Warming centers open, agencies close as snow, single-digit temps settle over Springfield

Andrew Sullender, Springfield News-Leader
·4 min read
Snow fell on Springfield on as the temperature dropped into the low single digits on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022.
Snow fell on Springfield on as the temperature dropped into the low single digits on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022.

Windblown snow fell over the Ozarks like a shroud Thursday morning as a winter storm caused the temperature to plunge and created hazardous road conditions ahead of the holiday weekend.

By 2 p.m., the National Weather Service in Springfield was reporting a temperature of 1 degree, a 38-degree drop from the overnight high temperature of 39. Snow continued to fall, with one to two inches expected along with record-setting windchills later in the day.

"The cold will become the major story as temperatures combined with winds gusting to 40 miles per hourwill lead to windchills of minus 20 to minus 35, which is some of the coldest wind chills that we've seen going back more than 30 years," an NWS meteorologist said.

Since 1948, there have only been seven days with wind chills at or below minus 30, according to the NWS.

Temperatures will continue to fall in the evening and rebound into the positive single digits Friday morning. There is a chance for additional snowfall Sunday evening and Monday morning but only with very light accumulation.

By Christmas Day, the NWS expects temperatures to rise to between 15 and 25 degrees.

An operator at the Springfield Transportation Center said drivers should expect hazardous conditions to continue likely through Friday.

"You don't have to travel. I would recommend they just stay home," they said.

Springfield Public Works pretreated many of the roads with salt before the snowfall. A representative from the agency told the News-Leader that low temperatures prevent the salt from full effectiveness. The city is currently plowing some problem roads and turn lanes but not roads already treated with salt. They hope temperatures will rise Friday morning to a point that the salt becomes more effective in melting snow.

While remaining open, the Springfield-Branson National Airport has canceled at least 20 arriving and departing flights at Springfield. These cancellations are not because of weather conditions in Springfield, but rather conditions at big hub airports, especially in Denver, Dallas, Atlanta, and Charlotte.

All staffed Springfield public parks have closed Thursday and all-day Friday, according to Springfield-Greene County Park Board.

Snow fell on Springfield on as the temperature dropped into the low single digits on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022.
Snow fell on Springfield on as the temperature dropped into the low single digits on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022.

Warming centers and overnight shelters open in Springfield

The extreme weather prompted many agencies to close early. Springfield Public Schools canceled classes Thursday, beginning its winter break a day early. Greene County offices as well as area courthouses were closed Thursday and Friday, and the Springfield-Greene County Park Board announced closure of its facilities at noon.

As conditions worsened, local agencies, churches and nonprofits rallied to provide shelter for those in need.

A day warming center is now open to anyone who needs it at the Springfield Expo Center at 635 E. St. Louis St. hosted by The Connecting Grounds. It will be open until 7 p.m., then again Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Other warming centers include:

  • The Veterans Coming Home Center, 806 N. Jefferson Ave.

  • Northview Family Center, 301 E. Talmage St.

  • Salvation Army, 1707 W. Chestnut Expressway

  • Harbor House, 636 N. Boonville Ave.

Springfield-Greene County Library branches also are open to anyone during their operating hours, but are not official warming centers.

Anyone in need of overnight shelter Thursday to Sunday is asked to go to Grace United Methodist Church at 600 S. Jefferson Ave. between 5 and 6 p.m., or to the Springfield Expo Center when it is open Thursday to Saturday. A hot meal will be provided and buses will transport people to the shelters at 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, the Community Foundation of the Ozarks and the Jeannette L. Musgrave Foundation announced $23,500 in emergency grants to help pay for additional staffing at Springfield shelters.

Available shelters include:

  • East Sunshine Church of Christ, serving men

  • Grace United Methodist Church, serving women

  • Asbury United Methodist Church, serving individuals and pets

  • Unity of Springfield Church, serving individuals

  • Sacred Heart Catholic Church, serving men

  • Eden Village I community building, serving individuals and pets

  • YouthConnect Center, serving youth aged 13-18

Supplemental shelters operating Thursday- Saturday include:

  • St. John’s Chapel, serving individuals

  • Brentwood Christian Church, serving individuals and pets

  • 425 (The Venues), serving individuals

  • Freedom City Church, serving individuals

To staff crisis cold-weather shelters in need of volunteers, the Community Foundation of the Ozarks and the Jeannette L. Musgrave Foundation made emergency grants totaling $23,500 to help provide additional staffing at Springfield shelters.

For an updated list of shelters in Springfield, go online to cpozarks.org/programs/ccws.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services also has an online map of warming centers.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Warming centers open as single-digit temperatures fall on Springfield