The Jefferson City area didn't get snow Saturday as expected, but there is a chance the roads could be slick this morning as temperatures drop to the single digits.
The National Weather Service did not receive any reports of snow or sleet in Mid-Missouri, but it did receive some reports of ice accumulation from freezing rain in Hallsville, Kingdom City and 6 miles southeast of Columbia, said Melissa Mainhart, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in St. Louis.
Edina, Missouri, about 140 miles north of Jefferson City, received more than 3 inches of snow, according to reports to the NWS.
"Edina is actually all I have in terms of snow," Mainhart said. "We're really dependent on people calling in or messaging us online and letting us know how much they've measured."
Mainhart said there were no reports of snow, sleet or ice Saturday in Jefferson City. Jefferson City Operations Division Director Britt Smith said he believes the crews were ahead of the rain and able to treat the roads before it formed into ice.
"We believe we've been able to stay in front of it with some cooperation from the weather, but it has been right on the borderline almost all day long," he said.
At around 6 p.m. Saturday, she said there was a chance of light snow after 10 p.m. Saturday night.
"If that snow does form and fall, accumulations will be super minor and probably won't amount to much," she said.
She said the temperatures in Jefferson City were expected to drop to about nine degrees this morning, and the high is expected to peak to only about 20 degrees.
"It's going to be our coldest night of the season so far -- also the coldest night of the year, but that's not saying much," she said.
Mainhart said the roads could be icy today, but winds are expected to sustain at 15-20 miles per hour, gusting as high as 20-25, which should help dry out the roads.
"It's really just going to depend on the roads, how elevated they are, how fast they cool and how strong the winds are in that particular area," she said. "If that area is sheltered from the wind, it's more likely it would freeze than if it was an exposed overpass."
Smith said he expects the roads to be fine today unless there is precipitation overnight, which "could change everything."
"Folks should just take a little extra time in the morning whenever they're making their way to church or wherever they might be going," he said. "And if we do get that snow at night, if they can postpone that trip till a couple hours after daylight, we'll be sure to have those roads in good shape as quickly as we can."
Cole County Road Superintendent Bryan Boyce said the roads were in good shape Saturday even though pavement temperatures dropped to well below freezing, and he expected them to be fine today.
"I think we might've dodged a bullet," he said.
In a news release, the Jefferson City Police Department said it wants to remind everyone to have sufficient fuel in your tank when traveling, as well as a safety pack including a flashlight, snacks, blanket and first aid kit. Make sure all headlights, taillights, brake lights and turn signals are properly functioning so other drivers will see you, the police department recommends.
If possible, avoid driving until road conditions have improved. If you must travel, make sure to leave early, turn your headlights on, be extra cautious and don't tailgate other vehicles.
Slow down, avoid hard braking or turning sharply and allow ample stopping distance between you and the cars in front of you. Be mindful of emergency vehicles and road clearing equipment, as they need more space to safety operate, the news release continued.
For road condition information, download a weather alert app such as Smart 911, or view the MoDot Traveler map at traveler.modot.org.