Updated at 10:45 pm on 01/26/26
Travel remains hazardous across the region, especially along secondary and rural roads. Moderate west winds will continue to lead to dangerously cold wind chill values through early Tuesday morning. Many warming centers have extended their hours throughout the region.
Late Monday afternoon, Southeast Missouri State University announced that the main campus and regional campuses would reopen on Tuesday.
In a statement to staff, SEMO President Dr. Brad Hodson thanked the Facilities Management staff for their ongoing efforts to clear the campus.
“I want to extend gratitude to the crews from Facilities Management, the University Police Department, and the Student Life area who worked throughout this winter storm to ready campus for our return and provide food and services to our students during it,” said SEMO President Dr. Hodson.
Further west in Poplar Bluff, Three Rivers Community College and many other schools remained closed throughout the region on Tuesday.
Updated at 3:39 pm on 01/25/26
As the major Winter Storm system slowly moves out of the Eastern Ozarks and the Mississippi River-Ohio River Valley, significant snow and ice accumulation, and extreme cold will remain.
The National Weather Service says the snow should end by about 5 to 6 pm everywhere in the Southeast Missouri Region. Up to another inch or so in the heavier spots remains possible. Travel remains very hazardous. A cold weather advisory remains in effect this evening for extremely cold wind chills and temperatures.
Missouri Department of Transportation-Eastern District showed a map of mostly covered roads across the region, but snow plows and road crews remain out in force.
A rare extreme cold warning for life-threatening wind chills and temperatures through Tuesday morning. Warming Centers are still available throughout the region.
In an announcement late Sunday afternoon, Southeast Missouri State University stated that, due to winter weather conditions, campuses in Cape Girardeau, Sikeston, and Kennett would be closed and classes canceled on Monday, Jan. 26. More announcements will be made at semo.edu/closings.
Updated at 3:10 pm on 01/24/26
The National Weather Service updated the conditions for the region earlier on Saturday. A major winter storm is underway across the Quad State. Dangerous travel conditions and life-threatening temperatures will continue through the next 36 to 48 hours as up to 8 to 13 inches of snow mixed at times with sleet and freezing rain take hold of the region. Temperatures are expected to remain below freezing in most of the area through the next week.
A map from the Missouri Department of Transportation showed multiple roads, mostly covered, across Southeast Missouri and the Eastern Ozarks. In Oregon County, a portion of Highway 19 was closed from Highway 60 to Highway 160 due to hazardous weather conditions.
An overnight warming shelter, The Cape Warming Center, is now open in Cape Girardeau until Monday, January 26th, at 7 a.m. More details about the temporary shelter are available on their website and Facebook page.
In the Poplar Bluff region, The Bread Shed Warming Center is also now open. Details are available on their Facebook page.
A full list of warming centers and shelters across Missouri is available through the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services website.
Updated at 6:27 pm on 01/23/26
A major winter storm is bearing down on the Midwest, and residents are bracing for extreme cold and heavy snow. The National Weather Service now predicts 8 to 12 inches of snowfall, with wind chills dropping to around 12 below zero in some areas through the weekend.
Heavy snowfall mixed with sleet and freezing rain is expected to make travel nearly impossible. A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect from overnight Friday through Sunday afternoon. Probabilities of seeing 8 or more inches of snow are around 90 percent or greater along a line from Poplar Bluff, MO, to Evansville, IN.
Kate Hickford, meteorologist with the National Weather Service Prediction office in Paducah, Kentucky, says two rounds of precipitation are expected, with all snow at first and then icing potential later.
"Round one is expected to be all snow, expanding from southwest to northeast starting as early as 3 AM tomorrow [Saturday] morning across portions of southeast Missouri. Light to moderate snow is possible across the entire region by as early as 10 AM Saturday, with the heaviest snowfall of round one expected Saturday afternoon", says Hickford.
She says a brief break is possible Saturday evening, and light accumulations may continue with sleet beginning to mix in along the Tennessee border, which may give road crews and residents a chance to partially dig out, but it will remain dangerously cold with windchills below zero.
With the second round, expect heavy snow to pick up again overnight Saturday night into Sunday morning.
During this time, Hickford says, "precipitation may change over to all sleet or all freezing rain, or may mix in with the snowfall mainly south of a line from Cape Girardeau, MO, to Owensboro, KY. The greatest chance for freezing rain is in the far south and southeast along the Tennessee border and further south into the Missouri Bootheel."
