Salt and plow trucks are shown at the city’s of Columbus Department of Public Works. City and county crews expect to be out in force in an effort to keep road passable today as a winter storm passes through.
While it appears we are certain to have a white Christmas (at least on the ground), few people feel happy about it.
That’s because outside conditions are expected to remain dangerous through Sunday, which is prompting many residents to adjust or postpone their travel plans.
The worst conditions of a winter storm that has kept south central Indiana residents on edge for nearly week was expected to end this morning. But the aftermath will still create extremely hazardous driving conditions through the weekend.
The National Weather Service on Wednesday issued a winter storm warning through 5 p.m. today.
If you can avoid driving today, state emergency management personnel strongly suggest that you stay home. If you head outside to shovel show, anticipate wind chill values as low as 33 degrees below zero. This might cause frostbite and hypothermia – even if only outside for a short time, medical personnel say.
If you have to go out, wear multiple layers of clothes, as well as gloves, face and head coverings. Make sure you don’t overexert yourself and take plenty of indoor breaks. If you have to travel, keep an extra flashlight, food and water and blankets in your vehicle in case of an emergency.
Road crews with the Bartholomew County Highway Dept. were expected to resume clearing off snow shortly after 4 this morning. In Columbus, similar efforts are are now underway by employees of the City Garage. But the combination of icy roads, blowing snow, frigid temperatures and hazardous wind chills was expected to greatly limit efforts to improve travel conditions that deteriorated overnight.
If you plan to travel, keep in mind that driving conditions are expected to be worse in northern Indiana, according to the National Weather Service. Under the guidance of the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, approximately 150 Indiana National Guardsmen have been given the authority to use state resources to do whatever is necessary to save lives in northern Indiana.
Nearly 30 highway teams consisting of guardsmen will patrol Hoosier highways north of Indianapolis to assist with stranded motorists and recovery efforts. They will be based in Gary, South Bend, Fort Wayne, Kokomo, Muncie and Lafayette.
While extreme caution is still being urged for drivers in Bartholomew County, forecast updates indicate slight improvements for today’s weather over earlier predictions.
Although up to 5 inches of snow had been predicted by the National Weather Service, other weather sources were predicting lesser amounts. While there’s only a slight chance of additional snow today, widespread blowing snow will remain a significant concern in the Columbus area.
Skies are expected to become partly sunny this afternoon, and remain sunny on Saturday. While the high will remain in the single digits, direct sunshine might help provide some additional traction on treated main roads and streets. Beet juice mixed in with the county’s salt brine can be effective treating icy roads when the temperature is as low as 5 degrees.
But road crews are taking a “wait and see” approach about trying to remove ice from the asphalt. While a warmup is coming, the National Weather Service warns that wind chills will be as low as 20 to 30 degrees below zero through Christmas Day.
When it begins to appear the road conditions have improved, there’s still a possibility of black ice. Emergency Management officials strongly advise travelers to drive well below the speed limit and allow plenty of space between vehicles.
