A powerful winter system is expected to bring dangerous cold to the St. Louis region this weekend, with snow still a possibility depending on how the storm tracks.
According to local weather channels, the area will get a brief break first, with relatively mild January conditions Wednesday and Thursday. Highs will reach the low 40s Wednesday before dipping into the upper 30s Thursday under partly cloudy skies.
Conditions will begin to shift late Thursday as a series of cold fronts bring in Arctic air. Temperatures will steadily fall through Friday, with the coldest conditions expected Saturday morning. Regardless of snowfall, forecasters say Friday through Sunday will bring dangerously low temperatures and wind chills.
Snow chances increase Saturday into early Sunday as a major winter system moves across the southern Plains and Mississippi Valley. St. Louis sits near the northern edge of the expected snowfall zone, meaning the region could see accumulating snow or remain mostly dry while still enduring bitter cold. Current projections suggest light accumulation is possible, especially near and south of the I-70 corridor, though the exact amount remain uncertain.
Highs this weekend are expected to stay in the teens, with overnight lows near or below zero in some areas. Wind chills could fall between 10 and 20 degrees below zero at times.
Forecasters stress that the biggest concern is the cold itself, while snow details will become clearer closer to the weekend. Those in the area are encouraged to monitor updates and prepare for potentially hazardous conditions.
To see local weather updates, visit https://www.ksdk.com/weather.