Winter Storm Bruce delivered quite the punch to the Kansas City metro area this past weekend.
The National Weather Service in Kansas City issued a blizzard warning on Saturday, Nov. 24, the first since Jan. 31, 2011. Rain arrived first followed by snow on Sunday, Nov. 25, which led to numerous closures and accidents throughout the metro area.
The area school districts — Platte County, Park Hill, North Platte and West Platte — called off school on Monday, Nov. 26 and then again on Tuesday, Nov. 27 as side, rural and subdivision roads still posed a danger getting kids to and from school.
Park University called off classes on Monday as well and had a delayed start on Tuesday.
The NWS reported that 5.8 inches fell on Sunday, easily breaking the record for most snow on Nov. 25, besting the previous mark of 3.7 inches back in 1895. It also marked the second snowiest day in November ever, coming in behind 9.1 inches that fell on Nov. 29, 2013. The 3-plus inches of recorded snowfall was the first in 1,754 days, a NWS Kansas City record.
The Kansas City metro area has seen 7.8 inches of snow — which is more than the past three winters — and still at least three weeks to go until the official start of winter. Last winter season — 2017-18 — saw a total of 7.7 inches, which was more than the previous two (5.9 in 2015-16 and 4.9 in 2016-17).
The blizzard conditions closed the Kansas City International Airport for four hours on Sunday and led to more than 100 canceled flights.
More than 800 Platte-Clay Electric customers lost power, but almost all were restored within 24 hours.
The weather also delayed trash, as well as leaf and brush collection, in Kansas City, while Platte County offices had a delayed opening on Monday.