Area under winter storm warning

Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois will likely be impacted by a major winter storm during the next few days. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning through Tuesday evening for the area, which includes the Missouri counties of Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Perry, Scott, Stoddard and Wayne and the Illinois counties of Alexander, Jackson and Union.

Though it is unknown the exact path of the storm at this time, the current forecast is for a mix of freezing rain, sleet and snow. The storm is expected to deliver two rounds of wintry precipitation through Wednesday.

The first round will begin this evening and will continue through Tuesday morning. Snow, sleet and freezing rain is expected during this time. After a few hours of no precipitation, a second round will begin Tuesday afternoon. This will begin as more of a sleet or freezing rain mix, then transition to snow and sleet.

The heaviest accumulations of snow and sleet are expected along and north of Cape Girardeau, with as much as five to ten inches possible. Ice accumulations of one half to one inch are possible farther south.

The weather service advises a delay or cancellation in travel tonight through Tuesday evening.

Stay tuned to semissourian.com for any updates throughout the afternoon and duration of the storm.