Meteorologists issued a warning that a heavy snowfall is expected to set in starting Thursday and continue throughout the night, which may turn into 6 inches of snow by morning. The National Weather Service announced the storm warning will affect several parts of the country.

The temperatures are expected to drop as low as 24 degrees on Thursday night, and the snow could be accompanied by strong winds, which would pose even more difficulties. At the same time, drivers are asked to be careful, as significant amounts of snow, sleet and ice are expected by Friday morning.

According to the National Weather Service, the storm pushes north, and is possible to reach the St. Louis area by 2 a.m. Friday morning. The heavy snowfalls are expected to hit mainly southern and eastern parts of St. Louis.

The snow had been expected earlier in the week, but meteorologists said a warm front changed the wind direction and turned snow conditions into rain, to the disappointment of all the little children.

Snow warnings have been issued for Missouri and Illinois, where up to 10 inches of snow are expected in the southern parts until about 5 a.m. Friday. The weather service predicted that St. Louis could experience six to eight inches of snow, while Chicago is expected to deal with seven inches.

On a long term, the snowfall is not expected to last long, and the Saturday night temperatures, which should reach around 40 degrees in some areas, will melt most of it. Until then, some areas in Kansas are already experiencing problems, and most schools in Wichita have canceled their classes because of the snow.

The mountain areas are also expected to face snow problems, including along Interstate 90, which could be closed again anytime by the Department of Transportation if the risk of avalanches reappears. Meteorologists are asking people to be careful, especially when driving under difficult conditions.