A major winter storm is bearing down on western Kansas.

Areas of light rain will start in south central Kansas this afternoon, with mixed snow and freezing drizzle developing toward evening in a small area from Meade to Larned. Snow will begin late this evening northwest of a line from LaCrosse to Cimarron to Liberal.

Snow will begin to fall  in ernest tonight northwest of a line from Hays to Scott City to Syracuse. Four to six inches of snow may fall by Saturday afternoon northwest of this line, with 1 to 3 inches possible southeast of the line.

A winter storm watch is posted for tonight through Saturday afternoon, basically northwest of a line from Liberal to Cimarron to Jetmore to LaCrosse.

Today: Partly sunny, with a high near 38. South southeast wind between 6 and 11 mph.

Tonight: A chance of rain before midnight, then drizzle or freezing drizzle likely. Cloudy, with a low around 27. South wind 5 to 11 mph becoming east. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Little or no ice accumulation expected.

Saturday: Snow and freezing drizzle, becoming all snow after noon. High near 32. East wind 5 to 8 mph becoming north between 15 and 18 mph. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. Little or no ice accumulation expected. New snow accumulation of 3 to 7 inches possible.

Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of snow before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 13. North northwest wind between 8 and 17 mph.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 31. West northwest wind between 6 and 8 mph.