When it comes to winter storms, ice can be particularly hazardous. Not only is freezing rain challenging to forecast, but ice storms can wreak havoc on electrical infrastructure and vegetation, knocking power out for weeks and leaving roadways impassible. Travel becomes dangerous if not impossible, with roads becoming ice rinks.

The St. Louis area is bracing for a weekend storm that could produce “a range of winter precipitation types.” Forecasts will become clearer throughout Friday.

By late afternoon and evening, models show freezing rain developing for areas around the Mission Valley and south. Under these conditions roads may quickly freeze over leading to very difficult travel for tonight into Saturday morning.