COLUMBUS – Central Ohioans began looking forward to warmer temperatures as 2022 comes to a close, which will thaw them out after a brutal Christmas weekend storm that left the area under a blanket of snow and caused the mercury to drop to dangerous levels.
The storm that walloped much of the country was blamed for at least 49 deaths, with rescue and recovery efforts continuing Monday. The blizzard that roared through Friday and Saturday stranded motorists, knocked out power and prevented emergency crews from reaching residents in frigid homes and stuck cars in hard-hit western New York.
As of Monday afternoon, state emergency officials reported that most of the driving lanes on interstates and major roadways across the state were clear and dry and traffic was moving at normal posted speed limits, though many city streets remained uncleared early Tuesday.
Approximately 400 snowplows were still working on mostly rural routes across the state, down from 600 on Christmas Day and 1,200 on Saturday, Ohio Department of Transportation officials said.
“I want to thank all the first responders, local jurisdictions, snow plow and tow truck drivers who coordinated efforts, worked long hours away from their families over the holiday, and braved sub-zero temperatures and dangerous wind chills to provide outstanding service to Ohioans during this winter storm,” said Governor Mike DeWine.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol reported 13 people died in seven fatal accidents on the state’s roadways between Thursday morning and Monday afternoon.
Troopers have handled over 1,300 crashes and assisted over 4,200 motorists, the patrol reported.
The Buffalo Sabres game against the Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena on Tuesday was postponed by the NHL. A makeup date has yet to be determined.
Buffalo International Airport remained closed due to the storm.
A travel ban is in place in Buffalo, and the airport won’t open until at least Wednesday morning as a result of a storm that’s dumped close 50 inches of snow on the area since Friday and has been blamed for at least 28 deaths.