LATE LOCAL SNOW SENDS CARS SLIDING

Ice- and snow-covered roads throughout the region sent cars spinning out of control late Saturday, leaving local law enforcement officers to respond to traffic accidents one after the other.

The Cape Girardeau Police Department closed Mount Auburn Road for a time until city road crews could clear it.

"It's bad everywhere," said Patrolman Michael Peterson. "The best advice is not to drive unless you have to. We've got a lot of cars on the side of the road."

The problem was rain and temperatures in the 40s early Saturday, which melted snow already on the ground and covered roads with water. Then the temperature dropped rapidly, freezing that water, and snow began to fall mid-afternoon.

KFVS-12 meteorologist John Dissauer said there won't be any relief from the cold and ice soon -- he forecast temperatures in the low teens Saturday night and more of the same for today. The temperature may get over freezing on Monday.

He said he didn't expect the area to break any records, which are below zero.