Snowfall nears predictions but falls far short of record

The snow blanketing the Cape Girardeau area might not have reached historic levels, but it still ranks pretty high on the list.

The blizzard of 1979 still holds the record at 24 inches, twice as high as the next- largest total of snowfall recorded during one storm at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport. Figures were not recorded during the large ice storm that hit Southeast Missouri in 2008.

As of Monday evening, Cape Girardeau had received between 10.5 and 12 inches of snow, reported four spotters for the National Weather Service in Paducah, Kentucky.

If the accumulation had reached its predicted total of 12 inches, it would have tied the snowstorms of March 1994 and February 1993. The storm this week already exceeded the 10 inches of snow and ice that left cities and counties scrambling to clear roads in December 2013.

The Missouri Department of Transportation reported Monday state roads were covered with snow in all but the northernmost section of the state. Crews were plowing and treating interstates and other heavily traveled roads, while lower-volume roads were being plowed for two-way traffic and treated at hills, curves, intersections and other critical areas.

Stan Polivick, traffic operations engineer for the city of Cape Girardeau, said crews were working to clear primary streets. He was hopeful work could begin on secondary streets by this morning.

MoDOT is asking motorists to travel with cellphones and winter survival supplies.

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3641

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Big Cape snowstorms

Recent snowstorms with accumulation of 6 inches or more:

• Feb. 15-16, 2015: 10.5 to 12
• Dec. 5-6, 2013: 10 (snow and ice)
• Jan. 29, 2010: 7.7
• Jan. 26-27, 2009: 7.5
• Dec. 21-22, 2004: 9.5
• March 14, 1999: 7
• Jan. 8-9, 1996: 7.8
• March 8-9, 1994: 12
• Jan. 16-17, 1994: 6.6
• Feb. 15, 1993: 12
• Feb. 23-24, 1993: 6.5
• Jan. 3, 1985: 8
• Dec. 5, 1984: 9
• Feb. 27-28, 1984: 11
• Feb. 24-25, 1979: 24

Source: Cape Girardeau Regional Airport

(Note: Precipitation figures were not recorded during the February 2008 ice storm)