Alton, Mo. – School is out. Shopping is done. The tree is up. Only one thing is missing from the picture-perfect Christmas: snow! That all changed today, just like the weathermen forecasted. Alton now looks like a Christmas card with the ground covered in white. In contrast to the majority of past years, Alton will experience a white Christmas.
Predictions
Local weather channels are forecasting 1-3 inches of snow on Thursday. Looking out my window, I see snow falling like rain. The weathermen are correct! While we do not have 3 inches on the ground yet, it is coming down fast. Beginning with a freezing rain/sleet mix shortly before noon, the precipitation quickly changed to snow as the temperature dropped. The Alton, Missouri forecast calls for wind throughout the day, with plummeting temperatures heading to negative numbers. Although the temperatures fall quickly, they will not rise at the same rate. Alton is not expected to see temperatures above freezing until Monday!
Travel Plans
You may want to rethink your plans for those who need to do last-minute shopping. As of 3:20 pm, the roads around Alton were all snow-covered. With hills, curves, and no shoulders of roadways, these roads quickly become dangerous. In addition, one may encounter a patch of thin ice left over from the freezing rain. Strong winds can blind drivers to where the pavement begins and ends. On may reschedule travel plans to daylight Friday and left the Missouri Department of Transportation do its best and clear the roads.
Children
The snow arrived perfectly, as the local schools had just let out for Christmas break. Children will be clamoring to get out and play, coming in at night tired. As they sleep, the Christmas favorite Twas The Night Before Christmas will overflow their dream. While families may not unite with Grandma because of the severe weather, telephones do work.
While Alton, Missouri is not getting the large quantity of mountain snow common in Truckee, California, not is it getting the lake-effect snow common to Buffalo, New York, Alton is getting snow. And it looks like it will stay here right through Christmas.
