Expected big snow doesn't live up to expectations

LIMA - The winter storm that could have dumped an excess of eight inches of snow went a little easy on the region Saturday.

And, believe it or not, some are complaining about it.

"I wish we had the snow for Christmas," said Lima's Angela Oldhan, who would have been happy with more. "I love snow. I like a lot of snow. I love being snowed in."

After a couple inches fell Friday, the area saw only a couple more inches early Saturday morning. Expecting snow throughout the day, residents instead faced more of a winter mix of freezing rain and sleet.

The weather did make roads a little slick and driving a bit tricky, but law-enforcement officials were pleasantly surprised to deal with fewer accidents and a quieter day than expected.

"We always like that," said Sgt. Scott Nolan of the Allen County Sheriff's Office. "There's actually less traffic out on the road."

With more snow expected this week, Nolan reminds drivers to keep a safe distance between cars and allow extra time to get places.

Oldhan worked to remove snow and ice from her car Saturday afternoon so she could make a trip to the store. Earlier, she and her daughters, ages 9 and 6, made a snow fort in the back yard.

While it wasn't as much as expected, Saturday's snow did mark the first real showing from the white stuff this season. For some, it finally meant a chance to fire up their snowblowers. Twelve-year-old Mike Wise had hoped to take the snowblower to a few more inches.

"I was sort of disappointed that it wasn't during the school week, too," the Shawnee seventh-grader said of the snow.

Dad Doug Wise was stuck doing the shoveling at their Elm Street home. He would have been OK if winter skipped the area altogether.

"We got off real light, but I'm glad this is all we got," he said. "I don't like winter very much. I should live in Arizona."

More snow is expected in the coming days, followed by a blast of cold, said Sam Lashley, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in North Webster, Ind.

Light snow today will lead to a couple more inches late Monday afternoon into Tuesday morning. Areas north of Lima could see an additional couple inches, Lashley said.

"Then that will bring the first shot of really cold air," he said. "Possibly one of the coldest air masses in the last several years to come down this way."

Temperatures will be in the single digits, perhaps below zero, Tuesday and Wednesday, with a few more inches of snow possible late Wednesday or Thursday. Temperatures could drop as low as 5 below zero Thursday and Friday.