“MoDot Declares Statewide Travel Ban as Conditions Turn ‘Impossible'”

MISSOURI(KBSI) – The Missouri Department of Transportation is advising residents to refrain from using the roads due to an incoming winter storm affecting the region.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol is actively responding to a multitude of accidents and slide-offs in the affected regions.

As reported by MoDOT, driving conditions have worsened in western Missouri on Saturday, January 4, 2024, as winter precipitation moves eastward, and the Missouri Department of Transportation is urging motorists to steer clear of travel during the winter storm expected to persist until Monday morning.

The National Weather Service has elevated the storm warning to a blizzard warning for the northwestern and west-central parts of the state, starting 3 a.m. on Sunday morning.

This alert supplements the ongoing winter storm warning across the state, which is delivering a full spectrum of winter weather, including heavy snowfall, sleet, freezing rain, and ice throughout most of Missouri.

The precipitation commenced as freezing rain when it entered the state on Saturday afternoon in the Kansas City area.

Forecasts predict snow totals that could exceed a foot in northern areas, along with ice accumulation leading to tree damage and power outages in other sections of the state.

According to NWS, travel will become “impractical.”

“Drivers are advised to avoid travel until conditions improve sometime on Monday,” stated MoDOT Chief Safety and Operations Officer Becky Allmeroth. “For the remainder of this weekend, travel should be restricted to emergencies only. These challenging conditions will also delay response times for our teams and emergency response partners.”

MoDOT reports that they have around 1500 trucks operating 12-hour shifts until the roads are mostly clear following the end of the snow.

MoDOT is collaborating with the State Emergency Management Agency, which is actively orchestrating the response from the State Emergency Operations Center.

Governor Mike Parson’s executive order has mobilized the Missouri National Guard to aid in response efforts.