President’s Day began with light snow bringing up about two inches of accumulation but did not lead to any major slow downs in the morning commute or a high number of accidents in Clark County.
Clark County Engineer Johnathan Burr said last week that crews will be working 12-hour around-the-clock shifts with the incoming weather. Roads will also be treated with “super salt”, which contains beet juice to help break down heavier snow.
City of Springfield Service Director Chris Moore estimated that around 16 to 18 snowplows will be in service at the same time in the city given the amount of snow that is being forecast.
Crews will focus on main roads first before residential ones, Moore said. The city has a total of 25 snowplows as well as approximately 70 drivers at its disposal, he added.
“This is nothing new. We deal with snow removal every year. Drivers are scheduled in twelve-hour shifts. All the equipment is ready,” Moore said.
In addition to snow, Tuesday night is also slated to be the coldest of the year, with a low expected around 4 degrees. Extreme cold temperatures can lead to frostbite, hypothermia and other cold weather dangers within minutes if not properly prepared.
Frostbite is the most common injury resulting from exposure to extreme cold. It most often affects fingers or toes. Redness or pain in any skin area is usually the first sign of frostbite. Skin may feel numb or unusually firm or waxy.
Because of cold temperatures and snow, the Ohio Department of Transportation is discouraging travel and asked residents to plan ahead and follow along with their local forecasts. Anyone who must travel is asked to bring a fully charged cellphone, a flashlight, food, water and blankets in case of an emergency, the NWS said.
After Tuesday, skies will be mostly cloudy Wednesday with a high near 22 degrees with a slight chance of snow after 1 p.m, but snow is likely to continue Wednesday evening into Thursday with high temperatures near 34 degrees.
Thursday night snow is also likely, mainly before 1 a.m. It is expected to be cloudy with an overnight low around 19 degrees. The NWS did not offer specific totals predicted for the week’s second storm, but AccuWeather said another six to 10 inches could be possible.
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