The National Weather Service said light snow and flurries would continue in areas along and south of the Missouri River including the Kansas City metropolitan areas this evening as an upper-level storm system lingers to the northeast. Snow accumulation should remain light in nature with most areas receiving less than 1 inch of snow.

However, strong west winds will persist through this evening with sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph and gusts as high as 35 mph possible. Extensive blowing and drifting snow will reduce visibilities to one half mile at times. Numerous roads may be impacted by this drifting snow with north-to-south running roads the most susceptible to hazardous driving conditions. Travelers are urged to use extreme caution tonight.

The strong winds in combination with temperatures in the mid-teens will combine to produce bitterly cold wind chills between zero and 10 below this evening.

The Kansas Department of Transportation continues to operate snow-removal machinery on highways, which continue to be partly to mostly snowpacked in the metro area.

“Roads are still slick and the wind chills make it dangerous to be out, so be very careful if you have to travel,” said Maj. Gen. Tod Bunting, director of Kansas Division of Emergency Management and the Kansas Adjutant General. “Make sure you have a full tank of gas and take emergency supplies with you including water, food, medicine, blankets and a cell phone. In these conditions, it could take emergency workers longer to reach you should you need assistance.”

The weather is to blame for five fatalities on Kansas highways since Tuesday night. For information on road conditions, call 511 in Kansas or go to http://511.ksdot.org. If outside the state, call 1-866-511-5368 for conditions.

Snow and ice resulted in power outages for Westar and KCP&L customers Christmas Eve and Christmas morning, however, most of the power across the state has now been restored, state Emergency Management officials said.