Jefferson City preps for snowfall

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Both dayside and nightside Jefferson City snowplow crews are resting up before the city faces 4-7 inches of snow Tuesday.

Jefferson City Public Works Director Britt Smith said that the 24-plow driver morning crew plans to get the roads passable before the morning commute while the smaller overnight crew will tend to trouble spots and EMS calls for help.

The ABC 17 News Stormtrack Weather Team issued a Weather Alert Day for Tuesday for the snow. Snow totals expected to be higher, the further south you go in the state.

Crews will focus on main roads first and then move to side streets however, Smith expects crews to go over the same roads multiple times based on wind and how long the snowfall lasts.

All snowplows have been prefilled and checked mechanically in preparation for the snow day.

Smith's main concern is that due to the cold weather, the rock salt will be ineffective.

"With these really cold temperatures, our melting chemicals, salt and calcium chloride, are really pretty ineffective without sunlight," Smith said. "It's not going to be unusual for us to be dealing with snow-packed roads for a while."

Smith also reminds drivers to stay off the roads if possible both for their own safety and to keep the area clear for snow plows.