The Missouri Department of Transportation said on Saturday that U.S. Highway 71 in Barton County is covered in sleet while U.S. 71 and Interstate 44 are wet in other places.
The Carthage Fire Department and other emergency services were responding to numerous calls of vehicles sliding off the road at about 11:30 a.m. on Saturday.
The National Weather Service in Springfield issued a winter storm warning for Southwest Missouri that will last until 7 p.m. on Sunday.
Forecasters were calling for moderate to heavy snow mixed with sleet in the Carthage throughout the rest of Saturday and into Sunday. The moisture may change to rain Sunday afternoon.
The Weather Service said travel conditions will deteriorate throughout the day Saturday and into Sunday as between four inches and eight inches of snow and sleet fall on the area.
Forecasters said freezing rain was expected in areas just to the east of U.S. 71, switching to snow Saturday afternoon. A glaze of about a tenth of an inch of ice could make elevated highways bridges and overpasses hazardous.
Winds of 15-25 miles per hour could also affect the area causing blowing and drifting snow.
