. People using space heaters should place the portable heaters on a solid, flat surface and keep them at least three feet from items that can catch fire.

A warm up will begin on Friday, with temperatures climbing to near 30 degree. Temperatures will reach around 40 degrees this weekend. Another shot of cold air is expected next week.