Forecast trending toward more snow, less ice

The latest bulletins from the National Weather Service are suggesting that our storm system could be colder than previously thought, producing more snow and less freezing rain for Cape Girardeau. The current Winter Storm Warning statement says:

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR AREAS ALONG AND NORTHWEST OF A LINE FROM VAN BUREN TO CAPE GIRARDEAU MISSOURI AND ONTO FAIRFIELD ILLINOIS FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 6 AM CST MONDAY.

* LIGHT FREEZING RAIN WILL OVERSPREAD THE AREA LATE TONIGHT AND CONTINUE INTO SUNDAY MORNING. THE FREEZING RAIN WILL THEN QUICKLY TRANSITION OVER TO SLEET AND SNOW DURING THE DAY.

* SIGNIFICANT SNOW AND ICE ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED. UP TO A QUARTER INCH OF ICE WILL BE POSSIBLE SUNDAY BEFORE THE SNOW AND SLEET ARRIVE. SNOW AND SLEET ACCUMULATIONS OF THREE TO SIX INCHES ARE EXPECTED IN MANY LOCATIONS BEFORE THE PRECIPITATION TAPERS OFF SUNDAY NIGHT.

* IMPACTS...AS TEMPERATURES DROP BELOW FREEZING LATE TONIGHT... TRAVEL CONDITIONS WILL BECOME TREACHEROUS...ESPECIALLY SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT.

Thunderstorms are possible too, and they could take the form of thundersnow, thundersleet, or thunderice. The Storm Prediction Center outlook even mentions a small possibility of hail. If it can fall from the sky, we might be seeing it on Sunday.