Travel conditions have improved

Plow drivers have been making progress on snow-covered county roads.

Things were beginning to get back to normal Thursday, with Jay School Corporation students returning to in-person classes after Jay County’s status was downgraded to a travel advisory Wednesday evening.

Heavy snow and windy conditions made for a challenging situation plowing this week for Jay County Highway Department, as high winds Tuesday caused blowing and drifting snow that quickly erased progress.

With calmer wind conditions Wednesday, the department started making significant headway.

“Most everything is two lanes (now),” said Jay County Highway Department superintendent Bob Howell on Thursday morning. “They’re out there working on just pushing (the snow) back and cleaning intersections.”

Snow began falling about 5 p.m. Saturday and continued throughout the day Sunday, totaling about 11.5 inches in Jay County. That led to hazardous conditions and the county twice instituting a travel warning, which calls for refraining from all travel. It shifted to a travel watch at 10 a.m. Wednesday and was down to a travel advisory, the lowest level in Indiana, by that evening.

Howell pointed to the vast amount of snow as well as slick spots on the roads as continuing challenges. Plans were to re-evaluate after the highway department finished plowing Thursday evening.

Jay County Highway Department workers have been plowing from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Along with fighting the wind and snow to keep roads clear, the department also had five trucks break down this week — all but one were back on the road as of noon Thursday — because of the extreme conditions.

“We’re ready for a reset,” Howell said.

While winds that had caused problems with drifting snow covering roads that were previously cleared have calmed down, frigid temperatures continued. Wind chills reached as low as minus 16 degrees this week, and the National Weather Service projected tonight’s low at minus 7 with wind chills reaching minus 16 again.

Temperatures are not expected to climb back into the 20s until Monday.

Jay School Corporation returned to in-person classes Thursday after missing four school days because of frigid temperatures on Jan. 23 and the weekend storm that followed. Fort Recovery Local Schools, which were on a three-hour delay Wednesday, held classes on a two-hour delay Thursday.

Adams, Wells, Blackford, Randolph and Delaware counties were also on travel advisories as of noon Thursday.

Jay County Emergency Management Agency director Samantha Rhodehamel cautioned residents to drive slowly this week, pointing to slick roads. She also asked residents to be mindful of those around them and check on neighbors and pets amid the frigid temperatures.

“We should all just be good neighbors and citizens and help each other out,” she said.