Today's weather: Wintry mix to ice roadways

Update: The National Weather Service expects travel conditions to be worse in the Big Country this weekend than during the ice storm the area had a few weeks ago. Power outages are possible as well during the three-day stretch of temperatures remaining well below the freezing point. NWS meteorologist Joel Dunn said the temperatures will be significantly colder as this storm ices the area, making the roads more dangerous.
"There will be no high temperature above freezing until Sunday," Dunn said, "and the ice will stick around until then."
Dunn said the more northern parts of the area, like Haskell and Aspermont, have a better chance at getting snow as well as the sleet and freezing rain.
The temperature has fallen from 31 degrees at 5 a.m. to 28 degrees at 8 a.m., and is forecast to continue to drop as the day progresses. The National Weather Service radar appears to show the storm system, which will move southeast through the area, to be nearly to Big Spring at the western edge of the Big Country. A Big Spring police officer said it started sprinkling before 8:30 a.m.
Original story: The cold front is here, the freezing precipitation is approaching and the warm weather earlier this week will soon be forgotten. Today's wintry mix is expected to fall in Abilene around noon, when the National Weather Service winter storm warning goes into effect, with most of the precipitation expected tonight.
The forecast one-half inch of sleet accumulating today will create slick and dangerous roadways; bridges, ramps and overpasses are the first to freeze, and during the ice storm about two weeks ago, more than 100 accidents were reported, most of them on major highways and near or on overpasses and bridges.
Chances for freezing rain, sleet and snow are lower on Friday and Saturday.
Your seven-day forecast:
Today: A chance of rain or freezing rain before noon, then freezing rain and sleet likely. Cloudy and cold, with a temperature falling to around 24 by 5pm. Wind chill values between 12 and 18. Blustery, with a north wind 15 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Total daytime ice accumulation of less than a 0.1 of an inch possible. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Tonight: Freezing rain and sleet. Low around 20. Wind chill values between 8 and 13. North wind around 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New ice accumulation of 0.1 to 0.3 of an inch possible. New sleet accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Friday: A chance of snow and sleet before noon. Mostly cloudy and cold, with a high near 25. Wind chill values between 6 and 13. North wind around 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New snow and sleet accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 10. Wind chill values between -3 and 6. North northeast wind 10 to 15 mph.
Saturday: A chance of freezing drizzle. Partly sunny and cold, with a high near 20. North northeast wind around 10 mph.
Saturday Night: A slight chance of freezing rain and sleet. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 17. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 35. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 20. West southwest wind 10 to 15 mph becoming north after midnight.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 34. North wind around 15 mph.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 16.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 39.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 25.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 43.