The area of greatest snowfall (5-10”) has shifted to the northwest with this update while the areas from Minneapolis to Clay Center and Seneca will see a sharp snowfall gradient of 1 to 5 inches. Any further change in the storm track with affect the areas of expected snowfall. Much of the rest of the area will see mainly rain with a transition over to snow during the day on Tuesday. This area could even see a few thunderstorms late tonight and early Tuesday morning. Check back for forecast updates this afternoon and tonight.

Today: Cloudy. A 30 percent chance of rain in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 40s. East winds up to 10 mph increasing to 10 to 20 mph with gusts to around 30 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight: Breezy…rain…possibly mixed with snow. Snow accumulation up to 2 inches. Lows in the mid 30s. Northeast winds 15 to 25 mph. Chance of precipitation near 100 percent.

Tuesday: Breezy…snow…possibly mixed with rain. Snow accumulation up to 2 inches. Total snow accumulation up to 4 inches. Near steady temperature in the mid 30s. North winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts to around 25 mph increasing to 15 to 25 mph with gusts to around 35 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation 80 percent.

Tuesday Night: Breezy…colder…cloudy. A 30 percent chance of snow in the evening. Lows around 18. Northwest winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts to around 35 mph decreasing to 10 to 15 mph with gusts to around 25 mph after midnight.

Wednesday: Partly sunny. Highs in the lower 30s. Northwest winds 5 to 15 mph.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows around 15.

Thursday: Sunny. Highs in the upper 30s.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 20s.

Friday: Mostly cloudy. Highs in the lower 40s.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy in the evening then becoming partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 20s.

Saturday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 40s.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 20s.

Sunday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 40s

IRON COUNTY – Two Junction City residents were injured in an accident just before 2 a.m. on Monday in Iron County Missouri.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2000 Chevy Blazer driven by Brian E. Haslock, 24, Junction City, was traveling on Missouri Highway 49. The driver failed to stop at a stop sign, traveled through the intersection at Missouri 32 and struck an embankment.

Haslock and a passenger Carmen Ocana, 30, Junction City were transported to the hospital in Salem.

OTTAWA COUNTY – A Kansas woman was injured in an accident just before 2p.m. on Sunday in Ottawa County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Chevy Classic driven by Judith A Chrisman, 72 Mineapolis, was southbound on Kansas 106 seven miles south of Minneapolis.

The vehicle left the roadway and struck a stock trailer illegally parked on the side of the road.

A private vehicle transported Chrisman to the hospital in Minneapolis.

She was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

Junction City police reported two cases involving shots fired.

In one case at 10:03 p.m. Saturday police responded to Riley Manor Circle.

The second case  involved shots fired / shooting into an occupied dwelling in the 700 block of West 13th Street at 12:10 a.m. Sunday. No injuries were reported by police in either incident.

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In another seperate case the JCPD also reported a death investigation about 6:40 a.m. Saturday in the 1900 block of Old 40 Highway

USD 475 officials report that the Franklin Elementary School Student Council  has a goal to collect 100 pounds of food for the local Wheels of Hope.

Donations of canned and dried foods may be brought to Franklin Elementary between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., from now until February 12.

They are collecting any canned and dried food item, but are especially needing peanut butter, jelly, canned fruit, canned tuna and other meat, canned spaghetti, canned soup and chili, and toothbrushes.

Saturday morning update from National Weather Service: Here are our latest thoughts on the upcoming potential for a winter storm early next week. First, the storm track may vary from the current forecast which could significantly impact the forecast for your local area. Second, it currently appears that there will be a sharp gradient from a lot of snow to not much snow. Third, any snow will have considerable blowing and drifting with very strong winds expected. As of now, north central and parts of northeast Kansas currently appear to have the greatest likelihood for widespread heavy snow while there is much more uncertainty farther to the southeast where precipitation may start out as rain.

