The Emporia area could see more than 8 inches of snow before Saturday afternoon, and area stores are getting ready for a last-minute early-spring rush on winter supplies such as snow shovels, ice melt and ice scrapers.
The snow will pick up tonight and mingle with gusty winds. According to the National Weather Service, accumulations of 2 to 4 inches are possible, and it will be a mix of rain, snow and sleet. Snow will continue into Saturday until around 1 p.m. Winds will be around 35 miles per hour with 3 to 7 inches of new snow.
By 8:15 this morning, several accidents already had been reported on the Kansas Turnpike south of Emporia. Dispatch reports said that roads in that area were slick and had not been treated.
Official accident reports were not available at press time because officers were still on the scenes; details of injuries and vehicles involved were sketchy.
Emporia emergency medical technicians first were summoned to a rollover accident at Milepost 117, 10 miles south of the KTA interchange. Minutes later, another call came in for an accident at Milepost 108. At least one additional accident occurred a mile or two north of the second wreck, and an accident was reported a few minutes later at Milepost 103.
Ambulances from Emporia-Lyon County, Chase County and Butler County all were called in to assist with victims, one of whom reportedly was pinned in a vehicle.
By 11:30 a.m., precipitation was starting to freeze in Emporia. Local stores were preparing for the blast.
A little stock-shuffling was taking place this morning at Waters True Value, 801 W. Sixth Ave.
“I have window scrapers that we’re going to dig back out,” said owner Mark Shook. “I have snow shovels on the shelf right now.”
The store also has rental equipment to remove snow, generators for sale and rent, plenty of ice-melting product, plus flashlights and candles, in case of electrical failure.
“I wish I could say I had a shelf-load of 70-degree weather but I’m afraid I don’t,” Shook said.
Weather radios, though more useful during tornado season, are among the weather-related products still available at Sutherland’s, 1700 Industrial Road.
“Ice melt, snow shovels, generators, weather radios — they’re all in stock,” said assistant manager Jason Miller. “We also have snow blowers still in stock as well.”
AutoZone, at 825 W. Sixth Ave., had a good supply of products to keep vehicles working better in ice and snow.
“We don’t really have shovels,” said Jeremy Johns. “Everything else, we’re pretty well-stocked on as far as de-icer, ice melt, scrapers, gas-line antifreeze, Heet water remover” for gasoline lines.
Ice melt and shovels are readily available at Bluestem Farm & Ranch Supply, 2611 W. Highway 50, and some customers have already been in to get their supplies. Ice melt has been moved to the front of the store at Walmart, 2301 Industrial Road.