Live updates: Surprise snow hits Kansas City with dangerous roads and school closures

A surprise wet snow fell across the Kansas City area overnight, creating slick and slushy roads and shutting down at least one metro area highway early in Thursday morning.

Drivers were being advised to delay their morning commutes if possible. And if they had to head out they were urged to be careful of the road conditions.

Crashes, spin-outs and slide-offs were reported across the Kansas City metro area, including along Interstate 29 near the Kansas City International Airport, where semi-tractor trailers were blocking the highway.

At the airport, officials temporarily closed the airfield to clear runways of snow before announcing it was open again shortly after 7 a.m. But at least 13 flights were canceled and a dozen were delayed.

More than a dozen schools across the Kansas City area announced they were closed for the day, and Kansas City officials said trash pickups may be late.

Winter weather advisory canceled

Update 9 a.m. A winter weather advisory for the Kansas City area was canceled shortly before 9 a.m., the National Weather Service said.

“Accumulating snowfall has ended for the area,” the weather service said. “Light rain/drizzle is still possible, but temperatures are climbing above freezing with most surface temperatures above freezing.”

Drivers will still need to use caution, the weather service said, because untreated roads may still be slick.

“Area traffic cameras are showing a lot of slush on roadways,” the weather service said.

Snowfall ending in KC, roads remain a mess

Updated 8 a.m. The heaviest of the snowfall is starting to move east of the immediate Kansas City area, leaving behind slippery roads and highways.

“Based on Missouri and Kansas DOT webcams, looks like KC metro interstates have a few lanes ‘cleared,’ however are still slick and slushy in spots,” the National Weather Service in Kansas City said on social media. “Interstate 29 and 35 north of KC still in poor condition.”

The surprise snowfall caught many in the metro area off guard when they woke Thursday morning and saw that wet snow had blanketed the area with several inches.

Kansas City originally was only expected to receive rain, with maybe a few snowflakes mixed in.

But the weather service changed its forecast shortly before midnight, calling for snow instead. It issued a winter weather advisory that is in effect until noon.

Trash collection late in KC

Updated 7:54 a.m. Kansas City officials said trash collection would continue Thursday after the surprise snow.

But they warned it would be later than usual. No other details were immediately available.

In Kansas City, Kansas officials said trash and recycling pickups would be canceled Thursday. Residents who normally put out their trash on Thursday or Friday should do so the following day.

Power outages reported around KC metro area

Update 7:40 a.m. About 8,000 people were without power as the winter storm dumped heavy wet snow across the Kansas City metro area, according to Evergy. The utility said restoration times are delayed because of the inclement weather.

In Johnson County, more than 4,100 customers lost power. More than 700 customers were without power in Jackson County. In Cass County, around 530 customers were without power, and around 300 customers lost power in Platte County.

Two outages also left around 70 customers without power in Kansas City, Kansas, according to the city’s Board of Public Utilities.

Independence Power and Light reported no outages.

Airfield reopens at KCI

Update 7:20 a.m. The airfield at Kansas City International Airport reopened about 7 a.m. after being closed for about a half hour so that crews could clear runways and taxiways of rapidly falling heavy wet snow.

Travelers were being urged to check with their airlines for the status of their flights and make any changes to their plans.

About a dozen flights have been delayed and another 13 canceled at KCI, according to FlightAware.com. Southwest and Delta were the main airlines affected the by the delays and cancellations.

Snowfall measurements

Updated 7:16 a.m. About 2.7 inches of snow fell at Kansas City International Airport, weather service officials said Thursday morning.

The National Weather Service office in Kansas City said Johnson and Wyandotte counties received 2-3 inches, Jackson and Clay counties received 1-2 inches, Pleasant Hill received 0.7 inches and St. Joseph received 3 inches.

Snow was still falling across much of the area, the weather service said.

KCI Airport closes airfield for snow

Updated 7:02 a.m. Rapidly falling snow across the metro area forced Kansas City International Airport to close its airfield so crews could clear runways and taxiways, the airport said on social media.

“The airfield has temporarily closed as crews clear runways and taxiways of rapidly accumulating snow,” the airport said about 6:35 a.m.

Shortly before closing the airfield, the airport had said flights were being delayed due to winter weather. It urged travelers who could not make their departure time due to road conditions caused by the weather to contact their airlines for alternatives.

The airport expected to update the status of the airfield at 7 a.m.

Overland Park accident protocol

Updated 6:50 a.m. The Overland Park Police Department on Thursday morning switched to its walk-in accident protocol because of the bad weather. That means drivers involved in car accidents with no injuries and with vehicles still driveable are asked bring their accident reports to police at a later date.

Kansas City libraries open later

Updated 6:48 a.m. The Kansas City Public Library announced Thursday morning that all its locations will open at noon.

School closures announced

Updated 6:45 a.m. Kansas City area school districts announced closures Thursday morning:

• Blue Valley School District - Closed

• Center 58 Schools - Closed

• De Soto Unified School District - Closed

• Excelsior Springs School District - Closed

• Fort Leavenworth USD - Closed

• Fort Osage School District - Closed with virtual learning

• Gardner-Edgerton School District 231 - Closed

• Grain Valley School District - Delayed two hours

• Independence School District - Closed

• Kansas City, Kansas USD 500 - Closed for students

• Hickman Mills C-4 School District - Closed

• North Kansas City School District - Closed

• Olathe Public Schools - Closed

• Park Hill School District - Closed with virtual learning

• Raytown C-2 School District - Closed

• Shawnee Mission School District - Closed for students

• West Platte School District - Closed

Updated 6:40 a.m. The National Weather Service in Kansas City said road conditions were less than ideal across the Kansas City region.

“Crummy commute this morning across eastern Kansas into central and northern Missouri,” the weather service said. “Give yourself extra time.”

Lenexa police said they were working numerous wrecks and vehicle slide-offs, primarily on the highways.

“This includes I-35, I-435, K-10 and U.S. 69,” the police said on Twitter. “Slow down and exercise caution if you have to be out this morning.”