ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Driving through Northwest Missouri you are likely to see piles of snow and ice along many roadways. Changing temperatures, combined with this weekend’s forecasted rain and thunderstorms, could turn hazardous for motorists in two ways: flooding and ice-covered roads.
These melting piles of ice and snow have nowhere to go and could flood roadways. With the ground saturated from the melting ice and snow, the predicted rain could pool on roadways. At night, temperatures will fall, causing the flooded roadways and pooled precipitation to freeze and create slick conditions for drivers. Remember even light precipitation at certain temperatures can cause roadways to become slick, It is important to allow extra time for travel, change plans if needed and check road conditions before you head out.
With flash flooding roads can be closed or reopened on short notice. Motorists are reminded to stay alert and to not drive through any water over the roadway. It only takes six inches of water (or less!) to lose control of your vehicle and possibly be swept into rising floodwaters.
Any time there is water over the roadway, there may be unseen damage to the road surface below. Do not drive through water over a roadway or around construction barricades. MoDOT encourages all motorists to Turn Around! Don’t Drown!
Missouri Department of Transportation crews are continuing to monitor road conditions closely. To see roadways closed due to flooding or winter roadway conditions, travelers have a few options:
- MoDOT’s App: Search “MoDOT Traveler Information” in your app store.
- MoDOT’s online Traveler Information Map, found at: http://traveler.modot.org/map/
- Text report of flooded roads, sortable by county: http://traveler.modot.org/report/modottext.aspx?type=flood
- MoDOT’s 24-hour Customer Service line: 888 ASK MODOT (1-888-275-6636)
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