St. Louis winter storm: How much snow and ice will we see?

ST. LOUIS - A powerful winter storm will sweep through the St. Louis region on Sunday, bringing a mix of snow, sleet and ice to close out the weekend.

The type and amount of winter weather you experience will largely depend on your location within the Greater St. Louis area.

There's a strong chance you'll see one of three winter weather outcomes...

Outcome 1 - Mostly snow

Counties north of the Interstate 70 corridor in Missouri and Illinois will likely see consistent snowfall from Saturday evening to Monday morning, with chances slim-to-none for sleet and ice.

Current forecast projections in the aforentioned area call for 8-10 inches of snow through Monday.

This pattern may develop in parts of Montgomery, Warren, and St. Charles counties in Missouri, though the heaviest snow impacts are expected to affect counties farther north.

Outcome 2 - Sleet and snow

Counties between the Interstate 70 and Interstate 44 corridors in Missouri, in addition to those south of Interstate 64 in Illinois, are likely to experience sleet Sunday morning, followed by varying amounts of snowfall into the evening.

Current forecast projections in the aforentioned area call for 4-8 inches of snow and possibly small amounts of ice accumulation (0.1 inches or less) through Monday morning.

This pattern may develop in parts of St. Louis County and St. Louis City, along with parts of Madison and St. Clair counties in Illinois.

Outcome 3 - Freezing rain and snow

Counties south and east of the Interstate 44 corridor in Missouri are likely to experience freezing rain Sunday morning, followed by varying amounts of snowfall into the evening.

Current forecast projections in the aforentioned area call for around 2-4 inches of snow and anywhere from one-quarter (0.25) to half-an-inch (0.5) of ice accumulation through Monday morning.

This pattern may develop in Dent, Reynolds, Iron, and Madison counties in Missouri, though it could extend as far north as Jefferson and Franklin counties.

Also to consider

People in areas of ice accumulation should be prepared for possible power outages. Freezing rain and sleet are likely to subside by early Sunday afternoon, though the storm system will give way to snow for much of the St. Louis metro by the early evening.

With this in mind, the dynamic storm could undergo many changes before it arrives and exits. Travel and weather impacts could stretch into Monday.

MoDOT and IDOT transportation officials are encouraging people to avoid road travel unless absolutely necessary through at least Sunday evening. The Winter Storm Warning runs from 10 p.m. Saturday to 6 a.m. Monday.