The Missouri Department of Transportation says high winds and blowing snow across much of the state means motorists should still be extremely cautious if venturing out today. At midday, MoDOT was reporting the majority of roads throughout Missouri were still covered or partly covered with snow and ice.
“The additional snow accumulation overnight, combined with the strong winds means roads that were plowed yesterday will need additional effort today,” said Beth Wright, state maintenance engineer. “Now that the heavy snow has stopped, we are already making progress and expect road conditions to improve throughout the day.”
Wright says with the low temperatures, there is a risk for refreezing tonight, which will create slick spots. MoDOT continues to run its snow plows on a 24-hour schedule, but warns that it could be some time before roads return to normal.
“The colder it is, the less effective our materials become,” Wright said. “At 30 degrees, one pound of salt melts 46 pounds of ice, but that same pound of salt melts less than four pounds of ice when it’s zero degrees.”
She says MoDOT will use abrasive materials, such as sand, in addition to salt to help provide traction on snow-covered roadways when bitterly cold temperatures set in.
To see the road conditions in your area, visit MoDOT’s Traveler Information Map online at www.modot.org. Smartphone and tablet users can access the information through MoDOT’s Traveler Information App, and motorists can also call 888-ASK-MODOT (888-275-6636) to speak to a live person about road conditions. The line is live 24 hours a day.