ST. LOUIS — The Missouri Department of Transportation is preparing to have plows on the roads around the clock this weekend as precipitation switches from rain to snow followed by frigid temperatures.
Temperatures are expected to be in the 40s for the first part of Friday, but as temperatures dip, the forecasted rain will change over into a wintry mix and eventually snow. That change is expected to occur near or during rush hour.
Bob Becker, MoDOT's district maintenance engineer for the St. Louis area, said the timing of the storm will bring challenges.
"We'll be fully staffed by noon [Friday], because this is expected to come in around rush hour tomorrow, and that's one of our biggest concerns" Becker said during a Thursday afternoon press conference. "Because this is going to be a rain event initially starting out, we're not going to be able to treat it ahead of the storm at all, so we're going to be making treatments and making decisions as it comes around."
He said the transition time is going to be the most important, and asked drivers to use extra caution until roads can be treated or cleared.
Higher snow totals are expected once again, north of St. Louis. Across most of the metro area, around an inch or two of accumulation can be expected.
After the storm moves through the area, a system of cold air arrives, bringing the coldest temperatures of the season. There will also be significant winds, which could result in snow blowing back onto the roads.
Cpl. Dallas Thompson with the Missouri State Highway Patrol said divers should be prepared for the worst when heading out on the roads this weekend.
"We're concerned with people sliding off into ditches and being stuck there for long periods of time waiting for help to arrive or, with the cold weather, vehicles jut breaking down and people being on the shoulders of the roadway waiting for help," he said.
The highway patrol will have increased patrols over the weekend to keep an eye on the roadways. Additionally, Thompson said drivers can take proactive steps to keep themselves safe.
He advised drivers check their car's fluids and wiper blades and pack a kit in case they get stuck. He said the kid should include some non-perishable food items, a jacket, a blanket and a phone charger.
He said if you do get stuck, you can call 911 in an emergency or *55 to reach the nearest highway patrol headquarters.
In Illinois, IDOT said they have been testing trucks all week and added fuel additives to make sure they can operate in the frigid temperatures. The department is preparing a "hot brine," which they said is specially formulated to work in single-digit temperatures.
IDOT also said they will also be unable to pretreat roads due to the system starting with rain.