It continues to look as if Christmas travel will be an adventure.

The National Weather Service has issued a a winter storm warning from 9 a.m. today through 6 p.m. Friday for the Kansas City metro area.

Forecasters predict light rain will change to light freezing rain and sleet by later this morning. Sleet will eventually switch to all snow by late afternoon and evening today.

The National Weather Service said minor icing is possible with heavier sleet accumulations up to a quarter inch possible through late this afternoon. After changing to snow late this afternoon and evening, total sleet and snowfall accumulations through Friday afternoon may be in the 4- to 7-inch range.

Accompanying the precipitation, strong northwest to west winds will develop this afternoon and continue through Friday with sustained winds possibly reaching 30 mph with higher gusts. This will create extensive blowing and drifting of snow and possibly near-blizzard conditions, forecaster say.

Travel may become extremely dangerous this morning through Friday with periods of heavy sleet and snow possible and significantly reduced visibilities.

Forecasters and emergency officials say those planning on traveling for the holiday should consider making alternative plans.

Officials with the Kansas Department of Transportation said crews were ready and prepared to hit the roadways once the sleet/ice/snow begins. They said no pretreating would take place in advance of the storm because the rain would simply wash any treatment product off the roadways.

Leavenworth County officials said Thursday main county roads such as County Road 5 and County Road 1 will be the first to be cleared. The Leavenworth Public Works Department will have crews available all night and tomorrow to start clearing all of the roads in the county.