MoDOT, Jefferson City gearing up for another round of winter weather
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.
The Missouri Department of Transportation is keeping an eye on the weather as a wintry mix starts to fall on Mid-Missouri with more in the forecast.
The ABC17 Stormtrack Weather team has issued Weather Alert Days for Tuesday and Wednesday ahead of the potential for freezing rain, sleet and snow. A wintry mix of rain and sleet was starting to fall in Columbia late Tuesday morning.
Sleet and freezing rain were expected to continue throughout the day Tuesday before changing over to snow early Wednesday.
MoDOT Central District spokesman Adam Pulley said mid-morning Tuesday that it's a waiting game to see what this system brings, but the department will be staffed and ready.
Pulley said because of the warmer temperatures this weekend, the roads are warm enough not to freeze right away. He said it all comes down to when the air and road temperatures come together to create icy conditions.
Jefferson City Public Works Operations Director Britt Smith said crews in the capital city will stay late, as they are forecasting freezing rain during the Tuesday commute hours.
He said the full crew will go home and rest, while a smaller crew takes over for the overnight. Then they will have a full crew ready to combat deteriorating road conditions Wednesday.
Jefferson City Public Schools tweeted that three snow days have been used this winter, which will all be made up.
If the district calls off school again, they will not make up additional missed days, unless there is an unusually large number of snow days.
The winter weather also could pose problems for non-profits providing services for home-bound seniors.
An administrator at West Point Nutrition Center in Jefferson City said the organization had not made any changes but is monitoring the winter system.
West Point Nutrition Center provides meals for about 120 home-bound seniors. The organization said it will adjust the schedule if there are significant weather impacts or if volunteers do not feel comfortable driving in the weather.
Check back for more on this developing story and watch ABC 17 News at noon, 5 and 6 for more weather coverage.
