The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory for Cape Girardeau and surrounding areas in Missouri and Southern Illinois in advance of a fast-moving winter storm system.

The advisory statement issued shortly before 11 a.m. by the weather service office in Paducah, Ky., predicts that a storm system expected tonight and Tuesday will bring a three to six hour period of light snow or sleet to the region.

The snow or sleet should start in Southeast Missouri before midnight, the advisory stated. By the time people are traveling to work or school Tuesday morning, the weather service said, accumulations of 1 to 2 inches of snow are likely with local amounts of 3 inches possible.

Cold weather across the region, as well as the nighttime nature of the storm, should make roads and bridges especially slick, the weather service warned.

For updates, check back at www.semissourian.com or read Tuesday's Southeast Missourian.