Winter storm blamed for local accidents

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

An arctic blast on Saturday created plenty of winter weather havoc in Van Wert County, as whiteout and blizzard-like conditions affected the county for much of the day.

The dangerous driving conditions kept local law enforcement agencies and fire departments busy, with approximately 20 traffic accidents reported in the county and several people treated for non-life-threatening injuries (see Ohio State Highway Patrol story below).

According to County Emergency Management Director Rick McCoy, arctic air that began moving in on Saturday morning — with a band of heavy snow within the front itself and additional snow squalls coming off Lake Michigan later that day, all accompanied by winds of up to 45 mph — caused the wild weather conditions.

Many drivers were caught in whiteouts, with numerous accidents created because of zero-visibility caused by the wind-driven snow. If that wasn’t enough, temperatures then plummeted throughout Saturday, taking temperatures below zero, with wind-chills of up to minus-25 degrees. The same storm then moved to the Northeast, where it dropped another foot of snow on that area, with winds of more than 60 mph that created another massive blizzard on the East Coast.

“We are stuck in this type of pattern until the end of February,” McCoy said, noting that long-range models show bitter cold waves likely to continue for the remainder of the month. “Most stronger snow systems continue to go to our south, and then head up the East Coast, as is the case with the system hitting Kentucky and Tennessee on Monday, with areas getting a foot of snow, and possibly an ice storm predicted for central Tennessee.

“This storm will likely head up to New England and hit them with more snow,” McCoy added.

The EMA director said he has been trying to keep the public informed of potential problems caused by weather systems through the media and the Van Wert EMA Facebook page. In addition to the Saturday system, McCoy noted he issued an alert on Friday that at least an inch of snow, with winds at least 35 mph, would be possible on Saturday.

“This kind of information is important so people can plan accordingly, as these winter storms can change so quickly,” McCoy added.

For this coming week, the EMA director predicted that another arctic blast will blow into the area sometime between Wednesday and Thursday, with highs again sinking to the single digits and nighttime lows below zero both days. McCoy said snow showers are likely again on Wednesday, with the very gusty winds creating more blowing and drifting. Wind chills will again be at least 20 degrees below zero.

The EMA director said frigid temperatures should hang around the remainder of the week, with another chance of snow Friday night and into Saturday morning.