Mtn. View-Birch Tree Liberty and West Plains schools have announced no classes will be held Tuesday due to forecast icy weather. Head Start programs in both cities, plus in Licking, will also be closed.
MVBT Liberty students will be exercising an alternative methods of instruction Learn and Return Day, officials said.
West Plains school closures include the surrounding rural schools in addition to the R-7 district.
A winter weather advisory is in effect from 9 p.m. tonight until noon Tuesday. The National Weather Service office in Springfield forecasts a mix of rain and snow before 1 a.m., then rain and sleet, possibly mixed with freezing rain, until 4 a.m. After that, the forecast shows sleet, possibly mixed with freezing rain. The chance of precipitation is 90%.
With a low temperature of 31 degrees and winds gusting up to 20 mph, a total nighttime ice accumulation of under a tenth of an inch is possible, and under half an inch of snow and sleet is expected.
The wintry mix will continue into Tuesday morning, forecasters expect, with sleet possibly mixed with freezing rain before 7 a.m., then sleet between 7 and 9 a.m., followed by rain after 9 a.m. Little or no ice accumulation and less than half an inch of sleet accumulation is expected during the day on Tuesday.
Wintry precipitation is expected to continue Tuesday night and Wednesday during the day, primarily in the form of freezing rain, rain and sleet.
Watch the Quill online for updates.
