Snow and cold blankets region

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For local students hoping for a short break from in-class learning after Super Bowl Sunday, they’ve gotten that and much more.
Through the National Weather Service’s cooperative observer program, there was a report of 10 inches of snow in Perryville Feb. 14-15, making traveling hazardous and slow going in many areas. This was after a sleet, snow, icy mixtures coupled with frigid temperatures the previous week.
The lowest the temperature got in Perryville was -4 Tuesday morning at approximately 6:15 a.m., according to the NWS. Wind speeds ranged from 17 to 23 mph, with reported gust of 29 mph Monday, Feb. 15, at 2:35 p.m.
The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning ahead of the Feb. 15 event.
“Travel conditions will become extremely dangerous tonight (Sunday, Feb. 14) and Monday. “...It will remain bitterly cold,” according to the release. “Another storm is taking aim on the area later Wednesday through Thursday. As a result, impacts may last through the end of the work week.”
Additional snowfall was likely later in the week, prompting an additional weather advisory from the NWS. An estimated one to three inches of snow was expected in portions of southeast Missouri later in the week.
“Slow down and use caution when traveling,” according to the NWS release. “Keep an extra flashlight, blankets, food and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency.”

Southeast Missouri snowfall amounts ranged from a high of 12 inches in Bollinger County to a low of about four inches near the Bootheel where sleet mixed in, according to the NWS.

Schools remain Closed
The last time the Perry County area had a snowfall total close to this was Feb. 17, 1993, which had a reported nine inches. This report may have been delayed a couple of days, according to the NWS, since a measurement of 12.2 inches for Feb. 15, 1993 was reported in Cape Girardeau. On Feb. 1, 2008, the Perry County region received an estimated six inches of snow.
Perry County District 32 schools were closed Feb. 8-12. With President’s Day already scheduled as an off day, the district announced Feb. 15 there would be no in-person class Feb. 16 and 17.
The last day students at District 32 attended class in-person was Friday, Feb. 5.
The Perryville High School’s annual Sweetheart Dance was to take place Saturday, Feb. 13. While the court has been named, the dance itself will be scheduled at a later date.
A District 32 school board meeting originally was supposed to take place Feb. 10. That was pushed back to Feb. 17, and it’ll be of the Zoom variety due to inclement weather.