A cold, icy start to 2025
Photo by Shari Harris
Damage to trees included broken limbs and, at times, entire trees were uprooted, unable to withstand the weight of their branches. Power lines, heavy with ice, in some areas “galloped” due to the wind, causing them to break.
Photo by LeAnn Khan
Ice encapsulated each small branch on trees, weighing them down onto power lines, roadways and structures.
By Shari Harris, Publisher
Freezing rain and sleet began late on Saturday afternoon and were followed by snow overnight into Sunday to make roads treacherous and force many closings on Monday. With overnight temperatures dropping into the teens and single digits, and with daytime temperatures struggling to reach the mid-20s, the ice and snow appeared likely to stick around for a few days.
City of Licking road crews cleared most roads in town Monday, and the Missouri Department of Transportation listed Highway 63 and Highway 32 as mostly clear by Monday evening. Smaller roads remained slick, however, and limbs and downed trees continued to hinder travel in some areas. Refreezing of roads was also possible with nighttime temps dropping so low.
The Licking R-VIII School District canceled their teacher’s professional development day on Monday and canceled school on Tuesday due to road conditions.
The Licking Senior Center was also closed Monday and Tuesday due to the weather.
Normal operations on Fort Leonard Wood for Monday, January 6, were suspended for all personnel who were not critical or essential due to the severe weather and road conditions. On Tuesday, January 7, there was a two-hour delayed reporting for non-mission essential personnel, as previously identified by supervisors, due to the road conditions.
On Monday, several area businesses opened late, closed early, or didn’t open due to the travel conditions. Some remained closed on Tuesday as well.
Intercounty Electric Cooperative was busy restoring power throughout the weekend, and by 5 p.m. on Monday, they announced that fewer than 100 meters remained without power. Crews had reached the maximum number of hours they were legally able to work, so restoration efforts were scheduled to resume at daybreak on Tuesday. More trees had split and fallen throughout Monday, and in one instance, a crew repaired the same few miles of line three times that day.
Weather forecasters are predicting accumulating snow for Friday, January 10. Winter has definitely made its presence known.
