Snow accumulation may not last long

By this morning, snow has likely covered much of Southeast Missouri. But with temperatures forecast to rise into the mid-30s in Cape Girardeau today, it may not stick around long.

Saturday night, the National Weather Service in Paducah, Ky., was forecasting 1 to 2 inches of snow accumulation in the Cape Girardeau area.

The forecast followed a wet Saturday in which light rain or mist fell throughout the day but temperatures above freezing in Cape Girardeau prevented roads from icing.

By 7:30 p.m., reports of sleet and snow were coming in from the Piedmont, Mo., area, and snow was falling north of a line starting in southern Perry County, said National Weather Service meteorologist Robin Smith. The snow was moving east.

By 8 p.m. Saturday, snow had begun to fall in Cape Girardeau, though it was not yet accumulating on streets. Snow had begun to accumulate on the roads in Perryville, Mo., but the Perryville Police Department reported no calls about weather-related vehicle accidents.

A winter weather advisory was in effect for Cape Girardeau, Bollinger and Wayne counties until 6 a.m. today because of the potential of slick roads. The National Weather Service cautioned that some ice on the roads may be buried beneath snow.

Wintry precipitation was expected to clear out this morning, with cloudy skies becoming clear this afternoon.

-- Matt Sanders