Snowfall begins; drivers asked to avoid Interstate 55

UPDATE: According to the Missouri Department of Transportation Southeast District, at 3 p.m. the impacts on southbound I-55 between mile marker 35 and 63 in New Madrid County are still in place. The incidents have been cleared and MoDOT crews are currently working to remove mud and debris to open the southbound lanes.

All lanes of northbound I-55 are closed from mile marker 32 at the Pemiscot/New Madrid County line to mile marker 44 in New Madrid County. The interstate is expected to be closed until around 5 p.m.

The northbound lanes of I-55 near mile marker 2.4 in Pemiscot County are are also closed but should open around 4 p.m. The southbound lanes have been cleared and are reopened.

The first snowfall of 2022 covered roads and caused numerous accidents on local roadways.

David Jenkins/Standard Democrat

The first snow of 2022 began falling Thursday morning, expected to drop between 2-3 inches on Sikeston and the local area.

The snow was impacting travel early Thursday as the New Madrid Emergency Management reported 25 semi tractor trailers were off the road on Interstate 55, mainly due to driving too fast.

At 10:15 a.m., the Missouri State Highway Patrol reports that Interstate 55 southbound and northbound is blocked at the 60 mile marker to the Arkansas state line and northbound at 8 mile marker due to numerous crashes.

Tractor trailers clog Interstate 55 Thursday morning, causing law enforcement to close parts of the interstate for several hours. Law enforcement blamed snow and high speed for the accidents.

Photo courtesy of Andy Wilkerson

They also report Interstate 55 is blocked at the 47 mile marker southbound in New Madrid County due to multiple crashes. A traffic diversion is being established at the 49 mile marker exit southbound.

The New Madrid Police Department was asking for people to avoid Interstate 55 because of multiple accidents on the roadway.

One accident did have an injury.

A vehicle is seen after sliding off the roadway at Pine and Malone Thursday afternoon. (Deanna Nelson/Standard Democrat)

A multi-car pileup was reported on Interstate 55 southbound at the 62.8 mile marker at 9:55 a.m. blocking traffic.

The Missouri Department of Transportation reports all lanes of southbound I-55 from mile marker 35-63 in New Madrid County were closed. The impact is expected to be in place for 3-4 hours.

Numerous vehicles were needing to be towed on I-55 and some travelers were being transported to a warming center.

Law enforcement said conditions will only deteriorate through the morning, before the snow lets up from midday through the afternoon hours.

Most schools closed Thursday with Sikeston R-6 still in session at 10 a.m.

The snow will be followed by frigid temperatures. Wind chill temperatures from single digits to below zero were expected to cross much of the region.

This story will be updated...