WINTER STORM UPDATES: Roads show continued improvement as snow tapers off
WATCH a 4 p.m. update on the forecast and weather conditions below.
Conditions on state highways around Mid-Missouri continued to improve late Friday afternoon as snow started to exit the area.
Some snow showers were still falling around Mid-Missouri but were expected to stop by evening for most areas. The Missouri Department of Transportation's traveler information map showed highways were mostly clear or clear through most of Mid-Missouri.
Road temperatures remained at or above freezing.
Most parts of Mid-Missouri received 1 to 2 inches of snow. Some of the higher totals were 2 inches in Columbia and 1.7 inches in Mexico.
Roads start to show improvement in Mid-Missouri
State roads in Mid-Missouri were showing some improvement Friday afternoon as snow continued to fall around the area, driven by high winds.
Forecasters are expecting 2 to 4 inches of snow to fall by the time the storm ends Friday evening. The area remains under a winter weather advisory until 9 p.m. for snow and high winds.
Public agencies have warned about potential near-whiteout conditions.
State highways were improving Friday afternoon, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation's traveler information map. Interstate 70 through the area remained partly covered to mostly clear Friday afternoon.
Highway 63 had been mostly covered north of Boone County earlier in the day. By 1:30 p.m. the highway was partially covered to mostly clear.
The snow prompted several school districts to close or dismiss early. The Jefferson City School District said its buses are running on snow routes in Callaway County only.
Get a full list of closings and early dismissals here.
Visibility declines, road conditions vary as snowfall continues
Snow continued to fall on Mid-Missouri on Friday morning, with wind helping to lower visibility.
The Missouri Department of Transportation's traveler information map showed varying conditions on state highways in Mid-Missouri.
WATCH: Get an update on the forecast and conditions in the player below.
The map showed Interstate 70 as partially covered or mostly clear through the area. Highway 63 was partially covered or mostly clear north to the Randolph County line, where conditions deteriorate.
MoDOT's map shows the worst road conditions in the northern part of the area, where the most snow is falling.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol said on its social media accounts that a tractor-trailer crash on an outer road of I-70 in Cooper County. The post did not say if the crash was weather related.
Primary routes in the Columbia area were wet with some slushy patches but weather was not causing severe impacts mid-morning.
A winter weather advisory remains in effect for the entire area through 9 p.m. The National Weather Service in St. Louis predicts 2 to 4 inches of snow for Columbia.
Columbia activates second plow crew
The City of Columbia Public Works said Friday morning that a 24-person plow crew was activated for snowfall around the city.
A release from the department said the crew reported in at 7 a.m. to relieve the night crew which was brought in at 11 p.m. the night before.
Crews said the snow showers mixed with gusty winds can cause limited visibility on the roads.
Columbia motorists are encouraged to drive with caution and all residents were asked to monitor road conditions, according to the release.
Snow has covered some sidewalks and parking lots in Columbia. On the Business Loop, snow could be seen sticking to the middle lane of the road.
Boone County Joint Communications has sent at least a half-dozen alerts for crashes Friday morning. The latest was reported at 8:43 a.m. on S. Fairview Road and Rollins Road.
It's unclear if winter weather played a part in the wreck.
Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop F tweeted Friday morning asking drivers to slow down, increase following distance and turn on their headlights.
Roads in Mid-Missouri see snow coverage
Some roads in the northern part of the state and in Mid-Missouri are seeing snow coverage on Friday morning.
The MoDOT Traveler Information Map said a portion of Highway 63 North past Macon was covered as of 7 a.m.
Around Mid-Missouri, the map included portions of Highway 54 in Audrain, Callaway and Cole counties was seeing some coverage as well. Some lettered routes around Morgan and Audrain counties were partly covered.
Boone County Joint Communications sent out an alert about a crash on I-70 Drive Southeast and Hominy Drive at 7:13 a.m. It's unclear if weather conditions played a part in the collision.
In Jefferson City, Public Works Department spokesman Britt Smith said road equipment had been prepared Thursday night. He included crews reported in for work at 6:30 a.m.
Columbia Public Works said on social media Thursday night crews reported in at 11 p.m. in anticipation of the winter storm.
Mid-Missouri schools cancel class, some areas seeing snow stick
Some schools around Mid-Missouri have canceled classes because of accumulating snow and gusty winds Friday morning.
The ABC 17 Stormtrack Team called a Weather Alert Day on Thursday ahead of the snowfall.
Before 6 a.m., Mexico Public Schools, Prairie Home R-V, Morgan County R-I, Morgan R-II, Bunceton R-IV and the Christian Fellowship School had canceled class for the day.
Higbee R-VIII, Cole County R-V in Eugene and College Park Christian Academy have also canceled classes.
Camdenton R-III has canceled all in-person classes but it will continue with virtual learning. And the Williams Center Head Start in Mexico said it is closed on Friday.
An ABC 17 New crew in Moberly said a dusting of snow was starting to stick on Friday morning. Few cars were on the road in the city's downtown area as the snow was coming down.
Portions further south like in Jefferson City had not seen any snowfall early in the morning.
The Stormtrack team says the storm could drop up to 3 inches of snow across Mid-Missouri through the evening hours.
