Bitter cold sets a new record. Now there's snow in the forecast

Kendrick Calfee, The Kansas City Star on Jan 21, 2025

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Those heading outdoors should bundle up Tuesday as extreme cold temperatures and bitter wind chills hover around the Kansas City metro.

The National Weather Service in Kansas City has issued a Cold Weather Advisory through noon Tuesday. At 5 a.m., wind chill values were -16 degrees in downtown Kansas City, and -15 degrees in Olathe, according to the weather service.

Kansas City broke a record low temperature for Jan. 21, the weather service said on X, formerly Twitter. A reading of -7 beat the previous record low of -6 degrees set in 1935.

Some school systems around the Kansas City metro delayed or canceled school Tuesday due to the bitter cold.

“If you are headed out this morning, bring the heavy coat, hat, glove, scarf, all of it!” the National Weather Service said on X.

Chance of snow in forecast for Wednesday

In its Tuesday forecast discussion, the weather service said bitter-cold wind chill values as low as -15 to -25 degrees were possible throughout the forecast area.

Weather models show some moisture is possible on Wednesday, creating a chance of snow, the weather service said.

But meteorologists only expect a light dusting of up to an inch of snow, mostly in areas north of Interstate 70, the weather discussion noted.

The high temperature for Wednesday is expected to be in the 30s. Overnight lows will drop into the teens to low 20s.

When will weather in Kansas City warm up?

Conditions will be dry Thursday, with an expected high around 10 degrees below normal for this time of year, the weather service said.

Cold temperatures are expected to persist throughout the week.

On Friday, the high could climb to just above freezing, and then overnight lows are expected to be around 27 degrees.

Saturday, Kansas City may get a slight reprieve from the bitter cold, as the high could warm up to near 42 degrees, according to the National Weather Service forecast.

Temperatures are expected to creep back down with highs in the mid-30s by Sunday.