A winter storm produced 4 to 10 inches of snow across southeast Missouri. Snowfall amounts increased from north to south, ranging from 4 inches near Perryville to 10 inches at New Madrid. Rain gradually changed over to snow during the day. A few hours of sleet and freezing rain occurred during the transition from rain to snow. Up to three-quarters of an inch of sleet accumulated, followed by snow. The snow fell heavily during the evening, accumulating at the rate of an inch-and-a-half per hour and reducing visibility below one-half mile. Specific snowfall reports included: 10 inches at Portageville (New Madrid County) and East Prairie (Mississippi County), 9 inches near Dexter (Stoddard County) and Cape Girardeau, 8 inches near Poplar Bluff, and 6 inches at Wappapello (Wayne County) and Van Buren (Carter County). Only three to four inches was reported at Perryville (Perry County). During the transition to sleet and freezing rain, some thunder and lightning was observed. North winds gusted up to 25 mph, causing some drifting of the snow. Drifts were locally up to two feet deep. Numerous traffic accidents occurred. Just north of Poplar Bluff, a 10-car pileup was reported on U.S. Highway 67. Numerous vehicles slid off Interstate 55. The southbound lanes of Interstate 55 were blocked at the 105-mile marker after a tractor-trailer crashed. In Stoddard County, U.S. Highway 60 was blocked by a crash involving two tractor-trailers and a sport utility vehicle. The state highway patrol reported 32 stranded vehicles and 27 crashes even before the storm was over. Schools were closed for the remainder of the week in most counties. Some of the coldest air ever recorded in the month of March invaded southeast Missouri the day after the snowstorm, hampering snow removal efforts. The low temperature was 8 below zero at Cape Girardeau on March 6. This was the first below-zero reading in the month of March since records began there in 1960. In the wake of a strong cold front that passed through on the night of the 3rd, an arctic high pressure center moved southeast into the central Plains. A deep 500 mb trough progressed slowly eastward from the Rockies across the Plains. This trough was responsible for a sustained period of moist southwest flow aloft. The relatively moist air overrunning cold air near the surface set the stage for widespread moderate to heavy snow.

Winter Storm in PERRY, MISSOURI
From 04-MAR-15 07:00:00 to 04-MAR-15 20:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Winter Storm in BOLLINGER, MISSOURI
From 04-MAR-15 09:00:00 to 04-MAR-15 22:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Winter Storm in WAYNE, MISSOURI
From 04-MAR-15 09:00:00 to 04-MAR-15 22:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in CARTER, MISSOURI
From 04-MAR-15 10:00:00 to 04-MAR-15 22:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in RIPLEY, MISSOURI
From 04-MAR-15 11:00:00 to 04-MAR-15 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in BUTLER, MISSOURI
From 04-MAR-15 11:00:00 to 05-MAR-15 00:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in STODDARD, MISSOURI
From 04-MAR-15 11:00:00 to 05-MAR-15 01:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in SCOTT, MISSOURI
From 04-MAR-15 11:00:00 to 05-MAR-15 01:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in CAPE GIRARDEAU, MISSOURI
From 04-MAR-15 09:00:00 to 04-MAR-15 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in NEW MADRID, MISSOURI
From 04-MAR-15 12:00:00 to 05-MAR-15 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in MISSISSIPPI, MISSOURI
From 04-MAR-15 12:00:00 to 05-MAR-15 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter