(COLUMBIA, MO) - The City of Columbia is continuing to monitor and respond to winter weather. As a result of current conditions, several City services will be impacted Monday, Jan. 6.

As winter weather can be unpredictable, residents are encouraged to closely monitor the forecast and changing road conditions throughout the mid-Missouri area.

Updates will be posted on the City's various social media accounts. Information and updates are also available at CoMo.gov.

City of Columbia Public Works
Contact: John Ogan, [email protected]create new email

A crew of 30 City of Columbia Public Works snowplow operators has been on duty since 7 a.m. Crews have been working around the clock in 12-hour shifts since Saturday, focusing on maintaining first, second and third priority routes in passable condition. Throughout the day Monday, additional snowplow operators will join the current team to support ongoing efforts.

Crews will begin plowing neighborhood streets Monday morning, working from the outer edges of the City inward. For reference, this approach alternates with each snowstorm. During the last winter weather event requiring neighborhood plowing in March 2022, crews started in the City center and worked outward.

Significant snowpack remains on all roads and is expected to persist until above-freezing temperatures arrive. However, today's sunshine will aid in melting the snowpack while snowplow operators continue their efforts to plow and treat streets throughout the City.

Crews are scheduled to conduct downtown snow haul-off operations overnight Monday into Tuesday. Unlike residential streets, where snow can typically be plowed to the side of the road, the downtown area lacks adequate space for snow storage. As a result, snow must be loaded onto dump trucks and transported to designated sites for removal.

Please continue to park any vehicles off priority routes to ensure snowplows can operate effectively. It is expected that parking on priority streets will be allowed once again starting later today. To receive timely alerts about parking restrictions and when parking can resume on snow routes, sign up at Alerts.CoMo.gov. Notifications are available by text, email or automated phone call.

If you must travel Monday, exercise extreme caution by keeping speeds low, increasing stopping distances, avoiding sudden braking or acceleration and refraining from tailgating. Be particularly careful when approaching intersections and roundabouts, where slick conditions may make it difficult to stop or maneuver safely.

Go COMO Transit
Contact: John Ogan, [email protected]create new email

Go COMO fixed-route bus service is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Monday. Buses will operate on a Saturday schedule, starting with the blue, orange and red routes.

Paratransit service is suspended for Monday. Go COMO staff will assess neighborhood road conditions to determine if service can resume Tuesday. Updates will be shared in a future press release. Paratransit customers are reminded to call 911 in case of an emergency.

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City of Columbia Utilities
Contact: Jason West, [email protected]create new email

Taking current conditions and staff safety into consideration, refuse and recycling collections are canceled for Monday.  More considerations will be evaluated to determine if refuse collection can occur Tuesday, Jan. 7.  Curbside recycling collection is canceled through Wednesday, Jan. 8 for the safety of the collection staff.

City of Columbia Utilities will have additional crews on standby for the potential of downed power lines. The strong winds and weight of snow or ice on power lines and tree limbs could cause sporadic power outages.

City of Columbia Utilities also recognizes the potential for water main breaks because of low temperatures that are forecast. In the case of a water main break occurring, crews are on standby and will work to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. Customers who come under a precautionary boil advisory will receive a hang tag.

City of Columbia Finance
Contact: Sydney Olsen, [email protected]create new email

The City of Columbia Cashier's Office is currently closed to the public. Customers can drop off a payment at a drop box (that says Utilities) in City Hall, or our drop box behind City Hall. Payments can also be made over the phone at 573.874.7694 via card or online at Pay.CoMo.gov.

Columbia Police Department
Contact: [email protected]create new email

Due to hazardous traveling conditions, Columbia Police have implemented the delayed crash report protocol and will only be responding to crashes involving serious injuries or criminal elements.

If you are involved in a non-emergency accident, please call 311 or report online.

All vehicles that have been responded to as part of a delayed crash report will be marked with crime scene tape and towed when weather conditions improve.

As the hazardous weather continues, we ask that you slow down, increase distance between cars, accelerate and decelerate slowly, wear a seatbelt and take all other precautions to keep yourself and others safe.

Residents should also not leave vehicles running while unattended. While you may be trying to warm your vehicle or defrost your windshield, a vehicle left running unattended for even a few minutes is at risk for theft.

Columbia Fire Department
Contact: [email protected]create new email

If your facility has a wet pipe fire sprinkler system, make sure that it is in a heated area, maintaining a minimum temperature of 40 degrees fahrenheit or higher. Doing so prevents frozen pipes.

For facilities with dry pipe sprinkler systems, regularly inspect and drain all low point drains to prevent freeze-ups.

Residents are encouraged to inspect their heaters and ensure they are in optimal working conditions, as well as confirm that their riser rooms are properly heated to prevent freezes. Residents should also seal off any drafts from the exterior of their buildings, and any areas susceptible to cold drafts.

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If you need the Fire Department dispatched to your location, please call 911 for emergencies and 311 for non-emergencies.

Columbia Regional Airport
Contact: Mike Parks, [email protected]create new email

Crews continue to remove snow and ice to ensure the airport is prepared for commercial and general aviation flights.

Passengers flying through Columbia Regional Airport (COU) can check their flight status at FlyCOU.com. Flight information is provided by the airlines and updated every 15 minutes. Also, remember to allow for extra time driving to the airport when flights resume as local roads may also be impacted by the weather.

Public Health
Contact: Sara Humm, [email protected]create new email or Austin Krohn, [email protected]create new email

Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services will have modified hours Monday, Jan. 6 and will be open 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Several warming centers and shelters are planning to be open regardless of weather conditions. Due to changing conditions, it is recommended to check with the location before going. Daniel Boone Regional Library will be closed Sunday, Jan. 5 and will not be available as a warming center. Wilkes Boulevard United Methodist Church will host an overnight warming center from 7 p.m. - 7 a.m. from Jan. 5 - Jan. 9. The Red Cross will be at Memorial Baptist Church and will be on standby to assist stranded travelers.

Animal Control will only respond to extreme emergencies at this time, such as a vicious dog running loose, a gravely injured animal or a bat inside a home. Reports can be made by calling 573.449.1888. Response times may be delayed depending on road conditions. Residents are encouraged to bring pets inside during extreme weather.

Convention and Visitors Bureau
Contact: Megan McConachie, [email protected]create new email

The Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau will have modified hours Monday and will be open noon to 5 p.m.

City of Columbia Parks and Recreation
Contact: Tammy Miller, [email protected]create new email

The City's Activity & Recreation Center (ARC) will have a delayed opening Monday at 10 a.m. All group fitness classes (land and water) scheduled for Monday morning will be canceled, as well as the Little Gymmers program. Classes that are scheduled for the afternoon should proceed, however, patrons are encouraged to call the ARC at 573.874.7700 for potential additional updates.

Neighborhood Services
Contact: Leigh Kottwitz, [email protected]create new email

Residents are reminded to remove snow from sidewalks adjacent to the property they own or rent. Sidewalks are used by residents to get to school, work and shopping. The City appreciates the effort to keep our sidewalks accessible.

City of Columbia Office of Sustainability
Contact: Michael J. Heimos, [email protected]create new email

The City of Columbia Office of Sustainability would like to remind residents of several tips when using salt. For best results, salt should be applied to cleared surfaces. Additionally, more salt does not mean more melting. It is recommended to use less than 4 pounds of salt per 1,000 square feet.

Following a winter weather event, residents are encouraged to sweep up any extra salt that is visible on dry pavement in order to avoid that salt being washed into local streams through a storm drain or ditch system.

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