Snow worries turn to wind worries

STEUBENVILLE, Ohio - The heaviest of the snow has come to an end, but the high winds that will follow will cause drifting on once-plowed roads.

The National Weather Service reported a winter storm warning remains in effect until 7 p.m. today.

Lee Hendricks, meteorologist, said 1 to 3 inches of new snow may fall today, with a possible extra inch tonight.

"The big issue will be the winds," he said.

The winds today will be blowing at 10 to 15 mph, with gusts of over 20 mph. The winds will increase even more Thursday, with sustained speeds of 15 to 20 mph and gust of 25 mph, Hendricks said.

Jefferson County was on a Level 2 snow emergency this morning, and schools and most area colleges and universities were closed again today.

County Sheriff Fred Abdalla said the roads in the rural areas are "terrible." He said county and township roads and even state routes have a layer of ice under the snow.

"The wind is blowing the snow right back over where the snow plow had been. Some areas you would think were never touched with the wind blowing the snow," Abdalla said.

The high winds could increase the number of power outages, officials noted.

AEP reported 468 customers were still without power today in Jefferson County and 438 in Harrison County. Allegheny Power is reporting 467 customers in Brooke County and 235 in Hancock County are without electricity.

The Ohio Department of Transportation reported crews were out all night plowing and salting roads.

Tom Corey, ODOT Jefferson County manager, said he believes crews were further ahead of treating the roads this morning than anticipated.

Corey said there were drifts on state roads throughout the county and a road grader may have to be used to clear some of the drifts later today and into Thursday.

The quickly falling temperatures this morning hindered the effectiveness of salt so drivers were adding calcium chloride to the salt mixture to help melt the snow and ice, Corey said.

Eight salt trucks with plows are working the Steubenville streets today.

Tom Fuller, Steubenville Street Department spokesperson, said early today blowing snow is creating drifts on Lovers Lane, John Scott Highway and Johnson Road, "along with any open area where the wind is blowing on Sunset Boulevard."

"We are concentrating on clearing the drifting snow and working more in the subdivisions to widen the streets' accessibility. There is a lot of snow out there after the last storm and last night and we are asking for patience from the public," said Fuller.

"We are still in good shape with the salt but we are still conserving our usage to the main routes and hills," said Fuller.

"I am also trying to give the drivers a little break today because they have been working long shifts and are tired. We will be concentrating on the streets again when the snow moves back in later today," added Fuller.

The recent double dose of heavy snowfall has kept officials in Brooke County working around the clock to clear roads, aid residents without power and respond to weather-related accidents.

The Brooke County Sheriff's Department was called about a vehicle overturned on state Route 2 near Beech Bottom at about 3 p.m. Tuesday. Sheriff's deputies who responded to the accident couldn't be reached for comment Tuesday evening.

State Route 27 was closed for about 30 minutes after officials received reports of several vehicles veering off the road's icy surface and into ditches at about 5 p.m.

Bob Fowler, Brooke County director of emergency management, said fallen trees had blocked several roadways and a team of four from the state Division of Forestry was involved in removing the trees that posed a threat to area roads and power lines.

Fowler said firefighters from volunteer departments throughout the county also have been helpful in cleanup efforts, and members of the National Guard also have offered assistance.

He noted help is being provided to county residents still without power. County emergency crews and volunteers were involved in delivering meals provided by the Federal Emergency Management Administration through the Wellsburg Salvation Army. Prescription medications also were being delivered, as well as charging the portable batteries of nebulizers used by some residents for breathing treatments.

Fowler said the Windsor Heights Community Center is being used as an emergency shelter, and the county may use the Follansbee Community House and Wellsburg Fire Hall as shelters, if needed.

He encouraged anyone without power and needing assistance to call the county's emergency management office at (304) 737-5002.

Power was restored to the Hammond Public Service District early Tuesday. Customers of the district have been served through backup connections to the city of Wellsburg and Ohio County Public Service District.

Bob Sadler, the district's superintendent, said crews worked Tuesday night to fill Hammond's water tank, but customers are asked to continue to boil their water while the water undergoes routine testing. He expects results of the test to be known today.