Lake effect snow greets returning commuters

Those who returned to work Dec. 26 can take solace in knowing the lake effect machine was back to work too. Or not.

Commuters heading back to work after a long holiday weekend were greeted with snow, strong winds, poor road conditions, cold weather and low visibility.

A lake effect snow warning is in effect until 4 p.m. Dec. 27 for parts of Northeast Ohio, including Lake, Geauga and Ashtabula counties, according to the National Weather Service.

The Ohio Department of Transportation’s new variable speed limit on Interstate 90 got a work out Dec. 26. After a semi-trailer truck jack-knife on Interstate 90, speed limits were lowered to 30 miles per hour.

The jack-knifed truck closed

the eastbound lanes of Interstate 90 between state Route 44 and state Route 528 for about an hour as crews worked to clear the road.

ODOT added variable speed limits on I-90 in the county this year in an effort to reduce crashes. According to ODOT, studies have shown that high speed is often a factor in winter weather-related crashes along I-90.

“This data led to a broad speed limit reduction during the winter of 2016-2017,” the department stated in a news release. “Recent legislation passed in the spring of 2017 now allows Ohio to temporarily reduce the speed limit of I-90 for inclement weather. Previously, temporary speed limits were only permitted for use within construction zones.”

When weather conditions are as poor as they were Dec. 26, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office advises to avoid the roadways. Those who do have to go out should “use great caution, reduce your speed of travel, and anticipate potential problems with travel by giving yourself plenty of time to reach your destination.”

“If you have to travel in your vehicle make sure your dress appropriately warm, insure your gas tank is filled, washer fluid filled and that you have blankets in case your vehicle becomes disabled and you have to wait until help arrives because of the extremely low temperatures at this time,” the Sheriff’s Office stated in a Facebook post.

The Sheriff’s Office also thanked good Samaritans who helped moved vehicles stuck in the snow Dec. 26. The office singled out Mark Grice, who helped pull an 18-wheeler with his pickup truck at the Fairport Nursery Road exit off Route 2.

The Lake County Department of Utilities closed the landfill at 1 p.m. Dec. 26 because its scale house is experiencing unsafe conditions for vehicle traffic because of the inclement weather.

“We understand this may be an inconvenience; but your safety is important to us,” the department said in a news release. “To compensate for this change, the Landfill will be open for commercial customers on Saturday, Dec. 30 from 8 a.m.12 p.m. Standard Saturday hours of 9 a.m.-1 p.m. will apply for residential customers.”

“If you have to travel in your vehicle make sure your dress appropriately warm, insure your gas tank is filled, washer fluid filled and that you have blankets in case your vehicle becomes disabled and you have to wait until help arrives because of the extremely low temperatures at this time.” — Sheriff’s Office stated in a Facebook post