What's closed, how much snow Columbia has received and how to report outages as winter storm hits Columbia

Gabriela Velasquez, Kevin Graeler and Roger McKinney, Columbia Daily Tribune
·5 min read

By the time snow stopped falling Thursday, Columbia had garnered a two-day total of 9.9 inches of snow.

The final surge Wednesday night into Thursday brought nearly 3 inches.

Temperatures were expected to drop as low as 3 degrees Thursday night into Friday, doing the same Friday night, with a high near 28 in between during the day Friday as the sun shows itself.

More: Snow day in Columbia brings families out to sled and traffic backups

Snow will start melting as Saturday's high is expected to reach 36 degrees before falling to 18 on Saturday night. Sunday's high is 38, with a low of 8.

Sam Dencker hauls his sled up the Stephens Lake Park hill on Thursday while sledding with his children. Columbia received 2.5 inches of snow Wednesday night for a two-day total of nearly 10 inches. The National Weather Service is forecasting sunny skies Friday with a high of 28 and low of 3.
Sam Dencker hauls his sled up the Stephens Lake Park hill on Thursday while sledding with his children. Columbia received 2.5 inches of snow Wednesday night for a two-day total of nearly 10 inches. The National Weather Service is forecasting sunny skies Friday with a high of 28 and low of 3.

"Refreezing is an important thing to consider in Columbia," Mark Fuchs, meteorologist at the National Weather Service, said Thursday. "Drivers should be aware of spots of ice on highways and roadways late night and early morning as snow starts to melt."

More: University of Missouri will continue online classes, remote operations Friday after winter storm

The most significant melting is expected Tuesday and Wednesday with temperatures forecast to reach the 40s.

Appropriate dress and supplies in vehicles in the case of breaking down are necessities, Fuchs said.

Eastbound Interstate 70 traffic near Stadium Boulevard is halted on Wednesday following several accidents after a winter storm dumped about 7 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service. Forecasts called for another 4 to 7 inches of snow by the end of the storm Thursday.
Eastbound Interstate 70 traffic near Stadium Boulevard is halted on Wednesday following several accidents after a winter storm dumped about 7 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service. Forecasts called for another 4 to 7 inches of snow by the end of the storm Thursday.

Here's what you need to know about Columbia's biggest snow event so far this year.

How much snow did Columbia get?

Columbia got nearly 10 inches of snow over the course of two days.

More: Snow is hitting Columbia. Here's what to expect, how to prepare for Missouri's winter weather

CPS, local colleges off or online

Columbia Public Schools won't be in session Friday, the district announced Thursday afternoon, due to still-slick roads. CPS also called off all classes for Wednesday and Thursday.

All classes at the University of Missouri are online again Friday, with the campus conducting remote operations due to the storm's ongoing effects.

Columbia College announced Thursday that daytime and evening classes would be remote, with most campus buildings closed. Dulany Dining Hall is available for students living on campus. Staff will work virtually.

Stephens College shifted to remote classes Wednesday and will remain that way Friday.

More: Columbia Public Schools closed again Friday after winter storm brings 10 inches of snow

Steve Davis of Atkins Inc. removes snow from the sidewalk in front of Goldie’s Bagel & Deli at 114 S. Ninth St., Suite 102 on Wednesday.
Steve Davis of Atkins Inc. removes snow from the sidewalk in front of Goldie’s Bagel & Deli at 114 S. Ninth St., Suite 102 on Wednesday.

Roundup of closures and cancellations

  • Boone County: Government offices and departments, including Boone County Courthouse, will be closed Thursday and Friday.

  • MU Health Care clinics, laboratory, outpatient radiology and Mizzou Quick Care locations, including Mizzou Urgent Care, will be closed on Wednesday. MU Health Care clinics will open at 12 p.m. Thursday. MU Health's COVID-19 test collection site on North Keene Street will be open until 5 p.m. All Mizzou Pharmacy clinic locations will open at 12 p.m., but locations at University Hospital and Women’s Hospital will have normal hours. Thursday surgeries will be deferred, unless the patient is already at the hospital.

  • Boone Health: Nifong COVID testing site, cardiopulmonary rehab, fitness centers, imaging at Nifong Medical Plaza, all lab draw locations and the diabetes education clinic will be closed Thursday, as will primary care clinics in Boonville, Hallsville and Mexico. Boone Plaza Pharmacy will have reduced hours, open noon to 5:30 p.m. Boone Convenient Care at Parkade will open at 10 a.m. Primary care clinics on Broadway, Nifong and in Glasgow, Centralia, Moberly and Osage Beach will open at 10 a.m.

  • Boone Electric Cooperative will close its business office at 1905 W. Ash on Thursday.

  • Daniel Boone Regional Libraries: Callaway County Public Library, Columbia Public Library, Holts Summit Public Library and Southern Boone County Public Library will be closed Thursday.

  • Public transit: Both fixed route and paratransit Go COMO bus services will return on Friday.

  • Parks and Recreation: The Activity & Recreation Center (ARC), 1701 W. Ash; Hillcrest Community Center, 1907 Hillcrest Dr.; the Armory Sports Center, 701 E. Ash and the Columbia Sports Fieldhouse, 4251 Philips Farm Road, will be closed Thursday.

  • PHSS: Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services, 1005 W. Worley St., will be closed to the public Thursday.

  • Animal Control: Extreme emergencies only. Reports can be made by calling 573-449-1888.

More: Mizzou will move to remote operations, online classes due to winter weather on Wednesday, Thursday

Matthew Apperson and his son Evan, 6, slide down Stephens Lake Park hill on Wednesday.
Matthew Apperson and his son Evan, 6, slide down Stephens Lake Park hill on Wednesday.

Warming centers in Columbia

Turning Point: Operating hours extended, 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday.

Salvation Army Harbor House: Open Wednesday and Thursday.

Wabash Bus Station: Open as an emergency overnight warming center from 7 p.m. to 8 a.m. Tuesday through Friday.

ATR Towing and Recovery workers remove a pickup truck that slid into the median on Interstate 70 east of the Lake of the Woods exit on Wednesday.
ATR Towing and Recovery workers remove a pickup truck that slid into the median on Interstate 70 east of the Lake of the Woods exit on Wednesday.

How to report power outages, check for MoDOT road conditions and more amid winter storm

Boone Electric Cooperative

To report a power outage, customers can call 573-449-4181 or use the SmartHub app. An outage map and list is available at nis.booneelectric.com/dmsoutagemap/default.html.

Columbia City Utilities

To report a power outage, call 573-875-2555. An outage map and list is available at experience.arcgis.com/experience/cc2a91d460b940e89ba1f408471eda53/.

MoDOT

Up-to-date road conditions can be accessed on the MoDOT Traveler Information Map, MoDOT app or by calling 888-275-6636.

MoDOT encourages drivers to avoid the roads. However, if this is not an option, MoDOT recommends drivers pack a winter weather emergency kit, including a phone charger, blanket, flashlight, bottled water and nonperishable foods. The full kit recommendation list, along with other winter driving tips, can be found at modot.org/winter-driving-tips.

"Have all the food and medicine and whatever you need already at your disposal," Fuchs said. "Don't mess with the outdoors — just go back out when the roads are clear."

Greta Cross from the Springfield News-Leader contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Columbia, MO braces for winter storm. What to expect, what's closed