On Thursday, Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe declared a State of Emergency ahead of the storm, urging caution as hazardous travel conditions are expected.
Justin Gibbs, the National Weather Service Lead Forecaster in Paducah, discussed the other risks posed by the incoming widespread winter storm system.
"Heavy snowfall is forecast, mixed at times with freezing rain and sleet. Dangerously cold wind chills will combine to make travel very difficult, if not impossible. Many areas are still expected to see more than 8 inches of snow", said Gibbs.
A winter storm warning is in effect for the entire area from late Friday through Sunday evening. Temperatures are not expected to rise above freezing through Friday.
With dangerously low temperatures on the way, warming centers and shelters are opening across the region.
You can find an updated map of warming centers across Missouri on the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services website at health.mo.gov, by searching for 'Warming Centers'.
Before the storm hits, officials recommend stocking up on emergency supplies for your home and car, checking smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and making sure vehicles and heating sources are fueled. Pet owners should bring animals indoors and ensure they have fresh water.
During the storm, never use ovens, gas stoves, or outdoor grills to heat your home. Check on neighbors, ventilate emergency heat sources properly, and keep generators at least 20 feet from your house.
If you must go outside, wear multiple layers, including a hat and gloves, and take frequent breaks when shoveling.
Links to warming centers and additional details are also available on KRCU Public Radio's Facebook page.
For assistance in finding services, dial 2-1-1.
For Missouri road conditions, visit the Missouri Department of Transportation's website at traveler.modot.org. And for the latest forecast, go to krcu.org and search local weather.
Updated at 1:59 pm on 01/22/26
Late Thursday afternoon, the National Weather Service upgraded the incoming system to a Winter Storm Warning, which is now in effect from midnight Friday night to 6 p.m. Sunday.
A band of heavy snow, ranging from 8 to 13 inches of accumulation, is expected to peak roughly from around Poplar Bluff, MO, to Paducah and Marion northeastward to Evansville and Owensboro.
Other locations across southern Illinois and far southwest Kentucky could see between 6 and 10 inches.
Periods of heavy sleet are also predicted to hit far southeast Missouri and western Kentucky with freezing rain mixed in, including some sleet accumulation and up to a light glaze of freezing rain for all of southern Illinois, southwest Indiana, western Kentucky, and southeast Missouri.
Updated at 8:24 am on 01/21/26
Early Wednesday morning, the National Weather Service upgraded the prediction for significant winter precipitation later this week.
A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect until 10 a.m. Wednesday, which includes freezing rain and additional ice accumulations of a light glaze.
For the Winter Storm Watch, which runs from late Friday night, January 23, through Sunday morning, January 25, expect periods of moderate to heavy snow, with total snow accumulations that may exceed 5 inches in the Winter Storm Watch area, with the greater totals most likely near the Arkansas and Tennessee border in southeast Missouri, and western Kentucky, from late Friday night, January 23, through Sunday morning, January 25.
Original story
Over the past few weeks, Southeast Missouri has mostly been spared from the heaviest winter weather precipitation, which has hit the rest of the nation.
Beginning Wednesday, January 21st, that will change. Light wintry precipitation is possible early Wednesday morning. Temperatures are expected to rise above freezing shortly after precipitation begins, but isolated slick spots are at least possible.
Later in the week, there is a risk for impactful snow, especially over the southern half of the quad-state area.
Justin Gibbs, lead forecaster with the National Weather Service office in Paducah, Kentucky, says they are monitoring a potential winter storm for the weekend.
"We still have several days to watch it and let the forecast picture develop, but the odds of at least a few inches of snow continues to increase, especially over western Kentucky and southern parts of southeast Missouri", said Gibbs.
He said higher amounts are possible to the east and south, which may lead to significant travel impacts.
Along with significant accumulation comes a blast of cold air, dropping wind chills to below zero by the weekend.
By Saturday, Cape Girardeau and Poplar Bluff's highs will only reach the mid-teens, with lows sinking into the upper single digits. Wind chills will reach dangerous temperatures near 10 below zero by Saturday night.
More updates will be provided as the winter storm system approaches, adding to the confidence in the forecast for the region.
Find up-to-date forecasts and conditions on KRCU's website by searching 'local weather forecast'.
