Tracking snow for some, above average temperatures for others

TODAY: Monday is an interesting weather day in mid-Missouri. Highs will be mild with dry conditions in Columbia and Jefferson City. Expect afternoon sunshine and highs in the upper 40s (above average) here. South, near the Lake of the Ozarks, and near I-44, we'll have a chance for snow. Up to 4 inches of snow is possible along and south of I-44, with no more than a trace just south of HWY 50.Even where snow falls, it will be melty snow, fighting warm air and ground temperatures. It's likely that folks along HWY 50 don't see any snow at all as dry air undercuts this precipitation. We may see snow on radar, (and on your phone's weather app), but this dry air will limit what reaches the ground. The lack of precipitation, and the return of sunshine by the afternoon, will warm areas Jefferson City and northward, back into the upper 40s. Snow fall keeps those in the south near 40 at best.

TONIGHT: Precipitation leaves by the dinner hour, and clouds clear out. Temperatures will drop handily overnight, with lows in the 20s Tuesday morning.

EXTENDED: Tuesday brings more sunshine, and highs in the low 50s where there isn't snow pack. A local cool spot is likely near the Lake of the Ozarks and I-44 where snow may linger on the ground. Expect 40s here. Snow should melt by Wednesday, as more sunshine and south wind warms us to near 60. This south wind precedes a weak shortwave, that, thanks to weak moisture return, brings only a slim chance of light rain overnight into Thursday morning north of I-70. We're dry Thursday, but slightly cooler in the low 50s. We cool further on Friday, as we see another chance for light showers, and a high near 40. Precipitation falls as light rain early, and transitions to a chance for snow late, but may not amount to much. This will be short lived, but it introduces cold air for the weekend, with highs near 40 over the weekend.