Snow, ice blanket region

The entire Wright County area was shut down for most of the week between Monday, Feb. 17 through Friday, Feb. 21 as snow and ice blanketed the region. Temperatures in some places dipped to around negative 10 degrees with some windchills recording colder than negative 20 degrees. This led to icy road conditions that left Wright County school districts with little choice, but to close, giving students and staff a rare five-day February vacation, of sorts. As the week progressed; however, the students’ AMI days went into effect, giving them work to be completed for their classes. Crew members for the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) and the cities worked diligently to clear the roads throughout the week-long ordeal. Amazingly enough, temperatures went from negative temperatures to up in the 50s and 60s by the end of the week, which helped to melt the ice and snow.