April snow showers bring... what?

After yesterday's thunderstorm outbreak and temperatures in the 70s, it's hard to believe that we face two -- yes, two -- chances of snow in the next week. Although it's possible that these snow makers could be total busts, any chance of snow in April is a big deal!

Following widespread frost tonight and a brief warming trend, another cold blast will plunge temperatures into the upper 20s Friday night. Meanwhile, low pressure out of the southern Plains will bring precipitation starting as rain but potentially changing to snow, sleet, and/or freezing rain.

Cape Girardeau, as usual, sits right on the line where the temperatures will be just cold enough to support a wintry mix. The computer models always struggle with these rain-changing-to-snow scenarios. Right now the supercomputers are projecting a 20% chance that Cape Girardeau will see at least 2 inches of snow accumulation...

...and a 5% chance of 4 inches of snowfall. The probabilities increase substantially in Perry County and points northward.

The track of the low pressure system is expected to be favorable: the kind of path across northern Mississippi that is capable of yielding an epic snowstorm in January or February. For April, though, we'll probably have to be satisfied with one or two inches.

By Saturday night, the mercury is expected to drop into the mid 20s, a real bummer for any vulnerable plants. It could get even colder if we have any snow on the ground.

Sunday night brings another chance of precipitation. With temperatures hovering in the mid 30s, we could see another chance of snow, although it would be too marginal to expect any accumulations.

Yay for Missouri weather!