By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
We could see between one to three inches of snow as a winter storm bears down on the Midland Empire.
St. Joseph city crews are prepared.
Public Works Deputy Director Keven Schneider says crews began pre-treating roads Sunday in anticipation of the snow.
“Hopefully, the reality won’t be as bad as the forecast, but if so, we’ll have everything pre-treated and that will help us a long ways,” Schneider tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.
The National Weather Service reports there is a slight chance of snow early this evening. Snow is most likely to fall overnight when the temperatures make a big drop. The weather service forecasts a low of -4 tonight, only inching up to -1 for the high on Thursday.
Expect one to two inches overnight and possibly another inch of snow tomorrow.
The Missouri Department of Transportation has struggled to hire enough snow plow drivers.
Schneider says the city should have enough drivers to handle this storm, though the city is having the same problem recruiting drivers that the state is having.
Schneider says city crews have been pre-treating city streets. Schneider wants residents to take this storm seriously.
“I know it’s getting really close to Christmas, but, boy, if you don’t have to get out, I would suggest (you) stay home,” Schneider says. “If you do have to get out and you see any of our big, yellow trucks coming, or any emergency vehicle for that matter, please give them all as wide a berth as you possibly can.”
It is the bitter cold that distinguishes this winter storm.
The NWS forecast a high of only -1 Thursday with wind chills dipping to between -20 to -30 due to blustery, north-northwest winds of 23 to 26 miles per hour. The weather service expects the low Thursday night to drop to -9 with windchills of between -27 and -32. The high Friday should reach 4 with a high on Christmas Eve of 11.
The forecast for Christmas Day calls for mostly sunny skies and a high near 28.