Electric cooperatives receive weather briefing



Key personnel from electric cooperatives in Missouri received another weather update from the National Weather Service Springfield office Friday morning as ice began to accumulate around the state. This was an update from another conference call held Thursday.



According to Doug Cramer with the National Weather Service, conditions will be slightly better than previously anticipated. "That is good news for you," he told the electric cooperatives.



He also said wind gusts will be lighter than in previous ice storms, with sustained wind speeds below 10 mph. Wind is a major factor in causing power outages. Also out of the forecast is a flood risk previously expected, with total precipitation below 2 inches.



As of 8 a.m. Friday morning, the freezing line had just passed through Springfield and was moving north. Freezing rain was accumulating, but Cramer said it was not building up efficiently due to higher temperatures.



He said the bullseye for the storm appears to be headed to Butler, headquarters for Osage Valley Electric Cooperative. That area is expected to get up to 3/4 of an inch of ice, with the heaviest buildup occurring on Saturday afternoon and evening, January 14.



For Barton County Electric Cooperative based in Lamar, today will be the critical period, Cramer said. The storm won't cause problems for north Missouri until Sunday, with temperatures not warming up above freezing on Monday.



Elsewhere, the electric cooperatives along the Interstate 44 corridor and central Missouri can expect from 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch of ice beginning today. The ice line extends from Highway 60 in southern Missouri north to the Iowa line, where ice fall is expected to be 1/4 inch or less.



Missouri's electric cooperatives have been tracking Winter Storm Jupiter for a week and are prepared to deal with its aftermath. All of the state's electric cooperatives have enacted their Emergency Response Plans. All trucks and other vehicles are fueled, loaded with materials and are ready to go as needed.



The public is encouraged to prepare for possible extended outages. You can track outages at https://outages.amec.org/outages/maps. Visit your local electric cooperative's website, Twitter feed and Facebook page for the latest information. You can also follow @MoElectricCoops on Twitter and Mo Electric Coops on Facebook for updates and storm safety tips.