Environment & Agriculture

Kansas City snow storm: Bitter cold prompts school districts to cancel classes

KCUR | By Lisa Rodriguez

Published January 24, 2026 at 10:43 AM CST

A dad plays with his son in the snow at Gillham Park in Kansas City, Missouri, on Jan. 24, 2026.

Dangerously cold temperatures — with wind chill values reaching -25 degrees Monday — are expected to remain into next week. The National Weather Service says black ice will likely be present on the roads during the morning commute.

Snow blanketed the Kansas City region over the weekend, as a bitter cold settled into the metro.

Temperatures could drop to -10 degrees overnight Sunday, with windchills as low as -25, according to the National Weather Service. Many area school districts — including Kansas City Kansas Public Schools and The Shawnee Mission School District — have canceled class to switched to virtual learning Monday.

A massive winter storm, stretching from Central Texas through the Northeast, rolled into Kansas City Friday, sending temperatures plunging. According to the National Weather Service, the snowfall total at Kansas City International Airport Sunday morning was 5.2 inches.

Dangerously cold temps tonight into Monday AM. Lows -5 to -10 with wind chills near -25. A Cold Weather Advisory is in effect through late Monday AM. Temps moderate later this week but remain well below normal. pic.twitter.com/W3U8CXkADk
— NWS Kansas City (@NWSKansasCity) January 25, 2026

Saturday's snowfall totals in Kansas City broke the daily record for January 24, according to the National Weather Service.

Kansas City crews began putting snow brine on the roads Thursday and will continue to treat and plow the streets throughout the weekend. Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe issued a state of emergency ahead of the storm, activating the state National Guard to help support local communities.

Kansas City, Missouri, is responsible for plowing 6,000 miles of roadway in the city. Residents can track snow operations and see how recently a snow plow or salt truck cleared a street on the city’s snow plow map.

Public Works director Michael Shaw said the city has about 350 people working 24/7 to clear the streets, working on 12-hour shifts. Crews will do continuous plowing throughout the storm to make sure the roads don’t get completely blocked.

A worker wearing a bright yellow coat clears sidewalks using a snow blower near the Country Club Plaza on January 24, 2026. — A worker clears sidewalks near the Country Club Plaza on Jan. 24, 2026.

Traffic was mostly normal early Sunday evening, according to the KC Scout traffic management system in Missouri and Kansas.

Still, local and state officials have been warning residents for days to avoid driving if possible.

The National Weather Service warns that with the melting that occurred on the roads Sunday and temperatures dropping below zero, black ice will likely be present for the Monday morning commute.

A RideKC bus heads north on Troost Avenue during a snowstorm Jan. 24, 2026.

Captain Scott White, with the Missouri State Highway Patrol, said his department will work closely with the Missouri Department of Transportation to keep drivers safe. If people must travel, they should prepare ahead of time with a full tank of gas, a charged phone and a winter survival kit.

Kansas City's bus system, Ride KC, told riders to anticipate delays and to dress extra warmly.

ICYMI: Rider Alert: Inclement Weather (January 24–25, 2026)

All should anticipate delays due to extreme weekend storm conditions. Riders are encouraged to dress warmly while waiting at bus stops.

For more information on the winter storm, please visit: https://t.co/65LmAWWd4Q pic.twitter.com/AaOfrtrEjz
— RideKC (@RideKCTransit) January 24, 2026

As of 5 p.m. Sunday, electric utility Evergy was reporting only four power outages, according to their website. Spokesperson Courtney Lewis said this week that the utility did not expect widespread outages and has extra staff monitoring power plants through the weekend.

“Those people will take steps to make sure that coal reserves won’t freeze, they keep ice from blocking water intakes for steam units,” Lewis said. “And then they monitor the renewable generation sites for icing, such as our solar and wind facilities.”

Lewis says if you lose power, you should stay inside. If you’re using a generator, follow directions and don’t use it indoors. And stay at least 30 feet away from downed power lines.

Two trucks travel on a highway near a snow plow that is pushing a cloud of snow along the right lane and shoulder of the highway. — A Missouri Dept. of Transportation plow pushes snow off the road along a portion of 291 Highway in Lee's Summit on Saturday morning, Jan. 24, 2026.

Despite the snow, some businesses around Kansas City, like Anchor Island Coffee on Troost Avenue, opened for business as usual on Saturday morning, Jan. 24, 2026.

A tight shot of a partially frozen lake shows a group of geese huddled on a sheet of ice while other partial sheets of ice float in front of them. — Geese on the west lake in Lakewood in Lee's Summit huddle together Saturday morning, Jan. 24, 2026 as a light snow falls.

Warming centers

Kansas City’s shelters and warming centers opened for extended services on Dec. 1. The city’s extreme weather plan expands shelter capacity and cold-weather support for unhoused people.

Five shelter locations in the city are available with new hours and overnight beds. The city’s 10 community centers are available during the day to serve as warming centers. Public libraries also operate as a warm shelter during the cold weather.

The city offers free transportation to shelters at 4:30 p.m. every day at Hope Faith, 705 Virginia Ave., Kansas City, Missouri.

This story will be updated.