Missouri, 1997

Winter Storm in Missouri, December 8, 1997

December 8, 1997 · NWS LSX · 8 events in 8 counties and zones

A quick 2 to 4 inches of snow fell across central Missouri during the early morning hours of December 8 causing widespread travel problems. There were numerous auto accidents, with one accident resulting in a death in Columbia.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 8 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
8

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS LSX wrote it up.

A quick 2 to 4 inches of snow fell across central Missouri during the early morning hours of December 8 causing widespread travel problems. There were numerous auto accidents, with one accident resulting in a death in Columbia. Most schools across the area were closed for the day.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

8 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Boone

When
December 8, 1:00 AM CST to 6:00 AM CST
Where
Boone forecast zone
Coordinates
38.991, -92.310 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Callaway

When
December 8, 1:00 AM CST to 6:00 AM CST
Where
Callaway forecast zone
Coordinates
38.836, -91.926 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Cole

When
December 8, 1:00 AM CST to 6:00 AM CST
Where
Cole forecast zone
Coordinates
38.505, -92.282 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Osage

When
December 8, 1:00 AM CST to 6:00 AM CST
Where
Osage forecast zone
Coordinates
38.460, -91.862 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Moniteau

When
December 8, 1:00 AM CST to 6:00 AM CST
Where
Moniteau forecast zone
Coordinates
38.633, -92.583 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Gasconade

When
December 8, 1:00 AM CST to 6:00 AM CST
Where
Gasconade forecast zone
Coordinates
38.441, -91.508 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Crawford

When
December 8, 1:00 AM CST to 6:00 AM CST
Where
Crawford forecast zone
Coordinates
37.976, -91.304 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Audrain

When
December 8, 1:00 AM CST to 6:00 AM CST
Where
Audrain forecast zone
Coordinates
39.216, -91.842 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Winter Storm
A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Missouri in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Missouri, December 1997

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5625543, 5625544, 5625545, 5625546, 5625547, 5625548, 5625549, 5625550.