Tracking much colder air tonight, wintry weather Friday

TONIGHT: Clouds gradually decrease with lows falling into the upper teens.

THURSDAY: It's much colder with highs only reaching the lower 30s. We'll start off clear, but clouds build back in late in the day.

EXTENDED: A Weather Alert Day is in place for Friday as precipitation slides in from the southwest after midnight Thursday into Friday morning. With cold air in place, precipitation starts out as snow through the morning commute. Snow amounts will range between 1-2" for Columbia and Jefferson City, and possibly up to 3" for areas north of Moberly. Snow transitions to sleet and freezing rain by midday from south to north as warmer air aloft tries to move in. A trace to 1/4" of ice will be possible, causing slick travel through Friday afternoon. By early evening, the wintry mix changes over to a cold rain as surface temperatures climb into the upper 30s to around 40. Rain amounts will be anywhere from 0.75" to 1.5" before it all comes to an end early Saturday morning. For the rest of the weekend, winds pick up, making already cold temperatures in the 20s and 30s feel even colder with the wind chill. The cold trend continues into next week with highs in the 20s and lows in the low teens.