ST. LOUIS – A major winter storm is expected to impact the St. Louis metropolitan area and surrounding regions from Saturday morning through Sunday evening, bringing heavy snowfall and dangerously cold temperatures, according to the National Weather Service in St. Louis.
National Weather Service in St. Louis Meteorologist Alex Elmore said the storm will arrive in two rounds, with the first occurring Saturday morning, Jan. 24, 2026, into the evening and the second from late Saturday night into Sunday morning, Jan. 25, 2026.
Elmore said the bulk of the snow accumulation is anticipated during the second round on Sunday morning and afternoon.
Snow totals in the St. Louis Metro area are forecast to reach 1 to 3 inches on Saturday, although dry air could reduce amounts in some locations. The Saturday snow will have a big impact on travel because of the cold conditions.
On Sunday, predictions now show 5 to 8 inches of snowfall, again depending on the area. The snow is expected to start around 10 a.m. on Saturday, then on Sunday, higher totals will hit the area, but should stop by 3 p.m., forecasters say.
“The first round on Saturday will be fighting a lot of dry air,” Elmore explained. “If dry air is stronger and wins out over snow, it could cut totals down to the lower ranges.”
Despite potentially lower snowfall amounts, cold temperatures will cause snow to stick to all surfaces, creating hazardous travel conditions throughout Sunday and into Monday, Jan. 26, 2026.
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for areas along and south of Interstate 70, including St. Louis, where confidence is highest for accumulating snowfall of 5 inches or more. A Cold Weather Advisory is in effect for the entire region. Portions of northeast Missouri and west-central Illinois have also been placed under a Winter Weather Advisory.
Travel conditions are expected to worsen on Sunday compared to Saturday. Elmore cautioned that even a small amount of snow could significantly impact roads and highways and encouraged residents to avoid unnecessary travel.
“If you don’t have to be out, don’t go out,” he said. “The snow itself won’t take much to impact the roads. It will be dangerously cold through the weekend, and if someone traveling experiences vehicle trouble and becomes stranded, the cold could be quite dangerous.”
Temperatures will remain bitterly cold through at least Sunday, with wind chills dropping to -10 degrees or lower in most locations and reaching near -20 degrees in parts of northeast Missouri.
The Cold Weather Advisory remains in effect until midnight Saturday morning for most areas and continues through noon Saturday for all areas.
Following the storm, no additional impactful snowstorms are expected through the upcoming workweek, although below-freezing temperatures will persist. Snowfall from the storm is expected to stick around for some time, prolonging travel hazards.
The National Weather Service plans to issue its next update by 5 p.m. Friday, January 23, 2026.
Get the latest updates on weather conditions here: RiverBender.com/weather.
