KANSAS CITY — Kansas City officials implemented both phases of the city's snow ordinance Friday in response to the Christmas snowstorm that moved through the area.
Under the ordinance, drivers who do not have snow tires or chains on their vehicles can be ticketed if they get stuck on a major thoroughfare. Also, cars parked on designated snow routes can be ticketed.
“Both phases went into effect this morning primarily because of the blowing snow,” said Dennis Gagnon, a spokesman for Kansas City’s Public Works Department. “Once we plow, it blows right back over it. Until that wind eases up, it will be an ongoing challenge.”
Crews didn’t start plowing the residential neighborhoods until this morning. Normally, the crews work 12 hours, starting at 6 or 7 a.m. They try to create a passable lane, Gagnon said.
“I think for most people, it would be best to minimize the trips that they make outside today,” Gagnon said.
Temperatures have dropped, limiting the effect that salt is having on the packed snow. Because of the lack of traffic, the salt also is not being mixed in well and any moisture is bonding really tightly to the pavement, Gagnon said.
“We will be slower getting out of this one than other storms,” Gagnon said.
About five to 11 inches of snow fell across Kansas City, Gagnon said. But with the winds, snow has drifted. He said people should be patient, especially with temperatures expected to remain cold for the next several days. He said there is a good chance for refreezing to occur.
Read the full story at KansasCity.com
Meanwhile, an estimated 1,000 people spent the night Christmas Eve on cots in the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport after their flights were canceled. The skies cleared for Christmas in the area, which had received a rare four inches of snow on Christmas Eve, but at leasts 30 flighs were canceled — fallout from the snarl Christmas Eve winds and snow wreaked on air travel.
Read the full story at star-telegram.com