Weather Alert Day: Heavy snow ramps up late Saturday night, snow ends Sunday
UPDATES:
Snow showers have been light throughout the afternoon with about 1-2" of accumulation since mid-morning. The next wave moves in after sunset with snowfall rates exceeding 1" per hour in some spots, with snow tapering off to the east around lunch time on Sunday. This is where we'll pick up most of the accumulation heading into the next 12-18 hours.
A winter storm warning is now in effect for most of Central Missouri as heavy snow is increasingly likely through late Sunday afternoon. A winter weather advisory is also in effect across Northern Missouri.
A cold weather advisory remains in effect almost areawide for below-zero wind chills throughout the weekend. The coldest morning will be Monday as wind chills could dip to -20 degrees by daybreak.
FUTURETRACK:
It's going to be cold all weekend, likely colder than it has been all season. High temperatures on Sunday will likely remain in the single digits to around 10 degrees. Wind chills will be coldest on Sunday night into Monday morning with readings between -15 and -25.
The first round of snow brought around 1-2" of accumulation to Mid-Missouri, but the next wave moving in after sunset Saturday night will bring the bulk of snowfall to the region through midday Sunday.
HAZARDS/IMPACTS:
Snowfall amounts will be highest along and south of I-70, especially around the Lake of the Ozarks and I-44, closer to the center of low pressure in Arkansas.
Totals continue to inch higher with newer forecasts. The probability of exceeding 6 inches of snowfall is now at or above 70% along and south of I-70, including Columbia and Jefferson City. We're most uncertain about totals in the far north, where drier air could eat away at snow for longer, with a range of 3 to 6 inches possible.
Our greatest confidence is in extreme cold; with frozen pipes, car trouble, and frostbite possible with prolonged exposure this weekend. Snowpack will extend the cold through Sunday and early Monday, with Monday morning possibly the worst now as high pressure slides over the area. Wind chills could be below -20 degrees if the coldest forecast sticks on Monday.
Roads will be quite slick with very low visibility between Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon. Treatment could be tough through the weekend as air temperatures could dip below zero in the morning.
Make sure you have the ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather App to keep an eye on closings and delays through the weekend and get the latest forecast videos as the forecast evolves.
