Wind concerns

Nearly a foot of snow fell in Jay County over the weekend.

Weather conditions were not expected to make clearing roadways easy this week.

Jay County was under a travel warning, the highest restriction level in Indiana, from 6 p.m. Sunday through noon Monday, with the courthouse and schools closed after a winter storm dumped as much as 11.5 inches of snow from Saturday evening through Sunday.

The county shifted back to a watch — only essential travel is advised, such as for work or emergencies — at noon Monday, but wind was already causing a problem.

“Currently the (roads) that they have been down are drifting back across out of the west,” said Jay County Highway Department superintendent Bob Howell. “We’re going to continue to work on them diligently and we’ll see what happens later tonight with the winds picking up.”

The highway department worked throughout the day Sunday and started plowing again at 5 a.m. Monday. Howell noted the wind picked up around 9:30 a.m. Monday. 

North-south roads were the most problematic for travel Monday morning.

The forecast was not expected to do any favors in terms of improving conditions, with the area under a cold weather advisory.

The forecast called for wind chills as low as minus 20 Monday night and winds gusting to 30 mph. 

Windy conditions were expected to continue Tuesday, with a high of 18 and wind chill values as low as minus 15.

Highs are expected to stay in single digits or teens all week, with overnight lows below zero through at least Friday. Temperatures are not projected to reach the 20s until Sunday.

“I just ask that (residents) make sure that they check on their neighbors, take care of their pets, make sure they’re leaving their water drip and all of the preparedness things so we can make it through the week,” said Jay County Emergency Management Agency director Samantha Rhodehamel.

Howell indicated several plow trucks would continue to be “staged,” meaning the department sends trucks home with employees living in various parts of the county in order to plow those areas quicker.

“We’re giving it our 100% effort,” said Howell.

Portland residents spent Sunday and Monday clearing snow from sidewalks and around vehicles while city plows cleared streets, parking lots and driveways. Portland Street Department employees, including superintendent Matt Shauver, shoveled and salted the sidewalk Monday morning in front of Portland City Hall. 

“We are doing our best,” Shauver said. “The guys have a heart, they want to do a good job.”

Problematic areas in Portland on Monday morning included Tyson Road, Industrial Drive and Creagor Avenue.

Jay County Sheriff Ray Newton said his department only received a few calls about slide-offs and vehicle accidents over the weekend. From what he’d seen as of Monday morning, he added, it appeared folks were mostly staying home. Regardless, until the travel warning was lifted, he encouraged residents to continue doing just that.

“If possible, stay off the roads until at least county highway gets everything cleaned up,” he said. “Hopefully county highway will have everything cleaned up, as long as the wind doesn’t blow.”

Jay County was placed on a travel advisory at 8 p.m. Saturday evening. The travel restriction climbed to a travel warning by 6 p.m. Sunday and remained at that level until noon Monday. A warning calls for refraining from all travel.

Mercer County was at a Level 3 snow alert, the highest in Ohio, from noon Sunday through 9 a.m. Monday. Sheriff Doug Timmerman shifted the county back to a Level 2 alert at 9 a.m. Monday.

Level 3 is considered a roadway emergency, with all township, county, state and municipal roads closed to non-emergency personnel. Under Level 2, a roadway warning, only those who feel it necessary to drive should be on the roadways, with travel for work allowed.

Fort Recovery village administrator Aaron Rengers said the village had been successful working to clear streets Saturday night and all day Sunday, with efforts Monday morning mostly limited to plowing alleys and removing snow from driveway entrances.

Jay and Fort Recovery schools were closed Monday. Jay County Courthouse and Dunkirk city offices were also closed, with the Jay County Commissioners, Jay County Solid Waste Management District and Dunkirk City Council meetings canceled. Jay County Public Library was also closed.

Randolph County planned to remain at a warning level through 4 p.m. Monday. Delaware, Blackford, Wells and Adams counties were all on travel watches as of noon Monday.