Impact of expected winter weather predicted to minimal for Sikeston area

The area could potentially see some winter weather Wednesday evening as an arctic cold front will cause rain to change to wintry precipitation late this afternoon.

According to the National Weather Service Wednesday morning, less than an inch of winter precipitation is forecast for the area, while 1-2 inches of snow are forecast over much of western Kentucky, far southeast Illinois and southwest Indiana, where a Winter Weather Advisory has been issued.

A potential concern is the formation of ice where surfaces are wet from rain earlier Wednesday.

As of Wednesday morning, the Sikeston area was expected to see rain before 5 p.m., then becoming freezing rain and sleet with the temperature falling to around 31 by 5 p.m.

It will be breezy, with a light west/northwest win becoming north 17-22 mph in the morning, gusting to as high as 32 mph. The chance of precipitation is 80% with very little or no sleet accumulation expected.

Wednesday night, snow is expected to fall, mainly before 9 p.m. with a low around 14 and wind chill values as low as 3-below. Winds will continue to blow 18-22 mph with gusts as high as 33 mph.

New snow accumulation of less than one inch is possible the for the Sikeston area.

Very low wind chills are expected Thursday into Friday morning. The wind chills early Thursday morning will be sub-zero over southeast Missouri. Wind chills will remain in the single digits and teens for much of the day Thursday into early Friday morning.