sleet Archives - Missourinet

Winter storm Friday to be followed by stronger storm Saturday and Sunday

February 27, 2014 By Mike Lear

Missouri will be impacted by two winter storms Friday through Sunday. A storm on Friday could cause some travel hazards, then a system Saturday night through Sunday could be a significant winter storm posing threats to travel and utilities.

This graphic was offered by the Pleasant Hill NWS office, which covers primarily northwest Missouri.

This graphic was offered Thursday morning by the Pleasant Hill NWS office, which covers primarily northwest Missouri.

Friday morning, precipitation will spread into the western portion of the state and push east. It is expected to begin as a mix of rain, freezing rain, snow and sleet that could cause some glazing of ice and make morning driving hazardous. Warmer temperatures in the afternoon will cause most precipitation to change over to rain in the afternoon and allow for some melting of any ice, according to Meteorologist Ryan Cutter with the National Weather Service office in Pleasant Hill.

“It will be a little dicey and we’ll have to see where all that freezing precip decides to fall,” says Cutter.

That storm is expected to end Friday evening with some snowfall perhaps lingering in far north Missouri.

The more significant storm is expected to begin Saturday night, but much uncertainty remains about that storm.

Meteorologist Andy Boxell with the National Weather Service office in Springfield says there is a great deal of confidence that a lot of wintry precipitation will fall in Missouri Saturday night through Sunday, but questions about temperatures and track remain.

This weather graphic was offered Thursday morning by the Springfield NWS office, which covers primarily southwest Missouri.

“We’re not only concerned about the temperature here at the surface,” says Boxell, “but also further up in the atmosphere … if we’re just cold enough we may see more sleet and snow. A little bit warmer in some cases and maybe more of a freezing rain event.”

As for what will fall, Boxell says, “In all likelihood there will be a portion of the state that sees fairly significant snow, a portion that sees fairly significant sleet and freezing rain accumulations,” but it remains unclear where the varying forms of precipitation will fall.

The Saturday night and Sunday storm is expected to pose threats to both travel and utilities.

In regard to travel, Cutter says, “There could be enough snow that [road crews] will need to probably get out and maybe plow over the weekend, especially as you get further north in Missouri with several inches of accumulation expected.”

For south Missouri Boxell says temperatures will be cold enough to allow for accumulation on elevated roadways, tree limbs and power lines.

“Freezing rain is the worst-case scenario and that, combined with what is going to be a pretty stiff east wind could create some issues where that freezing rain does fall.” He notes that where sleet falls, structural problems could also arise because its accumulation can add significant amounts of weight to structures.

Cutter says some snow could continue Sunday night but the storm should come to an end by Monday. It is expected to be followed by very cold temperatures for Monday, with daytime highs struggling to get into the teens and overnight lows into the singled digits and negative readings in north Missouri and only slightly warmer in southern Missouri..

Both meteorologists encourage Missourians to watch and listen for the latest updates on both storms.

For information for your area, visit these NWS pages.

In northwest and western Missouri: Kansas City (Pleasant Hill)

In northeast and eastern Missouri: St. Louis

In southwest Missouri: Springfield

In southeast Missouri: Paducah, KY

Scotland and Clark counties: Davenport, IA

Two more rounds of winter weather expected in the coming week

February 1, 2014 By Mike Lear

After the winter storm that brought snow, sleet and freezing rain to much of the state today diminishes, Missourians will not have much of a break from winter precipitation.

The National Weather Service office in Springfield is predicting another winter storm Monday night into Tuesday, but the track and potential for accumulation are uncertain.

Meteorologist Andy Foster with the National Weather Service in Springfield says two storms are expected to hit Missouri in the coming week.

“Looks like we’ll see a potential winter storm impacting the region beginning Monday night into Tuesday and potentially another winter storm effecting the area as we go into late week … Friday into Saturday.”

Foster says it isn’t clear what those storms will do and where.

“At this point there is so much uncertainty on exact track and strength it is hard to say as far as exact accumulations, but right now we’d say just prepare for a potential winter storm with a variety of winter-type precipitation with either of those storms.”

He says both systems show potential to have a region-wide impact.

“These both could be larger winter storms that will have a variety of winter weather that will impact a large area, so if you have travel plans next week make sure you get the latest forecast.

For information for your area, visit these NWS pages.In northwest and western Missouri: Kansas City (Pleasant Hill)

In northeast and eastern Missouri: St. Louis

In southwest Missouri: Springfield

In southeast Missouri: Paducah, KY

Scotland and Clark counties: Davenport, IA

For Missouri highway conditions visit the Transportation Department’s Traveler Information Map (also available as a smartphone app).

