Poplar Bluff roads mostly clear but dangerously cold temperatures persist, warming centers available

Poplar Bluff city officials and police say roads are mostly clear but the public should remain aware of dangerously cold temperatures throughout Monday.

While it did snow overnight, there was very little accumulation due to the temperature at that time, overnight staff reported to Deputy Police Chief Keith Hefner as of 6 a.m. this morning.

“The wind has helped to dry the roads some but the freezing temps have caused some icing in places. (The overnight supervisor) advised that the majority of roads are clear and dry with only limited areas that are patchy with black ice,” Hefner said. “As always with winter weather, allow yourself extra time if you have to be out on the roads and decrease speed and increase reactionary distance.”

Poplar Bluff road Superintendent Jerry Lawson had similar advice.

“Town is 99 percent clear,” Lawson said at 6 a.m. “The only spots are where stormwater crosses the road and froze, the typical places to be aware of. Just let off the accelerator. I think we were very, very fortunate.”

The winter weather hasn’t completely moved out, cautioned Craig Meador, of the Poplar Bluff Severe Weather Response Team.

“Some very cold temps are coming in the next few days, so be aware of that too,” he said.

The National Weather Service reported the windchill at Poplar Bluff was 8 degrees as of 6 a.m., and as low as 4 degrees in Van Buren. Windchills across the area are expected to reach a high of 17 degrees by noon. They are expected to drop back into the single digits after dark. Windchills are expected to remain below freezing through Thursday, with another round of potential snow expected Friday.

Poplar Bluff will have an overnight warming center at The Bread Shed, 203 N. D St. It will be open from 7 p.m.-7 a.m., when temperatures are at 20 degrees or lower. For information, call 573-712-7356.

Daytime warming centers are available at Poplar Bluff Library and Butler County Health Department.

Sporadic power outages have been reported across the region. Ozark Border had more than 400 customers out early Sunday evening across Wayne, Carter and Bollinger counties. That number had fallen to less than 50 by 4 a.m. Monday morning, with a handful of those in Butler County. As of 6 a.m., Ozark Border reported five customers without power in Carter County.

Ameren Missouri reported about 8,000 customers without power across the state, but none in the seven-county region.

Troop E responded to 111 calls for service Sunday and early Monday, said Sgt. Clark Parrott, but it was mostly in the northern part of the troop where ice was received. Those included 13 stranded motorists and 12 crashes, with zero injuries. Troopers also assisted multiple utility companies with downed power lines and trees.