A mix of freezing rain, sleet and snow will continue across much of Missouri this morning, prompting the Winter Storm Warnings and Advisories to remain in effect through noon today.
The National Weather Service reports that a Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until noon today for areas east of a line from the Lake of the Ozarks through Jefferson City, Fulton, Mexico and stretching to Quincy, Illinois. West of that line toward Kansas City, a Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect until noon today.
Generally, the Warning covers the southeastern one-half of Missouri, while the Advisory covers the northwestern one-half. The basic difference between the two is that freezing rain and sleet is forecast to be more prominent in the eastern parts of the state covered by the Warning. Light snow is forecast to be more prominent under the Advisory in the western sections of the state, with the possibility of some sleet mixed in with the light snow.
Here are the weather statements from the NWS covering each:
Winter Storm Warning
...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST TODAY...
- TIMING... FREEZING RAIN AND SLEET WILL CONTINUE THIS MORNING BEFORE COMING TO AN END BY MIDDAY.
- ACCUMULATIONS... ADDITIONAL ICE ACCUMULATION UP TO A TENTH OF AN INCH. STORM TOTAL SNOW AND SLEET ACCUMULATION OF AROUND 1 INCH... ALONG WITH TWO TO THREE TENTHS OF AN INCH OF ICE.
- WINDS...NORTH 5 TO 10 MPH.
- IMPACTS...THE WINTRY PRECIPITATION WILL RESULT IN HAZARDOUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS...ESPECIALLY ON BRIDGES... OVERPASSES...AND UNTREATED ROADS. PARKING LOTS AND SIDEWALKS WILL BECOME SLIPPERY AS WELL. SOME DAMAGE TO TREES AND OVERHEAD UTILITY LINES WILL BE POSSIBLE DUE TO THE WEIGHT OF THE ICE...AND THERE IS A THREAT OF POWER OUTAGES.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS THAT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF SNOW... SLEET AND/OR ICE IS EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. STRONG WINDS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE.
Winter Weather Advisory
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST TODAY...
- TIMING... LIGHT SNOW TO CONTINUE THIS MORNING WITH SOME LIGHT FREEZING RAIN AND SLEET MIXED IN AT TIMES.
- ACCUMULATIONS... ADDITIONAL SNOW ACCUMULATION UP TO AN INCH POSSIBLE. LITTLE OR NO ADDITIONAL ICE ACCUMULATION EXPECTED. STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 1 TO 5 INCHES...ALONG WITH LESS THAN A TENTH OF AN INCH OF ICE.
- WINDS... NORTH 5 MPH OR LESS.
- IMPACTS...THE WINTRY PRECIPITATION WILL RESULT IN HAZARDOUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS...ESPECIALLY ON BRIDGES... OVERPASSES...AND UNTREATED ROADS. PARKING LOTS AND SIDEWALKS WILL BECOME SLIPPERY AS WELL.
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.
Additional Weather Resources:
Area weather-related cancellations, announcements for Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 21-22, 2015
Local weather forecast, radar, advisories
MoDOT's statewide Traveler Information Map (road conditions)