SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A mix of sleet, freezing rain, and snow is moving across southern Missouri this afternoon, making for slippery roads through the evening commute and into the late-night hours. The National Weather Service in Springfield reports that precipitation will begin as a wintry mix south of I-44 before transitioning to light snow from west to east this evening.
Forecasters say areas from West Plains and Eminence north through Springfield and Lebanon will see a wintry blend of sleet and freezing drizzle through the late afternoon, while cities such as Joplin, Rolla, and Bolivar turn to light snow by early evening. The wintry weather will taper from west to east between 10 p.m. and midnight.
Even minor icing could make bridges and untreated roads slick during the evening commute. The Missouri Department of Transportation urges drivers to slow down, increase following distance, and monitor traveler.modot.org for road updates. Temperatures are expected to hover near freezing, allowing thin ice to form on elevated surfaces.
Although snow totals will remain light—generally under one inch—roads could still become hazardous where sleet and freezing rain precede the snow. Drivers should stay alert for rapidly changing conditions, especially along and south of I-44.
