Since early this week, winter storm watches have been elevated to winter storm warnings, as a massive snowstorm unfolds across wide swaths of the United States. Listen to KMOX for the latest updates.
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for the KMOX listening area, including portions of south central and southwest Illinois, and portions of central, east central and southeast Missouri. Total snow accumulations are predicted between 1 and 3 inches. Winds could gust up to 45 mph.
Related
A Wind Chill Warning is in effect from 6 pm Thursday to noon Friday as wind chills are expected to reach as low as 35 degrees below zero.
CLICK HERE for the Missouri Department of Transportation Traveler Map
CLICK HERE for the Illinois Department of Transportation Getting Around Illinois road conditions map
AccuWeather is reporting blizzard warnings were issued for southern Minnesota, northern Iowa and the western portion of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Further south, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt declared state of emergency, telling residents to stay inside during the storm.
Forecasters says the storm will likely undergo what's called bombogenesis -- when a storm strengthens rapidly and the barometric pressures falls quickly. Such storms are referred to as "bomb cyclones" in the weather community.
As the pressure plummets, winds will rush in and swirl at high speeds around the storm's center.