The National Weather Service in St. Louis, Missouri, provided an overcast start to the year with the mercury dipping to a chilly 35 degrees Fahrenheit in the early hours of the morning, according to a weather update today. With a humidity reading at 61%, a brisk westward wind blowing at 15 miles per hour, and a barometric pressure standing at 30.24 inches, locals were cautioned about a wind chill that made it feel more like 25 degrees out there.
As those in St. Louis looked ahead to New Year's Day celebrations, they could expect cloudy skies initially that were forecasted to gradually become mostly sunny, with a high near 39 degrees. That west wind wasn't about to let up either, continuing to blow 7 to 11 mph with the occasional burst up to 22 mph, according to the NWS update. Come nighttime, the clouds were expected to gather once more, with temperatures dropping to approximately 29 degrees.
And it was not only the cold that residents had to brace for. The forecast ominously noted a 50% chance of rain after noon the next day, with clouds holding steady and temperatures peaking around 43 degrees. All this was ahead of a night that could bring a mix of rain and snow, mainly before 9 pm. The likelihood of precipitation hovered at 40 percent with overnight lows dropping to about 25 degrees. The NWS anticipated a bright reprieve on Friday with sunny skies and a high near 32, while winds from the northwest reached 8 to 10 mph, gusting at times up to 20 mph.
Looking into the weekend, St. Louis residents should to prepare themselves for more wintry conditions. Saturday was projected as partly sunny with a high near 30. By Saturday night, there was a 40 percent chance of snow after midnight. True to form for the season, the NWS predicted snowfall before noon on Sunday, which would then likely mix with freezing rain and sleet. Highs would hover around the freezing mark, with a strong likelihood of precipitation at 80 percent. Snow, freezing rain, and sleet were all in the running for Sunday night, maintaining a 70 percent chance before the skies were expected to clear partially into the following week.
