The KOMU 8 first warning weather team predicts a major winter weather event that will generate dangerous trips on Thursday night and Friday.
Please see the latest first warning weather history at the top of the KOMU 8 weather page (komu.com/weather) and in the KOMU 8 weather app.
Winter storm warnings are in effect tonight through Friday afternoon for central and northern Missouri. A freezing rain and a sleet that will start later on New Year’s Eve https://t.co/lLUZxguxEU #mowx @KOMUnews pic.twitter.com/Kh3kLMRGMF
– Tim Schmidt (@komuTim) December 31, 2020
THURSDAY AFTERNOON TO FRIDAY AFTERNOON: SEASON MODE 4
Here’s a look at what our winter storm mode scale looks like (see image).
We’re in Storm 4 mode because we expect parts of half of Missouri to experience a major winter storm that will produce ice accumulations of a quarter of an inch or more.
We look forward to dangerous trips to downtown Missouri.
This event will take place during a holiday season that is usually full of travel for the New Year holidays. We suggest that you do not travel while this event is taking place to ensure your safety and that of others.
DETAILS OF THE ICE EVENT
This storm system will shift from the south Thursday evening and overnight.
TIME TO START:
- Lake Ozarks should have mixed or icy rain between 8pm and 10pm.
- Jefferson City and HWY 50 aisle at 10 p.m.
- Columbia and I-70 corridor between 11 p.m. and 1 p.m.
- Moberly and HWY 24 aisle between midnight and 2 p.m.
- Macon and HWY 36 after 1 p.m.
- Keep in mind that this time may change, please be careful and if you think it will arrive sooner, you will be better off just in case.
At first, we expect a brief period of winter mix, snow and sleet, which will change quite quickly to icy rain.
Freezing rains will continue most of the night. Remember, it only takes a few degrees of difference to switch to normal rain, but at this point we expect temperatures to stay close enough to surface freezing to get icy rain overnight, accumulating ice on all surfaces.
As Friday morning continues, we expect icy rain to continue, potentially until noon for areas primarily north of I-70. Temperatures are likely to heat up enough to pass rain to much of the area during the afternoon, and some areas south of I-70 may see dry weather on Friday afternoon.
However, while some areas will pass in the rain on Friday afternoon, some areas will also become colder and pass in the snow. The best snowfall is in northwest Missouri, including Macon, Chariton and Saline counties in mid-Missouri.
That means Friday at noon we could have problems with rain, frost, sleet and snow in downtown Missouri.
Finally, on Friday evening any precipitation should come out.
ACCUMULATION
NOTE: If this system shifts eastward, we will see a shift eastward toward total ice accumulation for a county or two and a shift toward higher snow at the bottom as well. Stay tuned!
To gel we expect all areas to see at least 0.10 “. Some areas, mostly north and west of Columbia, are expected to see about 0.25” of ice or more. Yes, it’s a quarter of an inch of ice.
Winds it will also gust from 25 to 30 mph. This, plus the weight of the ice, can cause power line problems.
Neu Friday noon and afternoon accumulations in the northwestern central MO are expected to be around 1 “, although the closer you get to Columbia and Jefferson City, these totals will drop to a dust or less .
Ice is the main problem to watch out for with this system.
SATURDAY SNOW TEST
The chances of snow on Saturday are dropping as it looks like the weak wave we are tracking is quite weak. The opportunity is not yet nil.
The remaining eight days forecast looks much warmer with more sun.
Stay tuned and be sure to download the KOMU 8 weather app to stay informed with forecast updates and interactive radar.
