Snow Team Responding to Severe Winter Storm

For immediate release: Friday, January 23, 2026

Kansas City's Snow Team stands ready to address a significant winter storm that's expected to impact the region from Friday, January 23, through Sunday, January 25. Crews started pre-treating roads with liquid salt-brine earlier in the week and will shift to 24/7 plowing once snow starts to fall. With up to 8 inches of snow in the forecast for the weekend, residents are asked to stay off the roads if possible and to prepare accordingly.

Staying Connected and Reporting Issues

There are several ways you can stay up to date on winter weather impacts:

• Visit Kansas City's snow webpage for the latest updates
• Follow Kansas City on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram
• Sign up for emergency alerts through AlertKC

The myKCMO Mobile and Web app make it easy to report concerns such as downed trees, track snowplow routes and stay connected with the most recent updates. Residents are now able to report areas of concern, like slick spots, on the myKCMO app. In order to prioritize route completion, residents are asked to wait until 24-hours after snow stops falling to report slick spots.

311 is able to provide assistance with city services in any language. Simply . A 311 Customer Service Specialist will reply to your email within 24-48 business hours.

Impacts to Solid Waste Services

Trash and Recycling:

• Collection will be cancelled on Saturday, January 24.
• Residents with a Friday collection date will be able to set out two (2) extra bags without trash tags on Friday, January 30.
• Collection will take place on Friday, January 23.
• Kansas City Recycling drop-off centers will be closed on Friday, January 23 due to dangerous temperatures.

Bulky Item Pickup:

• Appointments for Saturday, January 24 are cancelled and will be rescheduled for Friday, January 30
• If desired, you can cancel your bulky appointment through the myKCMO app, by calling 816-513-BULK, or contacting 311.
• After cancelling your appointment, you can schedule a new bulky appointment on this webpage or contact 311.

Zero KC Extreme Weather Plan

If you or someone you know needs a warm place to stay during the extreme cold, help is available. The City and its partners provide 931 shelter beds across eight locations. Shelter locations depend on the current temperature:

Always open in winter (790 beds total):

• Hope Faith
• Open Doors
• ReStart
• Heartland
• True Light
• Teresa's Place
• Unity Southeast

Opens at 25°F (-4°C):

• Unity Southeast opens 75 more beds

Opens at 10°F (-12°C):

• A Turning Point opens 66 more beds

Visit the Zero KC website or the Snow webpage for more information about shelter options, other warming options and opportunities for free transportation.

Community Center Warming

All of Kansas City's Community Centers provide warming center access during normal operating hours:

• Warming centers are a free resource that are limited to the lobby areas only.
• You can view Community Center options and hours of operations online.
• Day passes are available for recreational access - such as the gym, workout areas, indoor pools, and more. This is a great temporary solution to getting out of the cold.

How to Be Prepared

Winter storms may housebound our residents, knock out the power, or worse, strand individuals in our vehicles. Stay prepared with an emergency kit for the car, work, and home to avoid anxiety, discomfort, and even danger.

• Keep a thin water flow from faucets along exterior walls at sub 32 degrees
• Disconnect external hoses.
• Identify water shut-off valve in case of emergency.

Be informed before the storm so you have a plan, and visit KC Water for more information. You can also find more safety tips and advice online.

Aviation Updates

Airfields, airport roadways, and sidewalks at the Kansas City International Airport (MCI) and Kansas City Downtown Airport have been treated to prepare for winter weather. Travelers should keep an eye on their flight status via their airline's website or app as well as FLYKC.com.

• How is Kansas City International airport preparing for the snow?
• Extra crews are on hand as of today (January 23).
• With the snow expected to be dry and powdery, operations staff's main focus will be on keeping the runways and taxiways clear.
• MCI will focus on keeping the two parallel runways active so as the heavier snow falls, Aviation Department staff will be able to alternate clearing efforts from one to the other to ensure the airfield is available for arrivals and departures.
• Is MCI expecting any delays?
• Due to the severe nature of the storm in other parts of the country, there may be impacts from delays or cancellations at other airports. Travelers are encouraged to keep in touch with their airlines or check FlyKC.com for flight information. If your flight is cancelled, your airline should be your first call.
• Due to the cold temperatures, could there be any delays from de-icing?
• De-icing is handled by the airlines. The Aviation Department has sections of the airport grounds that are set aside for de-icing where an airline can stage their plane, but the actual work is handled by their teams.
• KCAD staff remain in constant communication with our airline partners over their operations and how they are planning to handle the weather and the department will help in anyway possible.