Slick streets

Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette

McCook police officers, above, respond about 7:30 a.m. today to a Jeep pitched in the icy ditch at East Fourth and A, but found no one waiting out the ice and snow storm inside. Other drivers were luckier and stayed on the city streets, despite a thin glaze of ice under increasing snowfall. A low pressure system moving onto the Golden Plains from the deep southwest will produce a variety of winter weather hazards through Christmas Day. The National Weather Service in Goodland says a winter storm warning remains in effect through Friday morning. Total snowfall in Northwest Kansas and Southwest Nebraska could be up to eight inches. But the wind and visibility will be the biggest challenges. Forecasters predict winds increasing to 20-30 miles-an-hour tonight, and 25-35 miles-an-hour with gusts up to 40 miles-an-hour Thursday. Visibility will be reduced by blowing snow and fog. Law enforcement discourages travel unless it's absolutely necessary.