Winter storm watch issued for Ozarks region

(From the National Weather Service)

...WINTER STORM AND VERY COLD TEMPERATURES...

.A STRONG WINTER STORM WILL MOVE OUT OF THE NORTHERN PLAINS AND
ACROSS THE MISSOURI OZARKS AND SOUTHEASTERN KANSAS SATURDAY
AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY. A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL BEGIN TO MOVE
THROUGH THE REGION SATURDAY AFTERNOON AS PRECIPITATION BEGINS TO
SPREAD NORTH ON STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS. THE PRECIPITATION WILL
INITIALLY BEGIN AS LIGHT RAIN OR DRIZZLE AND TRANSITION QUICKLY
TO SNOW AROUND SUNSET.

STRONG LIFT ALONG WITH DEEP COLD AIR WILL ALLOW FOR PERIODS OF
MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS SATURDAY INTO
SUNDAY MORNING. AS A RESULT PORTIONS OF THE EASTERN OZARKS SHOULD
EXPECT 5 TO 7 INCHES OF SNOWFALL WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS. THE
SYSTEM WILL MOVE EAST OF THE REGION BY SUNDAY EVENING WITH SNOW
TAPERING OFF TO FLURRIES AND ENDING AROUND SUNSET ON SUNDAY.

STRONG NORTH WINDS WILL ACCOMPANY THE ARCTIC AIR MASS ON SUNDAY.
WIND CHILLS SUNDAY ARE EXPECTED TO BE BETWEEN -5 AND - 15 DEGREES
AS THE SNOW ENDS. BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW WILL OCCUR AS THE
WINDS INCREASE IN STRENGTH.

MOZ056>058-069>071-080>083-091-092-096>098-105-106-040445-
/O.CON.KSGF.WS.A.0001.140105T0300Z-140105T2100Z/
MORGAN-MILLER-MARIES-CAMDEN-PULASKI-PHELPS-DALLAS-LACLEDE-TEXAS-
DENT-WEBSTER-WRIGHT-DOUGLAS-HOWELL-SHANNON-OZARK-OREGON-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...VERSAILLES...ELDON...LAKE OZARK...
VIENNA...OSAGE BEACH...CAMDENTON...FORT LEONARD WOOD...
WAYNESVILLE...ROLLA...BUFFALO...LEBANON...HOUSTON...CABOOL...
SALEM...MARSHFIELD...ROGERSVILLE...MOUNTAIN GROVE...MANSFIELD...
AVA...WEST PLAINS...WINONA...EMINENCE...GAINESVILLE...THEODOSIA...
THAYER...ALTON
237 PM CST FRI JAN 3 2014

...WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY EVENING
THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON...

A WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY EVENING
THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

* TIMING AND AREAS AFFECTED...LOCATIONS EAST OF HIGHWAY 65 WILL BE
  AFFECTED BETWEEN 9 PM SATURDAY EVENING THROUGH 3 PM SUNDAY
  AFTERNOON.

* SNOW AMOUNTS BETWEEN 5 TO 7 INCHES ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE WATCH
  AREA...THOUGH LOCALIZED HIGHER AMOUNTS WILL BE POSSIBLE...

* WINDS AND VISIBILITY...STRONG WINDS WILL AFFECT THE REGION AS
  THE STORM SYSTEM BEGINS TO EXIT THE REGION. NORTHERLY WINDS OF
  15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH WILL ALLOW FOR BLOWING AND
  DRIFTING SNOW ACROSS THE AREA. THE BLOWING SNOW WILL REDUCE
  VISIBILITIES AT TIMES TO A MILE OF LESS.

* IMPACTS...SNOW FALL WILL FALL HEAVY AT TIMES AND IMPACT ROADS
  ACROSS THE EASTERN OZARKS. TRAVEL WILL BE DIFFICULT DURING AND
  AFTER THE STORM. BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW WILL REDUCE
  VISIBILITIES AT TIMES SUNDAY.

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.