January 21, 2019 at 5:50 p.m.
Chilled out
Ice and snow led to local travel restrictions, but it was wind and cold that closed schools
Chilled out
Freezing rain, sleet and snow made travel hazardous this weekend, but the situation was not nearly as severe as had been projected earlier in the week. And, as it turned out, it was the wind and cold that forced school closures today.
Jay County got about 4 inches of freezing rain and snow Saturday, leading to local emergency management officials to institute a travel “watch” for about 22 hours.
As of this morning, though, the highway department had cleared all roads enough to allow travel.
“We’re in good shape. All the roads are passable,” said Jay County Highway Department superintendent Ken Wellman. “It’s just a matter of getting them pushed back a little bit more.”
“We’re going to try to get everything we can off of the roadways and into the grass and ditched areas,” he added, noting that rising temperatures Tuesday and Wednesday could lead to slick surfaces as the ice and snow melts.
Forecasts early in the week had called for 8 to 15 inches of snow Saturday, but those projections were cut back as the week went on. Precipitation began as freezing rain and sleet about 6 a.m. Saturday and continued for most of the day, leading to the total of about 4 inches.
County emergency management first issued a travel “advisory” about 9:30 a.m. Saturday. That was bumped up at 6 p.m. Saturday to a travel “watch,” which stayed in effect until 4 p.m. Sunday afternoon. The county then shifted back to an “advisory” that was still in effect this morning.
The state has three travel status levels:
•Advisory — The lowest level, which means travel may be restricted and drivers should travel with caution.
•Watch — Conditions are threatening. Only essential travel, such as to work or in emergency situations, is recommended.
•Warning — The highest level. Roads may be impassable. Travel should be limited to emergency personnel only. Motorists may be fined.
Windy conditions forced Jay County Highway Department plows to be off the roads from about 6 p.m. Saturday to early Sunday morning.
“We were not gaining any headway at all,” said Wellman.
Jay and South Adams schools both announced today’s closures about 6 p.m. Sunday with wind chills projected to be as low as 25 degrees below zero. (Fort Recovery was already scheduled to have the day off in observance of Martin Luther King Day.) A wind chill advisory remained in effect until noon today.
Jay County got about 4 inches of freezing rain and snow Saturday, leading to local emergency management officials to institute a travel “watch” for about 22 hours.
As of this morning, though, the highway department had cleared all roads enough to allow travel.
“We’re in good shape. All the roads are passable,” said Jay County Highway Department superintendent Ken Wellman. “It’s just a matter of getting them pushed back a little bit more.”
“We’re going to try to get everything we can off of the roadways and into the grass and ditched areas,” he added, noting that rising temperatures Tuesday and Wednesday could lead to slick surfaces as the ice and snow melts.
Forecasts early in the week had called for 8 to 15 inches of snow Saturday, but those projections were cut back as the week went on. Precipitation began as freezing rain and sleet about 6 a.m. Saturday and continued for most of the day, leading to the total of about 4 inches.
County emergency management first issued a travel “advisory” about 9:30 a.m. Saturday. That was bumped up at 6 p.m. Saturday to a travel “watch,” which stayed in effect until 4 p.m. Sunday afternoon. The county then shifted back to an “advisory” that was still in effect this morning.
The state has three travel status levels:
•Advisory — The lowest level, which means travel may be restricted and drivers should travel with caution.
•Watch — Conditions are threatening. Only essential travel, such as to work or in emergency situations, is recommended.
•Warning — The highest level. Roads may be impassable. Travel should be limited to emergency personnel only. Motorists may be fined.
Windy conditions forced Jay County Highway Department plows to be off the roads from about 6 p.m. Saturday to early Sunday morning.
“We were not gaining any headway at all,” said Wellman.
Jay and South Adams schools both announced today’s closures about 6 p.m. Sunday with wind chills projected to be as low as 25 degrees below zero. (Fort Recovery was already scheduled to have the day off in observance of Martin Luther King Day.) A wind chill advisory remained in effect until noon today.
Jay Schools superintendent Jeremy Gulley said the decision was made Sunday to cancel in order to give parents more time to prepare after it was clear that temperatures and wind chills were unlikely to rise by this morning.
Tonight’s Jay School Board meeting is on as scheduled at 6 p.m. at Jay County High School.
The precipitation that started with freezing rain and sleet early Saturday made roads hazardous, leading to the cancelation of the Ensemble 4.1 concert that evening at Arts Place. (Local sporting events had already been rescheduled prior to Saturday.)
Many church services, including those at Asbury United Methodist Church, First Presbyterian Church and The Rock Church, were canceled Sunday. Seven slide-off accidents were reported to Jay County Sheriff’s Office Saturday, along with one Friday and one Sunday.
Tonight’s Jay School Board meeting is on as scheduled at 6 p.m. at Jay County High School.
The precipitation that started with freezing rain and sleet early Saturday made roads hazardous, leading to the cancelation of the Ensemble 4.1 concert that evening at Arts Place. (Local sporting events had already been rescheduled prior to Saturday.)
Many church services, including those at Asbury United Methodist Church, First Presbyterian Church and The Rock Church, were canceled Sunday. Seven slide-off accidents were reported to Jay County Sheriff’s Office Saturday, along with one Friday and one Sunday.
Top Stories
9/11 NEVER FORGET Mobile Exhibit
Chartwells marketing
September 17, 2024 7:36 a.m.
Events
250 X 250 AD