Snow expected to taper off this afternoon

Snow continues to accumulate around much of Missouri, with an additional one to three inches expected before tapering off to flurries from northwest to southeast Missouri this afternoon.

Numerous Mid-Missouri schools cancelled classes for Thursday because of inclement weather conditions. (Use the link below to access the list.)

The heaviest snowfall overnight occurred in a band of counties along the Interstate 70 corridor and the Missouri River, including Jefferson City and Columbia. Reports ranged from six to ten inches. Lesser amounts were reported in the Lake of Ozarks area and across southern and northeast Missouri.

Additional periods of snow are expected to develop until the storm system moves farther east this afternoon. Temperatures will turn bitterly cold, reaching a low of 3 above on Thursday night.

The National Weather Service is continuing its Winter Weather Warning for much of central and east-central Missouri until 6 p.m. The warning states:

  • TIMING...SNOW WILL CONTINUE THIS MORNING...BEFORE TAPERING TO FLURRIES THIS AFTERNOON.
  • ACCUMULATIONS...STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 6 TO 12 INCHES IS EXPECTED...WITH THE HEAVIEST AMOUNTS ALONG INTERSTATE 70.
  • IMPACTS...SNOW COVERED ROADS WILL CREATE HAZARDOUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS. DRIVERS ARE URGED TO USE EXTRA CAUTION.

CONDITIONS CAN DETERIORATE RAPIDLY IN WINTER WEATHER SITUATIONS... SO SLOW DOWN AND ALLOW EXTRA TIME WHEN TRAVELING. PRACTICE YOUR WINTER SAFETY RULES...KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT...FOOD...AND WATER IN YOUR CAR IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS THAT 6 INCHES OR MORE OF SNOW IS EXPECTED. THE RAPID ACCUMULATION OF SNOW WILL MAKE TRAVEL EXTREMELY DIFFICULT...IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE. IF TRAVEL IS NECESSARY...MAKE SURE TO EXERCISE CAUTION. BEGIN YOUR TRAVEL WITH A TANK FULL OF GAS ...AND CARRY A WINTER STORM KIT WHICH INCLUDES A SHOVEL... FLASHLIGHT ...CELLPHONE ...AND BLANKETS OR EXTRA WARM CLOTHING.

Additional Weather Resources:

School Closings and Cancellations for Thursday, Jan. 20, 2011

Local Forecast, Current Conditions

Area Radar, Severe Weather Statements

Video Weather Report for Central Missouri

Missouri Highway Travel Map