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Many schools are closed today across the Ozarks as a winter storm dumps snow and ice over much of Missouri and Northern Arkansas. KSMU's Michele Skalicky has more...
February is starting off in a big way as a winter storm moves across the Ozarks. Much of Missouri is under a blizzard warning and a winter storm warning until 6 tomorrow morning. Andy Boxell, meteorologist at the National Weather Service Office in Springfield, tells us what we can expect...
"The storm continues to unfold really kind of on schedule this morning with a mix of snow and sleet being experienced through much of the night in the Springfield area. South of Springfield and south of Interstate 44, we've generally seen a freezing rain to sleet mix, and we're quickly transitioning to all snow north of the interstate with some pretty rapid accumulations as that takes place. As we go through the morning hours today, I would expect precipitation to change to all snow in the Springfield area with snowfall rates really increasing during the mid morning hours today, perhaps in excess of two to three inches per hour at times."
When the storm moves out late tonight, the Ozarks will be blanketed with a thick layer of sleet and snow...
"In the Springfield area, looking like anywhere from about 15 to 18 inches of snow possible right along I-44 with heavier accumulations to the north. The heaviest snow accumulations will likely be up near the Truman Lake and Lake of the Ozarks region where totals could reach as high as 20 inches of snow by the time that the storm is done. We'll likely see a little bit more moderate snow accumulation south of Interstate 44 where there'll be a little bit more sleet and freezing rain mixed in."
According to Boxell, it’s extremely rare for a blizzard warning to be issued in the Ozarks. He says conditions today will make driving treacherous...
"The combination of very heavy snow with very gusty north winds, in some cases gusting as high as 40 miles per hour during the day today, will likely result in very dangerous whiteout conditions across the area with visibilities under a quarter mile to near zero at times."
Once the storm moves out, very cold temperatures will settle in. The low tonight will be around 6 above with wind chills of 12 below. Highs tomorrow will be only around 13 with a wind chill of 14 below, and the low tomorrow night will be ten below.
