A new round of snow overnight Thursday has prompted a new round of school closures Friday and could complicate the morning commute in Johnson County.
This latest round of wintry weather wasn’t nearly as bad as Sunday’s blizzard — which saw a near-record amount of snowfall — but it was enough to bring fresh inconvenience to the end of the work week, just as many Johnson Countians were starting to regain a sense of normalcy.
Snowfall totals as of 6 a.m. Friday were unofficial, but the National Weather Service’s Kansas City field office in Pleasant Hill, Missouri, said it had received reports of between 2-3 inches of snow throughout the metro.
A winter weather advisory remains in effect for the Kansas City region, including Johnson County, until 9 a.m. Friday.
In its alert, the National Weather Service warns the additional snow will create “slippery road conditions” and urges drivers to go slow and use caution if getting out on the roads Friday.
The Kansas Department of Transportation’s 511 road conditions hotline reported Friday morning that roads in Johnson County are “partially covered” in snow, with only one “high priority” road alert on US Highway 56, west of Edgerton. That roadway was “completely covered” in snow Friday morning, according to 511.
Schools closed for fourth day this week
All six Johnson County public school districts canceled classes Friday due to the slick road conditions created by the new snow.
“I am sorry to say that we need to close school again today, January 10. There is just too much new snow on top of what we already had. Please be safe and warm and we will see everyone on Monday,” Shawnee Mission Superintendent Michael Schumacher wrote on social media site X.
Shawnee Mission will follow “Plan B” of its inclement weather plan, meaning all school facilities are closed and there is no remote learning, but there will be daycare and Johnson County Park & Recreation District services at a few locations.
Decisions on student activities, including sports games and practices, will be made later Friday.
🚨Due to inclement weather, Friday, January 10, 2025 will be a Plan B day. This means students will not report to school. Additional information about SMSD’s weather procedures can be found at https://t.co/rcsyhEciY7. Stay warm and safe! pic.twitter.com/VK6XjyTvPI
— SM School District (@theSMSD) January 10, 2025
Meanwhile, Olathe Public Schools is following “Plan A” of its inclement weather protocol, meaning all district facilities are closed, daycare is also canceled and there will be no extracurricular activities.
Blue Valley also announced classes would be canceled Friday to “prioritize the safety of our staff and students.”
A decision on the status of extracurricular activities, like sports games and practices, will made later Friday, according to a district release.
Gardner Edgerton, Spring Hill and USD 232 in De Soto also, likewise, canceled classes Friday, citing poor road conditions.
Some private schools are taking a different tack.
Bishop Miege High School in Roeland Park and St. James Academy in Lenexa both announced they would start late Friday morning, with classes beginning at 9:25 a.m. at Miege and 9:35 at St. James.
Kansas City Christian in Prairie Village, however, announced classes would be canceled Friday due to the inclement weather.
Will remain at or below freezing
National Weather Service meteorologist Harrison Hayes said Friday morning that the snow is likely to move out of the Kansas City area by mid-morning.
It will remain mostly cloudy after that in the Kansas City region on Friday with more sun over the weekend.
But temperatures will stay “really, really cold.” Temperatures are expected to remain below freezing on Friday.
Forecast highs for Saturday and Sunday are 34 and 35 degrees. Then, high temps will dip back into the 20s at the start of next week.
There’s no more snow included in the National Weather Service’s current five-day forecast for the Kansas City area.