Freezing rain, sleet, snow on Thursday, dangerously low temperatures and windchills for the weekend (INFOGRAPHICS / AUDIO)

December 3, 2013 By Jessica Machetta

Unusually mild weather for December will continue today, but starting tomorrow, winter weather is coming in with a vengeance. The National Weather Service is telling folks to be prepared.

The National Weather Service hubs in Missouri are reporting that a cold front will move through the state tonight, ushering in a polar airmass that will persist through the weekend. That means all sorts of winter weather for most of the state beginning Thursday, Dec. 4.

Andy Boxell is a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Springfield. He says it looks like the worst of it is expected to be along the Interstate 44 corridor, with higher precipitation amounts to the South. But he says it’s too early to tell exactly what kind of winter precipitation will fall where, and how much. Boxell says just a few degrees difference can change the entire outlook. He’s asking everyone to watch the forecasts and be prepared. For now, it looks like rain and freezing rain will dominate the southern portion of the state, with sleet south of Interstate 70 and snow blanketing the center of the state, stretching from Kansas City to St. Louis. However, the system stretches far beyond Missouri, from Oklahoma and Arkansas, through Missouri, and into Illinois and Ohio.

Boxell says the wintery mix of precipitation will be followed by extremely cold temperatures this weekend, with single digit readings and below-zero windchills.

Now is the time to take winter weather precautions if you haven’t already … stocking up on salt, weather proofing your vehicle, and making sure your pets have indoor accommodations.

AUDIO: Jessica Machetta reports (1:19)

Boxell says everyone should focus not on how many inches of snow we might get, but rather on the fact that winter weather is coming. See the information below for a region-by-region breakout. (Click images to enlarge.) Visit the following links to see updated information as the front develops. To check the forecast in your area, visit the National Weather Service in Springfield, National Weather Service in Kansas City (Pleasant Hill), or National Weather Service in St. Louis. For weather conditions in the Southeast Missouri portion of Missouri, visit the National Weather Service in Paducah, Ky.

KANSAS CITY (Pleasant Hill):

Mild, dry weather will continue through Tuesday with above normal temperatures. Patchy dense fog covers a large part of the state this morning. A cold front will move through the region tonight bringing much colder conditions. A chance of snow is possible Thursday and Friday mainly along and south of the Interstate 70 corridor, with the highest totals expected over southwestern Missouri.

ST. LOUIS:

After seeing above normal temperatures early this week, a strong cold front will move through the area on Wednesday. Much colder air will move into the area behind the front. A wintry mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain will develop from southeast Missouri into south central Illinois on Thursday with a band of snow to the north. The chance of snow will continue over the area into Friday. Well below normal temperatures are expected through next weekend as an arctic high settles over the Great Lakes.

SPRINGFIELD:

A mix of winter precipitation and much colder temperatures will impact the region Thursday into Friday. Accumulating winter precipitation is expected but the exact precipitation type and amounts remain uncertain. Very cold weather will continue through the weekend with another chance of winter weather on Sunday. An episode of snow, sleet, and freezing rain is forecasted over extreme southeast Kansas and the Missouri Ozarks. Most of the region will experience light to moderate snow accumulations. Meanwhile, areas of far southern and south central Missouri will have a risk for freezing rain, leading to ice accumulations.

PADUCAH (Ky.):

Considerable winter weather impacts will be possible for some areas Thursday night through Friday. Mainly rain is expected Thursday. However, colder air will spread southeast across the area, so that by Thursday evening, a transition to freezing rain or sleet is forecast into southeast Missouri and southern Illinois. Late Thursday night, the transition to wintry precipitation should extend to about the Ohio River, with wintry precipitation developing across the rest of west Kentucky through the day Friday. It is still too soon to forecast specific amounts given the complexity of this storm system. However, the potential does exist for moderate accumulations of ice and sleet, with some snow possible, across portions of the region.

National Weather Service warns of slick conditions this evening, overnight

November 21, 2013 By Mike Lear

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.

Thundersnow caught on video at Missourinet headquarters

February 21, 2013 By Mike Lear

Thundersnow has been reported in several parts of Missouri during a winter storm that continues to hit Missouri. This video of it was recorded at the Missourinet in Jefferson City, Mo. at Learfield Communications. The lightening flash can be seen at about 15 seconds into the video, and the rumble of thunder was audible for more than a minute after the flash.

Thundersnow is a rare weather occurrence that happens when snow falls instead of rain in a strong upward motion within a cold sector of a front. A unique aspect of thundersnow is that the snowfall acts as an acoustic suppressor of the thunder, meaning it can be heard many miles away. Weather experts say thundersnow often produces snowfall rates in the range of 2 to 4 inches per hour.