Snow Ceases, Cleanup Continues

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Central Ohioans are beginning to dig out after a winter storm dropped freezing rain and snow on the area.

Original forecast models predicted nearly 7 inches of snowfall overnight. But the model changed, causing a solid sheet of ice to form on surfaces and roads. Then, throughout the day, several inches of snow fell on top of the ice, making for sketchy driving conditions Wednesday afternoon.

Storm Team 4's Jym Ganahl reported snowfalls in the range of 4 to 8 inches, with more falling northwest of Columbus and less to the southeast.

Ganahl is calling for blowing and drifting snow and ice on roads Wednesday night with a low temperature near 16 degrees.

EVENING UPDATE:
The Ohio Department of Transportation said there will be 167 trucks working to clear the ODOT maintained roads Wednesday evening to ensure roads are safe and passable. The numbers represent every county in ODOT District 6, along with Licking and Fairfield counties.

The number of plows on the roads will likely be decreased after 11 p.m. depending on the condition of the roads and the temperatures.

In Franklin County, there are 45 plows working the evening shift and managers on duty will evaluate after 11 p.m.

In Licking County, there are 19 plows working throughout the night.

In Delaware County, there are 18 plows until 11 p.m. and between nine and ten plows after 11 p.m.

In Madison County, there are 15 plows working through 11 p.m. and 11 crews working overnight.

In Union County, there are 15 crews working until 11 p.m. and after that, 5 crews.

In Fairfield County, there are 14 plows working throughout the night.

In Fayette County, there are 11 plows working throughout the night.

In Marion County, there are ten crews working until 11 p.m. and nine crews overnight.

In Morrow County, there are ten plows working throughout the night.

In Pickaway County, there are 10 crews working until 11 p.m. and ten plows overnight.

On the statewide level, crews have been out in force throughout the storm. There were 1,166 trucks on the roads at 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, which was increased to 1,238 crews by 7 a.m.

ODOT District 6 and other parts of the state conducted tandem plowing overnight and into Wednesday.

Tandem plowing is where several plows working together clear multiple lanes of an interstate at the same time.

Tandem plowing is down when there is less traffic and heavy snowfall. It allows ODOT plows to clear multiple lanes in a shorter time period.

STORM TEAM 4: LIVE Titan Radar :: Hourly Forecast :: Severe Weather Advisories
INTERACT: Traffic Conditions, LIVE CAMERAS :: Post Your Snow Photos

3:02 P.M. UPDATE:
As a result of power outages and snow emergencies, the American Red Cross opened emergency shelters in Fairfield and Hocking counties.

The shelter in Fairfield County is located at the Methodist Campground on West Fair Avenue in Lancaster. Call 740-438-9561 for more information. The shelter in Hocking County is located at Logan Hocking Middle School. Call 740-438-9562 for more information.

1:53 P.M. UPDATE:
Mikaela Hunt said crews remained on the scene in Marion County trying to right a gas tanker that crashed on its side earlier Wednesday. Click here for the story and photo.

NOON UPDATE:
ODOT currently has 182 snow plows working throughout Central Ohio, including the counties of Delaware, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Licking, Madison, Marion, Morrow, Pickaway and Union.

There are 18 crews in Delaware County, 14 in Fairfield, 12 in Fayette, 46 in Franklin, 25 in Licking, 18 in Madison, 12 in Marion, 12 in Morrow, 11 in Pickaway and 14 in Union.

11:15 A.M. UPDATE:
Due to dangerous weather conditions, refuse collection for the city of Reynoldsburg will be delayed by one day this week. Refuse will be collected on Friday.

A snow emergency was also issued for Grove City. Under the emergency, parking is prohibited on all posted snow emergency routes. Cars are to be removed as soon as possible, but no later than 8 p.m. to facilitate the clearing of streets. Cars parked on these routes after this time will be ticketed and towed at the owner’s expense.

11 A.M. UPDATE:
American Electric Power is reporting power outages in Franklin County and other southern Ohio counties. As of 8 a.m., 4,864 customers in Franklin County were without power. The outages also affected the following counties and customers: 2,665 in Ross County, 4,560 in Vinton County, 349 in Guernsey County, 3,591 in Pike County, 586 in Highland County, 5,902 in Jackson County, 2,870 in Hocking County, 1,559 in Morgan County, 3,352 in Fairfield County, 1,836 in Muskingum County, 1,322 in Coshocton County, 6,014 in Athens County, 236 in Delaware County, 1,272 in Licking County and 4,436 in Perry County.

