Osage Beach Public Works plans for 6 to 9 inches of snow

OSAGE BEACH, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Osage Beach Public Works is getting snowplows and crews prepared ahead of a weekend snowstorm that is expected to leave the southern part of the state buried.

Osage Beach is expecting snowfall to start between 3 and 6 a.m. Saturday, which could last until Sunday morning, according to the ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather team. A Weather Alert Day is in effect for Friday through Monday with dangerous cold and heavy snowfall is expected.

Osage Beach Public Works Director Jeff Fisher said his team is prepared to handle 6 to 8 inches of snow starting late Friday and continuing into early Saturday, but the cold temperatures could make clearing snow difficult.

Those temperatures are expected to top out in the teens and dip below 0 degrees for lows.

"That'll be tricky with the cold temperatures; the salt won't work," Fisher said. "We're going to put it down early, get it underneath the snow."

Fisher also said salt isn't effective in temperatures below 15 to 20 degrees.

"So, if we spread salt, it's just going to be a waste of money," Fisher said.

By Friday afternoon, the temperature was in the teens in the Lake of the Ozarks area, with a wind chill near 0 degrees.

Osage Beach has about 1,500 tons of salt, and Fisher said he expects to use about 100 tons this weekend. He said during usual snow prep, they use about 75 tons.

There is also a chance that plowing the roads too early could make conditions slippery.

"Sometimes just letting the snow sit on the streets is better for traction," Fisher said. "Once we get into that six to nine inches, we'll put the plows down."

Fisher said staying off the roads is best, but if drivers are out, they should slow down.

There will be six to eight snow plows out this weekend, with crews working 12-hour shifts starting at 7 p.m. Friday and going through Sunday.

Snow is expected to be heaviest south of Interstate 70. Counties around the lake are under a winter storm warning.