All snow emergencies canceled. What do the levels mean?

All snow emergencies issued after a winter storm Thursday night and Friday morning brought snow and high winds that made travel treacherous through the holiday weekend because of dangerous cold as well as ice and blowing snow on roadways are no longer in effect.

Under Ohio law, sheriffs have the responsibility to monitor conditions and declare snow emergencies when it is determined that roads and highway conditions within the county are impaired due to snow and/or ice.

There are three levels of snow emergency in Ohio:

LEVEL 1: Roadways are hazardous with blowing and drifting snow. Roads are also icy. Drive very cautiously.

LEVEL 2: Roadways are hazardous with blowing and drifting snow. Only those who feel it is necessary to drive should be out on the roadways. Contact your employer to see if you should report to work.

LEVEL 3: All roadways are closed to non-emergency personnel. No one should be out during these conditions unless it is absolutely necessary to travel. All employees should contact their employer to see if they should report to work. However, those traveling on the roadways may subject themselves to prosecution.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office has a phone line to find out whether a snow emergency was issued: 937-496-7669. Do not call the regional dispatch center to check on road conditions.

“Residents are encouraged to avoid unnecessary trips during the storm to give road crews room to work,” the sheriff’s office stated in a release.