Brace yourself
Published on -12/22/2009, 9:50 AM
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By DIANE GASPER-O'BRIEN
Bing Crosby's version of the song "White Christmas" is the best-selling single of all time.
Chances are, some people won't like hearing the classic so much this year, especially if travel is in their Christmas plans.
It looks like Kansans, especially those in the western part of the state, could get what they ask for, on sunnier days at least -- an old-fashioned white Christmas.
According to the National Weather Service in Dodge City, a strong storm is expected to develop across the southwest portion of the country today and spread through the High Plains by Wednesday.
And that could make for some changing of plans for those traveling for the Christmas holiday.
Hays is in a winter weather advisory from 6 p.m today to 6 p.m. Wednesday. Northwest Kansas counties will be under a winter storm warning tonight, with blizzard conditions possible by the end of the week.
By the time people in this part of the state wake up on Christmas morning, they won't be just dreaming of a white Christmas.
A variety of precipitation, along with strong winds, could result in blowing snow and blizzard-like conditions.
Freezing rain and sleet are forecast for the Hays area late tonight and Wednesday, with snow beginning Wednesday and continuing into Christmas Eve on Thursday.
There isn't much chance of new snow on Christmas Day, but the winds are expected to pick up substantially with temperatures in the 20s.
Crews with the Public Works Department for the city of Hays were to begin salting the streets today in anticipation of freezing rain.
"We were lucky the (snow) had melted off the streets from the previous storm," John Braun, assistant director of public works, said of the 8.5 inches of snow that fell in the Hays area Dec. 8.
Kevin Zimmer, Area 3 engineer for the Kansas Department of Transportation in Hays, said his KDOT crews probably would wait until Wednesday and colder temperatures to treat state highways.
Zimmer said that following a briefing with the National Weather Service at noon today, he expected his crews to change to 12-hour shifts and be ready for the coming storm.
The good news?
Anyone not celebrating Christmas until the weekend can look forward to good weather, with sunny skies and temperatures in the 20s and low 30s by Saturday.
