Snow day

A vehicle drives east on a clear Malone Avenue Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023, in Sikeston. (Gina Williams/Standard Democrat)

A winter storm impacted the region from the evening of Tuesday, Jan. 24 into the morning on Wednesday, Jan. 25. The bulk of the snow accumulations occurred across southeast Missouri and southern Illinois, according to the National Weather Service in Paducah, Kentucky. Amounts in excess of 3 to 4 inches occurred along and northwest of a line from Poplar Bluff, Missouri, and Cape Girardeau, Missouri, to Marion and Mount Vernon, Illinois, line. Due to the heavy wet nature of the snow combining with wind gusts of 15 to 20 mph, significant power outages occurred across the Ozark Foothills of Southeast Missouri. There were over 75,000 customers without power across south central and southeast Missouri at it’s peak on the morning of Jan. 25.Numerous downed trees also occurred in these areas. The morning commute was impacted by snow covered roads, especially in areas that received in excess of 2 inches. According to the Weather Service, snow totals were: Ellsinore, Missouri, 9.4 inches; Marble Hill,, Missouri 7.5 inches; Perryville, Missouri, 6 inches; Cape Girardeau, 4.8 inches; and Poplar Bluff, 4.5 inches. According to the Sikeston Power Station, which serves an official NWS observation center, Sikeston received 1.3 inches of snow.

A northbound Missouri Department of Transportation snow plow drives on Highway 61 Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023, just south of Benton, Missouri. (Leonna Heuring/Standard Democrat)