Ice Created Biggest Problem for Southern Ohioans In Winter Storm

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While snow hammered northern Ohio, freezing rain/sleet turned out to be the biggest nemesis for southern Ohio, creating icy roads and power outages during the winter storm to open February. All area schools are closed Friday.

Winter Storm Warnings, which covered every county in Ohio, were lifted Friday morning. The National Weather Service posted a Winter Weather Advisory for central and southern Ohio through 3pm Friday, which called for an additional one inch of snow to go with the few inches received Thursday night.

Power outage numbers in the thousands were reported in the region for South Central Power Company and American Electric Power in southern Ohio. Most of these were created by ice heavy trees falling on power lines. Winds that were expected to gust at up to 35 miles per hour had not materialized by Friday morning, which kept power outages from being even worse.

AEP officials said electricity in Lancaster and Athens might not be restored until Saturday night

Most area counties were on Level 3 Snow Emergencies into Friday, until being dropped to Level 2 Friday afternoon.

Ross, Pickaway, Pike, Fayette, Highland, Hocking, Fairfield & Jackson counties were lowered to Level 2 Friday afternoon.

The Ross County Commissioner’s in conjunction with Ross County E.M.A. opened a warming center at the Ross County Service Center located at 475 Western Avenue. The center was open from 12pm to 5pm Friday. Residents without power/heat can go to warm up, charge cell phones, and have a hot beverage.

Temperatures are expected to drop to 4 degrees Friday night with sunny and 21 Saturday and 39 degrees on Sunday.