Snow cover likely to continues for awhile

Courtney Hindman shovels snow from the sidewalk in front of her downtown business Thursday. David Wilson/Democrat photo
Courtney Hindman shovels snow from the sidewalk in front of her downtown business Thursday. David Wilson/Democrat photo

Anyone who has seen the actual ground in the last month has probably been somewhere else.

Locally, the ground has been white with snow since about the first of the year.

Although Moniteau County has been spared the really deep snow and ice, there has been enough to impede the normal activities, including closing of schools, workplaces and church activities. The deepest amount probably measured about nine and a half inches, and that was not a single storm.

Even the flurries predicted for the past weekend amounted to several inches of snow and some sleet - not exactly what most people would consider "flurries."

Still, Moniteau County has fared pretty well comparatively. On the east coast, the storm deposited several feet of snow as well as taking out the electric power in several major metro areas. Dallas, Texas, had temperatures in the teens and a couple of inches of snow. While those temperatures and such a small amount of snow would be of little concern to Central Missouri residents, it's a real problem for a city with only four snow plows. Atlanta, Ga., not normally known for snow storms is expecting more to add to what is already on the ground.

City crews have been busy clearing the streets day after day, putting down cinders where needed. MODOT road crews have been working long hours to keep the roadways passable. Even so, drivers would be wise to use caution and realize vehicles don't always steer or stop exactly where intended with packed snow and ice on the roadway.

With colder temperatures predicted for the next few days and nights, it may be some time before any significant melting will take place.