March roars in with icy blast

Emonis Sacus, front, helps her friend Shavontay Estes clean his car off Sunday afternoon on East High Street. After the roads were glazed with ice and snow Saturday night, many city residents apparently stayed inside on Sunday as there was little street traffic.
Emonis Sacus, front, helps her friend Shavontay Estes clean his car off Sunday afternoon on East High Street. After the roads were glazed with ice and snow Saturday night, many city residents apparently stayed inside on Sunday as there was little street traffic.

Mother Nature took another swipe at Jefferson City early Sunday, glazing streets with ice and then snow. While some people ventured outside on Sunday to attend church or run errands, many people apparently heeded warnings to stay home.

The late-winter storm caused dangerous driving conditions overnight Saturday and early Sunday, but the storm didn't continue into Sunday afternoon and evening as forecast.

Still, most schools in Central Missouri - including all schools in Jefferson City - will be closed today.

"We've had a couple accidents, but not anything major," Sgt. Steve Dappen said around 4:30 p.m. Sunday. He said more wrecks and slide-offs occurred Saturday night, including three or four after shifts ended at Algoa Correctional Center and Jefferson City Correctional Center. Several wrecks/slide-offs also occurred late Saturday or early Sunday on Missouri 179, between Route C and U.S. 54.

The Missouri Department of Transportation on Saturday issued ad "no travel advisory" on Saturday that stretched through 6 a.m. today. On Sunday, MoDOT again urged caution.

"Snow, sleet and freezing rain is expected to continue statewide, affecting road conditions overnight," the agency said. "Extreme cold temperatures and high wind continues to be a concern, causing blowing and drifting snow."

Doug Tilly, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in St. Louis, said the storm shifted south on Sunday, causing it to wind down early in Jefferson City. "It's good for us, but bad for them," he said of southern Missouri, which was expected to get more sleet then snow and freezing rain.

The bad news, he said, is that temperatures will stay cold for the next few days, with the low today in the single digits and the high around 20.

If you're looking for more good news, mark your calendar for March 20. It's the first day of spring after what's seemed to many like a long winter.