A band of snow came seemingly out of nowhere on Sunday afternoon, catching drivers by surprise.

The snow was not predicted earlier in the week, and while there was only an inch or two of accumulation, it fell quickly and was soon packed on central Missouri's untreated highways: just as folks were headed out to get Superbowl groceries or traveling to watch the game.

Snow Causes Crashes At The Lake

At the Lake of the Ozarks, Highway 54 was snarled. Icy patches spun even slow-moving cars, as drivers reported losing control, especially around exit ramps. The sudden weather meant MoDOT had not pretreated roads, so the department was left playing catch-up as cars piled up.

Emergency Responders Hit Highways Amid Snow And Slick Roads

Cars and trucks wound up facing the wrong way, or worse, in ditches, as emergency responders scrambled. On Interstate 44, a massive pileup resulted in the highway being shut down, with myriad injuries and one fatality. The Conway Volunteer Fire Department posted the following drone video on their Facebook page:

The weather cleared out by Sunday late-afternoon, but roads stayed slick, as plow trucks deployed across the area. Even Monday morning, some drivers were struggling with slick areas, and most schools were closed.

MoDOT warned St. Louis area drivers on Monday afternoon to be extra cautious, as freezing rain is expected in that area.

A winter storm is expected to move through Missouri on Tuesday into Tuesday night, bringing sleet to some areas and an estimated two inches of snow, but the National Weather Service says that prediction could change as the storm system develops.

Wild Winter Roads at the Lake

photos courtesy of Steve Bishop

1 of 13

0
0
0
0
0

(0 Ratings)