WINTER WEATHER SPECIAL: A look back at the 2011 blizzard
If you have lived in Missouri for at least a year, you might have heard the saying, "If you don't like the weather, just wait."
Missouri has seen some extreme weather throughout the past 50 years. From extreme temperatures down to minus-26 degrees to 49 inches of snowfall in 1960, there is no shortage of difficult weather. One event that stands out in the past 15 years is the Blizzard of 2011.
Forecasts leading up to Feb. 1-2, 2011, promised widespread snow across multiple states from Oklahoma to the northeast. Residents across Mid-Missouri heeded many of the warnings and took to local shops to gear up on snow removal tools and food just in case they were stuck in their homes.
Snow would begin to fall causing issues across roadways right away. Crashes would start to amount and service vehicles would soon become almost immobile trying to clear roads or respond to first aid calls.
Issues spanning from Kansas City to St. Louis would lead to the first-ever closure of Interstate 70 in Missouri in an attempt to keep people from traversing the dangerous conditions.
Gov. Jay Nixon would go on to issue a state of emergency declaration to enable resources and personnel from the National Guard to aid with snow removal and rescue operations for stranded people.
The second-highest daily snowfall total amounted to 17.5 inches in Columbia with a two-day total of 17.7 inches. Other areas across Mid-Missouri would smash their previous daily snowfall total records with numbers such as 23 inches in Warrensburg, 22 inches in Sedalia and 19 inches in Boonville.
The University of Missouri would go on to cancel classes for three consecutive days marking the first cancellation since 2006.
During this event, an atmospheric phenomenon known as thundersnow would be recorded across many areas of the state. Winds blew widespread 35-40 mph with other areas across the state such Kirksville recording a 52 mph wind gust leading to low visibility conditions.
