ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) says its snow plows have already driven 800,000 miles in this storm as of Thursday afternoon, but they're not done yet.
MoDOT says bitterly cold temperatures on Friday will slow the efforts to get roads clear and are asking drivers to be patient with crews clearing the highways, main roads and residential streets.
They say they've already dropped 10,000 tons of salt this week.
“Our plows have driven nearly 800,000 miles already this storm. That’s three times the distance from the earth to the moon,” said Becky Allmeroth, MoDOT chief safety and operations officer. “By Friday, crews will be on their third 12-hour shift this week. Please be patient and give them room to work.”
KMOX Meteorologist Dave Murray says only about another inch or so of snow will fall Thursday into the evening, but the bitter cold, wind gusts and blowing snow could still cause issues. He says the winds can be between 35 to 40 mph at times.
MoDOT says drivers should expect slow travel as conditions will not be clear in many areas for Friday morning’s commute, especially in St. Louis, Springfield and the southern portion of the state. Motorists should be cautious for refreeze on elevated surfaces and on hills and curves.
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Dave Murray's forecast for St. Louis:
THURSDAY AFTERNOON:
SNOW SLOWLY ENDING FROM WEST TO EAST…GOING TO FLURRIES BY SUNSET OR EARLY EVENING…STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND COLD…BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW
TEMPS IN THE TEENS…WIND CHILLS NEAR TO BELOW ZERO
.
THURSDAY NIGHT:
EARLY FLURRIES…WINDY AND VERY COLD
LOW: 5 DEGREES…WIND CHILLS -10 TO -15 DEGREES
.
FRIDAY:
PARTLY SUNNY…BREEZY AND COLD
HIGH: 25 DEGREES…WIND CHILLS IN THE SINGLE NUMBERS
.
FRIDAY NIGHT:
CLEAR…BITTER COLD
LOW: 2 DEGREES…WIND CHILLS BELOW ZERO
.
SATURDAY:
MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES…STILL COLD…LIGHT WINDS
HIGH: 34 DEGREES
.
SUNDAY:
MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES…A LITTLE BETTER TEMPS…BUT STILL COLD
HIGH: 38 DEGREES
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