Showers and scattered thunderstorms will continue across southeast Kansas and portions of the Missouri Ozarks through 8 am. The showers will be concentrated west Highway 65. A few storms may produce small hail along with brief heavy rainfall. Rainfall amounts will range from one tenth to one third of an inch as the activity moves to the northeast at 40 mph.
Forecast for Benton
Updated: 4:04 am CST on December 23, 2009
Winter Storm Watch in effect from Thursday afternoon through Friday afternoon...
Through Sunrise
Periods of showers and scattered thunderstorms. High in the upper 40s. East winds around 10 mph. Chance of rain near 100 percent.
Today
Periods of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 50s. Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph in the morning. Chance of rain near 100 percent.
Periods of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 40s. East winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain near 100 percent.
Thursday
Very windy. Cooler. Periods of rain showers. Chance of thunderstorms in the morning...then periods of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 40s. Temperature falling into the mid 30s in the afternoon. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph in the morning increasing to 15 to 25 mph in the afternoon. Gusts up to 45 mph. Chance of rain near 100 percent.
Windy. Much colder. Snow and freezing rain in the evening...then snow likely after midnight. Moderate snow accumulation possible. Lows around 17. West winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts to around 40 mph. Chance of precipitation 80 percent.
Christmas Day
Windy...colder. Cloudy with a 40 percent chance of snow. Highs around 30. Southwest winds 20 to 25 mph with gusts to around 35 mph.
Friday Night
Blustery. Mostly cloudy in the evening then becoming partly cloudy. Scattered flurries. Lows around 17.
Saturday
Blustery. Partly sunny. Highs in the upper 20s.
Saturday Night through Sunday Night
Partly cloudy. Lows around 16. Highs around 30.
Monday and Monday Night
Mostly clear. Highs in the lower 30s. Lows in the lower 20s.
... Winter Storm Watch in effect from Thursday afternoon through Friday afternoon...
The National Weather Service in Springfield has issued a Winter Storm Watch... which is in effect from Thursday afternoon through Friday afternoon.
* Timing and areas affected... snow will develop Thursday afternoon into Thursday evening across southeast Kansas and southwest Missouri... or west of a line from Cassville... to Springfield... to Warsaw.
* Snow accumulations... snow accumulations of 2 to 5 inches with locally higher amounts are possible... along with blowing and drifting snow.
* Winds and visibility... strong northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph are possible as the cold front passes across the area from west to east. These strong winds... if they materialize... will most likely produce blowing and drifting snow with visibilities reduced to near one quarter of a mile at times.
* Impacts... travel conditions during Christmas eve and Christmas day could be significantly impacted with drifting snow and hazardous driving conditions.
Precautionary/preparedness actions...
A Winter Storm Watch means there is a potential for significant snow... sleet... or ice accumulations that may impact travel. Continue to monitor the latest forecasts.