Treacherous weather threatens central Missouri with a dangerous mix of freezing rain and snow

by By Missourian staff

A treacherous mix of freezing rain and snow continues to be forecast for much of the state this weekend, including weather patterns that threaten travel and power outages in central Missouri.

“Stay home,” advised Matt Beitscher, a lead meteorologist with the National Weather Service in St. Louis.

The severe weather was expected to begin Saturday evening and continue throughout the day Sunday with a mix of freezing rain and snow.

North of Interstate 70, the weather is likely to be predominantly snow, Beitscher said. As the storm moves farther south along the I-70 corridor, it will be a wintry combination of sleet and snow, transitioning into more snow later in the weekend.

Beitscher predicted a snow accumulation of 6 to 10 inches in the Columbia area by the time the storm passes through.

Closer to Jefferson City, the weather pattern will likely be freezing rain with snow at the back end, he said. But don’t focus on the number of inches of snow, Beitscher said.

“The main takeaway is to stay home,” he said. “Your travel is going to be treacherous and is strongly discouraged.”

Ice is likely to cause power outages and tree damage, according to an urgent winter storm advisory from the National Weather Service.

Travel could be nearly impossible, and hazardous conditions could affect the Monday morning commute.

The cold that arrives with the storm is also expected to keep temperatures below freezing until next weekend.

Temperatures could be 12 to 25 degrees colder than normal, according to the National Weather Service.

“This could lead to the coldest January for the U.S. since 2011,” AccuWeather Director of Forecast Operations Dan DePodwin told The Associated Press on Friday.

“It’s not just one day of this. It’s going to be three to five, in some cases a week or more of temperatures that are well below historical average,” he said.

Updated information

Weather-related updates from around the state and Columbia:

• Parking on first- and second-priority routes is now prohibited with snow expected to reach more than 2 inches overnight. The city Public Works Department sent an alert Saturday night announcing that vehicles parked on these roads may be ticketed or towed to leave room for snowplows. To receive timely alerts about parking on snow routes, sign up at Alerts.CoMo.gov.

• The Columbia Public Library, including curbside service, will be closed Sunday because of the severe weather. Updates can be found on the library’s website and social media channels.

• Area churches, clinics and businesses are announcing closures and cancellations for Sunday and Monday. For an ongoing list, go to KOMU.com/weather/closings/

• Across the state, MoDOT has approximately 1,500 snow trucks operating with crews working 12-hour shifts from before the snow starts until roads are in a mostly clear condition after the snow ends. Missouri road conditions are available 24/7 on the Traveler Information Map at www.modot.org on desktop and mobile devices. Drivers can also find road conditions by following MoDOT on Facebook and X or by calling 888-ASK-MODOT (888-275-6636) to speak with a customer service representative.

• Public Works now has a crew of 33 operators on duty since 7 a.m. The goal is to keep first-priority routes in passable condition as the storm progresses, according to an update by the city.

• To report a power outage to Columbia Water & Light, call 573-875-2555. To check for current outages, go to or search for the City of Columbia Outage Map. To report an outage to Boone Electric Cooperative, call 573-449-4181 or 800-225-8143 anytime day or night. The cooperative’s outage map is online and updated regularly.

• Trash and recycling collection routes are expected to continue Monday as scheduled. Placement of roll carts should follow the procedure cited in these guidelines: CoMo.gov/city-source/december-2024/roll-cart-placement-winter-weather.

• Gov. Mike Parson has activated the Missouri National Guard for state and local response efforts, if needed. The order also waives certain hours of service requirements for commercial vehicles transporting residential heating fuel, including propane, natural gas and heating oil.

• Families should stay indoors or locate a warming center if heat is not available. Columbia’s warming centers include: The ARC (Activity and Recreation Center), 1701 W. Ash St.; Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services, 1005 W. Worley St.; Columbia Public Library, 100 W. Broadway; Salvation Army, 1108 W. Ash St.; and the Salvation Army Harbor House, 602 N. Ann St.

• Go COMO bus service will make a decision Sunday about public transit routes for Monday. Riders can stay updated by visiting CoMo.gov and clicking the Winter Storm Information banner or by signing up for Go COMO Transit text alerts at Alerts.CoMo.gov.

• The top levels of University of Missouri parking structures are closed during the storm and until further notice. Top-level permit holders can park in the lower levels without a penalty in most university garages.