Winter storm warning- updated 4:05 a.m.

(From the National Weather Service)

WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS EVENING...

A WINTER STORM WARNING SNOW... SLEET... AND FREEZING RAIN REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS EVENING.

* SHORT TERM TRENDS... A WINTRY MIX OF FREEZING RAIN AND SLEET WILL INCREASE IN COVERAGE AND INTENSITY FROM SOUTHWEST TO NORTHEAST AS WE HEAD TOWARD DAY BREAK INTO EARLY THIS MORNING. THE NORTHERN EDGE OF THE PRECIPITATION GENERALLY NORTH OF A JOPLIN TO AVA LINE WILL START OFF AS SNOW AND SLEET WHILE AREAS TO THE SOUTH WILL SEE MORE FREEZING RAIN.

* TIMING AND AREAS AFFECTED... SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN WILL RAPIDLY INCREASE ACROSS FAR SOUTHERN MISSOURI AND SOUTHEASTERN KANSAS THROUGH 8 AM AND CONTINUE THROUGH EARLY THIS AFTERNOON.

A MIX OF SNOW AND SLEET WILL OVERSPREAD CENTRAL MISSOURI AND THE EASTERN OZARKS THIS MORNING AND TRANSITION TO A MIX OF SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN. THE HEAVIEST PRECIPITATION WILL OCCUR BETWEEN 7 AM AND 2 PM.

A MIX OF SNOW AND SLEET WILL BE THE MAIN PRECIPITATION TYPE ACROSS WEST CENTRAL AND CENTRAL MISSOURI GENERALLY NORTH OF HIGHWAY 54.

* SNOW AND SLEET ACCUMULATION... TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS OF SNOW AND SLEET WILL GENERALLY RANGE FROM ONE TO FOUR INCHES... WITH THE HIGHEST AMOUNTS ALONG AND NORTH OF THE HIGHWAY 54 CORRIDOR IN CENTRAL MISSOURI. POCKETS OF HEAVY SLEET WILL OCCUR WITHIN ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS.

* ICE ACCUMULATION... TOTAL ICE ACCUMULATIONS OF A THIN GLAZE TO ONE TENTH OF AN INCH ARE EXPECTED NORTH OF INTERSTATE 44 WITH ACCUMULATIONS AROUND ONE QUARTER OF AN INCH ALONG AND SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 44.

HIGHER ICE ACCUMULATIONS TO AROUND ONE HALF OF AN INCH MAY OCCUR ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE HIGHWAY 60 CORRIDOR.

* WINDS AND VISIBILITY... EASTERLY TO SOUTHEASTERLY WINDS OF 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS AROUND 30 MPH WILL OCCUR TODAY.

* IMPACTS... THE WINTRY MIX WILL IMPACT TRAVEL BEGINNING THIS MORNING WITH RAPIDLY DETERIORATING TRAVEL CONDITIONS EXPECTED DURING THE MORNING COMMUTE. TRAVEL COULD BECOME TREACHEROUS THIS MORNING.

FREEZING RAIN WILL ACCUMULATE ON ELEVATED OBJECTS INCLUDING TREES AND POWER LINES. DAMAGE TO SOME TREES AND POWER LINES MAY OCCUR ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE HIGHWAY 60 CORRIDOR... WHICH WOULD RESULT IN LOCALIZED POWER OUTAGES AND DEBRIS IN ROADWAYS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW... SLEET... AND ICE ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. STRONG WINDS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE. CONSIDER TAKING A WINTER STORM KIT ALONG WITH YOU. THIS KIT SHOULD INCLUDE SUCH ITEMS AS TIRE CHAINS... BOOSTER CABLES... A FLASHLIGHT... SHOVEL... BLANKETS... EXTRA CLOTHING AND ANYTHING ELSE THAT WOULD HELP YOU SURVIVE IN CASE YOU BECOME STRANDED.