Wintry weather expected this weekend

A low pressure system currently to our southwest is expected to track into Mid-Missouri late Friday night through Saturday.

This will bring a mixed bag of precipitation through the middle of the weekend.

As the system moves into the region, temperatures at the surface and in the lower levels of the atmosphere will play a big role in determining what we will see.

Right now, temperatures are expected to be above freezing late Friday night, so precipitation will likely begin as rain pushing up from southern Missouri, affecting the Lake of the Ozarks region first, mainly after midnight into the first hours of Saturday.

As temperatures begin to reach 32 degrees, much of this precipitation will transition into freezing rain as it makes contact with the ground. This will likely happen closer to 5-7 a.m. Saturday for most of Mid-Missouri. A tenth of an inch of ice is possible, with slightly higher amounts further north. This could make driving hazardous on Saturday.

Many of the weather models are in agreement that a dry slot will punch in during the early afternoon, giving many of us some dry time, with the possibility of some lingering freezing drizzle or rain. High temperatures are forecast in the middle to upper 30s Saturday afternoon.

As temperatures begin to fall further near and below freezing Saturday night, a band of snow looks to wrap around on the back side of the low pressure system, mainly affecting northwest Missouri, with lesser amounts possible into central Missouri. Right now, it looks like areas of 1-2″ are possible.

For the latest updates click here, and for Missouri road conditions, click here.