A strong storm system will be moving toward the Ozarks from Friday through New Year’s weekend, bringing the chance for everything from heavy rain and lightning to light freezing rain, sleet and snow, along with below zero wind chills.
The National Weather Service says there’s a potential for heavy rainfall ahead of the system on Friday.
There’s a marginal to slight risk for flooding on Friday, mainly along and south of a line from Anderson to Rolla, with the highest risk for flash flooding over south central Missouri.
As temps fall below freezing, rain may change over to freezing rain and sleet from late New Year’s Eve into New Year’s Day.
Light accumulations of snow, sleet and frezing rain will be possible mainly along and north of I-44 late Friday night into Saturday.
Accumulations are expected to be 1/10th of an inch or less.
Areas affected will most likely be along and west of a line from Osage Beach to Joplin, roughly north of the I-44 corridor.
Only limited impacts are expected at this time.
There is then the potential for snow on New Year’s Day.
The best chances for any accumulating snow will be along and north of Interstate 44, with accomulations up to one inch possible north of Highway 54.
Little to no snow accumulation is expected in the southern Ozarks toward Branson.