http://ozarkspub.vo.llnwd.net/o37/KSMU/audio/mp3/winter-weather-impacts-ozarks_26621.mp3
People in the Ozarks are waking up to a mix of winter weather. Gene Hatch is a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Springfield...
"Right now we are having some light snow across a good portion of the Ozarks. It's due to a little bit of upper level energy that's kind of pushed across the area and has been helping to squeeze the snow out of the clouds that we have right now. We've had reports anywhere from a trace of snow to some light accumulation--less than half an inch across the region. Now, if you get down into South Central Missouri, around the West Plains area, they've actually had some light freezing as well. Now, all of this has combined to create some slick driving conditions across the area as the ground temperatures are right around freezing as well, which has allowed the snow to stick onto the roadways. As that's occurred, we've actually had some black ice form and some very slick spots across the area with numerous slide-offs across the region."
At around 5 am, the Springfield Police Department went to emergency status regarding vehicle crashes. If there are no injuries, the vehicles are operable and there is no suspicion of alcohol involved, drivers are asked to exchange information and file a police report at police headquarters during business hours.
Go a little slower and use extra caution when you’re on the roads this morning.
Hatch says the snow should end by late morning or early afternoon. But highs today will be only around 32 degrees, so the snow on the ground may stick around for a little while.