ONLINE FIRST: Winter weather expected this afternoon

The National Weather Service in Springfield, Mo. is predicting wintery weather this afternoon through Thursday. The NWS is calling for light to moderate snow to affect the region caused by an upper level disturbance moving in from the north west beginning late this afternoon. Accumulation of snow is expected to be more likely after 6 p.m. Wednesday over Central Missouri and across much of the remainder of the Missouri Ozarks after midnight.

According to the NWS, the heaviest snow is likely to occur between 4 a.m. and 2 p.m. Thursday, with 2-5 inches expected through the Missouri Ozarks and Southeast Kansas, with the highest accumulation expected in Central Missouri.

Counties expected to be affected by the snow fall include Bourbon, Crawford, Benton (Mo.), Morgan (Mo.), Vernon (Mo.), St. Clair (Mo.), Hickory (Mo.), and Cedar (Mo.) The cities most likely to see snowfall include Fort Scott, Pittsburg, Warsaw (Mo.), Cole Camp (Mo.), Versailles (Mo.), Nevada (Mo.), Appleton City (Mo.), Oceola (Mo.), Hermitage (Mo.), El Dorado Springs (Mo.), and Stockton (Mo.)

The NWS has issued a winter weather advisory in effect from 6 p.m. Wednesday to noon Thursday. Snow accumulation of three to five inches is expected. Winds are anticipated to be out of the North from 10-15 m.p.h. with gusts up to 20 m.p.h., visibility is expected to be reduced to less than one-half of a mile at times. The NWS warns motorists to be prepared for snow covered roads and limited visibility and urges caution while driving.