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Columbia Public Works crews plow streets in downtown Columbia on February 17, 2022 (photo courtesy of Public Works spokesman John Ogan)

Columbia receives five inches of snow; freezing rain/ice lowered the snow total

Columbia Public Works crews plow streets in downtown Columbia on February 17, 2022 (photo courtesy of Public Works spokesman John Ogan)

The National Weather Service (NWS) says about five inches of snow fell in Columbia during Thursday’s winter storm. NWS St. Louis meteorologist Jared Maples says the freezing rain and ice that fell first limited snow totals.

“So whenever you start off like that, you’re really cutting into the amount of moisture that would originally or maybe result in snow otherwise, and take some of that depth out a little bit,” Maples says.

The heaviest snow fell in northeast Missouri’s Shelbina, which received 8.7 inches. NWS meteorologist Marshall Pfahler says Holts Summit has received three inches of snow, while Jefferson City recorded 1.5 inches.

Meantime, while the winter storm warning has expired, the National Weather Service (NWS) is warning that your morning commute in Columbia and parts of mid-Missouri will be difficult.  Maples notes freezing rain fell first on Thursday, followed by snow and bitterly cold temperatures.

“After an evening in the 20s and then dropping down into the single digits, any refreezing or residual snowpack or ice that’s on the roadways, especially in the rural areas and side roads, that’s still going to be a problem come morning time,” says Maples.

The temperature will warm into the 30s today, which should help road conditions.

State troopers in mid-Missouri’s Troop F assisted about 56 stranded motorists on Thursday, and also worked 20 non-injury crashes.

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