The National Weather Service in St. Louis has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for Mid-Missouri from 6 p.m. Tuesday through 6 a.m. Wednesday.
This includes Cole, Callaway, Moniteau, Boone and Osage counties.
While Tuesday began with thunderstorms and temperatures around 70 degrees in Jefferson City, by evening rush hour temperatures were in the 30s.
Forecasters said mixed precipitation is expected overnight. Ice accumulation from freezing rain of up to one-tenth of an inch is expected, with little if any snow accumulation.
Portions of east-central and northeast Missouri as well as west central Illinois also are included in the advisory.
Forecasters said ice will result in difficult travel conditions and advised travelers to prepare for reduced visibility at times.
The rain initially was seen as welcome, as there has been little moisture this winter, but a strong cold front brought temperatures down and the possibility of ice up.
"The rain took a lot of the tools out of our tool box," said Jefferson City Operations Division Director Britt Smith. "We just can't get out there and put material down to help with traction when there's a steady rain because it just washes off."
Smith and Cole County Public Works Director Larry Benz said they planned to bring in their road crews early enough so they could be out before the Wednesday morning rush hour.
"This may put us behind the eight ball for a while," Benz said. "When the rain dissipates, we can start getting out on the roads."
Road conditions can be monitored on the Missouri Department of Transportation website, modot.org. For road information in Missouri, call 1-888-275-6636.