Cape may see a foot of snow by tonight

Cape Girardeau could be dealing with up to a foot of snow on the ground by this evening.

The storm also will usher in bitter cold later this week.

The National Weather Service in Paducah, Kentucky, on Sunday issued a winter storm warning in Southeast Missouri until 6 p.m. today because of the snowstorm.

Eight to 12 inches of snow in Cape Girardeau are forecast.

"We're expecting three to five inches overnight (into Monday morning)and another four to six inches by Monday evening," Robin Smith of the National Weather Service said Sunday night.

Areas near Perryville, Missouri, can expect slightly less snow -- about eight to nine inches, Smith said.

Isaiah Evans scrapes ice after clearing snow from his car before going to work Monday morning, Feb 16, 2015 in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)

But south of Cape Girardeau, areas such as New Madrid and Poplar Bluff, Missouri, could see heavier snowfall.

The National Weather Service on its website reported that snowfall rates today could reach one to two inches per hour at times.

By this evening, the snow is expected to stop.

Smith said the snow is going to be mostly dry, and the sleet and freezing rain that are common in such storms in February won't be in the forecast.

"The biggest issue is winds will be reaching 10 to 15 miles per hour throughout the day Monday, so with light snow like this, it's fairly easy for it to drift onto the roadways," Smith said.

The fallen snow is expected to stay until temperatures begin to rise to the mid-30s close to the weekend.

But Smith said early Thursday morning, the temperature will drop to a low of minus three degrees, with a high of 18 that day.

"Thursday will by far be our coldest day," he said.

The Missouri Department of Transportation updates driving conditions of state highways regularly.

For updates, visit its interactive map at traveler.modot.org/map.

smaue@semissourian.com

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