Sunday snow causes accidents, slide-offs

Sunday's snow caused slick spots, wrecks and slide-offs around the Cape Girardeau region.

The National Weather Service in Paducah, Ky., said 1 to 3 inches of the white stuff fell around the region, but precipitation was still rolling in Sunday evening.

A winter storm warning was in effect Sunday for Illinois counties along the Ohio River and a winter weather advisory was in effect for areas north of that all the way up to the Interstate 64 corridor until 3 a.m. today, said Robin Smith, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Paducah.

A truck from the Cape Girardeau Department of Public Works plows Independence Street, east of Mount Auburn Road Sunday, Feb. 2. The storm covered roads making driving conditions hazardous and resulting in numerous accidents in Cape Girardeau. (Adam Vogler)

"We've got our forces out," said Missouri Department of Transportation engineer Mark Shelton. "And we'll stay out probably most of the night. ... The roads are still covered; the interstate lanes look clear; the wheel paths look clear," but there's a little snow in between.

Cpl. Clark Parrott, public information officer for Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop E, said one MoDOT truck tipped over because of icy conditions at U.S. 61 and Route A at New Hamburg, Mo., southwest of Cape Girardeau. Parrott said there were no injuries. "That's the only report we have right now is one MoDOT truck," he said.

Depending on how low the temperature were Sunday night and into this morning, there could be slick spots, Shelton said. Plans late Sunday afternoon were to continue working on the letter routes to prepare them for today's commute.

Snow coats train cars loaded with Stryker Armored Personnel Carriers Sunday, Feb. 2, on the train tracks outside of the Flood Wall in downtown Cape Girardeau. The storm covered roads making driving conditions hazardous and resulting in numerous accidents in Cape Girardeau. (Adam Vogler)

Shelton suggested looking at MoDOT's travel website, traveler.modot.org/map/, to check road conditions.

Dick Knaup, Cape Girardeau County emergency management director, said late Sunday afternoon there was about an inch of snow and "it's kind of slick."

"It came in a lot earlier than what we had anticipated. The traffic's flowing pretty good from where I'm at. We haven't had anything unusual yet. I think it's just another typical winter day in Southeast Missouri," Knaup said. He added people should stay home.

Scott County Emergency Management director Tom Beardslee said "all our roads are snow- and ice-covered. The highway department's out spreading sand and I've heard [the Missouri Department of Transportation] on the radio, so I know they're out."

Darin Hickey, public information officer for the Cape Girardeau Police Department, said there had been "numerous wrecks all over, but so far nothing serious." Many trouble spots were reported along North Sprigg Street and Mount Auburn Road, according to scanner traffic.

Southeast Missouri State University student Nathan Adamson walks across the Southeast campus Sunday, Feb. 2. The storm covered roads making driving conditions hazardous and resulting in numerous accidents in Cape Girardeau. (Adam Vogler)

Parrott said Sunday afternoon he had not heard of any serious wrecks in the region covered by Troop E, which includes Bollinger, Butler, Cape Girardeau, Dunklin, Iron, Madison, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Ripley, Scott, Stoddard and Wayne counties. He said they were working slide-offs, but no injuries at the time.

Earlier Sunday, Parrott said roads in Bollinger, Iron and Madison counties featured black ice. Then it warmed up a little and troopers got a break, but about 4:40 p.m. Sunday, most of the troop's region was seeing covered roads, except Dunklin and Pemiscot counties.

Two to 4 inches of snow were expected in areas along the Ohio River on Sunday, and 1 to 2 inches north of that. Smith said some of the snow might be mixed with sleet.

"The worst of it is along and south of the Ohio River and includes portions of Southeast Missouri" from Cape Girardeau down through the Bootheel, he said.

Today's temperature high is expected to be near 34 under sunny skies with a low around 26 tonight, according to the National Weather Service website. A high of 33 is forecast for Tuesday with a low of 24 that Tuesday night and a 50 percent chance of snow, the site said.

"That's the one we're really keeping an eye on," Shelton said. "We're still a little far out" to know for sure, but it "has the potential of being a pretty good-size storm."

"We're continuing to keep our eyes on it," Shelton said. "We're going to be out when we need to be out."

The next chance of snow could occur Friday, the site said.

rcampbell@semissourian.com

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