WINTER STORM UPDATES: Troop F responds to one injury crash so far during snow response
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Troop F – which covers much of Mid-Missouri – has responded to just one crash so far during Thursday’s winter weather.
Troop F wrote on its X page that from midnight-2 p.m., it had responded to 40 calls for service, 12 stranded motorists, 12 non-injury crashes and one injury crash.
The department wrote at 12:40 p.m. that the injury crash involved two vehicles in the westbound lanes of Interstate 70 in Callaway County, just west of Kingdom City. The crash blocked the passing lane, which reopened at 12:56 p.m.
— MSHP Troop F (@MSHPTrooperF) February 18, 2025
Troop F Storm Totals For Tuesday
Midnight - 2:00 p.m. , Troop F handled:
Calls For Service: 40
Stranded Motorists: 12
Non-Injury Crashes: 12
Injury Crashes: 1
Fatal Crashes: 0
If you’re able to do so, please stay home, stay safe and stay warm. pic.twitter.com/m6pJLqh8IK
Snow covers roads in Jefferson City
Jefferson City Public Works had 24 plow drivers working against the winter storm Tuesday morning but the department head said roads will likely remain covered throughout the day.
Director Britt Smith said in a live interview with ABC 17 News that extreme cold is making road-clearing operations difficult. He said about 2 inches of light, fluffy snow had accumulated in the city by 6:30 a.m.
Blowing snow is also complicating operations, with roads becoming recovered immediately after being plowed.
The Missouri Department of Transportation's traveler information map showed most state highways in Mid-Missouri were covered or partially covered in snow by 8 a.m. A round of morning snow was exiting the area but more was expected Tuesday afternoon.
Smith pleaded with people to stay off the roads.
"If you give us a couple of hours after the snow stops, we'll have the roads as good as they can be and continue to make them better," Smith said.
The ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather Team has called a Weather Alert Day for snow accumulation and bitter cold. Lows are forecast in the single digits to below 0 degrees into the weekend.
Columbia Public Works to have 25-person crew plowing Tuesday
The Columbia Public Works Department will have 25 road workers starting a shift at 7 a.m.
Richard Stone with Columbia Public Works told ABC 17 News during a live interview Tuesday that the crews will work a 12-hour shift. The department is prepared to fight snow into Wednesday.
Stone warned that the extreme cold could complication snow removal. Low temperatures are expected to be in the single digits to below 0 degrees through the work week.
The ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather Team expects snow to stop later Tuesday morning before starting back up again in the afternoon. Higher snow totals are expected in the southern part of the area.
Snow covers Mid-Missouri roads
Snow fell intermittently on parts of Mid-Missouri overnight, with the Missouri Department of Transportation reporting partially covered highways early Tuesday.
MoDOT's traveler information map showed roads throughout the area were either covered or partially covered in snow. Coverage was more intense in the southern part of the area.
State highways in the Jefferson City and the Lake of the Ozarks area were covered in snow by 4 a.m., the map showed. That includes Highway 63 and Highway 50.
Interstate 70 was later reported as covered through most of Mid-Missouri.
The southern part of Mid-Missouri remained under a winter storm warning until 6 a.m. Wednesday. The rest of Mid-Missouri was in a winter weather advisory.
The ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather Team has issued a Weather Alert Day. Snow is expected to stop falling Tuesday morning before starting again in the afternoon.
Temperatures have also dipped to dangerous levels and are expected to stay that way for a few days. Lows will be in the single digits or below 0 degrees through Saturday morning.