10:45 A.M. UPDATE:
Nearly 70 city snow crews will be working the roads throughout the day, and that number probably won't change during the day shift.

10:30 A.M. UPDATE:
NBC 4's Mikaela Hunt traveled on Route 23 north in Delaware County, where roads are snow covered and packed down with it. But one thing is apparent: the roads aren't packed with cars. People are apparently heeding the warning to stay home, as implicated by a level 2 snow emergency.

9:35 A.M. UPDATE:
According to the City of Columbus, road crews changed shifts at 7:30 a.m., and there are now 69 trucks out plowing and salting bridges, ramps, overpasses and main roads. Crews are also starting to work on secondary streets with plowing. Current staff will be on the road until 7:30 p.m., when they will be replaced by fresh crews. The city's snow plan calls for going onto side streets after 4 inches of snow has fallen and, then, only after we have cleared the main roads, which usually takes 48 hours. If relief is available earlier the change will be made, but it is too early to make that call.

8:36 A.M. UPDATE:
Ohio State and Michigan are scheduled to meet on the hardwood at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Value City Arena. The game is still on as scheduled. Michigan is in town and the officials are making their way to Columbus. As long as the teams and officials are present, the game will be played.

8:26 A.M. UPDATE:
NBC 4's Matt Alvarez reported that since November, there have been 51 accidents involving Ohio Department of Transportation snow crews and other vehicles. According to Nancy Burton with ODOT, all of the accidents were due to driver error.

7:45 A.M. UPDATE:
The Village of Mount Gilead has issued a snow emergency for the village. This means that streets marked as a snow emergency street must have all vehicles moved immediately so street crews can plow the snow from the street.

6:15 A.M. UPDATE:
Rumpke waste removal and recycling services were also canceled for Wednesday, affecting Delaware, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Licking, Madison, Pickaway and Union counties. Weather permitting, Rumpke will try to resume collection Thursday, with most customers delayed a day or into the weekend. Rumpke's offices and customer service centers are also closed.

5:45 A.M. UPDATE:
According to Mary Carran Webster with the City of Columbus, the roadways throughout the city are not in good shape and are considered hazardous. The city has 54 trucks out spreading salt on major roadways, bridges, ramps and overpasses, and plowing where possible. Crews are spreading a mixture of salt and sand on secondary roads. The salt is for melting; the sand should provide some traction on the ice.

City drivers are reporting 1/4 to 1/2 inch of ice on the roads.

Officials advised that if residents need to venture out Wednesday morning that they use extra caution on bridges, ramps and overpasses.

SCHOOL, BUSINESS CLOSINGS, DELAYS
More than 300 schools were closed for classes Wednesday, including Columbus City Schools, The Ohio State University, Columbus Catholic Schools and South-Western City Schools to name a few. Click here to view the full list of closures and delays.

One of the only colleges in the area that remained in session Wednesday as Ohio Wesleyan University. According to school officials, the decision to keep classes on schedule was made for several reasons. First, school policy dictates the university stay open until the county issues a level 3 snow emergency. The school is primarily a residential campus, therefore most students are living in dormitories and housing that is within walking distance to class. Another reason classes were not canceled was that the level 2 snow emergency for the county wasn't in effect until 10 a.m. -- well after their morning had started. The university reserves the right to take a look Wednesday's circumstances to determine if there is a need to cancel before a level 3 is declared. They are monitoring the situation.

SNOW EMERGENCIES
Many counties were under snow emergencies as a result, including Athens, Coshocton, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Hocking, Knox, Licking, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, Pickaway, Pike and Ross counties. The City of Pickerington was also placed under a level 1 snow emergency. Click here to view the full list of county snow emergencies.

NBC 4 SNOW PATROL
NBC 4 crews can't be everywhere at once, so we need your eyes and ears. Share your winter-storm stories with us, and we could use your comments or photos on air. NBC 4 wants a real-time look into your neck of the woods.Whether you want to share how deep the snow is in your backyard, photos of your kids playing in the white stuff or even a complaint about the road conditions, we’re all ears! Click here to tell us what the conditions are like in your area or click here to upload your snow and ice photos.

POWER COMPANIES BRACE FOR ICE
Utilities in Ohio beefed up their overnight crews and called in reinforcements to brace for power outages as a winter storm left the state blanketed in snow and freezing rain Wednesday. More Details

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