The first round of significant winter weather of 2026 is expected to hit the area this weekend.
The National Weather Service in Pleasant Hill has issued a Winter Storm Watch for Johnson County, beginning at 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23. It runs through 6 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 25.
According to the NWS, up to 5 inches of snow is possible across the region, with the watch also covering Pettis County and Cass County, along with regions to the south. As of noon Wednesday, no watch has been issued for areas to the north or the Kansas City region.
In addition to the snow, frigid temperatures are expected beginning in the evening Thursday, Jan. 22, with a low around 7 and wind chill values between -4 and 1 expected. Winds could gust as high as 25 miles per hour.
On Friday, the high is forecasted to be near 15, and a low near -1, with a north, northeast wind of 11 to 15 miles per hour, and a low around -1. A 40% chance of precipitation is expected.
The heaviest snow is expected to take place Saturday, Jan. 24 with a 60% chance of precipitation. The high is forecasted to be near 11, with a low near 2.
Snow is forecasted to subside by midnight Saturday. The cold temperatures are expected to remain Sunday, with a high near 21 and a low around 1.
Things will begin to warm up on Monday, with the high reaching 25 and the low reaching 11. Temperatures are expected to break into the mid 30s on Tuesday, Jan. 26.
