A new winter storm is moving across Kansas, bringing blizzard conditions to western areas and rain for the southern part of the state.

A blizzard warning is in effect for a number of counties in western Kansas, with strong winds creating blowing snow and low visibility.   A number of counties in northern Kansas are under a winter storm warning with snow and strong winds.  Snowfall amounts could be 5 to 8 inches for northwest and northern areas of the state.

The Kansas Department of Transportation was reporting moderate to heavy snow, covering roadways across northwestern and northern areas of the state.   There were wind gusts of 65 to 70 miles an hour reported in Garden City.   Roads were closed in almost 20 counties in the western and northwestern areas of the state, and there were a number of reports of crashes and slide-offs.

Westbound I-70 is closed between Salina and the Colorado state line and eastbound I-70 is closed from Colorado state line to Hays due to winter weather and reduced visibility causing dangerous travel conditions. Many secondary roads, including US-54, US-50, and US-83, are also closed in western Kansas due to dangerous travel conditions. Travelers are being warned not to drive around the road closures, barricades, and gates.

Central Kansas, including Reno, McPherson, Rice and part of Marion County, could get 8 to 12 inches of snow.   Southern Reno into Harvey, southern Marion and Chase counties could get 5 to 8 inches.

South central Kansas, including Sedgwick, Kingman, Harper, Sumner, Harvey, Butler and Cowley counties, will have rain changing to snow Monday night. There could be 2 to 5 inches of snow with a trace to two inches for counties along the Kansas-Oklahoma line.   A winter storm warning is in effect for Kingman, Reno, Harvey, McPherson, Marion and Chase counties  A winter weather advisory will be in effect through noon Tuesday for Sedgwick, Butler, Harper, Sumner, Cowley and Greenwood counties.

[ photo:  KanDrive.gov ]