MoDot issues statewide ‘Do Not Travel’ warning saying travel will be “impossible” – KBSI Fox 23 Cape Girardeau News | Paducah News

MISSOURI(KBSI) – The Missouri Department of Transportation is urging Missouri citizens to stay off Missouri roadways as winter weather pushes through the area.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol is actively responding to numerous crashes and slide-offs in impacted areas.

According to MoDOT driving conditions have deteriorated in western Missouri Saturday January 4, 2024 as winter precipitation pushes east, and the Missouri Department of Transportation is urging drivers to avoid travel throughout the duration of the winter storm, which is expected to last until Monday morning.

The National Weather Service upgraded the storm warning to a blizzard warning for the northwestern and west central areas of the state, effective 3 a.m. Sunday morning.

This warning is in addition to the ongoing winter storm warning across the state, which is bringing a full mix of winter weather, including heavy snow, sleet, freezing rain and ice across most of Missouri.

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

Forecasts are calling for snowfall totals potentially reaching more than a foot in northern areas, and ice accumulation causing tree damage and power outages in other parts of the state.

According to NWS, travel will be “impossible.”

“Drivers need to avoid traveling until conditions improve sometime on Monday,” said MoDOT Chief Safety and Operations Officer Becky Allmeroth. “For the remainder of this weekend, travel should be limited to emergencies only. These difficult conditions will also delay response times for our crews and emergency response partners.”

MoDOT says they have approximately 1500 trucks working 12-hour shifts until roads are in a mostly clear condition after the snow ends.

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

Governer Mike Parson’s executive order has activated the Missouri National Guard to assist with response efforts.