Early snow empties schools, delights kids, stymies drivers

Southeast Missouri continues to dig out from its first snowstorm of the season -- its earliest winter storm in 44 years -- which made roads slick and slushy for motorists and hills soft and slippery for out-of-school children Wednesday.

It came on the same day when the National Weather Service scheduled a winter weather seminar in Cape Girardeau. The seminar was canceled.

The total accumulation in the Cape Girardeau County area reached 6 to 12 inches by late Wednesday. According to the Midwest Regional Climate Center in Champaign, Ill., Cape Girardeau has not seen so much snow so soon since 8.3 inches blanketed the city on Nov. 28, 1958.

Pat Guinan, a climatologist with the University of Missouri, said the average monthly snowfall for the area is 2.2 inches. The annual snowfall average is 12.8 inches.

"You've already surpassed what you usually get for the month and half of what you'd expect for the whole year, so that's a testament to how unusual this is," Guinan said.

The National Weather Service predicted an end to the precipitation by this morning, but the skies were expected to remain cloudy through the afternoon and temperatures to only reach the low 30s.

Winter does not officially begin until Dec. 22.

The roads weren't completely clear in Cape Girardeau or Jackson most of the day. Trucks were clearing the roads, but Mother Nature added to the problem more quickly than road crews could remove it. Police and tow-truck operators kept busy as numerous motorists slipped off roadways and into ditches Wednesday.

By early Wednesday evening, Cape Girardeau police had responded to seven vehicle accidents and 50 calls from drivers in need of assistance. Patrolman Jason Selzer said officers had to prioritize the calls because they were coming in so quickly.

Jackson police responded to two accidents before 5:30 p.m., but the total of driver calls for assistance was not available. Across the Southeast Missouri, the Missouri State Highway Patrol responded to more than 42 highway accidents by the late afternoon, according to Troop E headquarters.

Still, the roads were passable.

"The roads really are not that bad," said Cape Girardeau Ministerial Alliance president Bill Matzat as he filled his car at a gas station on Cape Rock Drive. The reverend had an 11 a.m. church service canceled, so he was on his way home to eat lunch with his wife. "Of course, I'm from New York, so I'm used to the snow and ice. You just don't want to get behind someone when you're going down a hill."

Jackson Mayor Paul Sander said the main thoroughfares were fairly clear by Wednesday afternoon, but many of the side streets were still slick in spots. He said drivers need to continue being cautious today.

Jackson postmaster Mike Heuschober said carriers were complaining of slick roads Wednesday, but there were no major problems. Rural carriers started their routes early, but the city carriers started at the normal time.

"We got out, and it appears everything has gone fairly well," he said.

Cape Girardeau County offices were closed as were all of the area's schools. Because of freezing rain and sleet that continued Wednesday afternoon, Southeast Missouri State University closed at 4 p.m.

Cape Girardeau city employees started clearing roads at 2:30 a.m., public works director Doug Leslie said. The snowfall has stymied the city's leaf pickup program, which won't resume until at least Monday.

The slick roads didn't prevent some from shopping at Westfield Shoppingtown West Park Wednesday.

Arnold and Connie Killian of Scott City had already stuffed their car with Christmas-gift purchases before they returned to the mall for more shopping.

"We took our vacation this week, and we took it so we could go shopping," Connie said.

For children, the winter weather doesn't mean extra work or travel worries. It means a day off of school and opportunities for fun.

Keagan Cavanah, 8, of Fruitland and a student at North Elementary was one of about a dozen children sledding in Capaha Park Wednesday.

"I broke the record!" he screamed as his triangular tube sled bettered the previous longest distance down the hill.

Southeast Missourian staff writer Mike Wells contributed to this report

bmiller@semissourian.com

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