Ice storm possible Friday- Sunday

Confidence is growing that we will have significant ice accumulation in parts of Mid-Missouri this weekend. Most areas will see at least a tenth inch of ice with higher amounts possible. This will not only make travel difficult if not impossible, but if ice accumulation reaches a quarter inch or more, tree limbs could break and power outages will be possible. It’s still early to pin down exact amounts of ice but at this time a tenth to quarter inch looks likely with higher amounts possible.

Temperatures will stay in the upper 20s to near 32 degrees Friday. Freezing rain and sleet will increase from south to north Friday, beginning as early as daybreak near I-44 and spreading north to HWY 50 (Jefferson City to Sedalia line) by noon.

Freezing rain is expected to spread north to near I-70 from mid-afternoon to 6 PM and up to HWY 24 (Brunswick to Moberly to Paris) by 9 PM. By 6 AM Saturday, a glaze of ice is possible as far north as HWY 36.

Waves of moisture will continue to feed in from the southwest through the weekend. Precipitation will be on and off through Monday. At this time, highest amounts of moisture are expected along and south of I-70 through Saturday night, increasing to the north by Sunday morning. Surface temperatures will be critical in determining the amount and duration of the ice event. There is still some question on how far north the freezing line will make it through Saturday. Areas south of I-70 could see a change-over to all rain Saturday afternoon if temperatures climb to the mid 30s as indicated by some forecast models. However, areas north will likely stay below freezing through Sunday morning. It’s a close call as the freezing line looks like it sets up over Mid-Missouri and wavers through the weekend.

As warmer air lifts north Sunday, freezing rain will change over to all liquid rain by Sunday evening as temperatures climb through Monday.