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Toledo sets monthly snow record after another winter blast

City saw 25.1 inches in February 1900; 2011 month at 26.0

2/25/2011
BY TOM TROY AND JENNIFER FEEHAN
BLADE STAFF WRITERS
  • Mary-Jane

    Mary Jane Holloway of South Toledo sweeps the snow off her car early Friday morning before heading to work.

    THE BLADE/LISA DUTTON
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    • Tow truck driver Kevin Piasecki, wearing a yellow jacket, has his hands full Friday as he prepares to pull a jackknifed semi-trailer truck, left, out of the snow and pull another semi, right, to a less slippery spot on north bound U.S. 23, just south of the Sylvania Monroe Street exit in Sylvania Township. The rig, left, driven by Edward Carder of Delphos, Ohio, (not pictured) slid off the road during the morning snowstorm. The truck at right stopped for the accident and then couldn't move on the ice-covered roadway.
    Tow truck driver Kevin Piasecki, wearing a yellow jacket, has his hands full Friday as he prepares to pull a jackknifed semi-trailer truck, left, out of the snow and pull another semi, right, to a less slippery spot on north bound U.S. 23, just south of the Sylvania Monroe Street exit in Sylvania Township. The rig, left, driven by Edward Carder of Delphos, Ohio, (not pictured) slid off the road during the morning snowstorm. The truck at right stopped for the accident and then couldn't move on the ice-covered roadway.
    If this month has felt like the snowiest February ever, you weren’t imagining it.

    The National Weather Service in Cleveland has confirmed that the 7.8 inches of snow that fell overnight until 1 p.m. Friday made 2011 the snowiest February in Toledo’s recorded history.

    The month’s total so far — 26.0 inches — surpassed the February 1900 record of 25.1 inches.

    What’s more, Toledo has so far received more snow this month than any other metropolitan area in the state.

    “None of them look like they’re going to get a total that will beat Toledo,” said Meteorologist Mark Adams.

    Since the snow stopped late Friday morning, the majority of northwest Ohio counties have lowered their snow emergency levels.

    Last year also was a snowy February. Toledo recorded 23.9 inches of the white stuff, which at the time made 2010 the second snowiest February in the city’s history.

    Northwest Ohio residents awoke Friday to another wintry blast that made roadways treacherous and prompted nearly all of the area school districts to close.

    Ed Moore, commissioner of streets, bridges, and harbor, said early Friday that his division has 44 snowplow trucks, and the city is calling in some private haulers and looking for help from the other city divisions with equipment.

    “We have all our trucks out. Obviously it’s coming down, I’m estimating at least an inch an hour. It’s going to take time to clear the roads. They’re going to be snow-covered here for the next few hours,” Mr. Moore said about 7:30 a.m.

    Mary Jane Holloway of South Toledo sweeps the snow off her car early Friday morning before heading to work.
    Mary Jane Holloway of South Toledo sweeps the snow off her car early Friday morning before heading to work.
    Volunteers for Mobile Meals of Toledo are being asked to stay home Friday as Mobile Meals will not be delivering meals because of the snow storm.

    The weather also forced the Toledo Zoo to close for Friday.

    In Oregon Mayor Michael Seferian declared a snow emergency and asked residents not to park on city streets so that crews can clear the snow. Cars left on the streets may be subject to towing.

    In Bowling Green, city crews that normally collect trash and recyclables on Friday will make their rounds on Monday so that public works crews can focus on road clearing efforts on Friday. Safety Director John Fawcett also declared a snow emergency in Bowling Green Friday, asking that cars be removed from designated snow streets by 9 a.m. Vehicles that are not removed could be towed, or citations issued to the owners.

    The University of Toledo was open as usual Friday, while Owens Community College closed all its locations. Bowling Green State University and its Firelands campus also closed for Friday. Kreischer Sundial and McDonald Dining halls were open and serving breakfast, and essential employees were to report to work.

    Sheriff’s deputies in Fulton and Seneca counties reported cars sliding off roads into ditches.

    Traffic backs up on northbound U.S. 23 after a semi-tractor trailer jack-knifed during Friday's snowstorm.
    Traffic backs up on northbound U.S. 23 after a semi-tractor trailer jack-knifed during Friday's snowstorm.
    Emergency crews Friday morning responded to three accidents on the Ohio Turnpike near Wauseon. A tractor-trailer jackknifed in an accident about 6:44 a.m. in the westbound lanes near milemarker 38, stopping traffic in that direction. There was one or more injuries in that mishap, according to the Ohio Highway Patrol.

    The Lucas County sheriff’s department responded to an accident on Waterville-Monclova Road in the village of Waterville, and other crashes were being reported on Airport Highway, U.S. 23 and Interstate 75. Traffic on northbound U.S. 23 was snarled mid-morning and reportedly was being rerouted to I-475.

    The communities of Bowling Green, Fostoria, Maumee, Monroe, Northwood, Walbridge, Woodville, and Whitehouse issued snow emergencies, which entail parking and other roadway restrictions.

     

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