Winter Storm Potential:

With over half of the US population under some form of winter weather alert, we brace for a widespread winter storm across the Heartland. A Winter Storm Warning is in place until Sunday evening with significant snow and ice accumulations possible.

Above is our latest run of StormCast, showing snow showers possible starting early Saturday. We take a brief pause before snow (blue) and sleet (pink) showers pick up for the start of the day on Sunday.

Here is what our in-house model is thinking for snow accumulation through Sunday evening. Snow totals will depend on the northern extent of the snow-sleet line, with the highest snow totals typically coming 20-30 miles north of that transition zone. 6- 12 inches of snow will be possible across the region, in areas that see more sleet, expect snow totals to be on the lower end.

And if that was not enough, we will also grapple with frigid conditions across the viewing area. A Cold Weather Advisory is in place until Saturday afternoon for wind chills up to 10 degrees below zero.

Forecast:

Frigid temperatures settle in this evening with overnight lows in the single digits.

Snow likely for most of the day in Cape Girardeau with high temperatures in the middle teens.

Winds pick up for Saturday gusting up to 25 miles per hour, keeping our high temperatures across the area below 20 degrees.

Wintry precipitation will continue through the weekend before sunshine returns for the start of the work week. Temperatures will take a while to warm up with this weekend’s snow accumulation set on keeping us colder through most of next week.

Storm Alert Team Meteorologist
Dominic Ferraro