Lucas County remained under a Level 3 snow emergency as heavy snow and blustery winds pound the region.
Lucas County Sheriff John Tharp said the Level 3 level designation will be re-evaluated at 6 a.m. Monday.
The announcement of the snow emergency was similar to action taken in January, 2014, when a snowstorm hit northwest Ohio on a Sunday. During that storm, which included below-zero temperatures, local leaders also gave residents hours to get off the roadways.
Sheriff Tharp said experts predicted heavy snow would continue to fall until 1 a.m. Monday.
Level 3: Fulton, Henry, Lucas, Ottawa counties.
Level 2: Defiance, Hancock, Sandusky, Williams, Wood counties.
Level 1: Erie, Putnam, Seneca counties.
The sheriff's designation means that no one, except emergency personnel and other exempted workers, can be on the roadways. In the news conference this afternoon, city officials stressed citizen safety, especially the need for drivers to stay off the roads and let snow removal teams do their work. Drivers must also move cars off public streets.
The announcement will affect travel for those hoping to watch tonight's Super Bowl game away from home.
“We realize there is a great, wonderful game tonight,” Sheriff Tharp said. “We're concerned about that, folks getting out and seeing the game, being with their friends. But we're concerned about those same people not dying, not getting killed. That has to be all of our No. 1 concern.”
Sheriff Tharp said the decision to go to a Level 3 was made through collaboration. The mayor’s office, Toledo police and fire, emergency management, county commissioners, Division of Streets, Bridges, and Harbor, and the Ohio Department of Transportation are coordinating today.
A 22-year-veteran police officer with the city of Toledo died today while he was outside clearing snow, apparently with a snow blower.
Michael Greenwood died of an apparent heart attack, said Dr. James Patrick, Lucas County coroner.
The inclement weather has affected funerals and visitations, including that of former Mayor John McHugh.
Mr. McHugh's visitation that was to be today and Monday instead will be held from 2 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Coyle Funeral Home on South Reynolds Road.
The funeral will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, followed by a funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. at St. John of Arc Catholic Church on Heatherdowns Boulevard.
Other funerals also were postponed in the region.
“We believe that is sound public policy that while it may be an inconvenience, it is an inconvenience is better than the alternative, and that is needless risk to human life,” said Mayor D. Michael Collins, reiterating a message of safety that was emphasized during the press conference.
Snow started falling in the Toledo area about midnight, but the bulk of the accumulation - a possible foot or more - was expected to be later today and into the evening.
The printed edition of The Blade may be delivered later than normal on Monday because of the snowstorm and related safety concerns for our carriers. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Transportation officials said 120 district crews were plowing state and federal routes.
No major closures are reported at 10 p.m.
The Ohio Turnpike has issued a travel ban until noon Monday for certain vehicles, including:• All triple-trailer combination commercial vehicles;
•Box-type double-trailer combination commercial vehicles in excess of 90 feet in length;
•Mobile home/office trailers;
•Boat and horse trailers towed by passenger vehicles or pickup trucks, and
•High-profile campers and enclosed trailers, which are defined as trailers designed for a person of average height to stand in.
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The winter storm warning issued for portions of northwest Ohio by the National Weather Service remains in effect until noon Monday. Periods of the most intense snow are predicted this afternoon through midnight, and blustery winds likely will cause white-out conditions near Toledo and other parts of the region as the northeast wind speed increases.
Forecasters believe the heaviest accumulation could be between this afternoon and 10 p.m. today.
The Indiana forecasters expect 10 to 15 inches to fall in their jurisdiction, which includes Fulton, Williams, Defiance, Henry, and other counties in extreme northwest Ohio plus Hillsdale County, Michigan.
White Lake’s forecast is for 8 to 12 inches in southeast Michigan, with the highest accumulations close to the Ohio border. And Cleveland predicted 8 to 12 inches throughout its territory, which includes Toledo, Findlay, Tiffin, Fremont, and Sandusky.
Snow is likely Monday, mainly before 11 a.m., with strong winds continuing into the afternoon. Wind-chill values as low as 10 degrees below zero are expected, and winds could gust as high as 34 mph. New snow accumulation of less than one inch is possible on Monday.
Before today's storm's arrival, Toledo had received 15 inches of snow for the entire season. That's 6.1 inches below normal and far below the 51.9 inches that had already fallen at Toledo Express Airport by the end of January last winter, including the record 40.2 inch snowfall last January itself.
January, 2015 concluded with 12.2 inches of snow at the airport -- 0.6 inch above normal. But December had come and gone with just a trace of snow, tying Toledo's record for lowest December snowfalls.
January's water-equivalent precipitation at Toledo Express, 2.05 inches, was precisely normal, according to the National Weather Service, but the month's average daily mean temperature of 20.7 degrees was 4.8 degrees below normal, and a blast of Arctic air following the snowstorm should get February off to an abnormally cold start, too.
First Published February 1, 2015, 1:00 p.m.
