A POWERFUL WINTER STORM HAS MOVED OVER THE REGION...INDUCING SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF OVER 10 INCHES IN SOME LOCATIONS OF SOUTHWEST MISSOURI. HEAVY SNOW WILL CONTINUE OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS FOR AREAS OF EXTREME SOUTHEAST KANSAS AND THE MISSOURI OZARKS. LOCATIONS NEARAND ALONG THE OZARK PLATEAU...INCLUDING THE SPRINGFIELD AREA...CAN EXPECT ACCUMULATION RATES OF NEARLY 3 INCHES PER HOUR THROUGH 5 PM. ACCUMULATION RATES AROUND 2 INCHES PER HOUR ARE EXPECTED SOUTH OF THE PLATEAU ALONG THE MISSOURI ARKANSAS BORDER. IN EXTREME SOUTHWEST MISSOURI INCLUDING THE CITIES OF JOPLIN...CARTHAGE...AND NEOSHO...TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS OF 12 TO 16 INCHES IS POSSIBLE BY LATE TONIGHT. 6.5 INCHES HAS ACCUMULATED IN THE SPRINGFIELD AREA...WITH TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS OF 10 TO 14 INCHES LIKELY BY LATE TONIGHT. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION. AREA RESIDENTS SHOULD STAY OFF ROADWAYS UNTIL CONDITIONS IMPROVE. NUMEROUS VEHICLE ACCIDENTS HAVE ALREADY OCCURRED...AND MOTORISTS SHOULD USE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN DRIVING TO THEIR DESTINATIONS. NEARLY ONE THIRD OF PEOPLE KILLED IN WINTER STORMS DIE IN VEHICLES FROM EXPOSURE. SHOULD YOU BECOME STRANDED IN YOUR CAR...STAY IN YOUR VEHICLE. REMAIN VISIBLE TO RESCUERS BY ATTACHING A BRIGHTLY COLORED CLOTH TO YOUR ANTENNA...AND KEEP THE OVERHEAD LIGHT ON. DO NOT RUN YOUR ENGINE MORE THAN 10 MINUTES EVERY HOUR...AND MAKE SURE ICE AND SNOW DOES NOT BLOCK YOUR EXHAUST. KEEP ONE WINDOW SLIGHTLY OPEN TO LET FRESH AIR IN SO AS TO PREVENT CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...FOR FURTHER UPDATES ON THIS POTENTIALLY DEADLY WINTER WEATHER SITUATION.