Thursday, January 2 forecast: Weekend winter storm update

Today we managed to climb into the upper 40s. Not warm, but I hope you made the most of it as temperatures will not exceed that mark for quite a while.

Thanks to a cold front that pushed through earlier today, temperatures will be colder for Friday. High will be lucky to reach the low 40s by the afternoon.

Saturday is expected to stay a relatively quiet day. Grey overcast skies with temperatures in the upper 30s. Precipitation should begin Saturday night and last through the day Sunday before shutting down Sunday night.

A winter storm is set to arrive Saturday night into Sunday morning. Let's start with the part I am most confident. Northern Arkansas will likely see rain and nothing else during this time as temperatures will be too warm. Additionally, heavy snowfall will form north of I-70 for the majority of Central and Northern Missouri. The question mark is for the people in between.

Between the Missouri state line and below I-70 we will likely see rain transition to a wintry mix/ice on Sunday before ending as light snow on Sunday night. Accumulations of freezing rain, sleet, and snow appear possible north of a Stockton to Buffalo to Eminence line. Only very light accumulations are expected further south.

Travel impacts can be expected on your Monday morning commute. Another factor in this is the anticipation for very cold air to arrive Sunday night. We will not be thawing out anytime soon as temperatures will stay nearly double digits below freezing.

This will be the beginning of a very cold stretch of weather with most if not all days next week remaining below freezing. Now is the time to prepare home and property for an extended stretch of freezing weather.