Today: Partly sunny. Highs in the upper 50s. South winds up to 10 mph.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy. Lows in the mid 30s. Southeast winds up to 10 mph shifting to the north after midnight.

Sunday: Cooler. Mostly cloudy in the morning then becoming mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 40s. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy in the evening then becoming mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 20s. Northwest winds up to 5 mph.

Monday: Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of snow… Possibly mixed with rain. Highs in the lower 40s. East winds up to 10 mph.

Monday Night: Snow. Moderate snow accumulations. Lows around 30. Chance of snow 80 percent.

Tuesday: Windy…colder. Snow likely. Areas of blowing snow. Moderate snow accumulations. Highs in the lower 30s. Chance of snow 70 percent.

Tuesday Night: Breezy…colder. Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of snow. Lows around 15. Wind chill readings 2 below to 8 above zero.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 20s. Lowest wind chill readings 3 below to 7 above zero in the morning.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows around 12.

Thursday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 30s. Lowest wind chill readings 1 below to 9 above zero in the morning.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear. Lows around 15.

Friday: Partly sunny. Highs in the mid 30s.

MARSHALL COUNTY- Two people were injured in an accident just before 9:30p.m. on Friday in Marshall County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Polaris ATV driven by Jacob T. Belcher, 29, Blue Rapids, was northbound on 11th road seven miles southeast of Blue Rapids.

The vehicle struck another ATV driven by April C. Orr, 37, Blue Rapids, that overturned and both vehicles came to rest in the west ditch.

Orr was transported to Via Christi in Manhattan.

A passenger on her ATV Jeffrey A. Martin, 26, Glencoe, MO., was transported to the hospital in Marysville.

Belcher and a passenger on his ATV Abby L. Rottinghaus, 27 Axtell, were not injured.

For the 2nd year the Junction City/Geary County Crime Stoppers put on a Law Enforcement Banquet recognizing Law Enforcement Officers in the area for their work in 2015.

Special awards presented this year included:

• Amber Knapp, Court Services Officer of the year for 2015.
• Vaughn DeGuzman, Community Corrections Officer of the Year for 2015.
• Caleb Snider, AC of E Park Ranger of the Year for 2015.
• CW2 Aaron P. Postma, US Army CID Agent of the Year for 2015.
• Officer Tara Sims, Geary County Corrections Officer of the Year for 2015.
• Lieutenant Justin Stopper, Geary County Law Enforcement Officer of the Year for 2015.
• Detective William Arnold, Junction City Law Enforcement Officer of the Year for 2015.
• Master Trooper Jodi Wolf, Kansas Highway Patrol Officer of the Year for 2015.
• Captain Mike Rivera, Grandview Plaza Law Enforcement Officer of the Year for 2015.
• Kelly Mittman, Junction City Police Department Dispatcher of the Year for 2015.
• Alex Tyson, North Central Kansas Regional Juvenile Detention Facility Juvenile Corrections Officer of the Year for 2015.

A special award was also presented to longtime corporate sponsor of the Junction City/Geary County Crime Stoppers, D. E. Lacer, Owner of DEL Motors in Junction City.

FORT RILEY, Kan. – A 1st Infantry Division Soldier with the 1st Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, died Thursday, Jan. 28, in Al Asad Airbase, Iraq, of non-combat-related injuries.

The Soldier is identified as Sgt. Joseph F. Stifter, age 30, of Glendale,
California. He was a field artillery cannon crewmember.

“Sgt. Stifter was an exceptional Soldier and leader in our battalion,” said Col. Miles Brown, commander of the 2nd ABCT. “We are deeply saddened by the loss of a member of the ‘Dagger’ family. The thoughts and prayers of the entire Dagger brigade go to his family and friends during this difficult time. His memory will forever remain with those who served with him.”

Stifter joined the Army in May 2011. He arrived at Fort Riley in January 2012 and deployed with his unit in October to Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.

Stifter’s awards and decorations include three Army Commendation Medals, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Combat Action Badge.

Stifter is survived by his wife, daughter, mother and father.