COLUMBUS, Ohio – Heavy snow and ice awaited commuters as another winter storm passed through Ohio, closing government offices, libraries and hundreds of schools that have already run out of calamity days this winter.
Much of the state was slammed with 4 to 8 inches of snow late Tuesday and early Wednesday, which was crusted over with a layer of ice a half-inch thick in some places. The National Weather Service recorded 6.9 inches of snow at Port Columbus on Tuesday, a record for the date. Dozens of flights were cancelled Wednesday morning.
Officials were advising people to stay off the roads if possible. Commuters who must drive were advised to slow down and plan for delays.
To keep control, drivers were reminded not to use cruise control on ice and snow and avoid abrupt steering maneuvers. When merging into traffic, take it slow. Sudden movements can cause the vehicle to slide.
More than 200 state and local road crews were out overnight and through the morning, trying to clear freeways and streets of the wintry mix.
Columbus police were not responding to non-injury accidents where vehicles were still capable of being driven. They encouraged motorists to exchange personal and insurance information and get back on the road if possible.
Level 2 snow emergencies, discouraging all unnecessary travel, were in effect in Franklin, Delaware, Fairfield, Licking, Pickaway and Union counties.
Ohio State University remained open but classes were cancelled at Columbus State Community College, DeVry University and Keller Graduate School. Capital, Otterbein, Ohio Dominican and Denison universities delayed opening their campuses.
Local governments and businesses closed or delayed opening to reduce traffic on roadways or keep workers safe.
The City of Columbus ordered non-essential workers to report at 10:00 a.m., Franklin County government offices were closed until 11:00 a.m. The county common pleas, domestic, juvenile and municipal courts and the Clerk of Courts office were closed for the day.
City offices opened late in Upper Arlington and non-essential city offices were closed in Hilliard.
Libraries in Columbus and Worthington opened at noon. The Delaware Area Library closed.
Scattered power outages were reported.
High temperatures were expected to reach the mid-20s.
Ohio has had a string of blizzards and frigid temperatures, beginning in early December.