Winter weather closes area schools

It's not officially winter yet, but one would never know it by the scene around Southeast Missouri Tuesday morning. As many as three inches of snow blanketed the area overnight, forcing the closing of county schools and several services.

Schools closed included Dexter, Bernie, Bloomfield and Richland. The date marks one of the earliest closing dates in recent history for Stoddard County schools. Roads were slushy, but most passable by 8 a.m. School buses, however, must be able to safely negotiate country roads in the area, and many of them were deemed too hazardous to travel in the early morning hours.

Also closed were Stoddard County ARC and O.A.K.S. Nutrition Center. There were no Meals on Wheels deliveries today.

Three Rivers Dexter campus delayed their opening until 10 a.m., as did their Poplar Bluff campus.

Temperatures are expected to rise slightly by Wednesday, with no more snow in the immediate forecast.