The St. Joseph Police Department issued warnings Friday morning telling drivers to avoid highways in the area due to heavy ice.

At 7:30 a.m. police warned drivers to avoid 36 Hwy in Buchanan County due to heavy ice.

A second warning was issued at 7:52 a.m. warning drivers to avoid 59 Hwy from Bankers Crossing to Rushville due to heavy ice.

Freezing rain started causing issues early this morning creating slick driving conditions around the area.

A freezing rain advisory remains in effect until 6 a.m. Saturday for much of the area.

According to the National Weather Service freezing rain and sleet is likely to continue before 4 p.m. Friday then areas of freezing drizzle and sleet are possible before 7 p.m.  The high Friday is only anticipated to reach around 31-degrees.

Ice accumulation from a few hundredths of an inch in western Missouri to greater than a tenth of an inch in East Central Kansas is possible through late this evening.

Drivers should be especially careful on elevated surfaces like bridges.  Power lines and trees can also be a danger under the weight of ice accretion.