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Missouri Thanksgiving: 'Micro Blizzards' Could Hit St. Louis, MO
St. Louis, MO – Imagine driving west on Interstate 70 for Thanksgiving, leaving the St. Louis metropolitan area toward Columbia when a sudden curtain of blowing snow sweeps across the highway. Within
By Wesley Grant · 2026-11-14T11:27:22.961Z
St. Louis, MO – Imagine driving west on Interstate 70 for Thanksgiving, leaving the St. Louis metropolitan area toward Columbia when a sudden curtain of blowing snow sweeps across the highway. Within moments, semitrailers fade from view, brake lights become difficult to see and a routine holiday trip turns dangerous.
It's a winter driving scenario Missouri motorists should understand before Thanksgiving on Thursday, Nov. 26.
According to the National Weather Service NWS , snow squalls are brief, intense bursts of snowfall that can produce strong winds, near zero visibility and rapidly deteriorating road conditions. Sometimes informally described as "micro blizzards," these events can make highways hazardous within minutes.
Missouri Highways Where Sudden Whiteouts Are a Concern Interstate 70, connecting St. Louis, Columbia and Kansas City, is a major Thanksgiving travel corridor where sudden snow and blowing winds can reduce visibility.
Interstate 44 through St. Louis, Rolla, Springfield and Joplin, Interstate 35 north of Kansas City, and Interstate 29 toward St. Joseph are additional routes where winter weather can disrupt holiday travel.
Motorists traveling through St. Charles, Boone, Jackson, Clay, Buchanan and Greene counties should monitor forecasts when snow showers and gusty winds are possible.
Exposed stretches of northern and western Missouri can experience blowing snow, while bridges and overpasses may become slippery when temperatures approach freezing.
Not every blowing snow event qualifies as a snow squall, but both can create dangerous driving conditions.
What Happens When a Snow Squall Warning Is Issued? The NWS issues Snow Squall Warnings when dangerous snow squalls are occurring or imminent.
Warnings generally last 30 to 60 minutes and may trigger Wireless Emergency Alerts on compatible mobile phones.
Sudden whiteouts at interstate speeds increase the risk of multivehicle crashes, particularly when motorists brake abruptly or follow too closely.
What Thanksgiving Travelers Should Do If a Snow Squall Warning affects a planned route, delay travel until conditions improve .
Drivers already traveling should gradually reduce speed, increase following distance, use low beam headlights and avoid sudden braking.
If visibility becomes dangerously poor, safely exit the highway when possible rather than stopping in an active travel lane.
Before departing, check MoDOT Traveler Information for highway conditions, closures and travel advisories.
Official forecasts and warnings are available from NWS St. Louis , NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill and NWS Springfield , which cover different portions of Missouri.
This is a Thanksgiving travel preparedness reminder, not a prediction that snow squalls will strike Missouri during the holiday. Recognizing how quickly visibility can disappear could help families make safer decisions on Missouri highways.