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Bracing for the return
The most snow to fall in a January in the area was 36.4 inches in 1999.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN — The area’s reprieve from snowstorms is over.
While it seems as if it’s never stopped snowing this month, Jan. 19 was the last time the Mahoning Valley had more than an inch of snowfall — 1.6 inches on that day to be exact.
The Valley was to get between 3 to 5 inches of snow by 7 a.m. today.
Also, another 3 to 5 inches was to fall this evening, though flurries might start this afternoon, said Frank Kieltyka, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Cleveland.
There’s also the possibility of freezing rain, which could make driving a challenge, Kieltyka said.
This could end up being the snowiest January in the Valley’s weather history.
The NWS has tracked snowfall in the Valley since 1934.
The most snow to fall in a January in this area was 36.4 inches in 1999.
As of Tuesday afternoon, before the snow started, 27 inches of snow was recorded this month.
If another snowflake didn’t fall this month — wishful thinking — this would be the area’s seventh snowiest January.
The 27 inches is 15.1 inches more than normal for a January in the area. Also, as of Tuesday afternoon, the area’s had 60.6 inches of snow so far this winter, 31.3 inches more than normal.
The most snow for a season was 102.8 inches for the 2007-08 winter.
We’re already ahead of that pace this winter.
As of Jan. 26, 2008, 47.6 inches of snow was recorded for the area — that’s 13 inches less than what we’ve had this winter season so far.
And today is only going to increase our total snow accumulation.
With the snowfall, comes warnings for drivers.
The Ohio Department of Transportation is urging motorists to “don’t crowd the plow.”
As of Tuesday, there have been 51 crashes statewide since November involving vehicles that either traveled too closely to a plow or at speeds too fast for road conditions.
The Ohio Emergency Agency is urging drivers to use caution — more than usual — while traveling and to pay attention to winter warnings and watches.
There’s a winter storm warning in effect until 4 p.m. today. Those are issued by the weather service for storms that range from moderate snow over a few hours to blizzard conditions with blinding wind-driven snow that can last several days.
In Columbiana County, Barry Minor, the head of the Ohio Department of Transportation’s garage, said the trucks were ready.
Crews will be using calcium instead of salt in spreaders along with grit to deal with the blast of snow. Salt doesn’t work around 20 degrees or less. Minor said the good news is that the forecasts being given to the ODOT do not call for blowing or drifting snow.
In Salem, Steve Andres, the city’s service director, said he has 200 tons of salt on hand. Andres said he has grit that can be used, too, if needed if the temperatures drop.
skolnick@vindy.com