An early morning snowfall meant Clark County residents woke up to a blanket of snow on Tuesday and many families were left with snow days.
Several Clark County schools were closed or had a two-hour delay as a result of the winter weather. Schools that closed for a snow day included Catholic Central, Clark-Shawnee, Clark State College, Greenon, Northeastern, Northwestern and Tecumseh.
In a post on Tecumseh’s Facebook page, Superintendent Paula Crew said many “back roads” were untreated early in the morning.
“Many of the back roads in our area are untreated and will not be safe by the end of a two-hour delay,” Crew said. “If you are out, please be safe.”
Clark County Engineer Johnathan Burr said crews were already out prepping roadways when snow began falling around 3 a.m.
“The timing of the snowfall made it a little difficult. It was really the heaviest around 3, 4 and we had three drivers out there clearing. But with that timing, by the time they get through their route it’s 6, 7 which makes it tough on the morning commute,” Burr said.
County crews used “super salt’' on roads, which contains beet juice to help break down heavier snow, Burr said .
“We have our crews working 12-hour shifts and that will be continuing with the forecast for the rest of the week,” Burr said.
But Burr said cold temperatures and snow aren’t the only problems the county has to battle. He said high wind speeds can also cause problems by kicking up and blowing lightweight snow over freshly plowed roads.
“That’s one of those little things. If the wind is blowing the snow all around, it makes it hard if you treat the road and then it blows right back on there,” Burr said.
The weather caught some area residents off-guard. AAA’s Roadside Rescue Team reported that more than 500 drivers in the Miami Valley were rescued since midnight Monday.
There was also an increase in the number of calls for dead batteries and vehicle tows as high temperatures hover below freezing and nighttime temperatures drop into the teens.
On Wednesday temperatures are projected to be in the mid-20s with lows 15 to 20 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
“AAA reminds drivers that breakdowns occurring during extreme temperatures can be dangerous, especially for the elderly and very young,” Kara Hitchens, spokeswoman for AAA Roadside Rescue Team said in a statement.
Adding to the danger is the snow on the ground, which is expected to stay, as high temperatures in the forecast are only expected to reach the mid-20s through the weekend with lows reaching zero or below, the NWS office in Wilmington said.
A chance of snow or freezing rain exists Wednesday night into Thursday, with most of the region transitioning to snow overnight. Thursday’s highs will also be in the mid-20s with a low of around 10 degrees.
Highs on Friday will only be near 20 degrees, under mostly cloudy skies with overnight lows dipping near 10 degrees.
Burr said the stretch of winter weather is not something the county has seen “in a while.”
“This is the first winter we’ve had like this in a while. We haven’t had a stretch like this in several years,” Burr said. “But we’re ready and prepared for it.”
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