2/25: Winter Storm Update

***UPDATE MONDAY 11 PM***Rain has changed over to all snow in most of Mid-Missouri except for areas near I-44 where a wintry mix of sleet, rain and snow continues. Snow will continue overnight with heavies snowfall from 2 to 7 a.m. Road conditions will quickly worsen overnight as temperatures fall to the freezing mark and snowfall rates increase along with northerly winds causing blowing and drifting of snow on east-west roads. Snow amounts of 10″ to 12″ in Columbia, 6-8″ in Jefferson City, 8-12″ through the Lake of the Ozarks and a foot or slightly more in Boonville, Sedalia, Fayette and Marshall are expected for this storm.***UPDATE MONDAY 6 PM***Rain is moving into Mid-Missouri and will continue to mix with snow or sleet through the evening with a changeover to all snow from 9-11 pm in Sedalia, Marshall, Fayette & Moberly, 12-2 am in Columbia, Mexico, Fulton, Jefferson City through Osage Beach.Up to a foot of snow is expected in our western & northern counties with blowing and drifting over east-west roadways. The heaviest band of snow has shifted slightly to the south and east and forecast snow amounts were bumped up to 9 inches in Columbia, 6″ in Jefferson City. Please refer to forecast snow totals map.***UPDATE MONDAY 12 P.M.***Computer models continue to shift the area of heaviest snow east of Kansas City. Rain will change to heavy, wet snow mainly after midnight from west to east overnight with strong winds. This storm will likely produce high snowfall rates and have gusty NE winds up to 30 mph. Potential snowfall amounts have increased for much of the area as some parts of Mid-Missouri could receive more than a foot of snow. ***PREVIOUS DISCUSSION***Another powerful winter storm will impact Mid-Missouri Monday night through Tuesday. Rain will spread over the region Monday afternoon- evening, mixing with and changing to snow overnight. The changeover will occur during the evening in western and northern Missouri, transitioning to the east through the night. Along with the transition of rain to snow, a band of heavy snow with snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour is expected to develop from near Quincy, Illinois to Kansas City where up to a foot of snow is possible. Northeasterly winds up to 30 mph will blow and drift snow on east-west roads and produce nearly whiteout conditions. Snow will taper off from mid-morning Tuesday through the afternoon.Travelers should expect worsening road conditions through Monday night with snow covered roads by Tuesday morning and reduced visibilities in moderate to heavy snow. Some roads could become impassable due to blowing and drifting in the heaviest snow areas.A slight change in the storm’s position or a delay in the arrival of cold air on the backside of the storm could alter forecast snow totals. Please check back for updates.