Once we get past this weekend the Jefferson City area should get back to more normal weather for this time of the year.
Meanwhile, Friday night through Saturday morning wintery precipitation will make its way through the area.
"We expect the snow to begin in Jefferson City around 7-9 p.m.," said Meteorologist Jon Carney with the National Weather Service in St. Louis. "By the time it's done around 6 a.m. Saturday, we think you should have around five inches. Most of the Central Missouri area should see 3-5 inches of snow."
Carney said the temperatures should reach around 33 on Saturday and Sunday and then get into the 40s starting Monday.
The wintry weather began in Jefferson City around 9 a.m. Friday.
"With it being right above the freezing line any material we put down is washing off quickly with the rain coming down," said Jefferson City Operations Director Britt Smith. "The roads should stay in pretty good shape for the afternoon rush hour, but we ask that people still take their time. Tonight we'll have our full compliment of over 20 plows ready to go. We're hopeful things will stay in good shape. I'd rather deal with ice than snow. Our concrete pavements have tended to ice up sooner than asphalt because concrete doesn't hold heat quite as well."
"Gravel roads have been iced over and some of our trucks we had to chain the tires to get through," said Cole County Public Works Director Larry Benz. "We'll have our main crews work until about 8 p.m. and then have our night crews work overnight before we bring everyone back in to start hitting the roads around 4 a.m. Saturday. If we get any sunshine that would help the material to melt the snow and ice."
Weather Resources:
Latest forecast, radar, advisories
MoDOT traveler information map
Weather Advisory:
The National Weather Service issued the following statement for Mid-Missouri, including Boone, Callaway, Camden, Cole, Gasconade, Maries, Miller, Moniteau, Morgan and Osage counties.
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 AM CST SATURDAY...
- TIMING...RAIN WILL CHANGE OVER TO ALL SNOW EARLY THIS EVENING.
- ACCUMULATIONS...SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 3 TO 5 INCHES.
- WINDS...SOUTHEAST 5 TO 10 MPH.
- IMPACTS...THE WINTRY PRECIPITATION WILL RESULT IN HAZARDOUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS TONIGHT ESPECIALLY ON BRIDGES... OVERPASSES... AND UNTREATED ROADS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS ISSUED FOR A VARIETY OF WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS... SUCH AS SNOW... BLOWING SNOW... SLEET... OR FREEZING DRIZZLE AND RAIN. IT ONLY TAKES A SMALL AMOUNT OF WINTRY PRECIPITATION TO MAKE ROADS... BRIDGES... SIDEWALKS... AND PARKING LOTS ICY AND DANGEROUS. IT IS OFTEN DIFFICULT TO TELL WHEN ICE BEGINS TO FORM... SO DO NOT BE CAUGHT OFF GUARD.