What to know about the snow, storm expected to hit mid-Missouri Thursday night

The first day of spring is around the corner, but winter is not done with us just yet.

Snow is expected to arrive in mid-Missouri Thursday afternoon or evening and continue into Friday, National Weather Service meteorologist Brad Charboneau said Wednesday.

As of Wednesday morning, the forecast called for anywhere between 1 to 5 inches for Columbia from this snow event. Southern Boone County likely will see less snow accumulation than northern Boone County, Charboneau said.

While there is a chance of freezing drizzle at the onset of Thursday's weather, Charboneau does not expect any significant icing as there is expected to be a quick changeover to snow.

Temperatures are forecast to drop from a high of 36 degrees Thursday to 23 degrees Thursday night.

When is the snow expected to hit Columbia?

Snow is expected through the overnight hours Thursday, lasting until about mid-morning Friday.

This snow event will be similar to the whiplash of weather the region experienced in February, Charboneau said.

"It is a fairly active system. Saturday afternoon is expected to be chilly, but Sunday we are expecting temperatures to rebound to 60 degrees," he said.

Friday’s commute could be difficult for most parts of the state, the Missouri Department of Transportation said in a news release.

“The forecast is particularly tricky because it has been changing as we get closer to the storm,” said Becky Allmeroth, MoDOT chief safety and operations officer. “Most forecast models show the entire state being impacted by varying amounts of accumulation. Everyone should be prepared to drive in less-than-perfect road conditions for the next two days.”

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Thursday snow could bring 5 inches to Columbia. Here's what to expect