Tuesday, February 16th, 2021
Level 3 snow emergency
Winter storm blast causes accidents, forces cancellations
From staff reports
Photo by Dan Melograna/The Daily Standard
Celina police responds to a Chevrolet sedan off the road at the intersection of U.S. 127 and Schunck Road on Monday. The late afternoon snowfall made roads slick.
Snow that began Sunday and intensified Monday wreaked havoc on local traffic, businesses, governments and schools.
The National Weather Service's prediction calling for significant snowfall and winds gusting to 30 mph was expected through this morning. Police scanner traffic Monday afternoon and evening reported several slide-off accidents while snowplow crews cleared local roads.
The Auglaize County Sheriff' Michael Vorhees on Monday issued a Level 1 snow emergency about 3:30 p.m. with Mercer County following suit at 4 p.m. Level 1 indicates roadways are hazardous with blowing and drifting snow and drivers should use caution.
By 6 p.m. both counties had raised that condition to Level 2, which means roads are hazardous due to blowing and drifting snow and/or ice cover with some roads becoming impassible. Drivers should exercise extreme caution, and only those who believe it is necessary should drive. People should contact their employers to determine if they should report to work.
Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey issued a Level 3 warning about 9 p.m., meaning only essential travel was permitted.
Inclement winter weather forced Mercer Health to postpone today's scheduled COVID-19 vaccination clinic to Feb. 23.
The Minster Local Schools Board of Education postponed Monday's meeting until Feb. 22 while Fort Recovery Village Council members met via online connection rather than in person.
In Auglaize County, the health department's opening today was delayed until 10 a.m. and the county treasurer extended the property tax deadline to Wednesday.
Celina, Coldwater, New Bremen and St. Henry school officials had canceled today's classes as of Monday evening. Fort Recovery and St. Marys officials planned e-learning sessions.
Mercer Health's Doctors Urgent Care closed at 9 p.m. Monday, while the McDonald's in Coldwater closed at 7 p.m. due to weather conditions.
The Maria Stein Shrine will be closed today, according to a Monday email, and the Fort Recovery Opera House meeting scheduled for today has been rescheduled for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Fort Recovery High School.
Photo by Dan Melograna/The Daily Standard
A pedestrian makes his way down East Market Street in Celina through the late afternoon snow storm on Monday. A winter storm warning calling for as much as 8 inches of snow was in effect at the time.
Photo by Dan Melograna/The Daily Standard
Snow covers East Market Street in Celina as seen from The Daily Standard's office on Monday afternoon. A winter storm warning calling for an accumulation of 8 inches was in effect at the time.
