The National Weather Service says snow squalls, or brief bursts of heavy snow, could blow through the Kansas City region on Friday, including in Johnson County.
It would be the first snowfall of 2026, after a record-setting wintry January a year ago.
Forecasters said “heavy snow showers or more intense snow squalls” are expected to spread from northwest to southeast through the Kansas City area, primarily between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Friday.
Overall, less than a half-inch of total snow is expected to accumulate in Johnson County, according to the National Weather Service.
Hazardous driving conditions possible
The bursts of snow could reduce visibility for motorists, the National Weather Service said in a special weather statement. The snow may also be accompanied by wind gusts of 30 to 40 miles per hour.
“Consider avoiding or delaying travel until the snow squall passes your location,” the statement reads. “If you must travel, use extra caution and allow extra time. Rapid changes in visibility and slick road conditions may lead to accidents.”
The National Weather Service says snow squalls “move in and out quickly, and typically last less than an hour.”
“The sudden white-out conditions combined with falling temperatures produce icy roads in just a few minutes,” the National Weather Service says.
Like a thunderstorm warning for snow
The primary difference between snow squalls and snowstorms is their duration.
Snow squalls are typically short-lived, usually lasting less than an hour. Snowstorms can go on for hours at a time or even days, accumulating more snow and ice and causing larger, more widespread disruptions.
The National Weather Service on its website likens a snow squall warning to a thunderstorm or tornado warning, “short-fused and focused on distinct areas.”
Friday’s predicted snowfall precedes a holiday weekend during which nightly temperatures are expected to drop into the teens, representing the first sustained cold snap in the area since the new year.
