First freeze of the season within 24 hours

A strong cold front brings a surge of cold air into mid-Missouri as we head into the weekend. This week we have already experienced chilly conditions, but actual air temperatures have not yet dropped below 32 degrees.

This is set to change as we head into Saturday. Winds continuing out of the northwest will help pump in Arctic air causing overnight lows to drop at or below freezing by Saturday morning.

All of mid-Missouri is under a Freeze Watch OR Warning sometime this weekend. The Freeze Warning goes into effect starting Saturday at 1 AM until 10 AM. The following counties are included: Macon, Randolph, Chariton, Howard, Saline, Cooper, Pettis, Morgan, Benton, Miller, Maries, Camden, Pulaski, and Phelps. A warning means freezing temperatures are “likely.” Some of these counties see the Freeze Warning continue for Sunday morning.

Other parts of mid-Missouri are under a Freeze Watch that goes into effect Saturday night until Sunday morning. The following counties are included in this watch: Monroe, Boone, Audrain, Callaway, Montgomery, Moniteau, Cole, Osage, and Gasconade. These counties see the potential to for temperatures below freezing Saturday night.

Patchy frost is possible as early as Saturday morning, but widespread frost looks more likely Sunday as winds begin to subside.

Stay up to date with this winter-like weather as ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather Team continues to track frigid conditions all weekend long.