Your metro-east, St. Louis commute could get hazardous Tuesday evening. See forecast
Snow has begun falling in parts of west St. Louis County and is expected to move east through the city and toward Belleville Tuesday afternoon and evening.
A winter weather advisory is in effect for St. Clair County, St. Louis City and county and more nearby locations through Tuesday night.
National Weather Service St. Louis meteorologist Lydia Jaja told the News-Democrat Tuesday afternoon wintry conditions are expected to ramp up and affect rush-hour traffic.
“We’re expecting pretty hazardous driving conditions for our evening rush hour tonight,” Jaja said. “We’re expecting blowing snow with high winds and low visibility because of the snow blowing.”
Forecasters expect icy spots and snow accumulations on roads Tuesday, and the majority of snowfall will probably occur between 3 and 9 p.m. across the metro region, Jaja added.
“If you are able to just stay at home, that’s probably for the best,” Jaja said.
The St. Louis area and Belleville are expected to receive roughly half an inch to 1 inch of snow, and the region will see freezing temperatures Tuesday night.
Meteorologists expect dry weather Wednesday and early Thursday, with the potential for more snow Thursday night into Friday.
Estimates for the St. Louis region include a 60% chance of seeing at least 3 inches of accumulated snow, mostly north of Interstate 70, from Thursday to Friday. These are approximations with variability; the snow could end up hitting north or south of the metro.
Those hoping for a warmer weekend may be disappointed.
“I wish we had warmer weather coming, but we do not,” Jaja said. “We actually have much colder weather coming through the weekend. After this storm system we have kind of a blast of arctic air in the metro.”
Friday night lows are expected to be in the teens, Jaja continued, and the low temperatures will drop to roughly minus 5 degrees by Monday night.
Winter driving safety tips
One of the most important things people can do to stay safe in winter weather is to keep up to date with the forecast, Jaja said. You can check live road conditions from the Illinois Department of Transportation and Missouri Department of Transportation.
Here are some best practices to minimize danger on unavoidable trips in wintry weather, from Jaja:
Use your headlights. Bright snow does not guarantee visibility.
Make sure you have plenty of gas.
Leave plenty of distance between yourself and other vehicles. It takes much longer for your car to come to a complete stop on slick roads.
Drive slowly.
Avoid unnecessary trips.
It’s also a good idea to let friends or family know your travel plans and carry a windshield scraper, jumper cables, a flashlight, water, nonperishable food and warm clothing and blankets in your car, according to the NWS.
If you become stranded, try not to panic. Call someone to let them know and do not leave your vehicle, the agency advises. Use flashers to make your vehicle more visible.
This story was originally published January 9, 2024 at 2:41 PM.
