Snowfall can be seen on a traffic camera at state Route 117 and Greely Chapel Road on Lima’s east side Friday morning.
Photo courtesy of Ohio Department of Transportation
LIMA — Overnight snowfall combined with winds topping 50 mph made travel difficult Friday morning, leading to snow advisories in Lima-area counties. Drivers were urged to be cautious.
Auglaize County declared a Level 2 snow emergency at 10:09 a.m., warning that roadways were hazardous due to blowing and drifting snow and ice. It had previously issued a Level 1 snow advisory at 4 a.m.
At 2:16 p.m. the Ohio Department of Transportation closed Santa Fe Line Road between Thrush and East Swartz Roads due to drifting snow.
As of 9:45 a.m., ODOT closed State Route 364 between Waesch Road and Parkway in St. Marys, according to the Auglaize County Sheriff’s Office.
Cheri Newton, public information officer for District 1 of ODOT, said according to reports from drivers, the visibility is “extremely low” due to the wind blowing snow. She said the roads in Lima are clear enough to where drivers can see parts of the road, but there is a large amount of ice.
Newton said 88 trucks out of an available 110 are out clearing the roads in 12-hour shifts. Anyone out driving should give themselves and the plows plenty of room.
Anyone who can should stay inside, Newton said. Those who must venture out should dress in layers and pack their car with supplies.
Putnam County is under a Level 3 roadway advisory as of 7 a.m. Friday. Roadways are closed to non-emergency personnel. No one should be out during these conditions unless it’s absolutely necessary to travel. Employees should contact their employers to see if they must report to work.
Allen County put a Level 1 roadway advisory into effect at 12:45 a.m. Friday, warning of snow or ice-covered roads with possible drifting.
The Allen County RTA bus service fixed routes will switch over to vans at 10:20 a.m. and those who need a ride will need to flag the vans, according to a release. There will be no charge for rides in these vans.
Hardin County is under a Level 2 snow emergency as of 5:30 a.m., according to its Facebook page. “We have been advised of some intermittent white-out conditions on some of the roadways due to the windy conditions and blowing snow,” the office said. “Please use caution if you need to travel.”
Mercer County switched to a Level 2 snow advisory at 1:30 p.m., warning drivers to use extreme caution. It was previously at a Level 1 snow emergency at 5:30 a.m. It also warned of slide-offs along U.S. 33.
Hancock County declared a Level 3 weather emergency as of 9 a.m. It previously had a Level 2 weather advisory at 7:45 a.m., saying roadways were hazardous.
The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning through 5 p.m. today, with widespread blowing and drifting of fallen snow. Less than 1 inch of snow was expected to fall in Lima through 7 a.m. Sunday, according to the NWS.
The temperatures are brutally cold, though, with a high of 1 degree Fahrenheit on Friday, 9 on Saturday, 13 on Sunday and 20 on Monday predicted. That, paired with strong winds as strong as 50 mph today, could lead to bone-chilling cold if people venture outside.
The wind chill dipped as low as minus-34 Friday morning. Frostbite can occur within minutes of exposure. Gusts near 40 mph remain possible Saturday, while slowing down to the low 20s Sunday.
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