Wintry precipitation is already falling in northwest Missouri and could continue into the overnight. A Winter Weather Advisory is in place in Doniphan, Atchison, Nodaway, Worth, Gentry, Harrison, Holt and Andrew counties until 2 a.m.
From the National Weather Service: Rain will continue to move northeastward through the afternoon hours. A polar cold front will continue to bring colder air into the area, with rain changing over to a wintry mix initially for NW Missouri. A wintry mix is possible including freezing rain/freezing drizzle/sleet/snow over NW Missouri, with lesser chances to the southeast. Snowfall under one-half inch and/or a light glaze of ice is possible over far NW Missouri. Temperatures will plummet for this weekend, with highs running near 30 on Saturday.
National Weather Service Meteorologist Scott Blair says that moisture could begin to freeze on roadways even this afternoon as temperatures reach near 30 degrees, especially on elevated surfaces like bridges.
“Once you get up across northwestern Missouri we are looking at the potential for several different precipitation types. We might see a changeover from rain to freezing rain over the next few hours and then eventually sleet and even some light snow,” Blair says. “Far northwestern Missouri, out of all of the state, is going to be at the most concern over the next 6 to 12 hours for wintry precipitation and we could see some light accumulations across that area that may lead to a little bit of hazardous driving conditions.”
Further south and southeast precipitation is expected to remain less wintry and more rainy.
Blair says a major ice storm is not expected, and conditions are likely to improve by the time people are driving to work and school Friday morning.
