Up to a half inch of ice, half inch of sleet accumulation possible

The National Weather Service has Cape Girardeau County under a winter storm warning and a flood watch this morning.

The weather service issued a flood watch Sunday associated with a storm system moving through the area today, tonight and Tuesday. Monday morning a winter storm warning was issued.

Temperatures are expected to fall below freezing starting early tonight, with freezing rain and sleet. The weather service was predicting up to a quarter inch of ice accumulation with this storm system as of this morning.

Early this afternoon the weather service updated that forecast, saying up to a half inch of ice accumulation is now possible by Tuesday night, with a half inch accumulation of sleet also possible.

Freezing rain and sleet will gradually change to snow, with accumulation of up to two to four inches possible. The warning is in effect until 6 p.m. Tuesday.

The warning also applies to Perry and Bollinger counties. Scott County is under a winter storm advisory, meaning snow and ice accumulation is expected to be less severe than in the areas under the warning.

The advisory is also in effect for Alexander and Union counties in Southern Illinois.

A flood watch remains in effect for the entire region, associated with heavy rains expected to continue throughout the day today.