Snow day for many in Toledo area proves an anti-climax

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Delton Opfer, center, his 13-year-old granddaughter Vanessa Skouroukos, right, and his 15-year-old grandson John Skouroukos VI, who is almost obscured at back left, clear snow from their sidewalk and around their car in East Toledo. THE BLADE/DAVE ZAPOTOSKY Enlarge | Photo Reprints

The expected "blizzard of the century" may not even be the blizzard of this winter for northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan.

Of course, it was hard to ignore the half-foot of snow or more dumped in places across the region from Monday through Wednesday -- a total of 6.5 inches at Toledo Express Airport. More snow fell to the north in Michigan, with the city of Adrian logging 8 inches over just a two-day period.

Roads became slow and treacherous, schools and businesses closed, and some counties declared Level 3 snow emergencies -- meaning that most people stayed home Wednesday.

But despite the many disruptions and inconveniences, residents awakened to a sense of anti-climax when they peeked outside to see if the Groundhog Day Snowstorm of 2011 would match the blustery forecasts of 20-inch snowfall and 8-foot-deep drifts. The answer was a relieved negative.

"Those of us who remember the Blizzard of '78 … this is not anything like it was in '78," said Barb Miller, clerk at the Liberty Center Post Office in Henry County.

The Blizzard of 1978 brought just 10.2 inches of snow to Toledo, but the sustained fierce winds and drifting made travel nearly impossible for days. This year's storm wreaked havoc in other parts of the Midwest -- especially Chicago, which received more than 20 inches of snow -- but not in the Toledo area, where it did not even qualify as a blizzard.

Dry, cold air was forecast to move into northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan overnight behind the storm, while another snowstorm lurked early next week in the long-range outlook.

Clearing skies were forecast to help local temperatures fall into the single digits by sunrise, and while mostly sunny skies were predicted for Thursday, the Arctic air is unlikely to warm above the teens. Another near-zero low is expected Thursday night before temperatures start warming up Friday.

"I wouldn't be surprised if it got below zero in the outlying areas," especially Friday morning, said Frank Strait, a meteorologist with AccuWeather Inc. in State College, Pa.

Some light snow is expected on Saturday as a weak storm system passes through the Great Lakes, "and perhaps a bigger storm early next week," Mr. Strait said.

Area hospitals treated people Wednesday for weather-related injuries.

ProMedica Health System spokesman Jared Meade said the emergency room at Toledo Hospital treated 10 such people before 3 p.m. Their injuries included a broken bone, slips and falls, and chest pains. ProMedica requested rides from motorists with SUVs or other four-wheel drive vehicles for its doctors, nurses, and other critical staff.

A total of 15 people were treated for minor injuries in the three local Mercy hospital emergency rooms at Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center, St. Charles Mercy, and St. Anne Mercy Hospital, Mercy spokesman Sarah Bednarski said.

By early afternoon, the Lucas County Emergency Management Agency dropped the Level 3 snow emergency, under which all but emergency and "essential" traffic was forbidden. Seneca and Sandusky counties also reduced their alert levels Wednesday night to 2 and 1 respectively. Ottawa County canceled its Level 2 snow emergency.

The snow emergency didn't keep Toledo city workers at home -- even though many may have wanted to take the day off.

Deputy Mayor of Operations Steve Herwat Wednesday morning said all city employees -- not just emergency first responders -- were required to show up for work.

Jen Sorgenfrei, spokesman for Mayor Mike Bell, said city employees who stayed home would have to use a vacation or compensatory day.

Employees of Toledo City Council, however, did not go to work. The Toledo Municipal Court, Lucas County Common Pleas Court, and Lucas County offices at One Government Center were closed and those public employees were not required to report to work.

Lucas County Administrator Peter Ujvagi said only county emergency workers and water and sewer plant workers were required to work Wednesday.

The city of Toledo also declared a parking emergency Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., making it unlawful to park on any posted TARTA routes and parking was restricted to the even side of the street on nonposted TARTA routes. Refuse collection was not interrupted.

Waste Management announced that collection service for Oregon residents will be delayed by one day this week because of the weather. Residents will have their refuse picked up Friday; customers will return next week to their regular collection day on Thursday.

The illuminated open sign at the downtown Toledo Biggby's Coffee at 420 Madison Ave. was a welcome sight for coffee drinkers who were working Wednesday. Manager Darrek Steele kept the store open for six hours until noon. During that time he served just 15 people -- far less than the 175 cups he said he usually sells during that time.

"I've had a lot of people say, 'Thank you for being open,' and I have had a lot of people say, 'Oh my God, why are you here?'" Mr. Steele said.

Rob Rego of Temperance probably could have cleared most of his driveway off Sterns Road with his tractor and plow, but it wouldn't have been as much fun as he had Wednesday morning with his shovel and dog.

The former Toledoan, who moved up to his new home less than a year ago, would scoop a shovel full of snow and toss it up to the air to his right, where it would be joyously attacked by his miniature Australian shepherd, Diggy, as it fell back to the snow-covered yard.

"He loves it. He'll stay out here with me all day," Mr. Rego said, as he launched another scoop.

Memorial services for Holland Huckleberry, the famous furry forecaster, were canceled Wednesday, but a Groundhog Day prediction was made -- and a repeat performance is planned for this weekend.

In spite of the earlier Level 3 snow emergency, about 20 people attended a Groundhog Day celebration at Charlie and Terri Hoag's home in Springfield Township, where Mr. Hoag announced there was no shadow, which means an early spring.

Staff Writers Janet Romaker, Ignazio Messina, and Larry Vellequette contributed to this report.

Contact David Patch at: dpatch@theblade.com or 419-724-6094.