Tameka Noerenberg, of Florissant, and her 5-year-old son Jathan try to maintain control of their sled on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021, as they descend "Killer Hill" outside the Ferguson-Florissant School District headquarters building on Waterford Drive. "That's a good name for it cause it's killin' me," she said of the hill. Temperatures remained below 15 degrees much of the day after heavy snowfall covered the St. Louis area recently. Photo by Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com
Cars drive east on Highway 40 (Interstate 64) in St. Louis early in the morning on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021. Photo by Colter Peterson, cpeterson@post-dispatch.com
Tia Upchurch walks along Boyle Avenue on her way to work in St. Louis on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021. Wind chills as low as minus 20 are possible, according to the National Weather Service. Photo by Colter Peterson, cpeterson@post-dispatch.com
Cars drive east on Forest Park Avenue in St. Louis early in the morning on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021. Photo by Colter Peterson, cpeterson@post-dispatch.com
ABOVE • Richie Camden's dog-sled team break trail through the snow on Tuesday on the Katy Trail near Defiance. The past few weeks of snow have been a special treat for the team, which runs "dry-land" training when the ground isn't covered.
ST. LOUIS — More snow is on the way Wednesday following a wintry blast that deposited more than a half-foot of snow in some areas of the St. Louis region and led a leading utility to ask customers to conserve power amid frigid temperatures.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, meanwhile, issued a disaster proclamation Tuesday following the massive snowstorm the day before that stretched from New Mexico to Maine.
The National Weather Service said Jefferson County could see another 3 inches of snow Wednesday morning while there may be an inch or 2 closer to St. Louis. Daytime temperatures are expected to rise slightly but remain in the teens.
Most of the highways in the bistate region were snow-covered and slippery early Tuesday until plows caught up. Officials were asking motorists to stay home as many businesses and government offices were closed.
Monday’s storm brought 8 inches of snow to Wentzville, 8.5 inches in Red Bud, 7.2 inches in Barnhart, 8.2 inches in Bonne Terre, 8.5 inches in Collinsville, 6.8 inches in Maryland Heights, 9.5 inches north of Freeburg, and 9 inches in Farmington.
An area near Salem, in Marion County, Illinois, recorded the highest accumulation at 11.9 inches, according to NWS meteorologist Jayson Gosselin.
“The highest totals were definitely south and east of St. Louis,” Gosselin said.
Low temperatures and ice on the Illinois River halted ferries at Brussels and Kampsville, the Illinois Department of Transportation said.
Pritzker cited the extreme weather, the possible exhaustion of local resources and strain on the utility system as reasons for his disaster declaration. The move triggers the potential for help from federal agencies.
Ameren said the rolling blackouts imposed in other parts of the country to mitigate a high demand for power and natural gas were not expected to occur in the St. Louis area, but the utility company encouraged residents to try to conserve power.
Several local businesses showed their appreciation for public workers, with Donut King supplying snowplow drivers in St. Charles and Little Caesars sending pizza and sides to police and other emergency workers in Granite City.
In speaking of Monday’s storm, the NWS said there were only two other occasions since daily snow records began in 1890 with such a combination of extreme cold (5 degrees or colder) and more than 2 inches of snow. Both were in 1912.
Yates Sanders, 26, took advantage of the snow-covered streets in Dogtown on Monday to get some skiing in.
A friend drove Sanders’ Jeep and another filmed as Sanders spent about 10 to 15 minutes being towed up and down Tamm Avenue as people cheered and gave Sanders high fives.
“The chance finally presented itself to ski in the street. I dreamed about this for years,” Sanders said.
He gave himself the day off from work at Progress Eyecare. He said his business partner was not a fan of the plan, saying, “That’s a bad idea, but be safe.” Sanders said the trio made sure the street was clear first.
Temperatures likely will rise above the freezing mark on Saturday. That would be the first time since Feb. 5 that it’s been above 32 degrees.
Monday could see temperatures in the mid to upper 40s, which is normal for this time of year.
