Up to a half of foot of snow forecast
Erin Adamson Capital-Journal
A winter storm bearing sleet and snow delivered much-needed precipitation Wednesday night but made road conditions dangerous in Topeka and northeast Kansas.
The National Weather Service had predicted snowfall of between 5 and 6 inches for Topeka, and said that as of 10 p.m. Wednesday three- quarters of an inch of snow and trace amounts of rain had fallen on the city. Wind and more snow were expected to sweep into town after midnight, according to the weather service.
So many vehicles had been involved in non-injury or minor injury accidents by 8 p.m. that city and county authorities began operating under emergency accident procedures. Shawnee County sheriff’s deputies were responding only to injury accidents and those where wrecked vehicles were blocking the roadway. Topeka police officers were responding only to hit-and-run and injury accidents, or accidents that left vehicles disabled.
During emergency procedures, authorities ask that drivers exchange information and file a report at police headquarters after road conditions have improved, said police Lt. John Sidwell.
While the storm brought dangerous road conditions, it ended more than a month without any appreciable precipitation and provided the first substantial snow of the winter.
Road conditions were expected to worsen overnight. High temperatures for today were forecast in the low 20s with snowfall continuing until noon.
Erin Adamson can be reached at (785) 295-1185 or eadamson@cjonline.com.
Go online for school closings in northeast Kansas and find current weather information.
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