Ice storm warning set to extend through Wednesday morning

A snow plow works to clear ice off of University Avenue on Sunday morning. Public Works crews were out in force working to clear the 2 to 3 inches of snow and ice that fell the night before.   ¦  JOHN HOOK/Missourian

COLUMBIA — The National Weather Service issued an ice storm warning set to begin at 6 p.m. Monday and end at 6 a.m. Wednesday, just as it canceled the freezing rain advisory that had been in effect this afternoon.

The Weather Service said patchy light freezing drizzle was possible this afternoon with little, if any, ice accumulation, according to a bulletin issued a little after noon Monday.

"More significant icing is likely to occur tonight through Tuesday," the statement said, "with around a quarter inch of additional icing expected."

Residents were advised to prepare for additional power outages and heavy damage to trees, especially tonight through Tuesday night.

“An ice storm warning just covers the fact that the probability for the area to receive freezing rain is certain,” said Benjamin Sipprell, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in St. Louis, earlier this weekend.

Earlier, Columbia had been under a winter storm watch. Sipprell said that preparations and precautions for the winter storm watch should be the same as preparations for any winter weather, no matter the severity. People should not travel unless it is a necessity, he said. If it is, then travel time should be adjusted to allow for safer, slower driving. If Columbians have not gathered extra supplies of food, medicine and heating fuel they should do so if they can travel safely from their home. before the storm gets worse.