
West Central Missouri: Wednesday May Be Hazardous Or Just Wet
If you're anything like me, you're keeping an eye on precipitation that is supposed to move into West Central Missouri tonight and tomorrow. So what can we expect, and what should we be prepared for?
Prepare for Precipitation
It looks like it will be wet in West Central Missouri tomorrow. Our forecaster, Weatherology, says there's a 40% chance of precipitation from 7:00 PM tonight, Tuesday, February 4, 2025, through 7:00 AM tomorrow, when the chance increases to 80%. Weatherology says we may even see thunderstorms tomorrow afternoon.
If there's any good news with all of this, it's our temperatures. I know today's high of 42 is a rude awakening compared to the high 50s and low 60s we experienced over the weekend. That said, they predict temperatures in West Central Missouri will bottom out around 34 overnight and then be on the rise into the upper 40s through much of Wednesday.
Will It Be Icy?
The forecast for West Central Missouri indicates that freezing rain and other conditions that could make travel difficult will occur along and north of Interstate 70.
The National Weather Service says icing up to 0.1" is possible near the Highway 63 corridor north of I-70. Tomorrow, those heading north on Interstates 35 or 29 will travel through areas expecting to see icing. Those traveling on Interstate 70 may run into some icing heading east past Columbia or West beyond Marshall and/or Higginsville junctions into Kansas City.
Additional guidance from the National Weather Service indicates that above-freezing temperatures may limit the duration of icing on the southern edge of the area of concern. Additionally, ice accumulations are expected east of Highway 65, with lighter accumulations west.
That said, slippery conditions are expected across the area.
There Seems To Be A High Confidence It Will Be Wet vs. Icy
While the National Weather Service has issued various watches and warnings, there aren't any currently posted for our area, nor was there a Hazardous Weather Outlook posted warning of freezing rain or ice.
That said, forecasters say our area of West Central Missouri is uncertain about what type of precipitation we'll receive, so we may wake up Wednesday morning to an icy mess or the potential for weather to deteriorate throughout the day. Remember that bridges and elevated surfaces freeze more quickly, and those have the most potential to be slick in our area.
The Bottom Line
If you're traveling throughout West Central Missouri tomorrow, Wednesday, February 5, 2025, Plan to give yourself extra time tomorrow morning to get to work or wherever you're going. There's a good chance you won't need it, and the roads will just be wet. Bridges and elevated surfaces might be slippery, but you never know what could happen as this system shapes up, especially since we're on that line between rain and freezing rain.
If you're heading to Iowa, Hannibal, or Illinois, check the forecast and road conditions before leaving. You can check road conditions in Missouri here.
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