Central Plains Ice Storm: Jupiter Incoming!!

The National Weather Service has issued winter storm watches stretching from the northeast Texas panhandle to central Illinois ahead of this weekends ice storm. View the gallery below for detailed graphics and then a breakdown of impacts by each region below. Be sure to follow us for the latest updates and live video on our Facebook and Twitter! Tag your pics with #EWVLive on Instagram!

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Here is a breakdown of what can be expected across each region:

Texas Panhandle/ Oklahoma Panhandle: 

A winter storm watch in in effect for parts of the northeast Texas panhandle and the Oklahoma panhandle. Ice totals should be less than 0.25″ for these areas. Roads will still be hazardous and caution must be exercised.

Southwest Kansas:

Significant ice accumulations possible this weekend. Freezing rain is expected to spread northwest across western Kansas Friday night. Widespread freezing precipitation will then be expected over the weekend period. The potential exists for ice accumulations greater than three quarters of an inch. Minor damage to trees can be expected and sporadic to scattered power outages.

Central Oklahoma:

Near the south side of ventral Oklahoma ice totals will be lower. The OKC Metro could see between 0.25-0.50″ of ice accumulation. North central Oklahoma should see some of the most significant icing in the state with totals greater than 1″ of ice possible. Widespread tree damage will be likely and poweroutages will be widespread across these areas if totals near 1″+ occurs.

Southeast Kansas:

From the NWS: “This weekend’s event will be primarily comprised of freezing rain. Areas in orange or portions of central Kansas will have a greater potential for higher ice accumulations. Elsewhere the question in this event is the duration of the change from freezing rain to rain which could reduce ice accumulations especially further south. While some questions with ice accumulation amounts, it is possible to have 0.75” with isolated higher amounts possible even potentially up to 1” closer to central Kansas for the total event.”

Southwest Missouri:

From NWS Springfield: “A Winter Storm Watch continues this morning across much of the area. Freezing rain is still expected to develop late tonight across the region, with several periods of freezing rain expected into the weekend. Amounts will be highest across central Missouri, where temperatures will remain below freezing for the longest period of time. Freezing rain amounts will be very dependent on the exact evolution of the freezing line, so total ice amounts will continue to be fine-tuned over the next 24 hours.”

Northwest Missouri:

From the NWS Kansas City: “A long duration winter storm is expected this weekend as precipitation in the form of freezing rain impacts the lower Missouri Valley. The potential exists for significant icing across the area, which will make travel extremely hazardous. Additionally, ice accumulations may lead to downed tree limbs and power outages. Now is the time to prepare!”

Eastern Missouri/ West-Central Illinois:

From the NWS St. Louis: “The winter storm watch has been expanded to cover the entire area. Freezing rain is expected to develop over southeast Missouri tonight and then spread northward on Friday and Friday night. The precipitation will continue through the weekend, with the freezing rain changing to rain at times where the surface temperatures climb above freezing. This storm will still bring anywhere from one quarter inch to three quarters of an inch of ice accumulation to the area. Plan now for hazardous travel conditions and possible damage to trees and power lines. Winter storms warnings and winter weather advisories may be issued later today.”

Central and Eastern Illinois:

From the NWS Lincoln: “Although slick spots may remain today on untreated roadways and sidewalks after freezing rain overnight mainly west of I-55, a break in the precipitation will take place tonight into Friday morning. More precipitation will begin moving back into the area Friday and continue, on and off, through Sunday. Rain and freezing rain will occur across the area through this period and additional ice accumulations will be likely; therefore, a Winter Storm Watch is in effect for most of central and southeast Illinois. Currently the heavier amounts are expected toward southwest Illinois, however accumulating freezing rain amounts are expected for most of the area with amounts up to a quarter inch possible.”

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