Add Your Comment | Read (0) Comments
Published 11/16/2009 in Local News
By RACHAEL GRAY
The first snow of the season Sunday left a patchy cover over Garden City and surrounding areas, but according to local officials, not much stuck to the roads.
Meteorologists from the National Weather Service in Dodge City reported Scott County had the most snowfall in the area, with parts of the county reporting up to 5 inches of snow.
Farther south in the region, less snowfall totals were reported, with Ingalls receiving .8 of an inch of snow.
National Weather Service officials also said that due to the rain before the snow and the wet ground, totals were hard to measure. A snowfall amount for Garden City totaled less than an inch. Holcomb reported an inch, according to the NWS.
Officials from the Scott County Sheriff's Office said while snow covered the ground, roads weren't a problem.
No accidents were attributed to the weather, officials in Scott County said. Finney County Sheriff Kevin Bascue also said this morning he wasn't aware of any weather-related traffic accidents.
As for the weather in days to come, the rest of the week should be warmer, with snow melting away as temperatures head into the 50s, according to the National Weather Service Web site.
Snow isn't in the forecast until the middle of next week, which is a peak holiday travel time.
Kansas Highway Patrol trooper Ron Knoefel has tips for traveling in hazardous winter conditions.
He said to make sure and take appropriate essentials such as extra water, blankets, non-perishable foods and a fully-charged cell phone and its proper attachments to charge in the car. He said to allow plenty of following distance between cars, in case of slick roads. Before leaving town, fill vehicles with gas and make sure they're in proper working order, he said.
Knoefel said an emergency winter kit should be kept in all cars traveling during bad weather conditions. The kit should include a metal coffee can and matches or a lighter, a candle, blankets, first aid kit, shovel, a flashlight with good batteries, a tow rope or chain, extra winter clothing, non-perishable food, water, glowsticks or flares, a jumper cable, ice scraper, a traction mat or sand or kitty litter for traction, a cell phone and a red flag.
Knoefel said not to panic when stuck on the side of the road.
He said it's good to crack a window to keep fresh air circulating, keep active to stimulate your circulation and when it's dark, turn on the dome light in the vehicle. Knoefel said if there are multiple people in a vehicle, never let all the occupants sleep at once.
Tonight should be mostly clear with a low around 25 degrees, and winds predicted between 11 and 16 mph, according to the National Weather Service.
Found 0 comment(s)!