Snow and temperatures hovering around zero kept many Mid-Missouri residents inside their homes on Valentine's Day - and that's right where authorities advised them to stay.
Today will be much the same: bitterly cold and a chance for snow.
The Missouri Department of Transportation urged drivers to get wherever they need to be before this round of snow and avoid traveling Sunday and today.
According to the National Weather Service in St. Louis, many areas of the state could see 2-6 inches of snow, with the highest amounts expected along and south of I-70, starting Sunday morning. Some areas may see a lull in snowfall Sunday afternoon, but a second wave in the evening will bring steady snow, likely lasting through today.
This morning and evening commute will be impacted, the National Weather Service said, and it has issued wind chill and winter weather advisories through 6 p.m. today.
The agency said frostbite could occur on exposed skin within 30 minutes.
The high for Monday will be 3 and the low Monday night will be -8. The likelihood of snow Monday is forecast at 100 percent.
With the expected bitter cold and snow, Lincoln University announced Sunday that it would be closed today. (See School and weather-related announcements for Monday, Feb. 15, 2021 for other closings.)
Ameren Missouri had several scattered power outages throughout the state Sunday, but none in the Jefferson City area. The closest was an outage affecting 55 customers just west of Versailles and one leaving five without power in Lake Ozark. (See Ameren's outage map.)
Of about 1.2 million customers, 1,048 were without service Sunday afternoon.
Jefferson City Operations Division Director Britt Smith said he had a full crew of 24 plow drivers and another 16 or so support staff working all day Sunday. A smaller crew of eight plow drivers planned to work throughout the night.
"Right now, we're doing pretty good, but it is awfully cold, and we have some more snow coming," he said.
Fewer people being on the roads helped Sunday, and today's Presidents Day holiday will take many state employees off the roads, he said.
That's good because his crew's goal of quickly removing snow to create bare streets has been challenging. They've used some salt, but that doesn't have much effect on melting snow when the temperatures are this cold, he said.
As of early Sunday evening, the major routes were partially covered, he said, while the minor routes were still covered. (See Jefferson City road conditions and MoDOT statewide traveler information map for updates on road conditions.)
He said he appreciates the public's patience.
"We're going to have the roads in as good a shape as we can as quickly as we can," he said.
Lt. Dave Williams, of the Jefferson City Police Department, said the city and county saw fewer crashes than normal because most people stayed off the roads.
If you do have to drive, be prepared, he advised. That includes making sure there's adequate braking distance between your car and the car in front of you. Also, make sure your cellphone is charged, and have blankets in the car to stay warm if your vehicle breaks down.
Additional resources:
School and weather-related announcements for Monday, Feb. 15, 2021
Wind chill and winter weather advisories continue for Mid-Missouri
MoDOT statewide traveler information map
Jefferson City road conditions
Ameren Missouri outage information and map