Tracking the last of mild air before cold and snow enter the forecast this weekend

TODAY: Wednesday is another mild day, one of the warmest this week. After a high at Columbia Regional Airport on Tuesday near 43°, we expect nearly the same today. Winds will be from the west early, but shifting to the southwest this afternoon. Some snow showers will appear on radar this morning, but nothing more than a flurry is expected to be seen here at the surface thanks to dry low-level air.

TONIGHT: A cold front works in tonight, dropping lows to near 20°. Skies remain mostly clear.

EXTENDED: Clouds increase through the day on Thursday, as high and mid-level moisture works in from the west. This is tied to an increase in moisture preceding this weekend's winter storm. While uncertainty still lies in the snow forecast, the probability of snow making it into mid-Missouri is increasing this morning, but our cold is also looking more intense as well. Friday through Sunday are ABC17 Stormtrack Weather Alert Days for cold. Read our blog for the most detailed and up-to-date information on this weekend. You can share this, as it will be updated each day along the way. Snow chances are greatest Saturday south of I-70. Frigid air moves in Friday under overcast but mostly dry skies. A high of ten is forecast for Friday, but lows are expected to hover around zero Saturday and Sunday.