Southeast Missouri residents are continuing to dig out of nearly a foot of snow that covered much of the region on Monday.
The Missouri Department of Transportation traveler information map shows that many roads are still considered “covered” or “partially covered” with snow. Interstate 55 is considered partially covered.
Street in conditions in Cape Girardeau have improved. About 50 workers used eight dump trucks, eight pickup trucks and a backhoe last night to plow the roads. Cape Girardeau assistant director public works Steve Cook said streets are in much better condition than yesterday evening.
“We’ve got all the primaries done, all the secondaries done. There may be some out there that hadn’t been hit really well yet,” Cook said. “But a lot better shape than last night when the sun went down.”
Regardless of the improvements, Cook encourages drivers to use extreme caution today if they decide to hit the road.
“Getting out of the driveways and that, there’s snow there. But once they get out to the secondaries and the primaries, they’re in pretty good shape,” Cook said. “But there’s still snow on the streets.”
Snowfall amounts varied across the region. Most areas in Cape Girardeau County received between 11 and 12 inches of snow. Scott City received a foot, while Mounds City, Ill. got 10 inches.
The National Weather Service is forecasting a chance for a little more snow today - there’s a 50 percent chance this afternoon and a 60 percent chance overnight. The snow could bring up to an inch of new snow along and south of a line between Perryville, Mo. and Owensboro, Ky. At least one inch of new snow is possible. There could be some isolated spots with two inches.
Dave Purdy with the National Weather Service in Paducah said Wednesday night and Thursday will bring frigid cold conditions. Low temperature will drop to five below zero.
“It’s really going to be cold and people should not be out unless they absolutely have to be,” Purdy said. “The lowest wind chill on Wednesday night should be 12 below zero.”
Some more snow is possible on Friday, but it’s still too early to tell if it will bring significant accumulation.
Southeast Missouri State University students took advantage of cancelled classes on Monday by going sledding near the Towers dormitories. Nearly a hundred students braved the freezing temperatures to hurdle down the steep, snow covered hills on makeshift sleds.
Southeast student Connor Alexander said he did not plan to go sledding because he did not have any winter gear, but his friends loaned him everything he needed.
“I’m from Kansas, so we get a lot of it,” Alexander said. “So I don’t like it but I don’t dislike it because it gives us days like this.”
The only thing lacking was a good sled so Connor, like many of the students, improvised.
“I think this is the top to somebody’s storage box,” he said.
Southeast student Kristin Dillingham also enjoyed the snow.
“Normally I hate it, but since we have the day off, I’m fine with it. And we get to go sledding,” she said.
Students will have another opportunity to try out their makeshift sleds today - Southeast Missouri State University has cancelled classes today, as well as Three Rivers College and Mineral Area College. Many area schools also cancelled classes.