By Matt Sepic, KWMU
St. Louis – The national weather service has issued an ice storm warning for the St. Louis area. It's in effect through Sunday night.
Temperatures will drop below freezing Friday evening as the rain continues. Ice accumulations of up to an inch are expected.
Meteorologist Ben Abell said ice on the ground is likely because warm moist air is positioned above cold air from the north.
"If you get to maybe 4,000 feet, you're going to be looking at warm temperatures where it's going to be liquid precipitation," Abell said. "The rain then comes down through this shallow cold air near the surface, and it will not freeze until it contacts the surface."
The weather has already hit western Missouri.
Authorities say it played a part in two fatal crashes Friday in the Kansas City area.