Rain changing to snow expected late Saturday in Boone County

COLUMBIA — Boone County and much of mid-Missouri remain under a winter weather advisory until 4 a.m. Sunday.

According to the National Weather Service in St. Louis, rain is expected to change to snow between 6 and 9 p.m. Saturday and will continue throughout the evening. Two to four inches of sleet and snowfall are expected.

The combination of a strong north wind and snow could reduce visibility to less than one mile at times on Saturday night. Motorists should drive carefully and be alert when approaching bridges, overpasses and curves, the National Weather Service said.

"In general, the weather pattern over the central part of the country is going to stay pretty active" because of several storm systems that are pushing through over the next few days, said Scott Truett, a forecaster with the National Weather Service office in St. Louis.

As of 4 p.m. Saturday, no flight cancellations or delays were reported at Columbia Regional Airport, though officials continue to monitor surface conditions for any changes, said Mike Parks, a safety officer at the airport.

Much of the snow will probably melt on Sunday, Truett said, and temperatures next week are expected to be closer to the historical average for this time of year. In mid-Missouri, the average high temperature for the first week of April is in the 60s and the average low in the mid-30s. Neither extreme cold nor extreme warmth is expected next week, Truett said.

For updates on road conditions, go to the Missouri Department of Transportation's Web site or call 1-888-275-6636. Updates on weather conditions are available on the National Weather Service's Web site.