Worst Winter Storm of 2026 Coming—Will Missouri Get Hit?

There is little doubt that the strongest winter storm of 2026 so far will impact the Midwest this weekend, but models can't agree if it will slam Missouri or miss to the South.

There are a lot of expert opinions that have already been shared about this incoming winter system, but I'll start with what The Weather Channel shared today. They believe that the bottom half of Missouri will see varying degrees of snow.

What is the National Weather Service in St. Louis, Missouri saying about this winter storm?

The NWS in St. Louis is saying to prepare for the worst which would be a northerly track for the winter storm which would bring snow and possibly ice in some areas, but a best case scenario is possible where a majority of the storm will miss Missouri entirely. I think that's good advice, but let me add my own word of caution. If you look at all of the different computer model runs, you'll see that several do show Missouri getting a major winter storm out of this. It's not the most likely scenario, but you need to at least know that it's possible. There are two of these runs that show Missouri getting clobbered.

I'll echo what the National Weather Service in St. Louis said. Have a plan in place in the event that this winter storm moves more toward the north and impacts travel. I would also say that if you live in Missouri, the further south you live in the state the more you should prepare for the worst. No matter what happens with snow or ice, we know that bone-chilling cold temperatures are coming to all of Missouri. Be prepared and know what you would do if ice knocks the power out in your area for an extended time. Again, plan for the worst and hope for the best.