A blizzard warning is in effect beginning late tonight for northwest Kansas and the Kansas Department of Transportation road crews are prepared for the storm.

Road crews have been assigned to cover areas targeted to be hit by the severe storm expected by late tonight or tomorrow.  Heavy snow accumulations and blizzard conditions are expected all day tomorrow, with conditions diminishing on Saturday.

“We are ready for the storm,” said Joe Finley, KDOT Northwest District Maintenance Engineer.  “We have prepared our trucks and road supplies and road crews are scheduled for around the clock.  Due to the predicted rain first, crews will not be pre-treating roads.”

The National Weather Service expects the storm to be severe, with widespread blizzard conditions creating dangerous if not impossible travel conditions along I-70 and in the northwest region of the State on Friday and Saturday.  Winds gusting to 50 mph are expected to produce white-out conditions.

A winter storm watch is also in effect for Norton, Sheridan, Graham and Gove counties from Friday evening through Saturday afternoon, with severe weather expected in this area also.

Heavy rain is expected in east central, north central and northeast Kansas on Friday, changing to sleet and snow by late Friday or early Saturday, with accumulating snow possible from Friday night to Saturday night and ending by Sunday morning.

The Kansas Department of Transportation is advising motorists who must travel to monitor weather and road conditions before traveling by taking advantage of KDOT’s free traveler information services:

Visit KanDrive, www.kandrive.org, KDOT’s traveler information gateway for Kansas and surrounding states, to get enhanced camera views.

BETA – SKY CAM