Wintry mix whips across Ohio

Some municipalities ordered people not to leave their cars on the street.

STAFF/WIRE REPORTS

If you can hold out until Thursday, the National Weather Service says you will be seeing some sunshine and higher temperatures again in the Mahoning Valley.

A mix of snow, ice and freezing rain swept through Ohio Tuesday — closing schools, canceling flights and making it difficult for motorists to keep their feet while scraping their vehicles.

The National Weather Service forecast up to 8 inches of snow in parts of northern Ohio, while a mixture of freezing rain and snow took aim on southern counties.

The Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport reported a total of 6.1 inches of snow on the ground as of 8:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Freezing rain that began falling atop the snow served only to make roads and sidewalks more treacherous for vehicles and pedestrians.

Freezing rain and more snow totaling an additional 1 to 3 inches was predicted overnight.

The National Weather Service predicted snow showers this morning and some flurries in the afternoon with a high in the upper 20s.

The forecast showed it will be dry but cold — about 15 degrees — tonight but then temperatures will rise into the 30s with some sunshine Thursday.

Locally, the storm resulted in the widespread closing of schools Tuesday, including early closings at Youngstown State, Kent State and Penn State Shenango college campuses. Evening governmental, civic, sporting, church and social events also got canceled by the score.

The Mahoning County Courthouse and the public libraries in Youngstown-Mahoning County and Warren-Trumbull County all closed early.

Police across the region reported dozens of minor accidents throughout the day, most of them vehicles sliding off icy roads or minor fender-bender accidents.

Several municipalities declared snow emergencies, warning people to get their cars off the streets or risk having them towed.

Warren put its snow emergency plan into effect at 6 p.m. Tuesday while Weathersfield Township announced its parking ban effective at 7 p.m., saying it would be in effect for 24 hours. Salem announced its snow emergency at 5 p.m. and said it also would be effective for 24 hours.

The effects of the storm were felt across the state.

In snow-prone Cleveland, where the wind made it feel like zero, Eric Brandt arrived on a flight from Allentown, Pa., and learned that his connecting flight home to Columbus was canceled. He passed on the offer of an afternoon flight, skeptical the weather would improve.

“I just want to go home,” said Brandt, 38, who rented a car to drive the rest of the way home.

Freezing rain forced school closings and caused accidents on Interstates 70 and 75 in the Dayton and Springfield areas.

Traffic was snarled and many schools called off classes in the Cincinnati area amid a changing pattern of snow, sleet, rain and snow again.

In northwest Ohio, temperatures made it tough for firefighters in Fostoria called out to a fire Monday night. Some hydrants were frozen, forcing them to call other departments to help bring water. No one was hurt in the fire.

In Fairfield County southeast of Columbus, Sheriff Dave Phalen said main routes were clear late Tuesday morning, though vehicles were having difficulty getting through on the back roads.