Snow Squall Warning Issued for Southwestern Missouri Counties Including Joplin and Carthage

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Springfield has issued a Snow Squall Warning for portions of southwestern Missouri. This alert is effective immediately and remains in place until 6:15 PM CDT on March 15, 2026.

Affected Areas

The warning covers several counties in southwestern Missouri, including:

• Southern Barton County
• Northern Newton County
• Lawrence County
• Jasper County
• Western Dade County

Impacted locations include Joplin, Carthage, Webb City, Stockton Lake, Monett, Carl Junction, Mount Vernon, Oronogo, Granby, Carterville, Duquesne, Greenfield, Sarcoxie, Pierce City, Duenweg, Lockwood, Jasper, Diamond, Golden City, and Loma Linda. This also includes Interstate 44 between mile markers 2 and 47.

What You Should Do

Residents and travelers in the warning area are advised to reduce speed and turn on headlights immediately. During snow squalls, visibility may suddenly drop to near zero in whiteout conditions. Travel will become difficult and potentially dangerous within minutes. The NWS recommends avoiding travel in these areas until the squall passes.

Expected Conditions

At 5:30 PM CDT, radar and webcams indicated a dangerous snow squall located along a line extending from near Lamar to near Carthage to 6 miles northeast of Seneca. The system is moving east at 55 mph. Hazards include intense bursts of heavy snow and gusty winds greater than 40 mph, leading to blowing snow and rapidly falling visibility.

Timeline

The alert was issued at 5:30 PM CDT and is expected to expire at 6:15 PM CDT on March 15, 2026.